text:
Methods for treating a wafer to protect a fuse box of a semiconductor chip are provided. These methods include applying an insulating coating solution onto the surface of at least one of a plurality of fuse boxes in a semiconductor chip so as to prevent moisture or impurities from seeping into the fuse box. With these methods, the degradation of the semiconductor chip can be substantially reduced by protecting the fuse box from a high-temperature and very humid atmosphere, and impurities such as particles. Thus, characteristics and reliability of the semiconductor chip can be also improved.
1. A method of treating a wafer, the method comprising:
applying an insulating coating solution onto a surface of at least one of a plurality of fuse boxes in a semiconductor chip so as to prevent moisture or impurities from entering into the fuse box without applying the coating solution on regions of the chip other than the at least one of a plurality of fuse boxes, wherein the coating solution is one of UV ink and IR ink.
2. The method of
3. The method of
4. The method of
5. The method of
6. The method of
7. The method of
This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 2001-0067136, filed on Oct. 30, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for treating a wafer, and more particularly, to a method for treating a wafer to protect a fuse box of a semiconductor chip, thereby preventing the degradation of the semiconductor chip.
2. Description of the Related Art
During the manufacture of semiconductor chips, redundancy memory cells are formed in each sub-array block. For instance, cells corresponding to redundant rows and columns are formed in each 256 K cell array. After the fabrication of semiconductor chips is completed, a wafer-level electrical test is performed thereon to sort out the defective semiconductor chips. Then, good semiconductor chips are selected, assembled, and packaged. The defective chips that are detected during the electrical test, however, can be repaired through a repair process. In the repair process, a defective memory cell is replaced with a redundancy memory cell. This is realized by cutting a proper fuse so that the selected line of a defective memory cell is replaced with the line of a redundancy cell when an address signal corresponding to the line of the defective memory cell is input during the later use of a semiconductor chip. An excessive current and laser beam is typically used in cutting the fuse. In particular, the use of a laser beam is preferred because it is simple and reliable and easy to lay out the fuse.
A semiconductor chip includes a variety of fuses, including fuses used during the repair process, e.g., a fuse for trimming the level of a DC generator, a fuse for selecting a chip, and an oscillator fuse. A region occupied by these fuses is referred to as a 'fuse box' and described with respect to its schematic structure while referring to
In general, once the fabrication of a semiconductor chip is completed, a passivation layer such as polyimide is formed on a wafer to protect the semiconductor chip, prior to a wafer-level electrical test. However, a passivation layer that covers a contact pad and a fuse box need to be removed to expose the contact pad and the fuse box, for example, during the wafer-level electrical test in which an electrical signal is applied onto the contact pad, and during the repair process in which a fuse is cut.
Although the fuse box 100 of
Furthermore, unlike the cell region covered with a passivation layer, a fuse box is not protected with a passivation layer. Thus, the fuse box is vulnerable to a high-temperature atmosphere and impurities such as dust, which can lead to the malfunction of a particular chip. For example, if moisture gets into the fuse box, a fuse in the fuse box is eroded. Also, if the fuse box is exposed to the high-temperature atmosphere, the volume of the fuse box expands, causing a crack in the fuse box. When assembling a multi-chip, a crack in the fuse box may cause the chip to be damaged or degraded if a physical stress is applied onto the chip. Also, short circuit may occur if impurities undesirably enter into the fuse box.
Accordingly, there is a need for overcoming these problems to improve the lifetime and reliability of highly-integrated semiconductor circuit chips.
The present invention provides, for example, a method for treating a wafer such that fuse boxes can be protected from moisture, thus preventing the degradation of a semiconductor chip.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an insulating coating solution is applied onto the surface of at least one of the fuse boxes so that moisture or impurities do not enter into the fuse box of the semiconductor chip.
Here, the application of the coating solution may be performed after performing a wafer-level electrical test. Also, the application of the coating solution may be performed after trimming a fuse, cutting a fuse, or performing a repair process. The coating solution is applied onto the fuse box to a thickness of, e.g., from about several to several tens of microns, such that the degradation of the fuse box can be prevented even if the semiconductor chip is exposed to a high-temperature and very humid atmosphere. In this method, various coating solutions can be used, e.g., polyimide, UV ink, and IR ink. When applying the coating solution, the coating solution may be applied onto the fuse box by a scanning method, using a fine brush.
With the present invention, a fuse box can be protected from a high-temperature and very humid atmosphere, and impurities such as particles, thereby reducing damage or stresses applied onto the fuse box. As a result, degradation of a semiconductor chip can be prevented.
The above objective and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:
The present invention now will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size or shape of components is exaggerated for clarity. The same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same elements, and thus their descriptions will be omitted.
Referring to
The fuse box 200 of
Referring to
In the above-described embodiment, with the coating layer 160′, moisture or impurities can be prevented from entering into the fuse box 200, thereby preventing degradation of the semiconductor chip. Further, the fuses 110, in the fuse box 200, which are trimmed or repaired, can be well protected. Also, the fuse box 200 is not exposed directly to the high-temperature atmosphere owing to the coating layer 160′, thereby preventing the occurrence of fine cracks. For this reason, damage or degradation of the semiconductor chip can be prevented even if a physical stress is applied on the fuse box 200 during the manufacture of a multi-chip package. As stated above, if the fine nozzle 170 is used for spraying the coating solution 160 evenly on the fuse box 200, it is possible to prevent unnecessary application of the coating solution 160 onto regions other than the fuse box 200.
Referring to
As described above, according to embodiments of the present invention, the fuse box 200 is not exposed directly to a high-temperature and/or very humid atmosphere and is, therefore, not moistened or polluted by impurities, thereby preventing the degradation of a semiconductor chip. Also, the characteristics of a semiconductor chip do not deteriorate because fuses, in the fuse box 200, which are trimmed or repaired, are well protected.
Further, even if the chip is exposed to a high-temperature and/or very humid atmosphere, the fuse box 200 is coated with a thick coating layer 160′ such that degradation of the fuse box 200 can be prevented, thus reducing damage to the fuse box 200. Although physical stresses may be applied on the chip during the assembly of a multi-chip package, the fuse box 200 can be protected. Accordingly, the characteristics and reliability of a semiconductor chip can be enhanced, thereby substantially improving productivity.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For instance, the treatment process herein claimed can be performed on a fuse box in wafer or chip. The use of the term wafer is not intended to limit the application of the method or breadth of the claims.
Patent Citations
Referenced by
Legal Events
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text:
Bass Fishing Club – Wichita, KS
If you're looking for an excuse to get out and bass fish in 2015 then you've come to the right place. Where it's all about fun and friendships.
From everyone in the club, Welcome.
The Midwest Bassmasters tournament format is setup to fish as two man teams. You choose who you want to fish with all year. For individual boat owners and non-boat owners who don't have a partner, the teams are paired at the meeting just prior to the tournaments.
Tournament fees are minimal, with 100% payout. There is also an optional big bass pot each tournament.
We hold eight tournaments a year, from March through October, and end with our annual banquet. Our monthly meetings are held all year, so get with your favorite fishing buddy and make plans to come check it out.
2014 Highlights
2014 Banquet
The 2014 banquet was a success. All attending enjoyed a dinner of BBQ brisket and "cluckers", with all the fixins'. It was held at Larry Buds on W. 21st in Wichita. Good memories of past season, laughs and smiles were all around. The self-described "Old Farts" Dennis and Mark tied with Skip and Shawn for first, Danny and Frank were second, followed by Jeff and Rick. Thanks to Dennis and Mark for your time with us. We will miss you (except at weigh-in). All of the anglers are anxious to start the new year of fishing. Come visit one of our meetings and see what we are all about.
2013 Highlights
Big Bass of the Year
2013 Big Bass of the year goes to Jay Davis, with this Ray Roberts 8.51 pig.
Amazing Texas Stringer
Kent and Mark Richardson with this awesome 31.98 lb Texas stringer.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Why you should choose a niche for your Second Life blog (or even carve a new one)
Nearly 87% of the 1,308 blogs listed on the Blogging Second Life website are about fashion. That's probably not a huge surprise to most Second Life bloggers, but it's still a huge number (1,136) of blogs writing about generally one thing. As part of our project aimed at updating the site's backend, I streamlined the sub-categories of these fashion blogs, the segments of which you can see in the pie chart here. As I'm sure is also no surprise at all, 2/3rd of the fashion blogs listed are focused on women's fashion. Sorry guys, only… Read More


text: We stayed here 3 nights while in Barcelona. The hotel is right off La Rambla in the heart of Barcelona. It is surrounded by restaurants and shops, with the Metro stop just a short walk away. The staff at the front desk was helpful and courteous. The hotel itself is small and narrow. We almost walked past it without even... More


text: MPA: 40% boost in brands advertising on magazine media platforms Published on October 09, 2012. Reprints Reprints Ad Age DataCenter $43.6B U.S. agency revenue Subscribe to Datacenter today and access the complete Agency Report 2015 featuring a database of World's 50 Largest Agency Companies with profiles, agency holdings, and more. Learn more New York—There was a 40% increase in the number of brands advertising on magazine media platforms (tablet, online and print) in the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2011, according to data released by MPA. Kantar Media research found that 14,949 brands advertised on magazine media in the first six months of this year, compared with 10,768 during the same period in 2011. The combined, unduplicated online and print audience for magazines grew 4% between 2011 and 2012, according to GfK MRI research from spring 2011 and 2012, and Nielsen data from July 2011 and 2012. In this article: BtoB Advertisement Comments (0)


