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Nigeria: Experts Pick Holes in Procurement Process
By James Emejo
Say absence of governing council violates enabling act.
Renewed controversies have trailed the continued existence of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) without the proposed National Council on Public Procurement (NCPP) which ought to endorse the former's activities as provided by the Public Procurement Act 2007.
Prof. Paul Idornigie of the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies told THISDAY that one of the objectives of the BPP in ensuring probity, accountability and transparency in the procurement process is in doubt because the NCPP is yet to be established as required by the Act which also gave life to the Bureau.
Speaking on new issues of transparency and access to information in the public and private sectors at a one-day seminar themed: "Emerging Issues on Good Governance in Nigeria" which was organised by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administration of Nigeria (ICSAN) Abuja Chapter, he also carpeted the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for allegedly usurping the function of the NCPP by approving and awarding contracts at its weekly meetings.
He said the BPP could not be said to be observing good governance in its operations when the NCPP which is supposed to vet its activities is yet to be created as prescribed by law.
He further chided members of the National Assembly for being pre-occupied with frivolous oversight functions and not ensuring that laws passed are actually implemented to the letter.
The professor said:"I am actually worried about the effect on contracts being awarded by the Federal Executive Council on this issue. I won't use the word illegal; all I'm saying is that the National Assembly members are here: if they believe that they don't need the National Council on Procurement, they should amend the law. But we cannot have a law that provides for NCPP and since 2007, the council has not been established."
He said:"I have a challenge with the public procurement act when talking about transparency; this was a law passed to ensure transparency and accountability. Now this law was passed in 2007 but as we speak, we've not had a National Council on Public Procurement and yet, we have the Bureau of Public Procurement which ought to take directives from the Council.
"All the thresholds being observed in the ministries, departments and agencies of government are determined by the BPP but the Bureau needs the approval of the National Council on Privatisation to do this.
"How do you run a system where the law provides that there should be a council and all we see every Wednesday is that the work that ought to be done by this council is being taken by the Federal Executive Council. Is that transparency?"
According to Idornigie:"If the government feels we don't need the National Council on Public Procurement, let them amend the law to provide that it is the FEC that would play this role. One of the objectives of the BPP is to ensure probity, accountability and transparency in the procurement process. Now how can BPP do this when it has no council?"
He added that though the governing council for public procurement had not been set up, yet the BPP had been issuing financial thresholds, stressing that "the whole public procurement act made no reference to the FEC and yet, it is the FEC that approves matters which ought to be approved by the National Council on Public Procurement."
In the same vein, Chairman, ICSAN, Abuja Chapter, Mrs. Stella Anukam, said there were several laws which had been enacted by the National Assembly but yet to be implemented.
She said:"When it comes to implementation, you would be shocked. The public procurement act is one and if the major body set up to ensure the implementation of that act since 2007 is yet to be in place I think we should begin to worry."
Anukam, however, said ICSAN would convey the summit resolutions on issues raised to relevant authorities and press for concrete action.
Meanwhile, speaking while declaring the seminar open, Minister for Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, warned of severe consequence in neglecting good governance which he described as necessary for redeeming the country's battered image.
He blamed the absence of good governance on the incessant political instability witnessed in the polity especially during the military regime.
Maku said the way to go was for citizens and leader to take responsibility for their actions as well as reappraise societal values.
He said everybody must be disciplined to respect rules adding that "the cutting corners syndrome is like Ebola virus" which does no good to anybody.
He added that serious people were needed in government to ensure things are done the right way.
Conflict minerals reporting guidance published
The guidance, compiled by the Responsible Sourcing Network and Enough Project, has been produced ahead of the 31 May 2014 deadline that requires companies who source minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo to submit their first conflict minerals disclosures to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Policies should articulate a commitment to ensuring sourcing practices do not support conflict, human rights abuses including forced labour, mass atrocities and crimes against humanity, the Expectations for Companies' Conflict Minerals Reporting guidance stated.
It detailed how firms should commit to exercising supply chain due diligence and consider the implementation of a supply chain transparency system that allows for the identification of the smelters and/or refiners in its minerals supply chain.
The metals tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold – also known as 3TG – should only be sourced from conflict-free covered countries, while companies should only use 3TG minerals from smelters that have been audited and verified as conflict free by a credible programme such as the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative, the document states.
Other recommendations include developing a conflict minerals programme that incorporates a description of the steps that will be taken to identify, assess, mitigate and respond to risks.
At a minimum steps should include supply chain surveys, supplier training, supplier and smelter encouragement, and an obligation to participate in the Conflict Free Smelter programme or equivalent, provided such industry schemes adhere to international standards, audits and unannounced spot checks, the report stipulated.
Darren Fenwick, senior government affairs manager at the Enough Project and report co-author said advocates for a clean minerals trade were keen to understand how companies, who are connected to the Congo through mineral sourcing, are addressing their connection to the conflict that has resulted in millions of deaths.
"Companies whose reports show compliance benefit from positive public sentiment and increased brand recognition," he said.
Fellow co-author Patricia Jurewicz, Responsible Sourcing Network director added: "Investors would like to see their companies establish baselines the first year and specify the steps they are taking so we can then measure improvements in transparency and accountability reporting over time. Our paper provides a set of specific indicators that can be tracked to allow for comparability between annual reports."
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All South Africa construction majors 'involved' in collusion, price-fixing – Patel
By: Natalie Greve
Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel has said that all the major South African civil engineering and construction companies currently active in the sector have been involved in infrastructure-related collusion and price-fixing.
"This problem is huge and pervasive in the infrastructure space," he said at the inaugural Project and Construction Management Professions Conference on Thursday.
The State reportedly lost billions of rands through large-scale collusion and price-fixing by private sector companies during several past infrastructure projects, which instigated investigations by the Competition Commission into several completed public build projects.
These enquiries, which included investigations into the Gautrain project and several stadium developments, uncovered substantial evidence of collusion and price fixing by private sector participants, the Minister noted.
In cases involving critical projects, a number of companies came forward to acknowledge their involvement in the unlawful practises, Patel added.
"We have received about 400 admissions of incidents of collusion by companies in the sector," he commented.
South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) president Professor Raymond Nkado said he was "shocked" that registered members of the SACPCMP had been found to have been involved.
"As a council, we have decided that we might take additional disciplinary action against these [companies]," he said.
Fast-Track Process
Based on the evidence gleaned from the commission's investigations, which indicated the pervasiveness of the involvement by private companies, it was decided to introduce a "fast-track settlement process", which would avoid lengthy legal processes that could persist for up to eight years, and which Patel said could potentially distract the project management process.
"We approached the industry and said we were prepared to put a voluntary disclosure process on the table, which would bring this to a conclusion expeditiously. In return, what is required is full disclosure, a commitment to end the cartels and an acceptance that the law must take its course," he explained.
Once the disclosure process had been completed and admission of guilt received, the commission would then determine appropriate fines or penalties related to the value of the project.
Several such processes between the Competition Commission and private companies were currently under way, with most in the final stages, where the extent of the penalty was being determined in cases where organisations were "improperly enriched".
Patel added that the first company to come forward and admit collusion would receive preferential treatment in terms of the penalty levied.
"We also take into account the extent of cooperation, so that there is an incentive to come clean. However, these companies will still have to pay substantial penalties as prescribed by the Competition Act," he cautioned.
In cases where investigations implicated public servants, this information would be referred to law enforcement agencies.
There would be public disclosure once settlements had been reached.
Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi added that the findings of the investigation challenged the common perception that corruption and malgovernance was only pervasive in the public sector.
"The opinion that only government has such problems has been proved incorrect. There are huge problems in the private sector and we must expose them," he said, encouraging the private sector to engage in "self reflection".
Nxesi noted that key to the prevention of corruption in infrastructure projects was the establishment of a strong financial system, transparent procurement processes and incentivisation.
Moreover, Patel advised that the competition authorities had used the findings of the investigations to identify networks and channels used by companies in collusive practises and had identified the lead players and managers.
This would be used to develop internal preventive controls to reduce the opportunity for future collusion.
In addition, Patel said the CEO of any company awarded an infrastructure tender would be required to sign an "integrity pact" that committed them to competitive and noncorrupt practises and to create a culture in their organisation in which anticompetitive behaviour was discouraged.
"This will require executives to commit personal responsibility and liability," he said.
The integrity pact was currently being piloted in a number of infrastructure tenders and would be fully implemented throughout the course of this year.
Patel said it was critical that the new phase of national infrastructure development not be characterised by similar high levels of collusion and price-fixing.
"Companies will have to make an important calculation. In the past, they thought collusion was a no-brainer; that they would secure the contract and walk away with the money. Now they see that we have developed the investigatory capacity to track the evidence down and to bring companies to book. That is the most important breakthough for us," he said.
Analysis: New law fails to ease oil concerns in Uganda
KAMPALA/NAIROBI, 13 December 2012 (IRIN) – Uganda's parliament recently passed a law to govern the exploration, development and production of the country's estimated three billion barrels of oil, a resource whose extraction will directly affect the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people.
While the law streamlines the burgeoning industry, analysts have raised concerns over transparency and over who controls the sector.
"The new law helps set clear guidelines under which the oil sector is to be run and managed, and makes clear who is in charge of what roles," said Tony Otoa, director of Great Lakes Public Affairs (GLPA), a Uganda-based think tank focusing on oil and governance. "However, there are some concerns about transparency and too much power within the oil industry in the hands of the president."
The bill was passed on 7 December after weeks of wrangling over its controversial Clause 9, which gives the energy minister wide-ranging powers, including authority over the granting and revoking of oil licenses, negotiating and endorsing petroleum agreements, and promoting and sustaining transparency in the petroleum sector. Many members of parliament (MPs) felt these powers should be held by an independent national oil authority.
"Essentially, the standoff, which has ended, was about the withdrawal of trust from a government that is battered by corruption scandals. Also the way the cabinet operates is that, in the past, the feeling has been that some key ministries, like finance, are effectively run by the presidency after being stuffed by yes-men or -women. The pushback against Clause 9 also comes as the Central Bank opened its vaults to a large withdrawal in 2010 [US$740 million to buy six fighter jets] only for approvals to be sought retrospectively," said Angelo Izama, a Ugandan journalist and oil sector analyst.
"Loss of trust"
"This loss of trust is behind the resistance to greater control by the executive," he added. "The executive has not been a bad shepherd of the process so far. Uganda's negotiating position has been tougher with the oil companies, ironically, without the oversight of parliament. However, public scandals elsewhere have negatively affected the ability of the president to convince lawmakers – especially of his party – that he means well."
A number of donors – including the UK and Ireland – recently suspended aid to Uganda following allegations of deep-rooted corruption in the Office of the Prime Minister. The prime minister, the former energy minister and the foreign affairs minister were all accused of taking kick-backs from oil companies in 2011, charges that remain unproven but that nevertheless damage the reputation of the government.
"The country lacks trust in the state… Institutions and officials have lost legitimacy, and for such an important bill to vest too much power into a political appointee is a recipe for disaster," said Stephen Oola, a transitional justice and governance analyst at Uganda's Makerere University Refugee Law Project.
"Granting and revoking licenses and negotiations are technical in nature. We need an independent commission or authority made up of people of good competence, technical ability and experience, and good morals to guard our oil," said Frank Gashumba, a local businessman and social activist.
Proponents of Clause 9 say licensing powers are safer in the hands of the cabinet than under an oil authority. "The authority is open, easy to bribe and manipulate. Cabinet is bigger than the authority – members of the executive are answerable to Ugandans because they are elected leaders," said Kenneth Omona, a ruling party MP.
Those opposed to it say they will challenge the law, which was passed with 149 votes in favour and 39 against; some 198 MPs did not turn up to vote.
"The fight is not complete; the passing of the bill is liable to be challenged in courts of law," said Theodore Ssekikubo, ruling party MP and chair of the parliamentary forum on oil and gas. "If we fail to go to court, we shall subject the matter to a referendum for all Ugandans to pronounce themselves on this strategic resource. We want to ensure transparency and accountability in the oil sector."
There are also concerns about the law's confidentiality clause, which limits the amount of information accessible by the public.
"The law is lacking transparency – it imposes confidentiality on officials working within the sector, even after they leave office, so there is no opportunity for whistle-blowing or for the public to have access to information on, say, production-sharing agreements," GLPA's Otoa said.
He noted that Uganda still hasn't joined the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an international scheme that attempts to set a global standard for transparency in oil, gas and mining, further compounding the sector's lack of transparency. As a member of the EITI, Uganda and oil companies involved in the country would be required to publish all payments and revenues from the industry.
While Total and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), two of Uganda's major oil partners, are listed on Wall Street and are therefore subject to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act – which requires disclosure of payments relating to the acquisition of licenses for exploration and production of oil, gas and minerals – the Irish firm Tullow Oil, another of Uganda's main oil partners, is not under any similar obligations.
"I am worried we [legislators] and the public can't access and scrutinize these agreements. You can imagine the recently negotiated and signed oil agreements have not been accessed by the public, not even by members of parliament," Beatrice Anywar, former shadow energy minister, told IRIN.
The impact of the oil sector has so far been most acutely felt by communities around Lake Albert, thousands of whom have had to move – some willingly and some forcefully – to make room for an oil refinery, which is expected to take up 29sqkm and displace some 8,000 people.
Land issues
"The government is prosecuting the refinery resettlement by the book. However, managing public expectations and the process of multiple decision makers in Uganda's complex land legal system [Uganda has multiple land systems, including customary, leasehold and freehold] has contributed some volatility to the process… What is adequate compensation? And who determines that? Is it the market or should this be done by the government?" said journalist Izama.
"As a partner to the oil companies, it's questionable too if the government can make the best decisions for the affected people as it would look to keep project costs fairly low," he continued. "It is still a dilemma which is jurisprudential as well as political."
He noted that much of the oil is in game reserves and a sensitive basin with lakes, rivers and a rare biodiversity, and borders the Democratic Republic of Congo, which could also pose challenges for peaceful production; there has already been some tension between the two countries over their boundaries within Lake Albert.
"The process of consensus-building is still weak, and regardless of how it's arrived at, displacements will create uncomfortable realities, including land and job pressure."
According to Otoa, Uganda's lack of a comprehensive land policy makes compensation issues more complex. "We need clear land policies to ensure people are properly compensated – there is a Resettlement Action Plan in place, but it has not been implemented, and a draft land policy has not been actualized, leaving these communities vulnerable," he said.
He noted that the lack of education among the local population, both in the oil-rich areas and the rest of the country, had contributed to the continued problems in the sector.
"We have focused too much on educating MPs on the implications and importance of good oil governance. We need to move to people-centred approaches and encourage dialogue in the public sphere, which will lead to people demanding accountability from their MPs and the government," he added.
Ultimately, Izama said, responsible actions by the government will be the difference between Uganda's oil making a significant impact on the country's economy or causing conflict and greater poverty.
"Pressure on public institutions prior to commercial oil production is an effective way of counteracting the resource curse. If this public engagement falters, if the transition [from President Museveni to his successor] is volatile, some of the scenarios of the so-called oil curse are possible," he said. "Overall the tensions are high, but responsible actions by public and political institutions like the past debate show progress is possible."
Related articles
- Uganda President Says Foreigners Sabotaging Oil Sector (voanews.com)
- EU donors freeze aid to Uganda over corruption (apperi.org)
Senegal's reforms and red carpets
November 27, 2012
Senegal's President Macky Sall has slashed government spending to finance new infrastructure projects.
Faced with an audit of Wade-era projects, the opposition says he is playing political games. Dakar has been rolling out the red carpet in recent weeks.
Elected in March on a reform ticket, President Macky Sall is in demand as an interlocutor – whether it is by the World Bank, the UN or France's President François Hollande, who stopped in Dakar on 12 October en route to his more controversial landing in Kinshasa for the Francophonie summit.
This month, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation is holding its annual development conference in Dakar to salute Senegal's political achievements.
Dakar's National Assembly gave Hollande the chance to set out his Africa policy, which he insisted was non-interventionist and non-paternalistic.
Hollande seized the chance for a tête à tête with Sall, seeking his help for the regional effort to tackle the worsening in- security in Mali.
Senegal's troops, alongside Ghana's, are regarded as the most professional in the region.
But Sall has plenty of local problems to tackle – such as the perennial rainy-season flooding.
The government's failure to invest in flood defences was one of the reasons for voters turning against former President Abdoulaye Wade.
In September, Macky Sall pushed through a bill to abolish the Senate, the second chamber in the National Assembly.
He promised that the 767bn CFA francs ($1.5bn) would be used to finance a 10-year plan for effective flood defences, storm drainage and sanitation.
Opponents to Sall's plan accuse him of partisan plotting.
The Senate was dominated by members of Wade's [I]Parti Démocratique Sénégalais[/I].
But Sall's supporters insist the plan reflects the need to cut ballooning government overheads inherited from the Wade era.
The Sall government aims to cut the budget deficit from current levels of 7.4% of gross domestic product down to 4% by 2015.
So far, Sall has closed 59 moribund state institutions, banned first-class travel for civil servants and is selling a presidential jet.
To promote accountability, Sall has published details of all official salaries, declared his own assets and promised to cut salaries at state-run companies to below 5m CFA francs per month.
"Humility, sobriety and rigour should govern our politics," Sall told The Africa Report's sister magazine Jeune Afrique after his election.
"I assure you that there will be a profound break from the practices that were in force under my predecessor."
The new government has quickly launched audits of government departments and projects for evidence of illicit disbursements.
This includes projects run by Wade's son Karim, such as the 650bn CFA franc energy crisis programme, Plan Takkal.
Britain, France and the United States have pledged cooperation in tracking down stolen money.
Sall rejects claims of political vindictiveness: "The only thing that interests us is that the errors of the past don't repeat themselves," he said.
The courts will take cases identified by the audit.
His promise to cut the presidential term from seven to five years with immediate effect won local and international plaudits, as did his agreement with the African Union to set up a special tribunal for Chad's ex-leader Hissène Habré, in exile in Senegal since 1990.
Related articles
- Son of Ex-Senegal President Faces Police Queries in Wealth Probe – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
- Senegal Sells Power Surplus to Neighbors as Output Rises – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
- Senegal police question ex-leader's son over graft claims (capitalfm.co.ke)
- Senegal trial of Chad dictator operational soon (seattletimes.com)
Liberia: President Sirleaf Raps On Progress Against Malaria
October 1, 2012
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has disclosed that there has been unprecedented success in scaling up malaria control, with a 33 percent decrease in malaria deaths in Africa over the last decade.President Sirleaf said however, the current global funding crisis threatens this progress and the achievement of the health MDGs – Goals 4, 5 and 6.
"Our national malaria control programs have completed comprehensive programmatic and financial gap analyses, detailing a $3.7 billion gap in the finances needed to sustain universal coverage of essential malaria interventions to the end of 2015 in Africa," President Sirleaf said.
"I speak on behalf of the 44 ALMA Heads of State and Government. As the world begins discussions on the post-2015 development framework, African leaders understand that we have a three-year window to leverage every resource to ensure that we achieve the health goals for our people and to develop plans to sustain the gains," she said.
President Sirleaf said in the coming months, the High-Level Panel, which she has the honor to co-Chair with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Indonesian President Susilo Yudhoyono, will lay the groundwork for a global post-2015 agenda with shared responsibilities for all countries and with the fight against poverty and for sustainable development at its core.
"This new agenda must build on the successes that will have been achieved during the MDG era," she added.
President Sirleaf who is Chairman of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) was speaking at the United Nations Secretary General's Every Woman Every Child Dinner held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York recently.
President Sirleaf said over the summer, African leaders rallied and decided that they will be at the forefront of The Big Push to 2015.
In this vein, President Sirleaf said African leaders have decided that it was important to call upon their bilateral, private sector, NGO, CBO, foundation and Development Bank partners to keep their commitments to global health. "They have done a great job thus far, but more is needed because the whole world benefits when our people thrive," she averred.
She said African leaders have also decided to ensure value for money across all aspects of prevention and treatment which means full transparency and accountability and realizing efficiencies wherever they can be found.
She said ALMA has worked, over the past years with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) to model sustained financing plans and to look at financial management best practices.
"We support the roll-out of procurement efficiencies, such as pooled procurement, standardization of net specifications and local manufacture of anti-malarial commodities. By doing so, we can save hundreds of millions of dollars. Uganda, for example, saved $17 million by standardizing mosquito net specifications and opting for pooled procurement," the Liberian leader said.
She said African leaders have also decided to increase domestic resources from the public and private sectors, key elements of The Big Push to 2015 and beyond while committing to allocate 15 percent of public sector funds to health…Read more.
Monitoring Findings of the Sierra Leone Coalition for Budget and Procurement Transparency in the Education Sector
Awareness Times Newspaper in Freetown
August21, 2012
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL –Sierra Leone
20, Dundas Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa P.O Box 1312
Monitoring Findings of the Sierra Leone Coalition for Budget and Procurement Transparency in the Education Sector
"The Sierra Leone Coalition for Budget and Procurement Transparency in the Education Sector" supported by Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) through its monitoring exercises had so far made the following findings.
1. There are established procurement committees with the required membership in all the entities monitored
2. Most of the procurement units monitored were able to produce documentary evidence of procurement committee meetings, bid documents, etc.
3. All the bid openings were done in public
4. Most of the procurement committees work independently without administrative or political influence
5. Lack of adequate equipment like computers, printers in all the Procurement Units monitored. This will affect there efficiency of the unit and proper storage of records
6. In some entities, there is semblance of administrative/ political interference in public procurement processes. This will undermine the independence of the Unit
7. In all the entities monitored, there is inadequate number of procurement professionals to effectively handle procurement processes especially in big councils like the Freetown City Council. This is one of the factors responsible for flouting procurement regulations.
8. There is in most cases the absence of technical experts in the preparation of bids and the award of contracts. This can lead to the quotation of wrong specifications of goods, works and services required.
9. In most of the councils monitored, there is no documentary evidence of the 5% retention fee for every contract awarded especially works. This makes it difficult to track contractors who abandon their contracts before completion
10. There is insufficient teaching and learning materials like text books in most of the schools monitored
11. There is delay, and sometimes non-payment of the 5% retention fees
12. In most of the entities monitored contract details including BOQs are not publicly displayed. This makes monitoring of contract performance very difficult
For more information or clarification please contact Transparency International Secretariat 20 Dundas Street Freetown or call Mr. Edward B. Koroma (Project Coordinator) on the following mobile telephone numbers 076-407979/033-445884/077-173936.
© Copyright 2005, Freetown, Sierra Leone.