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Inspired by the cobbles on the streets of Rio, this lovely new print from Villervalla is available as a dress or a tee shop here
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...we got 'em! Choose a top, dress, hat, gloves or coat, all in fab Tivoli rainbow stripes! Shop by age or garment type www.impkids.co.uk
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The stupendous Impkids summer sale finishes this Sunday, so not long left to grab a bargain with up to 60% off. Shop here
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We sold out instantly of the red striped cropped dungas after they appeared in the Daily Mail the other week but the good news is we have new stock just in - in small sizes from 6-9 mo!
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Wishing all our Swedish friends a fun Midsummer celebration, wherever you are in the world!
Looks like the Daily Mail is onto our little secret....
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Last chance to enter....
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Impkids comp
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Win a sun hat!
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Feeling full of the joys of summer today so decided we should run a little comp! You can #win a super sun hat simply by swinging on by our FB page and liking, sharing and commenting on which hat you… Continue Reading »
Villervalla SS15
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Just in the process of sorting out all the lovely sales samples for the Villervalla Spring/Summer 15 collection. If you are a retailer and would like to see the collection, please get in touch with … Continue Reading »
The Little Imp modelling..
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this season's Villervalla Scooters dress and sneakers. Twig - model's own.
Head in the clouds
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Mummy blogger @evette77 has kindly sent us a review of our Villervalla cloud print dress. Love it or loathe it? Find out here
Clouds for sunny days!
by Liz Marsh, 1 year, 1 month ago
Check out this fabby cloud print in stock now in dresses and tees
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Man pushes wheelchair-bound man into oncoming traffic, deputies sayUPDATED 5:31 PM EST Feb 27, 2013
An Osceola County man is in jail after deputies said he robbed a wheelchair bound man and then pushed him into traffic.
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CommentsThe views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.blog comments powered by Disqus


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An appetite for Appleton
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2004/11/05 14:36:00
Location: Stoughton, WI
2014/01/31 10:27:37
An appetite for Appleton
Last weekend I was in Appleton on
important business
so I had a chance to check out some places I'd found on line.
On Friday afternoon my first stop was
Wendt's on the Lake
, located north of Fond du Lac on US-45 and the western shore of Lake Winnebago. Like many establishments of its type it started as a bar and eventually grew into a small restaurant with about 15 or so tables by my count. Our sales assistant here at work is from Fondy and has good memories of Wendt's.
Somewhere the road ends and Lake Winnebago begins, and the scenery is markedly different than what it'll be 4 months from now! While I was there a few fishermen came in off the ice and they looked quite frozen.
I arrived at the end of the lunch hour and had the dining area pretty much to myself.
Wendt's is known for lake perch so as far as I was concerned there were no other options.
I ordered the 5 oz. plate and the fish was hot, moist, and flaky. Whether it arrives fresh or frozen, it was well-prepared and not at all fishy - Wendt's reputation is deserved.
The choice of the smallest plate was deliberate, as I wanted to save room for dessert. And what's great for dessert?
Fried chicken, of course! My waitress was nice enough for offer me a 2-piece ala carte option in place of a full meal so I chose a drumstick and thigh, and they were both very good. The crust was exceptionally crisp and crunchy and the meat was nicely seasoned.
This afternoon the bar area seemed to contain mostly locals but I'll bet in the summer it's packed with a mix of vacationers as well. Wendt's is a prime example of a Wisconsin lakeshore gathering place that's moved up from being just a bar to a local dining destination.
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A healthy jump for mortgages?
Jeremy Hobson
Dec 12, 2007 Mortgage applications saw their highest rise last week since 2005. But Jeremy Hobson reports that the number of applications out could mean a need to refinance, as opposed to more people buying new homes.
Buffet calls superfund a 'financial toad'
Amy Scott
Dec 11, 2007 A superfund intended to shore up confidence in Structured Investment Vehicles devastated by the subprime crisis has never caught on with banks. And today Warren Buffet put what's probably the last nail in its coffin. Amy Scott reports.
Renegotiating a bad mortgage
Alisa Roth
Dec 7, 2007 In this mortgage mess, even a cautious homeowner can end up stuck with an impossible loan. Marketplace's Alisa Roth tells us what to do when you realize you're in over your head.
Silver bullet or bullet dodged?
Dec 7, 2007 President Bush has announced his plan to help homeowners in crisis but is it too little too late? Tess asks Nick Retsinas at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard.
Realtors adapt as red-hot market cools
Lisa Napoli
Dec 6, 2007 Not long ago a broker could sell a house without trying very hard. But times have really changed. Lisa Napoli explores the new reality for realtors in the once red-hot market known as Greater Los Angeles.
Putting a freeze to mortgage meltdown
Bob Moon
Dec 6, 2007 The White House unveiled its official response to the subprime crisis today -- a rate freeze for some of the 2 million adjustable rate mortgages that are going to move higher over the next two years. Bob Moon has the details.
Nielsen to target illegal Web videos
Lisa Napoli
Dec 5, 2007 Producers of all kinds of TV programming are fighting what some argue is a losing battle against pirated video online. But as of today there's a new sheriff for hire. Lisa Napoli reports.
Mortgage-freeze plan is on its way
Jill Barshay
Dec 5, 2007 That mortgage relief the White House has been promising is apparently on the way. Word today is that a plan now is in place to freeze interest rates for some homeowners. Jill Barshay explains.
The subprime effect on new Americans
Dan Grech
Dec 5, 2007 Subprime mortgages may be hurting the market now, but at some point these loans helped someone buy their first home. Dan Grech has the story of one immigrant family's housing success, then struggle.
Subprime fears fuel run on Florida fund
Dan Grech
Dec 4, 2007 A Florida fund that for 25 years gave school districts and local governments a safe place to park their investments has lost $10 billion in two weeks. Groups with money at risk led a run on the fund when they got nervous about its investments in subprime loans. Dan Grech reports.


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Organix South Coupons & Promo Codes
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Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment
Special Cycle Open
May 18th - June 26th
May 18th - June 26th
Primary Care Physicians
- Family Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- Pediatrics
Only professionals working in the following counties are eligible:
- Alameda
- Contra Costa
- Del Norte
- Fresno
- Kern
- Kings
- Los Angeles
- Madera
- Merced
- Monterey
- Orange
- Riverside
- Sacramento
- San Diego
- San Joaquin
- Stanislaus
- Tulare
Who may apply?
To be considered for an award, you must:
- Be an allopathic or osteopathic physician
- Be free of any contractual service obligations (i.e the National Health Service Corps Federal Loan Repayment Program or other financial incentive programs)
- Have outstanding educational debt from a government or commercial lending institution
- Have a valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in California
- Be currently employed or have accepted employment in a Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) in California
- Commit to providing full-time direct patient care in a HPSA for a minimum of three (3) years
The Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program encourages recently licensed physicians to practice in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in California. The program authorizes a plan for repaying up to $105,000 in educational loans in exchange for full-time service for a minimum of three (3) years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Page last revised: May 4, 2015 9:57 AM


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BILLINGS, Mont. — State prosecutors on Wednesday appealed as "illegal" a 30-day sentence handed down by a Montana judge to a former teacher for raping a student who later killed herself.
The announcement came after District Judge G. Todd Baugh received widespread condemnation for the sentence and his comments that the victim was "older than her chronological age."
Defendant Stacey Rambold, 54, last week received 15 years in prison with all but a month suspended for his months-long sexual relationship with Billings Senior High School student Cherice Moralez.