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ResearchMicrosoft Windows Azure: strengths and weaknesses
Windows Azure is emerging as a credible cloud platform for both startups and enterprises. Here is our analysis of the key factors that turned its fate around, and what it must… Read more »
Windows Azure is emerging as a credible cloud platform for both startups and enterprises. Here is our analysis of the key factors that turned its fate around, and what it must… Read more »
Cloud ERP vendors have addressed many SaaS security concerns, but regulatory, geographic, or scale issues will lead to on-premises implementations of private or hybrid clouds in many environments. Read more »
In an abrupt change of IT strategy, General Motors (GM) is following the examples of Google and Facebook and building its own mega data centers. Will other Fortune 100 companies follow… Read more »
This quarter we saw more signs of maturity in the cloud computing market, including a new version of the OpenStack standard, more consolidation of cloud computing companies, and a scandal that… Read more »
Although there has been a focus on energy efficiency in commercial buildings for some years, the BEMS market can still be considered nascent. The landscape of new entrants, new technologies, and… Read more »
Worldwide IT spending finished out 2012 with a growth rate of 3.8 percent over 2011, the lowest growth rate since 2009. Fourth-quarter 2012 earnings reports and guidance were notable in their… Read more »
As more large data centers move to converged infrastructure — which is offered by Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle and other vendors — most of the chatter has been about this slick, new… Read more »
Continuing a yearlong trend, the fourth quarter in big IT was all about big data, and Hadoop in particular. At this point, it seems as if every database, business intelligence and… Read more »
Dell-bashing is a fairly common pastime these days, but I actually think Dell has a golden opportunity to reposition itself as IT visionary if it treats hardware it as what it… Read more »
IBM shares were trading up Tuesday morning after it reported strong second-quarter results yesterday. While Big Blue got a profit boost from recently released mainframe products, it also gave us some… Read more »

subset: commoncrawl


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BT now provide totally unlimited broadband
I was advised by a sales chap a few weeks ago that today they would launch some new packages that have been upgraded to unlimited broadband.
Doesn't look like their web-site has been updated yet but some blurb here http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/5...unlimited.html
I have signed up to Totally Unlimited Infinity 1. £9 first 3 months, £18 thereafter (18 months contract).
These are the packages.
I assumed there would be a big advertising campaign but there's nothing:confused:
Together with the worst customer 'service' ever known in modern business.:sleep:
If you go through the website and admit that you are already a BT customer I never seem to be able to order on-line and it tells me to contact them by phone. Whereby you almost give up the will to live chatting to them, and they offer you nothing, even if you have been a loyal customer for years and years.:(:(
Last time I contacted them one Customer Service Agent offered me a deal and when I rang back to accept this officious lady, who hd not customer service skills, point blank refused to acknowledge it was ever offered. :eek:
I dislike the tactics of companies like BT and Sky who could not give a hoot if you are already a customer.
Shall try and call them tomorow after a good sustaining breakfast and about three hours to spare. :p:rolleyes: I probably should move to another provider.
The staff are incompetent liars.:sleep:
Talk talk being considered the worst is no excuse for BT being so utterly amateurish.:sleep:
Just to reinforce the thread title, the following is now stated in a pop-up text box when you hover over the green Unlimited icons:
They have also introduced an additional option, the £23/month Totally Unlimited Infinity 1 option (40Mbps) that slots in below the 80Mbps Infinity 2 offering.
This will please the P2P folks - and it's good to see increasing competition in the market place. :)
They contacted me a couple of weeks ago as fibre just got to the area (I've been waiting for it to arrive as I live a fair way from the exchange).
They offered me a slightly different deal to what was on the website initially. I wanted a better deal before I'd move from my current ISP and Plusnet were offering better prices. I said no but I'd think about it and they said they'd call again the following week.
By then I'd decided that I'd sign up if they could do a better deal. They couldn't offer me anything more but the guy knew there were going to be changes on 1st Feb and said he might be able to offer me unlimited on the same price band as Infinity 1 (40gb).
He rang today and confirmed the new packages are now unlimited. Offered me the £9 for 3 months and then £18 after.
I spoke to him again later when I had my mac code and asked him to confirm the price again (as I'd seen the website by then and was worried I'd misheard him or something) and he confirmed the same.
I'll check the paperwork when I get it (not sure what happens as he said it would just go onto my existing phone bill but surely I'd need to sign something for the 18 month contract).
You don't have to sign anything, the contract is done via a call recording following DSR laws.
You must be on a retention offer; not a bad one by the sounds of it.:)
That is a good deal if you have their offer. :)
I checked their site but however I don't think Infinity is available in my area.:(
Lets see, some others, but in different markets. Vodafone, British Gas, Halifax.
All as bad as each other with customer service.
What BT have now done is to remove all restrictions on speed placed at the individual user level (subject to their line capacity) for their unlimited products i.e. the peak time P2P restriction. This still remains, however, for data-limited products.
But just like all the rest, they still have network management for use on a broader scale at busy times and this is no different from Sky (as shown recently by Sky's speed problems in some areas at busy times).
BT also retain the BT Vision quality of service rider, which prioritises on-demand video to ensure that they are delivered on time - so this too could slow the rest of the network down as BT Vision expands, as it will do later this year and that QoS will I am certain apply even more strictly to live TV channels as they are expanded. http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/d...andusagepolicy
It will be interesting to see what their big expansion of BT Vision later this year has on the rest of their broadband traffic types!
This is annoying for me as I've only just upgraded to their unlimited package due to massive charges each month.
So presumably I have to see this contract out before I can change to a cheaper contract
i wonder how much bandwidth this You view and Bt vision is going to take and i wonder how many people will start seeing their broadband slowing down even if they don't have youview/BTvision because BT network can not cope.
The SD channels will be streamed at 4Mbps, and the HD channels at 8Mbps. And there will be the ability to record these channels too. 2x SD, 2xHD, 2x Freeview, or any combination of the above two channels at any one time.
Quite an exciting time.
The evening peak viewing time will be the true test.
|All times are GMT +1. The time now is 04:21.