text:
Thin walls, tiny spaces, high prices. At breakfast all of the hotel guests complained to each other. We had a lot in common since we had all had a horrible night's sleep, and there was a certain intimacy, based on having heard each other have sex through the paper thin walls.
No hotel employee stays at the reception. You phone them if you want to find a person who works in the hotel. When they hear the phone or get your message, they come to see whether you still need anything.
Is this the worst hotel in France? Hmmmm. It has a pretty garden, is close to downtown and the beach, but for any hearing person over 3 feet tall, it's really awful. Will it get my golden roach spray can award?
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Booking.com, Priceline and Odigeo so you can book your Castel Fleuri reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.
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text:
COMMERCIAL LAWS OF KAZAKHSTAN March 2010 AN ASSESSMENT BY THE EBRD Office of the General Counsel CONTENTS 1. OVERALL ASSESSMENT ..................................................................................................................................... 1 2. THE LEGAL SYSTEM ........................................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 CONSTITUTION AND COURTS ......................................................................................................2 2.2 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEGAL TRANSITION AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS......................................3 2.3 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INVESTMENT CLIMATE ...............................................................4 3. EVALUATION OF SELECTED COMMERCIAL LAWS.................................................................................. 5 3.1 CONCESSIONS ...........................................................................................................................5 3.2 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ........................................................................................................7 3.3 INSOLVENCY .............................................................................................................................9 3.4 SECURITIES MARKETS ..............................................................................................................11 3.5 SECURED TRANSACTIONS ........................................................................................................14 2.6. TELECOMMUNICATIONS ..........................................................................................................15 Basis of Assessment: This document draws on legal assessment work conducted by the Bank (see www.ebrd.com/law) and was last updated during the preparation of the 2009 EBRD Strategy for Kazakhstan, reflecting the situation at that time. The assessment is also grounded on the experience of the Office of the General Counsel in working on legal reform and EBRD investment activities in Kazakhstan and does not constitute legal advice, for further information please contact firstname.lastname@example.com 1. Overall Assessment Kazakhstan's legal environment continues to remain complex and challenging despite notable reforms to its legal system. Over the last few years there have been significant improvements in crucial areas such as securities legislation, concessions, derivative transactions, competition, insolvency and anti-money laundering legislation. Notwithstanding such improvements, Kazakh commercial laws still fall short in certain respects of standards that are generally acceptable internationally. In company law, the major shortcomings are found in the legislation on "disclosure and transparency" and on "ensuring the basis for an effective corporate governance framework". Kazakhstan has adopted a policy of promoting PPP, as a result it has undertaken notable efforts to reform concession enabling legislation, in particular, by making amendments in 2008 to the 2006 Concessions Law No. 167-III (the "Concession Law"). The Insolvency Law appears to be relatively weak in addressing reorganisation processes, liquidation processes and the treatment of estate assets. The means of enforcement of security rights provided by the law seem adequate on the books, yet in practice, enforcement is reported to be problematic due to deficiencies of the court system, uncertainty regarding the enforcement mechanisms, incidents of non-compliance of the government with enforcement rules and decisions, difficulties in locating and ensuring control of the pledged assets and possible application of exchange control rules to repatriation of enforcement proceeds. Despite progress towards the establishment of a free market-oriented economy, the challenge facing Kazakhstan in 2009 and beyond is still to further enhance the experience, competence and independence of courts, prosecutors and market regulators, tackle corruption, upgrade its commercial laws and make those laws fully effective through a strengthening of the court system and the rule of law. 1 Chart 1 – Snapshot of the commercial laws of Kazakhstan Quality of laws "on the books" and the effectiveness of the laws (Measuring effectiveness of the law using specific case studies as proxies for the relevant sector) Fully meets international standards/ fully effective Effectiveness Extensiveness Does not meet international Combined standards/ effectiveness & ineffective extensiveness e y ns ns s ts nc nc on ke io io na ve si at ct ar es er l sa ic so M ov un nc an In s G m ie Co Tr rit m e d at co cu re or Se le cu rp Te Se Co Source: EBRD legal assessments 2002-2009. 2. The Legal System 2.1 Constitution and courts The Constitution establishes a bicameral legislature consisting of a Senate and an Assembly (Mazhilis). Working jointly, the two chambers have the authority to amend the Constitution, approve the budget, confirm presidential appointees, ratify treaties, declare war, and delegate legislative authority to the President for up to one year. Each chamber also has exclusive powers. According to article 44 of the Constitution, the President represents the Republic of Kazakhstan in international relations, conducts negotiations, and signs international treaties. The President is the head of state and is elected directly for a maximum of two consecutive seven-year terms. The President appoints, with Parliament's consent, the Prime Minister, other ministers of the cabinet, the chairperson of the National Bank, and the chairperson of the National Security Committee. The President also appoints the heads of the local government entities, can reverse decisions made by these officials, and has broad authority to issue decrees and overrule actions taken by the ministries. The court system is a three-tier system composed of: regional courts, district courts and the Supreme Court as the highest judicial body. The regional courts are of common jurisdiction and try most cases in the first instance. The judgments of regional courts may be appealed to the district courts, while decisions of district courts may be appealed to the Supreme Court. There are also specialized courts including military courts, administrative courts and more recently created economic courts. Cases that 2 are in the competence of the specialized courts are judged in the first instance in the relevant specialized court. The President nominates judges for appointment to the Supreme Court and the Senate approves them. The President also appoints oblast judges, who are nominated by the Highest Judicial Council, and local judges from a list compiled by the Ministry of Justice. A Constitutional Council, whose members are also appointed by the President and legislature, review, among other things, constitutional questions. The legal system has made some significant progress since independence.Nevertheless, weaknesses remain in several areas and further reform is needed. Moreover, reform of the court system and judiciary is especially pressing; while the former is progressing slowly, several rulings suggest that judicial independence is very much open to doubt. 2.2 Relationship between legal transition and economic progress. Kazakhstan has been relatively successful in the transition process. Experience in transition countries suggests that legal transition and economic development progress or regress hand in hand; Kazakhstan is a typical example of this process (see Chart 2). Further success in adopting and implementing new features of the legal framework and improvements in the judiciary should further advance the overall development of the country. Chart 2 – Rule of law and progress in transition in the EBRD countries of operations Russia Moldova Hungary 4 Kazakhstan Slovak Rep Poland Lithuania Latvia Bulgaria State of Economic Transition Croatia Turkey Armenia Romainia, Mongolia FYR Macedonia Estonia 3 Slovenia Serbia Montenegro Krygyz Rep Albania, Ukraine Azerbaijan Georgia Tajikistan Bosnia & Herz Uzbekistan 2 Belarus Turkmenistan 1 Low Performing State of core commercial and financial law s High Performing Note: The horizontal axis measures the performance of commercial and financial laws. The vertical axis displays the EBRD transition index as an average of transition indicators between 1997 and 20059, with 1 referring to very early transition stages, and 4 referring to an advanced transition level. Source: EBRD Transition Report 2009, Table 1.1; EBRD Composite Country Law Index, Mar 2009. 3 2.3 Recent developments in the investment climate Kazakhstan faces a number of strategic challenges, many of which have been emphasised by the economic and financial crisis: The crisis has highlighted Kazakhstan's excessive dependence on primary industries and commodity exports. It is necessary to diversify the economy towards value-added industries, provided this diversification is based on economic rationale. With oil production expected to increase significantly in the coming years and with oil prices rising due to a gradual global economic recovery, the underlying economic tendencies – real exchange rate appreciation and human and financial resources flowing to the hydrocarbon sector – will make economic diversification even more challenging. The domestic financial sector has proved less developed and on a weaker foundation than previously thought. It is therefore of vital importance to reform the financial sector and to ensure that it emerges from the crisis with a sustainable business and funding model, which can provide sustainable and reliable financial intermediation and lending a lasting source of strength for the real economy. To this end, the banks will need to further develop their local currency funding base and lending products, and strengthen their balance sheets, transparency, and core competencies such as risk management. It is likewise important to further develop local currency and capital markets. To put sustainable development on a firm footing, the remaining transition gaps in the country's infrastructure, including shortages and imbalances in power and energy, and transport bottlenecks, need to be filled. An overarching policy challenge for the Government is to ensure that its efforts to address the impact of the crisis and the country's medium term transition challenges do not result in undue and lasting interference in the economy and erosion of market principles. In the private sector, fair competition on a level playing field needs to be preserved and in some cases improved as economic incentives are re- designed. Kazakhstan agreed in June 2009 to form a customs union with Russia and Belarus and seek joint accession to the WTO. The move was opposed by the European Union and the United States. However the economic advantages of the customs union for Kazakhstan were clearly set out by President Nazarbayev, the expected increase in the trade volume, improvement of the investment climate within the customs union, free movement of labor, capital and goods in the common customs space and better access to outside markets for domestic producers. Some Government members believe that the customs union will damage Kazakhstan's national interest and threaten its independent economic policy, prompting observers to think that the motivation to join was political more than economic. The customs code is due to come into force in July 2010, 4 3. Evaluation of selected commercial laws The EBRD has developed and regularly updates a series of assessments of legal transition in its countries of operations, with a focus on selected areas relevant to investment activities: concessions, corporate governance, insolvency, secured transactions, securities markets and telecommunications. The existing tools assess both the quality of the laws "on the books" (also referred to as "extensiveness") and the actual implementation of such laws (also referred to as "effectiveness"). This annex presents a summary of the results for Kazakhstan, accompanied by critical comments of the Bank's legal experts who have conducted the assessments. All available results of these assessments can be found at www.ebrd.com/law. 3.1 Concessions As a result of a PPP promoting policy Kazakhstan has recently undertaken notable efforts in reforming concession enabling legislation, in particular, by making amendments in 2008 to the 2006 Concessions Law No. 167-III (the "Concession Law"). In addition, a National PPP Unit was set up in 2008 under the Ministry of Economy ("MoE") to improve the PPP institutional framework. The current Kazakhstan Concession Law enables the implementation of concession in infrastructure including those based on open tendering. The July 2008 amendments to the Concession Law addressed a number of major flaws, relating to definitions, model contract provisions, register of concessions, deadline period to conclude concession contract, and limits to state guarantees. Overall, the amended Concession Law is now seen as adequate; however, the law still falls short in certain aspects of internationally acceptable standards. The main areas for improvement remain as follows: • Security issues may present a significant obstacle to the bankability of potential projects as pledge of assets is still not allowed (although it may be possible to pledge shares in a concessionaire); • The delineation of powers of certain authorities in the tendering process is still not sufficiently clear; • The list of assets referred to in the Concession Law is to be approved by the Government which adds uncertainty, in particular for unsolicited proposals; • The qualification requirements are merely factual/ quantitative rather than quality criteria that would allow selection based on expertise. It is not clear at this stage whether the grantor is allowed to further qualify the requirements in the tender documents as practice so far has been restrictive. The methodologies are still to be developed by the PPP Unit and approved by the MoE; • The Concession Law still limits the negotiation time for entering into agreements to no more than 90 days which may hamper the financing on the part of IFIs. 5 The authorities appear to be aware of remaining issues and have chosen to proceed with initial concessions first by way of testing the market and collecting potential bidders views as to what is necessary to be addressed through any further legislative amendments in order to make the regime more attractive (see Charts 3 and 4). Chart 3 - Quality of concessions related legislation in the EBRD countries of operations * Note: The various categories represent the level of compliance of a given country's legislation ("the laws on the books") with international standards such as the UNCITRAL Model Legislative Provisions on Privately Financed Infrastructure Projects. The asterisk indicates in which category Kazakhstan ranks. Source: EBRD concessions sector assessment 2007/08. 6 Chart 4 - Quality of concession legislation –Kazakhstan (2007/8) Kazakhstan International Standards Policy Framework 100% 80% Settlement of Disputes and Applicable Institutional Framework Laws 60% 40% 20% 0% Definitions and Scope of the Security and Support Issues Concession Law Project Agreement Selection of the Concessionaire Note: the extremity of each axis represents an ideal score in line with international standards such as the UNCITRAL Legislative Guide for Privately Financed Infrastructure projects. The fuller the 'web', the more closely concessions laws of the country approximate these standards. Source: EBRD Concessions Sector Assessment 2007/8. 3.2 Corporate Governance The principal legislation governing corporate governance in Kazakhstan is the Law on Joint Stock Companies (JSC Law) dated 13 May 2003 (Law No. 415-II dated 13 May 2003), as amended. A voluntary Corporate Governance Code was approved by the Council of Issuers on 21 February 2005 and by the Council of the Association of Financiers on 31 March 2005. The Code was revised in July 2007. Both the JSC Law and Stock Exchange Listing Rules refer to the Code but companies are only recommended to transpose the code's recommendations in their by-laws. No compliance statement is required. The EBRD's 2007 Corporate Governance Sector Assessment1 assessed the quality of corporate governance legislation in force in November 2007; Kazakhstan was found to be in "medium compliance" with the relevant international standards (the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance). The major shortcomings were found in the legislation on "disclosure and transparency" and on "ensuring the basis for an effective corporate governance framework" (see the Charts 5 and 6). 7 When assessing how corporate governance legislation works in practice in 2005, the EBRD found that the effectiveness of legal procedures for obtaining disclosure in Kazakhstan are undermined by their complexity, the difficult of enforcement and the length of the proceedings. Complexity was also identified as a problem for redress procedures. When considering the institutional environment, while the survey evidenced that company information is generally of good quality, the statutory auditors fairly independent and the legal framework on related party transactions adequate, partiality of judgements and corruption are considered major problems. As a result, enhancing the experience and competence of courts, prosecutors and market regulators should be tackled as priorities. Chart 5 - Quality of corporate governance legislation in the EBRD countries of operations * Note: The various categories represent the level of compliance of a country's legislation (the "laws on the books") with international standards as set out in the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance. The asterisk indicates in which category Kazakhstan ranks. Source: EBRD corporate governance sector assessment 2008. 8 Chart 6 - Quality of corporate governance legislation in Kazakhstan (2008) Ensuring the basis for an effectiv e corporate gov ernance framework 100% 75% The Responsibilities of the Board 50% The rights of shareholders 25% 0% The equitable treatment of Disclosure and Transparency shareholders The role of stakeholders in corporate gov ernance Note: The extremity of each axis represents an ideal score, i.e., corresponding to OECD Principles of Corporate Governance. The fuller the 'web', the more closely the corporate governance laws of the country approximate these principles. Source: EBRD Corporate Governance Sector Assessment, 2008 assessment. 3.3 Insolvency A complete assessment of all insolvency laws in the EBRD's countries of operations, including Kazakhstan, was recently completed in 2009. The assessed compliance score for the general insolvency law assessment was 61%, indicating 'low compliance' (see Charts 7 and 8). In the 2006 assessment Kazakhstan was rated as 'medium compliant'. This suggests that subsequent changes to the law have not improved it. It is weak in the areas of commencement, assets of the estate, credits rights and reorganisation. Examples of these weaknesses are: • Commencement: The law does not apply to state owned enterprises, there is no provision for a filing by a debtor based on anticipated or 'expected' insolvency, jurisdiction is with non- commercial courts and judges, it is unclear if the stay covers secured creditors and, if so, the limitation on their rights, the stay does not cover third parties who own property leased, hired or occupied by the insolvent debtor or retention of title creditors. • Assets: No safeguards requiring delivery up/protection of assets, not provisions requiring a debtor or third parties to provide information concerning assets. The avoidance of pre- bankruptcy transactions is weak, vague and unsatisfactory. • Creditors: No provisions for set-off. 9 • Reorganisation: No restriction on suppliers of essential services, no requirement for disclosure of material information regarding a proposed plan, no minimum standards by which a plan may be judged, no provision for ongoing finance requirements, approval process is sub-standard, no restrictions on voting by 'connected' creditors. There are no provisions for cross-border insolvency. This year the assessment included a special part (part F) on the law relating to insolvency office holders (trustees, administrators etc.). The assessment in this area was based upon the EBRD Office Holder Principles ('the principles') that were developed in 2007. It is an important area for assessment since in almost every case the respective laws of the countries that are assessed require the appointment of an office holder to administer the case. The quality of insolvency office holders, their appointment and supervision may have a crucial impact on efficient implementation of the law. This area was therefore selected to be assessed in depth and rated separately. The law is defective regarding qualifications and disqualification of insolvency office holders. There is no provision for the review of an office holder and the provisions relating to removal/retirement and replacement of an office holder are inadequate. There are no professional work standards and no rules of ethical conduct. There is no requirement for professional indemnity insurance. Chart 7- Quality of insolvency legislation in Kazakhstan (2009) Kazakhstan International standards Commencement of proceedings 100 80 60 40 Terminal/liquidation processes Treatment of estate assets 20 0 Reorganisation processes Treatment of creditors Note: The extremity of each axis represents an ideal score, i.e. corresponding to international standards such as the World Bank's Principles and Guidelines for Effective Insolvency and Creditor Rights Systems, the UNCITRAL Working Group's "Legislative Guidelines for Insolvency Law", and others. Source: EBRD Insolvency Sector Assessment, 2009. 10 Chart 8 – Quality of Insolvency legislation in the EBRD countries of operations * Note: The various categories indicate the level of compliance of each country's legislation (the "laws on the books") with international standards, such as the World Bank's Principles and Guidelines for Effective Insolvency and Creditor Rights Systems, the UNCITRAL Working Group on Legislative Guidelines for Insolvency Law, and others. Source: EBRD Insolvency Sector Assessment, 2009. 3.4 Securities markets The basic legislation on the securities markets in Kazakhstan is contained in the Law on Securities Market (Law No. 461-II dated 2 July 2003), in the Law on Investment Funds (Law No. 576-II dated 7 July 2004), in the Law on Joint-Stock Companies (Law No. 415-II dated 13 May 2003) and in several acts of the secondary legislation issued by the regulator. In February 2006, the Regional Financial Centre of Almaty (the "RFCA") was created. The RFCA is a Government initiative to create a financial market operating to internationally recognised standards of market regulation and best practices. It is a separate trading platform of the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange with simplified access for non-residents and its own listing rules. The RFCA is managed and supervised by the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for regulation of the activity of the RFCA, which reports directly to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Disputes between RFCA members are solved either through the specialised financial court of RFCA or court of arbitration. The securities market regulator is the Agency for Regulation and Control over the Financial Market and Financial Entities (the "Agency"), which is responsible for regulation and supervision of banks and entities performing certain types of banking transactions, insurance companies, securities market entities and accumulation pension funds. 11 According to the EBRD Securities Markets Legislation Assessment conducted in 2007, the country was found to be in "medium compliance" with the Objectives and Principles of Securities Regulation published by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) – see Charts 9 and 10 below - showing a number of shortcomings in the securities markets legal framework, especially in the "clearing and settlement", "money laundering" and "financial instruments" sections. Since the completion of the EBRD assessment, a number of improvements have been introduced. In particular, a new Anti-Money Laundering Law was adopted by both Chambers of the Kazakh Parliament in June 2009 and signed by the President in August 2009, and on 12 December 2008 a set of provisions addressing derivatives was incorporated into the Civil Code. Chart 9 – Quality of securities market legislation in the EBRD countries of operations * Note: The various categories represent the level of compliance of a given country's legislation (the "laws on the books") with international standards such as the IOSCO Principles. The asterisk indicates in which category Kazakhstan ranks. Source: Securities markets legislation assessment 2007. 12 Chart 10 - Quality of securities markets legislation in Belarus (2007) Kazakhstan International Standards Regulator 100.00% Financial Instruments 80.00% SROs 60.00% 40.00% Money Laundering Issuers and Disclosure 20.00% 0.00% Accounting CISs Clearing and Settlement Market Intermediaries Secondary Market Note: The extremity of each axis represents an ideal score in line with international standards such as the IOSCO Principles. The fuller the 'web,' the more closely the country's securities markets laws approximate these standards. Source: EBRD securities markets sector assessment 2007. In 2007 the EBRD assessed how securities markets legislation works in practice. The survey revealed that although many Kazakh companies have carried IPOs, only a few placements have been done nationally. Financial reporting is in line with IFRS but no official translation of these standards is available. Doubts are cast over the reliability of prospectuses due to the mild sanctions for providing inaccurate or misleading information. The Agency is in charge for the supervision of prospectuses and underwriters but there is little supervision of the IPO process in Kazakhstan. The Agency's sanctioning powers are limited: it can issue sanctions against an issuer only if an investor makes a complaint about a specific failure to publish a notice or provide a prospectus upon request. 13 3.5 Secured Transactions Security rights over property are governed by the Civil Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, adopted in December 1994 and other laws. There are two main types of security over movable assets (pledges) under Kazakh law: possessory (where the possession of the collateral is transferred to the creditor) and non-possessory (where the debtor may retain the collateral during the life of the security and use it). The registration system is two- tier: there is a mandatory registration, which applies to specific types of assets such as motor vehicles, aircraft etc. These assets are registered in specific registries and the pledge should be registered there too (e.g. the policy for pledges over motor vehicles). For all other types of assets, pledge registration is voluntary only and is conducted in the Centres for Registration of Immovable Property and their subsidiaries. There is no centralised registry but 16 separate Centres in two major cities, Astana and Almaty, and in each region. The registries are supervised by the Registration Service Committee under the Ministry of Justice in Astana. Most of the registries have computerised databases which are accessible through the respective registrar. Based on an EBRD assessment, the secured transactions legal regime is adequate, although not particularly enabling for sophisticated transactions. Some transactions remain complex to achieve. For example, a pledge over assets described generally would not be a viable option to secure a transaction since the law provides that the pledge agreement must specify the assets and their value or a method for their valuation. If the pledge is registered, a list and description of the pledged assets must be entered in the registry. General description would be possible for pledges over goods in circulation and processing (merchandise stock, raw materials, materials, semi-finished products, finished products and the like), where the debtor could change the composition and natural form of the pledged assets provided that their overall value would remain the same as prescribed in the pledge agreement. Such condition would be difficult to fulfil as the debtor who would have to renew its stock at all times. Practitioners have expressed some concerns on the efficiency of the registration process - bureaucratic and corrupt environment makes it hard to use the system. Search requests take up to five days, depending on work load, but considerable delays are also reported. The Bank has in the past experienced unacceptably long delays in perfecting its security rights over the borrower's assets. Finally, the means of enforcement provided by the law seem adequate on the books, yet in practice, enforcement is reported to be problematic due to deficiencies of the court system, uncertainty regarding the enforcement mechanisms, incidents of non-compliance of the government with enforcement rules and decisions, difficulties in locating and ensuring control of the pledged assets and possible application of exchange control rules to repatriation of enforcement proceeds. Serious delays could occur due to the right of the court to postpone the sale of the pledged property up to one year upon the debtor's request. EBRD surveys have highlighted serious problems, in particular the high risk of court corruption and the lack of training of key enforcement officers, such as the bailiffs. 14 Security over immovable assets (mortgages) is covered primarily by the 1995 Presidential Decree (having the force of law) on Mortgage of Immovable Property. The Kazakh residential mortgage market has expanded considerably in the last few years and, generally speaking, the legal framework has supported such expansion. There is no specific form required for a mortgage agreement but parties often have the agreement notarised. Mortgage agreement must specify the principal obligation, its amount and the due date which makes it impossible to secure a debt described generally or a fluctuating debt. An enterprise can be charged by way of a mortgage, where the security will cover all the enterprise's movable and immovable assets, claims and exclusive rights, including those obtained during the mortgage period, "main and circulating funds", and securities on its balance sheet. To be valid, the mortgage must be registered in the Real Estate Register, which is maintained by the Registration Service Committee - a state enterprise under supervision of the Ministry of Justice which has local registration offices across the country. The Register is paper-based and not centralised. The application for registration must be accompanied by a deed confirming ownership title to the mortgaged property. It is frequently the mortgage creditor who applies for registration in which case he must present a power of attorney signed by the mortgagor. The process is cumbersome and it takes about 3 weeks, however, banks reportedly disburse mortgage credit prior to completing registration. Mortgage right enjoys priority in the mortgaged property from the moment of its entry in the Register. In the event of bankruptcy priority of a mortgage right is superseded by preferential claims for damage to health and alimony. In case of the mortgagor's default the mortgage right can be realised in judicial procedure or in an out- of-court sale by means of a public auction carried out by a trustee who is either determined in the mortgage agreement or by decision of the mortgage creditor. Enforcement is reported to work efficiently. As for pledges, difficulties may arise with debtor's obstruction, which can significantly prolong the procedure especially if postponement of enforcement by up to one year has been granted by a court. 2.6. Telecommunications Institutional framework: Until 2007, the telecommunications sector (the "Sector") in Kazakhstan was regulated by three separate entities: the Agency for Communications and Informatics (AIC) which regulated technical matters and universal service; the Agency for Natural Monopolies (AREM), which regulated interconnection; and, the Committee for the Protection of Competition (CPC), responsible for assessment of dominance and application of retail tariff regulation. (The CPC was replaced by the Agency for Protection of Competition (APK) in 2008). In 2007 all relevant powers to regulate the sector were transferred to AIC. AIC is also now responsible for Sector policy making and Informatisation issues. 15 Regulatory independence: Since 2007, AIC has attempted to take independent action but meaningful reforms have yet to be implemented. The Government of Kazakhstan (the "Government") maintains control of 51% of the dominant incumbent operator, KazakhTelekom (KTC), through its Samruk Holding organisation, which also owns 100% of one of KTC's main competitor, TransTelekom. The sector regulator AIC has produced progressive regulatory proposals for retail tariff rebalancing, market access and interconnection charging but these have not yet been implemented by KTC. Thus, as the necessary market remedies have yet to be implemented, regulatory independence is still only a theoretical concept in Kazakhstan. Assessment: In a 2008 assessment of the communications sector of EBRD Countries of Operation the sector regulatory regime in Kazakhstan was deemed to have "Low Compliance" when measured against international best practice (see charts below). Chart 11 - Quality of telecommunications regulatory framework in Kazakhstan (2008) Regulatory independence 1.00 0.80 0.60 Interconnection and special access Dispute resolution and appeal 0.40 0.20 0.00 Significant Market Power and Market access (wired) safeguards Market access (radio) Note: The diagram shows the combined quality of institutional framework, market access and operational environment when benchmarked against international standards issued by the WTO and the European Union. The extremity of each axis represents an ideal score of 100 per cent, that is, full compliance with international standards. The fuller the "web", the closer the overall telecommunications regulatory framework of the country approximates these standards. 16 Chart 12. Key indicators for Kazakhstan (2008). 12(a) Fixed Network Penetration Fixed network penetration % of population 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Kazakhstan EU average SEE average CIS+M EU 10 average average 12(b) Mobile Network Penetration % of population Mobile network penetration 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Kazakhstan EU average SEE average CIS+M average EU 10 average 17 12(c) Broadband Network Penetration Broadband access % of population 25 20 15 10 5 0 Kazakhstan EU average SEE average CIS+M average EU 10 average Note: Key indicators for Belarus provide the fixed network penetration defined as active subscriber lines as a percentage of population, mobile network penetration defined as active pre- and post-paid subscribers as a percentage of population and the broadband network penetration defined as the number of access subscribers with speeds of 144k/bits or more as a percentage of population (broadband Network Penetration less than 1% is not shown on this chart). Source: EBRD Telecommunications Regulatory Assessment, 2008. 18
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text: /> The methodology rewards companies that grow quickly, boost profits and benefit shareholders. Rare is the company that can do all three. Syntroleum Inc. rose to the top of this year's rankings after years as an unprofitable laggard. The Tulsa company long has attempted to commercialize its proprietary method of converting things other than oil into fuel. Syntroleum's resurgence is linked to a partnership with Tyson Foods to build a plant in Louisiana that will turn animal grease into synthetic fuel. As of Sept. 30, the plant was mostly done, and on budget. Last year's turnaround sent Syntroleum at or near the top of all three categories used in the rankings. It was first in revenue growth, second in earnings growth and third in shareholder return. Finishing second is Orchids Paper Products Co., which produces toilet paper, napkins and paper towels that major retailers sell under store brands. The Pryor company went public several years ago to raise money to boost its production, and recently added to its capacity again. Like Syntroleum, Orchids excelled in the rankings, finishing in the top five in each category. Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, which ranked third, also was a comeback story. The Tulsa rental car company's stock was in free fall last autumn when new CEO Scott Thompson and executives renegotiated credit agreements and managed to obtain relief from longtime contracts with failing automaker Chrysler. The stock, at less than $1 a share, was priced for bankruptcy and company officials were considering it as well. But the stock has been the biggest gainer among Oklahoma stocks in 2009. For the 12-month period used in the Oklahoma Inc. rankings, Dollar Thrifty ranked second in shareholder return and fifth in earnings growth.


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Im now on psn my name is Tedhlfc4life so add me if u want.
tedhlfc4life Blog
Why The PS3 is Better Than The 360.
by tedhlfc4life on Comments
The ps3 has rechargable controls,the 360 ones use batteries and u have to buy a rechargable kit for it.
The ps3 has a wider variey of games e.g Mass effect=shooting game,Gears of war=shooting game,Halo=shooting game
ps3 has 2% failure rate 360 has 39%
360 has overheating problems and u have to buy a fan to stop them
Xbox live is 60 euro a year but PSN is just as good and costs 60 euro less
PS3 has built in WI-FI 360 dosent
PS3 has internet browser 360 dosent
360 scratches disks
PS3's blu-ray has extra layer which makes them harder to scratch
PS3 has Home,Life of playstation and Vidzone all free
360 has a Huge power cord while the PS3 has a very small one
PS3 has motion sensor
360 copied the avatars from Wii
Top 10 Playstation 3 Games.
by tedhlfc4life on Comments
This is my list of the top 10 PS3 games that i have played since i have got it.I will be getting God of War 3 in the next week or two so it will probably be my favouite game so far.
10: Killzone 2 (Great Shooter,Too Hard)
9: Saints Row 2 (Very fun open-world,Bad graphics,GTA Clone)
8: Fifa 09 (Really fun,Too easy)
7: Uncharted: Drakes Fortune (Great graphics and gameplay,Too short)
6: Batman: Arkham Asylum(Very funny,Awesome graphics and gameplay)
5: Dragon Age: Origins(Really fun,Graphics aren't great)
4: Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion: Game Of The Year Edition(Huge world,Many Quests,Lots to do)
3: Infamous(Awesome Story that can go 2 ways,Great Powers)
2: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves(Best Graphics i've ever seen,Deadly Story)
1: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots.(Best Cutscenes Ever,Great gameplay,Long Story will keep you busy)
Fallout 3 DLC Review.
by tedhlfc4life on Comments
Broken Steel: The Good:Continues the horrible ending of Fallout 3,Gives you a few cool weapons.The Bad:Not Very Long.8.5/10.
Mothership Zeta: The Good:You get some cool weapons to play with.The Bad:Long,boring,drains your supplies.5.5/10
Operation Anchorage: The Good:Gives you some really cool stuff,Story is a cool change from the way Fallout 3 usually does things.The Bad:Story gets repetitive sometimes.8.0/10
The Pitt: The Good: You get to be a Slaver,Story is interesting.The Bad:Can Be finished in a few hours,Very few weapons to get,though the ones that you do get are cool.8.0/10
Point Lookout: The Good:Gives you a big,new area to explore,Story is interesting,Gives you alot of cool weapons to play with.The Bad:The whole place is really depessing looking.9.0/10.
My Game Of The Year 2009 Awards...
by tedhlfc4life on Comments
I know its been 2010 for over a month now but i didn't bother to do this until now.I will be including the games i've played in 2009 and early 2010.Most of the games werent actually released in 2009.
Best Xbox 360 Game: Fallout 3. Runner Up: Assassins Creed 2.
Best PS3 Game: Metal Gear Solid 4. Runner Up: Uncharted 2.
Best PSP Game: God Of War: COO. Runner UP: Metal Gear Portable Ops.
Best PS2 Game: Metal Gear Solid 2. Runner Up: Metal Gear Solid 3
Best DS Game: GTA Chinatown Wars. Runner Up: Didnt play any other DS games in 2009.
Best PC Game: Fallout 2. Runner Up: WOW(Only played 10 day trial version)
Best Shooter: Call of Duty 4. Runner Up: Killzone 2.
Best RPG: Fallout 3. Runner Up: Fable 2
Best Sports Game: Fifa 09. Runner Up: Football Manager 2008
Best Wrestling Game: WWE 09. Runner Up: TNA Impact.
Best Fighting Game: Tekken 5:dark Resurrection. Runner Up: Dragon Ball:Raging Blast.
Best Adventure Game: Uncharted 2. Runner Up: Batman Arkham Asylum.
Best Horror Game: Resident Evil 5. Runner Up: Dead Space
Best Comic-Book Game: Batman Arkham Asylum. Runner Up: Spider-Man 3.
Overall Game Of The Year: Fallout 3. Runner Up: Metal Gear Solid 4
List Of Things And People That I Hate The Most.
by tedhlfc4life on Comments
This is a list of things and people that i hate the most:
WW2 games
Sheva Alomar (Resident evil 5 character).
Jordan (Katie Price).
People who play Call of Duty way too much.
People who think the 360 is better than the PS3.
Nintendo Wii (piece of poo).
Tekken 6 (HUGE disappointment).
Dumb AI.
Gossip magazines.
I might think of more in the future and if i do i will come back to this blog and update it.
Update: People who don't put Dvd's/Games back into their cases when they are done with them.
My First DLC...
by tedhlfc4life on Comments
The other day i gave PAT12KENNY a fiver to use his Fallout 3 DLC disk so i could install the downloads on to my 360 which makes this my first DLC now all i need is a working Fallout 3 disk to play them on.
Thoughts On Elder Scrolls MMORPG.
by tedhlfc4life on Comments
In my opinion i think an Elder Scrolls MMORPG would be a great game unlike the Fallout one because it is being made by Bethesda who are much better at making Rpgs than Interplay plus look at World of Warcraft and how succesful that was but i would rather if they just made an Elder Scrolls 5 on the PS3 but it dosent look like that is going to happen anytime soon.
Modem and Games.
by tedhlfc4life on Comments
Today i went into town with 100 euro and planned on buying a modem so i could play online with the ps3 but i found out that my internet cant support it so there was no point in getting one so instead i got dragonball:raging blast and uncharted:drakes fortune plus two dvds.
Game i would like to get in 2010.
by tedhlfc4life on Comments
Fallout:New vegas (Ps3)
Pokemon Heartgold or SoulSilver (Ds)
God Of War 3 (Ps3)
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (Psp)