text: Guess Ben's Butt [POLL] By Ben Davis January 9, 2013 One of my co-workers from a radio station down the hall...(Mel)...had a poll on our website showing her bruised butt. We had to pick her butt out of a line-up... Read More|Comment Category: Articles, Health & LIfestyle Tags: Ben's Butt, Poll Send to a friend! Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr!


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Okay peoples!
Today I was trying out some helmets because of the enourmous sale they had there. All the helmets that actually fit me looked sort of stupid. My head looked like a tower with a fat top. Is this how helmets are supposed to look?
If you people will, take a picture of yourself with your helmet on. Meanwhile, I'm going to check the hucking thread for helmets.
Note that this applies to non full face helmets.


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Annual Issues
The Saint Louis University Public Law Review is published biannually, with one issue published each semester. Both issues include articles written by staff members of the Saint Louis University Public Law Review.
The Symposium Issue, published in the fall, focuses on a different topic each year. It contains articles from participants at the Public Law Review's annual Symposium held at Saint Louis University School of Law. For additional inquiries regarding the Symposium Issue, please contact Caroline Rutledge, Managing Editor.
The Spring Issue now focuses on a specific topic in the area of public interest or public policy. The topics include various perspectives presented by prominent legal scholars, business leaders, civic leaders, judges, public officials, and practitioners. For additional inquiries regarding the Spring Issue, please contact Daniel W. Rankin, Managing Editor.


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St. Petersburg, Florida - Take a few steps around the Eckerd College campus, and it doesn't take too long to stumble across a yellow bike or two.
The college has scattered 175 yellow bikes around for students to use whenever they want.
Senior Grace Gair said, "You get out of class, you hop on a bike. Go to the pub, you hop on a bike. You get out of the library, and somebody goes, 'Hey, are you using that bike any more?' And so you give the bike to the next person."
The college started the program three years ago with 35 bikes. The idea was to create a campus less reliant on cars.
Students use the bikes to get around, and simply leave them behind for the next person.
"Since no one owns the bikes, it kind of creates a situation where you want all the students to respect the bikes, 'cause if we don't, then we won't have them," said Johnny Boykins.
Eckerd has had success with its bike program where other communities have not. The city of Tampa started a similar program back in 1997. So many of the bikes were either stolen or broken, the city terminated the program a few weeks later.
Dean of Students, James Annarelli believes it has to do with the environment on a college campus.
"The kinds of values that are embodied in our community, said James Annarelli. "Our small size. The fact that we're a closely knit community have all helped to make this program successful."
Jennifer Howe, Tampa Bay's 10 News


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Published Tuesday, March 13, 2012
By John Winters
The Newnan Times-Herald
A bomb squad safely detonated two small "explosive-type" canisters on Monday that were discovered at a car wash business on Highway 34 East.
Traffic going both directions was stopped briefly around 12:45 p.m. as a team from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation used a water cannon mounted on a robot to destroy the devices.
There were no injuries and the detonation, although loud, did not cause any damage.
Coweta County Sheriff Mike Yeager said authorities were notified about the canisters about 10:40 a.m. Monday and GBI units, including a truck that carries a remote-controlled robot, arrived soon afterward.
"We were erring on the side of caution," the sheriff said.
According to Yeager, sometime around 7 p.m. on Sunday a truck drove up to the Riptide Car Wash, which is located across from The Summit Healthplex. Employees removed items from the bed of the truck, including the two small canisters, before the truck went through the wash.
However, the driver drove off without getting the canisters back. The employees put the devices inside the office, thinking the driver would return, the sheriff said.
Authorities described the canisters as about five inches tall and two inches wide, sealed on one end and taped on the other.
Another employee arrived Monday morning at work, saw the canisters and pulled back the tape on one. He saw some type of fuse, cotton padding and a granular powder, the sheriff said.
"He had the presence of mind to call us," Yeager said, adding the device looked similar to a large M-80 firecracker.
The GBI bomb unit used the robot to remove the devices, which were put on a road and against a curb behind the car wash.
The canisters, which authorities called "explosive-type devices," were then destroyed.
Afterward, investigators were reviewing tapes from video cameras at the car wash to try and identify the truck and driver.


text:
Can contact center agent routing benefit from demographics?
Demographic-based routing for contact center agents can provide more effective customer service.
Gamification rewards can drive contact center performance
Gamification -- typically used to boost sales performance -- can motivate contact center agents to provide better customer service.
Can workforce optimization improve customer service?
Workforce optimization software can make contact center agents more efficient and help them provide timely service to customers.
Don't sacrifice quality for online self-service
Companies must be consistent with aligning their service offerings and strive for a high-quality customer experience regardless of channel.
Offshore contact centers receiving customer pushback
Companies are responding to customer pressure to bring contact center operations back to the U.S. But how do they battle the cost burdens that brings?
Does your agent training system have the right focus?
Some contact center agent training systems miss the mark. When choosing technology, managers must be in tune with the frontline's needs.
Contact centers shift to customer-centric processes
It's been a long journey, but are companies finally ready to incorporate customer-centric processes into their contact center operations?
Are cloud concerns disappearing among Microsoft users?
As cloud platforms mature and become more mainstream, on-the-fence Microsoft users are taking another look at adopting them.
In a mobile world, marketing's importance grows
Marketing departments are starting to help other areas of business, using their wealth of data to build better, deeper customer relationships.
Mobile geofencing tactics raise data privacy issues
Some customers are uncomfortable with companies tracking their location, but are various technologies ushering in Big Brother anyway?
Traditional mobile marketing doesn't cut it anymore
Companies need to stop treating mobile marketing as an afterthought in their overall marketing strategies.
Does a subscription model help retain customers?
Subscription models can enable companies to sell more to a customer over time, developing a relationship that can lead to consistent, dependable revenue.
Customers employ community forums to voice input
Community forums give customers a powerful venue to offer companies insight on products and services.
Companies wield CEM for more discerning customers
In an era driven by a more demanding customer base, companies have used social and CEM technologies to raise the game on customer service.
Small businesses save resources with marketing automation
Marketing automation tools save small businesses time, enabling companies to focus on acquiring new customers and nurturing existing relationships.
Making sense of CRM software subscription models
Companies' success with subscriptions has been mixed. But CRM subscription models provide key customer insight, says expert Denis Pombriant.
Lead-scoring models can give competitive edge
Companies can build metrics to tap threshold scores for leads that garner actionable sales information, but must decide what is ultimately valuable.
The importance of customer nurturing
Companies must devote resources not only to retaining customers but also to acquiring new ones. Customer nurturing is becoming increasingly important.
Building apps on top of CRM systems
Building on top of CRM applications can speed time to market and establish standardization, Denis Pombriant explains.
Tips for benchmarking call center metrics
Get our top tips for benchmarking call center metrics in this expert answer.
Understand where marketing and customer service overlaps
As companies put customer experience at the forefront, it's never been more important to align customer service strategy with marketing tactics.
WebRTC delivers four key customer experience benefits
WebRTC is open source code that could make a measurable difference in omnichannel customer experience.
What benefits does proactive customer support deliver?
A proactive approach to customer support can help build brand loyalty. But companies often overlook this opportunity-- at their own risk.