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Abby Steele was named Pac-12 Women's Soccer Player of the Week for the week of October 29 - November 4, Commissioner Larry Scott announced today.WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Ducks goalkeeper
Steele, a sophomore from Santa Rosa, Calif., collected four saves on 16 total shots and posted her sixth clean sheet of the season in a 2-0 victory over Oregon State on Friday to take home Defensive Player of the Week accolades. She tallied a pair of saves in each half to help the Ducks send their seniors off with a win. Steele notched 78 saves in 19 games this season, averaging 4.11 stops per contest. She ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in goals against average (1.05) and save percentage (.796) and is tied for third in the Conference in shutouts (6).
"It's an honor to be chosen for this award and I want to say thank you to my coach Paul Karver because he is the one who got me to this point in my career," said Steele. "I also want to thank Casey Wilhelm, my senior keeper who pushed me every practice. I couldn't have excelled without her positive attitude."
This marks Steele's first Pac-12 Player of the Week award. She is Oregon's ninth all-time Player of the Week recipient.
Abby Steele Named Pac-12 Soccer Player of the Week
Courtesy: GoDucks.com
Release Date: 11/06/2012
- Ducks Announce 2015 Soccer Schedule
- Oregon Soccer Gives Back to Community: Part 3
- Oregon Soccer Gives Back to Community: Part 2
- Soccer Receives Recognition From NCAA For APR Scores
- Oregon Soccer Gives Back to Community: Part 1
- Tourney Teams Highlight Schedule
- First Wave Of Incoming Freshmen Already Adjusting To College
- Ducks Enriched by Service Trip To Dominican Republic


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We pay for the shipping back to our warehouse if you are not fully satisfied. Our Free Return Shipping Offer is unmatched industry wide and a true testament to the confidence in the quality of our furniture. No Re-Stocking Fees, No-Hidden Charges.
QDF, Sunbrella Fabric & Dacron Wrap
(1pc seat cushion)Quick Dry Foam with Dacron Wrap with covers made of Premium Sunbrella Fabric. 5 Year warranty against fading.
All of our Sunbrella cushion fabrics are easily removable and machine washable.
As you browse through our pages and speak with our knowledgeable customer representatives, you will find there are quite a few reasons why many have returned and recommended others to shop with us over the past 12 years. Here are some that we often hear why many of our customers think we stand out:
NOTE! Cushion colors not marked as "Instock" are made to order and may take 6-12 weeks to deliver.
I want to thank you and your customer service department for a an awesome purchasing experience. We recieved the furniture precisely when you promised and it was in perfect condition. Your CSR went above and beyond to make sure I had the cushions for a special event I was hosting. They arrived and look fantastic.
I am so pleased with the Maya collection that I plan to purchase some extra sections in the near future. You have exceeded my expectations!
Thank you again for your professionalism
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Assembly Service Notice
Assembly is included with this item when this option is selected. With the assembly option selected, orders that are $1500 or over will also include White Glove Service. White Glove Service, in addition to assembly, includes unpacking, placement of furniture as well as removal and disposal of all debris including cartons and wood crating material. In stock cushions and in stock umbrella fabrics will be included with Assembly/White Glove Services. Made to order cushions and made to order umbrella fabrics are shipped separately via UPS and are not included with Assembly/White Glove Services.
Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery when choosing Assembly/White Glove Services. Standard, non-assembled, delivery is 2-10 days.
Teak Treatment Service Notice