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Japan pre-dawn quakes cause landslides in Niigata
Tokyo (AFP) March 12, 2011
A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit Japan's mountainous Niigata prefecture northwest of Tokyo before dawn Saturday, causing landslides and avalanches and destroying some wooden houses.
Kyodo News said there were no immediate reports of casualties and no fresh tsunami alert was issued after the quake, which was followed by an almost equally strong quake in the same area half an hour later.
The quakes struck in the west of the main Honshu island, on the Sea of Japan coast and far from the offshore Pacific Ocean tremor that triggered a mammoth tsunami Friday that is feared to have killed more than 1,000 people.
Police said they had received reports of a landslide and avalanche in Tokamachi and another avalanche in Tsunan town, Kyodo reported.
The news agency also said wooden buildings including a town hall and a garage had reportedly been destroyed and some highways cracked in the village of Sakae in Nagano prefecture.
The first quake in the inland region struck at 4:00 am Saturday (1900 GMT Friday). The focus was in central Niigata but it also shook neighbouring Nagano, and a third quake later followed in the region.
The US Geological Survey put the strength of the first quake at 6.2 and said it hit at a depth of only one kilometre (about half a mile), while the Japanese meteorological agency said it was 10 kilometres deep.
earlier related report
The government mobilised 8,000 troops to help Miyagi and other northeastern areas hard-hit by a massive earthquake and a tsunami that swallowed and destroyed entire neighbourhoods.
An armada of 20 naval destroyers and other ships headed for the devastated Pacific coast area of Honshu island, while some 25 air force jets flew reconnaissance missions over the disaster zone.
Army helicopters were rescuing hundreds stranded at an elementary school in Watari, Miyagi prefecture, while air force choppers pulled about 10 people to safety near Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture, Kyodo reported.
The Tokyo and Osaka police forces, Fire and Disaster Management Agency and health ministry also all quickly dispatched medical and rescue teams.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan, wearing an emergency services suit in a national television address, said he had "immediately established an emergency headquarters for response to disaster, with myself as the head".
He was due to take a helicopter flight over the disaster area from 6:00 to 11:00 am Saturday (2100 to 0200 GMT), including to the Fukushima nuclear plant, where residents were evacuated, his top spokesman Yukio Edano said.
"The government will make every possible effort to ensure the safety of the public and keep damage to the minimum possible extent," Kan said after the massive 8.9-magnitude quake struck offshore and triggered a tsunami.
"I ask the public to continue to stay fully vigilant and to keep abreast of TV and radio reports, and I ask everyone to act calmly."
Japan said it was offered help by dozens of countries around the world and Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto said the number of offers was "increasing by the minute", a spokesman said in an email.
Matsumoto, who took office this week, asked US ambassador John Roos for the support of US forces stationed in the country for help in relief efforts.
The United States, which occupied Japan after World War II and is the country's main security ally, has almost 50,000 forces stationed there.
Many US bases are located on the far-southern island of Okinawa, far from the quake zone, while the US Seventh Fleet, with aircraft carrier USS George Washington, is located in a port south of Tokyo.
US President Barack Obama said "the United States stands ready to help the Japanese people in this time of great trial. The friendship and alliance between our two nations is unshakable."
Obama said Friday that a second US aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, was heading to Japan to provide assistance.
Ambassador Roos said in a statement: "As Americans, tonight our hearts go out to the Japanese people... As I told the foreign minister, the United States and our forces here in Japan stand ready to help."
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Tokyo (AFP) March 11, 2011
The car park at Tokyo Disneyland was drenched with water-logged segments from the ground following the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that rocked Japan's Pacific coast Friday, police said. It was earlier reported that a tsunami might have caused the inundation but police said the phenomenon was due to liquefaction of soil caused by the intense shaking of the tremor. There were 69,000 people at ... read more
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We know you want the goods as soon as possible, which is why orders received by 3pm ET leave our warehouse the very same day. We'll send you an email that day to confirm shipment and the email will include your tracking information.
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Rosemary M.Toronto CanadaHairAuburnDry HairColor Treated HairFine or Thin HairBeautiful Crowning Glory !petal fresh Organics-Rosemary Conditioner,is an excellent product,it leaves my hair shiny,with lots of volume and no friss,it is the best conditioner I have tired,and believe me I have tryed many.I never want to use anything but Organics Petal Fresh Rosemary Conditioner,as I have never been so pleased with the condition of my hair, I am saddened to say I can't find it at this time,and would be so grateful if someone could get back to me with the information as to where I could purchase it in Toronto, Canada. Waiting in anticipation for your speedy reply. Thank you.8 out of 8 shoppers thought this review was helpful.
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Henry Young of the Ogdensburg Youth Wrestling Association (left) and Trevor Best of IHC contend during a match from Sundays Ogdensburg Youth Wrestling Association Tournament at the Golden Dome which drew a record field. (Shea Photo)
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text:
Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman will be seen next in "Black Swan," where they play rivaling ballerinas. Doing promotion for the film, Kunis reveals she went on a drastic diet and workout routine, until she became a shadow of her former self.
For starters, one must note that the actress has never been anything but slender, which only makes her admission all the more shocking: she lost so much weight she dreaded looking at herself in the mirror in the morning.
She started the punishing diet and workout routine a few months before the film went into production and the result was extremely startling – even though, Mila admits, it did look pretty awesome on camera.
"My mom freaked out. She was like, 'You have to promise me this isn't going to affect you.' I was like, 'I promise it won't, but it might take me a little time to be OK with having a little more fat on me'," the actress reveals in a recent interview cited by PopEater.
However, the experience helped her understand – to some extend – why Hollywood and showbiz in general are so obsessed with weight: even if it's hideous in real life, it comes across as gorgeous on camera.
"I could see why this industry is so [messed] up, because... I would literally look at myself in the mirror and I was like, 'Oh my God!'" Mila says.
"I had no shape, no [breasts], no [backside]... all you saw was the bone. I was like, 'This looks gross.' In real life, I looked disgusting, but in photographs and on film, it looked amazing," the actress shares.
Then again, when "Black Swan" wrapped, Mila felt like herself again, especially since she was now free to indulge in all her favorite foods, including Chinese and calorie-laden burgers.
"It took me five months to lose 20 pounds, and it took me hours to gain it back!" she jokes in the same interview cited by PopEater.