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Judge Eric Shepperd starts term as Austin Bar Association president
Judge Eric M. Shepperd began his term as president of the Austin Bar Association today. During his one-year tenure, he will focus on raising the public's awareness of legal services and highlighting the ways in which Austin's legal community works to provide services to those in need.
Before serving in his current position as judge of Travis County Court at Law No. 2, Shepperd was the director of civil litigation for the Travis County Attorney's Office and assistant attorney general for the Law Enforcement Defense Division.
Shepperd is active in service to the legal profession and the Austin community. He is a lecturer for the University of Texas Law School's Trial Advocacy Program, a board member of the Texas Center for the Judiciary, and a board member and past chair of Leadership Austin, among other activities. Shepperd holds a B.A. in business from Andrews University and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.Continue Reading...


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Pippa and James Middleton visit their sister Kate Middleton at the King Edward VII hospital in London on December 5, 2012.
She's ready for the summer!
Work it, girl.
Mariah Carey, her boobs and her new beau James Packer, aka the fourth richest man in Australia, took their love to Ibiza, Spain where they gallivanted on a yacht with her kids.
Bad Girl RiRi? More like Braless RiRi.


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It's coming to Sony's PSP out October with an iPhone version to follow pre-Christmas.
The presentation is chunky (in line with the ease of use at the system's heart) but get past the cartoony Live Play mode and check out the Studio Session and Song Crafter for DAW-style arranging of 1700 exclusive Timbaland loops and an equal number from the studio geniuses at Rockstar - aka the guys who make the best game soundtracks in the world.
The building block raw material is suitably 'dope' on first inspection but it's the ability to take hits and lines and sequence your own beats and notes for true originality that elevates Beaterator beyond mere toy.
Alternatively skip the material on board entirely and use the PSP (3000)'s mic to record your own vocals, or any sound, chop it up in the wave editor and make tracks with that instead.
Perhaps most enticing to FM readers however is the onboard synth - complete with three oscillators and a sound akin to the recent (superb) Korg MS10 emulation on Nintendo DS. Possibly worth the £25 entry fee alone.
Details of whether you can add your own WAVs via stick or file transfer are sketchy with Rockstar saying 'no' to us yesterday. But only allowing mic input access to Beaterator's world seems an unfair hindrance to a remarkably powerful music making tool. We're praying for a correction shortly.
Similarly true audiophile details such polyphony, multi-timbrality, the sample rates employed and the copyright freedom attached to those Timbaland beats are yet to be confirmed but if you want to witness it's power check out Rockstar's Beaterator pages to see multiple videos of it in action (including footage of the man himself fulfilling his endorsement duties to the letter).
We out.


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Recent Posts
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- Three Things That Will Boost Your Brainstorming Meeting with Reps
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AboutThe Selling Power Sales Leadership Blog showcases insights, ideas, advice about issues related to B2B sales and marketing. Posts are written by top-level sales and marketing leaders across all industries. The blog is run by the editors of Selling Power magazine and SellingPower.com. If you're interested in contributing, email email@example.com for details.
Tag Archives: sales manager
Six Tips to Enhance Your One-on-One Coaching Meetings with Salespeople
Which of the following statements best describes your opinion, as a sales leader, of one-on-one meetings? They're the best way to stay connected to salespeople and drive pipeline opportunities forward. They're a low-value activity and should be skipped when more … Continue reading
Posted in: Sales Coaching, Sales Leadership, Sales Management Tags: coaching, Fusion Learning, meetings, pipeline, sales manager, salespeople 1 Comment
Sales Leaders, Ditch Your Outdated Ideas about Hiring
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The myths I'm talking about are based on the idea that certain characteristics or qualities can magically help you identify your next top performer … Continue reading
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Transitioning from Sales to Management
The Harvard Business Review article, "Selling is Not About Relationships," (the title is misleading) categorizes sales people into 5 buckets:
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How to Succeed as a Sales Manager
As a sales manager and leader, are you measuring the right metrics for sales success?
At Vantage Point Performance, we recently wrote a book based on a groundbreaking research study we conducted about the metrics that leading sales forces are using to … Continue reading
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Why Sales Success Starts with Credibility
There are four very basic sales management questions that a great front line or senior sales leader should be able to answer "yes" to:
1) Do your people trust you?
2) Do they have clarity on overall strategy?
3) Do you make yourself available to them?
… Continue reading
Posted in: Great Leaders, Sales Leaders, Sales Leadership, Sales Management Tags: ADP, credibility, Ken Powell, sales manager, sales results, sales success, salespeople Comments Off
3 Sales Management Challenges & How to Solve Them with Science
Are great salespeople born, or made? With today's advanced scientific sales analytics and measurement tools, sales managers can actually find out.
First, behavioral assessments give sales managers insight into a salesperson's nature and psy… Continue reading
Posted in: Sales, Sales Management Tags: motivation, sales manager, sales success, salespeople Comments Off
Where Do Great Front-Line Sales Managers Come From?
Managing a sales team is one of the most important positions in a company. Great sales managers have a profound impact on the productivity of their sales teams and produce better sales results. Managing a sales team is also one of the most challenging … Continue reading
Posted in: Sales, Sales Management Tags: hiring, Norm Behar, sales manager, Sales Readiness Group, sales results, sales success Comments Off


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About Me
Happily married, Pastor's Wife, Former Homeschool Teacher, Proud Parent of two dynamic young people...one of each and BOTH Graduating in May, and looking for where they will continue their educations...one for a Master's and the other under grad work. He'll have several college credits under his belt from this years dual credit courses as a Senior in HS. I live a life complicated by Fibromyalgia.