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November Special Issue
Table of Contents
|Outdoor Education: An Alternative Approach in Teaching and Learning Science
|Tuan Mastura Tuan Soh, Tamby Subahan Mohd Meerah
|The Issues in Implementing Transition Program for Special Needs Students
|Aliza Alias
|Applying Elements of Outdoor Education in Teacher Education Innovation
|Mohd Taib Harun, Norlena Salamuddin
|Measuring Information Skills among Malaysian Youth Students: An Instrument Development
|Aidah Abdul Karim, Parilah M. Shah, Rosseni Din, Mazalah Ahmad, Fariza Khalid
|Assessing ICT Competencies among Postgraduate Students Based on the 21st Century ICT Competency Model
|Mazalah Ahmad, Aidah Abdul Karim, Rosseni Din, Intan Safinas Mohd Ariff Albakri
|Comparison of Energy Expenditure during Walking between Female Athletes and Non-Athletes
|Fariba Hossein Abadi, Tajul Ariffin Muhamad, Norlena Salamuddin, Mohd Radzani, Hasti Satari
|Assessing Authentic Learning via Storyboarding: A Malaysian Perspective
|Hazrati Husnin, Rosseni Din, Aidah Karim, Helmi Norman, Analisa Hamdan
|Assessing Students' Mathematical Problem-Solving and Problem-Posing Skills
|Roslinda Rosli, Dianne Goldsby, Mary Margaret Capraro
|Managing Learners' Behaviours in Classroom through Negative Reinforcement Approaches
|Jamalullail Abdul Wahab, Azlin Norhaini Mansor, Mohd Mahzan Awang, Norazlina Mohamad Ayob
|Effects of Swimming on Self-Esteem among Female College Students
|Tajul Arifin Muhamad, Hasti Sattari, Fariba Hossein Abadi
|Cue Speech and Language Achievement of Hearing-Impaired Children
|Mohd Hanafi Mohd Yasin, Safani Bari, Nur Ain Mat Hassan
|Computer-Assisted Teaching and Learning among Special Education Teachers
|Safani Bari, Mohd Hanafi Mohd Yasin, Mussidiq Mohd Ramli
|Blogging to Enhance Writing Skills: A Survey of Students' Perception and Attitude
|Nur Ehsan Mohd Said, Melor Yunus, Luke Kenny Doring, Alfian Asmi, Farah Aqilah, Lisa Kwan Su Li
|Teachers' Involvement in Communities of Practice: An Implication with Regard to the Current Approach of Teachers' Professional Development in Malaysia
|Fariza Khalid, Gordon Joyes, Linda Ellison, Aidah Karim
|Assessment during the Integration of Lesson Study in Microteaching among Pre-service Teachers
|Zanaton H Iksan, Siti NorAishah Mohd Nor
|Dabrowski's Overexcitabilities Profile among Gifted Students
|Aliza Alias, Saemah Rahman, Rosadah Abd Majid, Siti Fatimah Mohd Yassin
|Chemistry Test Items Development: Assessing Conceptual Understanding among Malaysian Students
|Nur Suhaidah Sukor, Kamisah Osman, Tuan Mastura Tuan Soh
|The Internalization of Akhlaq among Selangor Secondary School Students
|Khadijah Abdul Razak, Habsah Ismail
|Communication and Leadership Skills: A Comparative Study of the Malay Language Specialization Trainee Teachers in Malaysia
|Nur Ehsan Mohd Said, Zamri Mahamod, Anisah Alias
|What Is 'Action' in Action Research: A Malaysian Exposure
|T. Subahan Mohd. Meerah, Kamisah Osman
|Implementation of the Teaching of Arabic Language at the Faculty of Humanities, University of North Sumatra Indonesia
|Maimun Aqsha Lubis
|The Relationship between Headteachers' Distributed Leadership Practices and Teachers' Motivation in National Primary Schools
|Jamallulail Abdul Wahab, Aida Hanim A. Hamid, Surayati Zainal, Md Fuad Md Rafik
|Physical Activity, Aerobic Fitness and Body Composition among Students in Malaysia and Libya
|Mohd Radzani Abdul Razak, Ibrahim Elsalhin Maizi, Tajul Arifin Muhamad
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Asian Social Science ISSN 1911-2017 (Print) ISSN 1911-2025 (Online)
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In good company: state offers online list of restaurants with perfect safety inspections
Moldy cheese. Dead roaches. Live roaches.
You'd expect those highlights on a list of more than 1,000 possible violations restaurants face during regular sanitation and safety inspections by the state.
But dull can opener blades and misplaced purses can flaw an otherwise pristine report, which is why area restaurant owners marvel at the five Collier County food vendors and 15 Lee County establishments that have recently earned perfect scores from the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation.
Throughout the state, 197 have earned perfect inspection reports since November when the department began featuring food vendors with perfect scores for the week on its website, myfloridalicense.com.
It's a tough list to make.
"I don't think they're allowed to give out a perfect," said Jerome Tocio, owner of Sunburst Cafe on Pine Ridge Road. "They have to find fault for something. They'll look and look and look for hours. They'll write you up if one of the employees left a pocketbook out."
The department wants to showcase those establishments that have achieved the nearly impossible.
But it is possible, said Sandi Poreda, spokeswoman for the state department, which visits each food vendor in the state two to three times a year. Not all local vendors have been visited since the department started posting perfect scores in November.
"All the violations, non critical and critical, are listed on our website. Restaurants are given that information and can check it ahead of time," she said.
Many of the food vendors the state inspects are not full-service restaurants, but small food carts or shops without seating. The official definition according to the department defines a public food service establishment as any place where "food is prepared, served, or sold for immediate consumption on or in the vicinity of the premises." That includes take out and delivery.
The Naples Smokehouse smokes and sells meat to area restaurants. As a small operation, it's not difficult to keep every corner of the facility clean and up to standards, which is why co-owner Kathie Macdonald wasn't surprised when the business earned a perfect score for its Nov. 3 inspection.
"My husband is a fanatic about cleaning up after himself," she said.
This week, The Snackery at Sanctuary Golf Club on Sanibel Island was the only establishment among 74 Lee County vendors inspected to earn top honors. In Collier County, 24 establishments were inspected for this week's ratings, but none earned a perfect rating.
"It's pretty impressive," said Sanctuary manager Jennifer Jolly, who said in her nine years in the business, she has not worked for a club that earned a perfect rating.
Violations fall into two categories: critical and non-critical. The big ones usually deal with food bourne illness. The smaller ones can range from that misplaced pocketbook to improper storage of the ice cube scoop — it can't touch the ice.
"You're supposed to wear gloves all the time and if you have touched a piece of fish, you have to change your gloves. But you have to wash your hands before you change your gloves," said Tony Ridgway, owner of Ridgway Bar & Grill on Third Street South. "It's almost self-defeating. They've written so it almost can't be accomplished."
Bartenders aren't supposed to handle the lemons and limes they hook on the rim of your glass. You need tongs for that. And table tops should be washed every other time you change a table cloth.
Those are some of the tips Ken Knief has picked up while managing Angelina's Ristorante in Bonita Springs and Agave Southwestern Grill in Naples.
"Cocktail stirrers supposed to be individually wrapped," Knief said. "From a logistics point of view, that's somewhat annoying and difficult."
Inspectors show up at random, meaning workers must keep their facilities in good condition at all times.
"It is nerve-wracking because you have to be always on your toes," Tocio said. "We wear gloves and hats we do everything that we're supposed but you're always just wondering."
Plus every inspector is different. "They're looking at different things," said Lisa Boet, executive chef at Bamboo Cafe on 12th Avenue South. "I think it's a question of semantics. I think 'violation' is probably an incorrect term to use because it sounds like you're doing something very wrong. It's not that it's endangering the public health...There are minor things that can occur."
But every owner acknowledged health inspections are important.
"Our inspector wants us to be successful," Ridgway said. "Clean and neat and safe."
For the weekly list of vendors with perfect sanitation and safety inspections visit www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/HR/inspections/RestaurantswithNoViolations.html
Lee and Collier food vendors with perfect inspections since Nov. 1.
Collier County
Marriot Lobby Bar, 400 S. Collier Blvd., Marco Island - Last Inspected Nov. 9
Naples Smokehouse, 3951 Arnold Ave. No. 2, East Naples - Last Inspected Nov. 3
Ritz Carlton Beach Pavilion, 280 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., North Naples - Last Inspected Nov. 9
Ritz Carlton Gourmet Shop, 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, North Naples - Last Inspected Nov. 9
Subway, 1870 U.S. 41 N., Naples - Last Inspected Dec. 13
Lee County
Hampton Inn, 27900 Crown Lake Blvd., Bonita Springs - Last Inspected Nov. 2
K&T Cantina, 11902 Bonita Beach Rd. Stall 178, Bonita Springs - Last Inspected Nov. 4
Wildcat Run Country Club Snack Bar, 20300 Country Club Dr., Estero - Last Inspected Nov. 3
Ana Harsh, 1501 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers - Last Inspected Oct. 29
Chillers of Fort Myers Beach, 1190 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach - Last Inspected Nov. 8
Oasis at Vasari, 11216 Via De Vasari Dr., Bonita Springs - Last Inspected Nov. 10
Vasari Golf & CC Tavarna, 11250 Via Del Vasari Dr., Bonita Springs - Last Inspected Nov. 10
What's up Dog's, 6900 Daniel's Pkwy. No. 37, Fort Myers - Last Inspected Nov. 1
Bay House, 4600 W Bay Blvd., Estero - Last Inspected Nov. 18
Courney's Tiki Bar, 1231 Middle Gulf Dr., Sanibel - Last Inspected Dec. 7
Flotilla Foods & Sundries, 155 Egret St., Fort Myers - Last Inspected Dec. 6
Lee Civic Center Concession No. 2, 11831 Bayshore Rd., North Fort Myers - Last Inspected Dec. 17
Lowes Hot Dogs, 1113 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers - Last Inspected Dec. 13
Oasis 2 Restaurant, 1700 Monroe St., Fort Myers - Last Inspected Dec. 15
The Snackery, 2801 Wolfert Rd., Sanibel Island - Last Inspected Dec. 20
Source: The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation
Subscribe to the Naples Daily News
Need Help? Call us at 1-888-878-6842.
Monday-Friday: 6am-6pm / Saturday: 7am-3pm / Sunday: 7am-2pm


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Delphi Cottages
For those who prefer to look after themselves, Delphi offers five beautiful holiday rental cottages on the estate. These sleep from four to six people and are full of character and comprehensively equipped for self-catering. Cottage guests may also dine in the Lodge, subject to availability at the main table.


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Inc.'s favorite 25 answer a few questions.
From: Inc. Magazine, April 2004 | By: null
I had no choice. It is just in me.
-Stella Ogiale
I hated my boss. I either had to find another job or start my own thing.
-Dan Wieden
I thought it was the best way to really make a difference.
-Lance Morgan


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Many of the factors leading to a successful natural childbirth begin long before you go into labor. Check out these 4 Pre-Labor Tips to prepare you for natural childbirth. Jenn Head, LDM, CPM, LM, is a Certified Professional Midwife who finds the journey of growing a baby and family exciting. Her wisdom derives from 12 years of experience attending births around the world. Once you've done your pre-labor homework, check out these 6 Tips to prepare you for the experience of unmedicated labor and the natural birth of your new baby.
"Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers ~ strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength." -Barbara Katz Rothman
4 tips to help you prepare for natural childbirth
Many of the factors leading to a successful natural childbirth begin long before you go into labor.
Find a supportive location. If you desire a natural birth, consider giving birth where there is little opportunity to intervene. When you choose a hospital birth, all the tools to disrupt a labor are right there. You want to be somewhere that you do not have to "fight" to have a natural, physiologic birth. [phys·i·o·log·ic : Being in accord with or characteristic of the normal functioning of a living organism.]
- * If you do choose a hospital setting, look for hospitals with doula programs.
- * Ask about hospital policy on eating and drinking during labor.
- * Make sure to research the hospital's cesarean, induction, and epidural rate. If you are seeing high numbers, consider a different location.
- * If you are a healthy, low-risk mama, consider an out-of-hospital birth. There are home birth midwives and free-standing birth centers (not connected to a hospital) that offer a safe, natural alternative to the hospital setting.
Choose a care provider that is not only supportive of natural childbirth, but is also an advocate of it. Many women who want an un-intervened and unmedicated labor and birth end up hooked up to IVs & monitors. Ultimately they may end up with an epidural, and maybe a cesarean section, against their original plans or desires. Many times this is because the care provider views the birthing process and the woman herself as something that needs to be managed and fixed.
- * Find a provider that has an innate belief in the power and humanity of birth. Research and ask your prospective provider for their cesarean rate, how often they induce labor and when they consider inductions of labor. Because out-of-hospital midwives do not carry the medications and devices that lead to intervention, you will find they will have a much lower rate of cesarean and inductions.
- * Another way of learning about a potential provider is to ask around in the community of like-minded women and hear their thoughts. Word of mouth can be a good indicator. For example, if I am asked about a particular doctor who has a high intervention and cesarean rate, I might say, "She is a very good surgeon."
Consider a Doula: A doula, also known as a labor coach, is a non-medical person who assists a woman before, during, or after childbirth, by providing information, physical assistance, and emotional support for both the laboring woman and her family.
- * In the hospital setting, a doula is an important advocate and buffer for you as you labor and birth. They can help you understand what is happening, translate doctor-ese and keep the intention of your natural birth present in the room.
- * Doula support has been shown in studies to lower cesarean risk, shorten labor, and reduce the need for medications and medical procedures that carry risks, including forceps and vacuum extraction.
- * Often doulas will labor at home with you before you head in to the hospital. You will want to establish care with a doula before you go into labor, and preferably in your second trimester.
Keep it positive: It is completely natural to have fears and doubts about your ability to cope with labor and birth. The more you feed your spirit and brain with positive stories and images of birth and yourself, the more reassured you will be.
- * Find some great natural birth videos online.
- * Draw boundaries around what you want to hear or see. Most people are well-meaning when they begin sharing their harrowing stories of their own labor and childbirth, and when they begin to share, you can always say, "I am choosing to focus on the positive and would love to hear about the best parts of your labor and birth." You can also choose to gently redirect the conversation. This is your journey and all pregnancies and births are different even from your own family members.
- * Surround yourself in pregnancy and labor with your "biggest fans." These are people who love you and share your desires and respect for natural labor and know you can do it. Do not entertain the naysayers, real or imagined.
- * Avoid "reality" television shows that condense a woman's birthing experience to a 30 minute segment. There is little reality to these poisonous shows outside of the egregious amount of labors ending in cesarean section. In the United States, the cesarean rate is hovering between 33% & 36%. While the shows can be an accurate portrayal of massive intervention, they usually do not reflect the positive images you need to create the natural birth experience you are looking for.
Once labor begins, and your support location and team is in place, the rest should not only be desired, but expected so that the birth can remain unmedicated and natural. Check out the second half of our Preparing for Natural Childbirth series & find 6 Tips to prepare you for the experience of unmedicated labor and the natural birth of your new baby.
Have tips to add? Leave us a comment below.
Jenn Head, LDM, CPM, LM, is a Certified Professional Midwife, an Oregon & California Licensed Midwife that has been attending births since 2001. She finds the journey of growing a baby and family exciting, and trusts wholly in the birthing process.
She has spent time as a Senior Staff Midwife in Attiak, Uganda working with the organization Earth Birth, now Mother Health International. International midwifery is a passion for her, and hopes to create a practice and lifestyle that allows her to travel and serve worldwide.
She works at Oak Grove Midwifery and lives in Ashland, Oregon married to her best friend of 20+ years. They have three awesome girls.


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- About Us|
- Facilities|
- Membership & Services|
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- Special Events
Equipment available for recreational use includes hand paddles, pull buoys, kickboards, zoomers, and aqua belts.
Water Aerobic & Aqua Box
These group fitness sessions are intense, fifty-minute (goes in deep end also) water session utilizing the most current non-impact movements to increase your heart rate, tone your muscles, and challenge your body. Water aerobics sessions are listed on the group fitness schedule, and are located in pool 31. No experience is necessary. Lifeguard on duty.
Aquatics Based Certifications
Campus Recreation offers several aquatics-based certifications to the members of Temple University, including lifeguarding, CPR/AED and first aid for the professional rescuer, and Learn to Swim. Lifeguard Training and Learn to Swim certifications are provided to age appropriate children of Temple students, staff, faculty and administration ONLY. For more information on certifications, check out our Membership & Services page.