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Who Runs the Show
A small group of committed individuals who eat, sleep, and drink the New Era (it's not a healthy diet)…
Steve Fenberg
Executive Director
Steve (at) NewEraColorado (dot) org
Steve is a founder of New Era Colorado and formed the organization just after graduating from the University of Colorado. He comes to New Era with a background in local politics, labor rights, and environmental policy. Steve sits on various nonprofit boards, including ONE Colorado PAC, INVST Community Studies, and the Colorado Civic Engagement Roundtable's Steering Committee. When he isn't strategizing new ways to engage his generation in conscious democracy, he is usually searching for a way to bring a Big Lebowski or Bob Dylan quote into the conversation of the moment.
Passions: Dark beer, coffee, NPR, political street fights, good films, pink ladies (the delicious apple variety)
Carrie Jackson
Special Projects Manager
Carrie (at) neweracolorado (dot) org
Carrie grew up in the northeast and graduated from the University of Vermont. In 2003 she moved to Colorado where she immediately plugged into local politics and human rights work. Carrie has been with New Era since our humble beginnings and has brought our leadership development and voter engagement programs to scale. Her favorite parts of the job are engaging first-time voters, building leaders, and talking shop on ballot measures and local policies.
Passions: Plants, fine cheese and/or Doritos, not planning weddings, hashtags on facebook
Nina Kadjar
Development Manager
Nina (at) NewEraColorado (dot) org
(Almost) everything is bigger in Texas. Nina came to Colorado to work on campaigns after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin in 2012. She spends her time makin' it rain for New Era. Nina's got a thing for human rights, loves to travel more than anything, and is freaking stoked to call the Mile High her home.
Passions: Eating lemons with salt, political campaigns, hot sauce or A1 steak sauce on everything, discussing international conflict, & talking three decibels louder than everyone else
Molly Fitzpatrick
Organizing Director
Molly (at) NewEraColorado (dot) org
Molly is from the south and says y'all a whole lot. Her relationship with New Era goes way back- Molly was a rockstar intern for New Era while working on her Political Science degree at CU-Boulder. Molly is now charged with running the Boulder program, and we couldn't be more excited to have her back.
Passions: Taboo, chocolate, and brewing Kombucha
Deputy Director
Lizzy (at) neweracolorado (dot) org
Lizzy is from Warwick, a small town in New York's Hudson Valley that has a lot of apple orchards. She's got more hometown pride than maybe anyone ever, but was lured west by Colorado College and Sociology. Environmental issues were her number one at school, but she came up to Denver after graduating to work on all kinds of policy and is excited to organize in the Mile High.
Passions: Pickles, hiking, one particular dub-step cat youtube video, Game of Things, seitan wings
Samir Sheath
Operations Manager
Samir (at) neweracolorado (dot) org
Samir is from Memphis, TN, and he loves Elvis, but that's about it. He's worked on campaigns in Denver, Austin, and Virginia and is glad to be back in Denver. He cares about affordable housing, economic opportunity, and social equality among other things. He has three shih-tzus.
Passions: backpacking, road-trips, cooking, and political rants.
Keara Fenzel
Denver Lead Organizer
Keara (at) neweracolorado (dot) org
After being one of the first of New Era's Democracy Fellows, Keara could not wait to come back and work for New Era (debatably because of the wifi speed and the bagels). She hails from the Dirty Jerz where she caught the activism bug early on, and graduated from a teeny-tiny school called Hamilton College with a degree in Government. She couldn't stay away from the Rockies for too long, though, and is back to take some names and rock some boats as the lead organizer in our Denver office (metaphorically, of course).
Passions: Game of Thrones, Internet culture, summertime, changing the status quo, and adorable baby animals.
Sally Anderson
Development Coordinator
Sally (at) neweracolorado (dot) org
Originally from North Carolina, Sally came across New Era when she made her way out west to study International Affairs and Community Studies at CU-Boulder. She's been inspired by New Era ever since, and is looking forward to turning that passion into serious dollars as the Development Coordinator. When she's not raising the Benjamins for New Era, you can find Sally hiking in the beautiful mountains of Colorado and eating pizza.
Passions: Amplifying the youth voice, fried foods, education reform, and Beyonce


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Italian Nobel Sport® 12 Gauge No. 4 Buckshot Loads. PRICED LOW!
An excellent multi-purpose magnum load for all your shotgunning needs. Manufactured by top-of-the-line Nobel Sport of Italy. 27 pellets of No. 4 buck shot. Premium Nobel® plastic wad. Muzzle velocity: 1,325 F.P.S. Packed 10 rounds per box, 250 rounds per case.
!!! Limited Quantities !!!
More Details...


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Serafini & Vidotto Oltre Il Bianco (Sauvignon) 2009
Serafini & Vidotto - Veneto - Italy
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Additional Information on Serafini & Vidotto Oltre Il Bianco (Sauvignon) 2009
Serafini & Vidotto
Vintage: 2009
Despite less than ideal climatic conditions, featuring storms which threatened an otherwise perfect year, most parts of California had an excellent year for viticulture. Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs were picked at optimum ripeness, and Californian white wine was just about as good as it could be. Surprises and overcoming difficulties summed up much of the United States' wine industry in 2009, and many of the results from Oregon, Washington State and all over California speak for themselves, with the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon grapes having developed healthy, thick skins and thus plenty of character and distinction. Elsewhere in the New World, South Africa had a very good year in 2009, and wineries across the cape of the African continent are proclaiming it a truly great vintage. In most of Europe, fine weather and punctual ripening periods produced some excellent wines, with many of the best coming out of France's Bordeaux and the surrounding regions. Merlot had an exceptionally good year in France, and wineries are proclaiming that the 2009 Merlot harvest was one of the best in living memory. Indeed, across most of France, ripening was relatively even, and red wine grapes such as Cabernet Franc, Syrah and others were reportedly highly characterful, with plenty of the required tannin levels with which to make high quality wines. Italy, too, had a very good 2009. Piedmont reported extremely favorable conditions throughout 2009, and their signature Nebbiolo grapes were more or less perfect when harvested, having benefited from the slight drop in temperature at the end of their ripening period. Veneto, too, had an enviable year, producing superb Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay wines in 2009.
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc grapes originated in France, where they are still widely grown today and treated to a wide range of processing practices – from aging in oak barrels, blending with other varietals, and undergoing malolactic fermentation to encourage a more mellow, buttery finish. These green skinned white wine grapes are highly versatile, and are now grown in several countries around the world which have the correct climatic conditions for getting the best results from them. Generally, Sauvignon Blanc varietal grapes prefer a cooler climate, as too much heat dulls the flavor present in the fruit. As such, they are generally grown in valleys and on coastal areas, where they can benefit from cooling breezes before being typically harvested early in the summer. The grapes themselves produce wines which are often very dry and crisp, yet full of a wide range of flavors including grasses, tropical fruits and citrus notes.
Region: Veneto
Veneto has, for hundreds of years, been one of Italy's most important wine regions, and many of the finest wineries and appellations near the Adriatic coast have reached levels of international fame and recognition unmatched by other parts of the country. Amarone, Valpolicella and Bardolino DOC regions are all widely understood to be amongst the best places in the world for flavorful, complex and interesting red wines, and the white Soave wines produced on the foothills of the Alps are enjoyed across the globe for their clarity and crispness. The region benefits from a range of micro-climates, protected from the harsh central European winters by the mountain range, and the generations of expertise and dedication to quality and innovation shown by the hundreds of wineries in the region.
Country: Italy
There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.
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