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Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake owned the Portland Timbers last year, posting a dominant 4-0-2 record in six matches across all competitions against the Cascadia club. RSL and the Timbers will face off for the first time in 2014 on Saturday, when Will Johnson, Caleb Porter and co. will come to Rio Tinto Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. MT kickoff.
The best of the six RSL-Portland games in 2013 came in the Western Conference Final series, which Real Salt Lake won 5-2 on aggregate on the back of a 4-2 win at home on Nov. 10 and a 1-0 win at Portland on Nov. 24. Highlights of those triumphant victories are below. Check them out before Saturday's big tilt at The RioT.
First Leg: RSL 4-2 Portland
Second Leg: RSL 1-0 (5-2) Portland
The Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-17's picked up quite the result in the Generation adidas Cup in Dallas on Tuesday night, topping a youth side from English Premier League club Stoke City in a penalty kick shootout after dramatically tying 2-2 in regulation.
RSL twice fell behind on Tuesday night, conceding in the sixth minute when Stoke attacker and Belgian youth international Julien Ngoy cleaned up a rebound to finish from just outside the box. RSL equalized in the 55th minute, when substitute Leo Fuchs unleashed a fantastic drive into the top right corner. The celebration was vintage RSL, with Fuchs and his teammates running over to a team from Layton-based La Roca Futbol Club – in town for the Dallas Cup – for a chorus of the "Believe" anthem.
RSL controlled the rest of the second half, but Stoke pulled ahead in the 70th and final minute, when forward Charles Weston-Hayles took advantage of a goalmouth scramble to pop a shot past RSL goalkeeper Christian Herrera. It looked like Stoke would take all three points, but RSL refused to give up, equalizing in the third and final minute of stoppage time. Newly signed Homegrown defender Justen Glad began the play, sending an excellent long ball over the top to forward Tate Schmitt on the right. Schmitt controlled and cut into the box, hitting a left-footed effort that took a deflection and rolled just across the goal line. Schmitt's goal – which unleashed another wild celebration – turned out to be the final kick of regulation.
The Claret-and-Cobalt then turned their attention to the penalty kick shootout, with Herrera making one save and Aaron Herrera converting the final shot to give RSL a 4-2 victory. Another wild celebration followed the clinching PK, with La Roca players storming the field and converging with the RSL U-17's in a raucous, bouncing mass in the penalty area. Such a fantastic moment for the RSL Family.
Congrats young lads! #RSL "@MLS: GA Cup: @RealSaltLake defeat Stoke City in dramatic fashion. http://t.co/aZ1aOymzUp pic.twitter.com/UqycDLMDic"
— Nick Rimando (@NickRimando) April 16, 2014
You can watch the entire match above. The real fun starts at the 1 hour, 24 minute mark, with the game tied 1-1 and Stoke about to pull ahead.
The shootout win keeps RSL in first-place in Group B of the GA Cup's International Division, giving the Claret-and-Cobalt five points through two games. RSL is one point ahead of second-place Stoke, and two points ahead of third-place LA Galaxy. RSL will wrap group play on Thursday, taking on the Galaxy at 5:00 p.m. MT.
The three group winners from the International Division and the top second-place team will advance to the GA Cup Semifinals, which will be played on Friday. The GA Cup Final will be played on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. MT.
MLSsoccer.com is in the midst of running its "Generations" video series, a sequence of videos looking at the past, present and future of MLS's Generation adidas and Homegrown players. RSL midfielder Jordan Allen featured in the latest Generations spot, with the Rochester, N.Y. native talking about his decision to join the Claret-and-Cobalt academy, his decision to go to University of Virginia, signing with the first-team this offseason and more.
Chicago Fire Homegrown Harrison Shipp and San Jose Homegrown Tommy Thompson are also featured in the video. It's an interesting look at three of the top young players in the league. Give it a watch above.
The Real Salt Lake-Academy U-17's won their Generation adidas Cup final round opener on Monday, getting goals from Josh Doughty and Sebastian Saucedo to defeat Toronto FC 2-1 in Dallas. New RSL Homegrown signing Justen Glad played the full 70 minutes in RSL's victory on Monday, as he continues to help the Academy teams close out their season before heading up to Salt Lake City full-time this summer.
The win puts RSL in a tie for first in Group B of the tournament's International Division, tied on top with a youth side from English Premier League club Stoke City. The premier bracket at the GA Cup, the International Division features three groups of four teams, with each group featuring three MLS sides and one international team.
Widely considered one of the tournament favorites, RSL will continue GA Cup play on Tuesday night, when it will take on Stoke at 7:00 p.m. MT in a battle of the top two teams in Group C. Tuesday's match will be streamed live on MLSsoccer.com. RSL will conclude GA Cup Group B play on Thursday, when it will take on LA Galaxy at 5:00 p.m. MT.
The three International Division group winners and the top second-place team in the International Division will advance to the Semifinals, which will be played on Friday. The GA Cup Final will take place on Sunday.
Real Salt Lake Captain Kyle Beckerman and goalkeeper Nick Rimando recently shot a commercial with RSL partner Zions Bank, with the pair playing a little office soccer set to some Samba music.
We think the spot turned out pretty great. Give it a watch above.
Another win for the U.S. U-20's, another strong performance by a Real Salt Lake player.
Forward Benji Lopez helped the U-20's to a 3-0 Dallas Cup win over a youth side from Eintracht Frankfurt on Monday, starting and scoring the Americans' first goal in their victory over the German club. Lopez's performance came one day after midfielder Jordan Allen notched two assists in the U.S.'s 3-2 win over a River Plate youth side in its Dallas Cup opener on Sunday.
Allen and Lopez were called to the U-20's last week for the Dallas Cup. The U.S. will play its final Dallas Cup Gordon Jago Super Group match on Wednesday, taking on a youth team from Mexican club Tigres UANL.
Great win today! Always glad putting a goal in the net for my country. On to the next! #teamadidas pic.twitter.com/C1q1zbrAVI
— Benji Lopez (@Theonlybenji_11) April 14, 2014
The U.S. currently sits in first place in Bracket C of the Gordon Jago Super Group, three points ahead of second-place River Plate. The three Bracket winners and the top second-place team of the three brackets will advance to the Dallas Cup semifinals, which will be played on Friday.
Real Salt Lake's Jordan Allen and Benji Lopez began their stint with the U.S. Under-20 national team on the right foot on Sunday, with Allen starting and registering two assists in the U.S.'s 3-2 Dallas Cup win over Argentine side River Plate. Lopez did not feature for the U.S.
Allen helped the U.S. get off to a great start in the 15th minute, playing a perfect pass to the penalty spot to forward Ben Spencer, who converted the chance to give the Americans a 1-0 lead. River Plate hit back with two first half goals to take a 2-1 lead into the break, but Allen helped pull the U.S. even with a 74th minute assist to Rubio Rubin to make it 2-2. The U.S. scored the winner in the 78th minute, when Spencer scored from the penalty spot to make it 3-2.
The U.S. will continue Dallas Cup play on Monday, when it will take on German club Eintracht Frankfurt at 3:00 p.m. MT.
Real Salt Lake will look to extend its unbeaten start to the season on Saturday, when it will take on Philadelphia Union at 2:00 p.m. MT on ABC 4.
Here are a few storylines to watch ahead of Saturday's contest:
Real Salt Lake undefeated against Philadelphia Union
Real Salt Lake and Philadelphia Union have met a total of six times in Major League Soccer history, with the Claret-and-Cobalt never losing to its Eastern Conference foe. RSL has a 2-0-4 record against the Union, with the two sides tying their last two league meetings. Although RSL is undefeated against the Union, the Claret-and-Cobalt have yet to win at PPL Park, tying every match played there. Both of Real Salt Lake's wins over Philly came at home, with RSL defeating Philadelphia 3-0 in the club's first ever meeting on May 8, 2010 at Rio Tinto Stadium and claiming a 2-1 win on Sept. 3, 2011 at the RioT.
Attinella likely to fill in for Rimando for second-straight match
With RSL veteran goalkeeper Nick Rimando still recovering from a knee injury, backup 'keeper Jeff Attinella will likely start on Saturday in his absence. The Florida native started against Sporting Kansas City last weekend in his first appearance for the Claret-and-Cobalt in 2014, turning in a stellar, eight save performance to keep the shutout and earn a 0-0 draw. The scoreless draw marked Attinella's second MLS career clean sheet. The 25-year-old made a total of five appearances in 2013, posting a 1-2-1 record and earning one shutout. Rimando missed RSL's last match against Philadelphia while with the U.S. national team for CONCACAF Gold Cup duty – Josh Saunders started in his place.
The goalkeeper connection – Attinella and MacMath go way back
The relationship between Attinella and Philadelphia goalkeeper Zac MacMath goes way back, with the pair first meeting each other during their days at Tampa-area youth club Clearwater Chargers. Attinella and MacMath faced off against each other several times while in high school, with Attinella – then a senior – usually leading Countryside High over MacMath – who was only a freshman – and St. Petersburg HS. Should Attinella play on Saturday, it would mark the first time the Florida-area natives would face off against each other as pros.
Real Salt Lake looks to remain undefeated in 2014
Real Salt Lake enters Saturday's match undefeated through its first five MLS regular season matches. RSL boasts a 2-0-3 record for a total of nine points, placing the Claret-and-Cobalt second in the Western Conference – four points behind MLS leaders FC Dallas. RSL is just one of two unbeaten teams in MLS, with Dallas – which hosts Seattle on Saturday – currently the only other squad without a loss. Three of RSL's first five matches have been on the road, with the Claret-and-Cobalt earning a win and two draws as the visiting side. The Claret-and-Cobalt has a win and a draw at home – defeating Toronto FC 3-0 on March 29 and tying LA Galaxy 1-1 in its home opener on March 22.
MLSsoccer.com's Matt Doyle and Dan Haiek took a crack at previewing Saturday's tilt between Real Salt Lake and the Philadelphia Union, publishing their thoughts on the match in a "Scouting Report" video on Thursday. Give the preview a watch above - certainly worth the time.


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Quite a furor arose this past week when it was announced Vic Gundotra was leaving Google. Not only had he been in a leadership role at Google for 8 years but also Google+ was his progeny.
Immediately the link-bait headlines emerged with the death toll ringing for Google+. Even as other voices in Google, including those directly involved with G+ sounded in that the "ship was even keel", there was continued distress over what might become of the new bellwether social network.
To begin, this is the new normal for social networks. As a new channel of technology these platforms are in absolute infancy and will pivot, ebb and flow and evolve over time. This will bring both some anticipated and alternately, surprising change. Everything from mergers and acquisitions to bold platform changes such as Facebook's suggestion it may split its platform into individual apps and tools. Likewise this Google+ news, which leaves its current status uncertain.
Key here to insuring you have a solid framework for your digital presence is making sure not to choose any social network as home base for your online activities. This is not to suggest social media is not valuable, but it should not be at the core of your online identity. When designing (or-reconfiguring) your digital business and marketing plan, it begins with the media you own. Namely your web site and blog.
Owned and Earned Media
There are three components to the modern digital content strategy – owned, earned and paid media. The latter being advertising, we'll save that for a separate discussion. You have the ability to control owned and earned directly without requiring an advertising component.
Owned media is built on the channels you directly manage, including that web site and blog. This gives you longevity as you are not reliant on a third party to facilitate your content (i.e. Google+). Earned media is where social networks come into view and is in essence controlled by your audience and clients. This is where you share and amplify your visibility, build influence, and seek further distribution by that audience. You can build buzz and in some cases have viral success with your campaigns.
Remember, don't build your house on social media sand. With all the changes to social networks, your digital hub is more important than ever!
-Stephanie Sammons, Wired Advisor Founder
Put as much energy, resources and investment into making it modern, engaging and a destination as you will later into a particular set of social networks.
This insures your business and brand identity along with your valuable original content is secured at a destination that only answers to you. From the domain name, to the web site framework you choose (i.e. WordPress et al) – you are in control.
Once you have this hub assembled and ready for business, then you can build out a social media strategy leveraging social as a syndication and amplification tool. From this perspective you are in the driver's seat with social networks as a means to an end – to cultivate the opportunity for visibility and relationship-building.
After all, as a content creator seeking to carve out credibility, you won't be using social media as a noise maker. While that approach can claim short term boosts, long-term, the excitement will fade without genuine, quality value and engagement.
Returning to owned and earned media, let's explore an outline for a simple workflow. This highlights the concept of owned and earned media, illustrating how you might (or should) be distributing content today.
It starts with each new blog post, from publication on your blog to several steps taken to syndicate that content for greater distribution, furthering your competitive moat that differentiates you from others online.
Owned Media
- Publish post on blog
- RSS to email campaign picks this up and emails to those on your opt-in lists who have subscribed to be informed of your updates
- Post is manually shared or scheduled to go out to all of your social media profiles as a "status update" where it gains visibility
- Receivers of the email and those who see your post shared on social networks can click to view in its entirety on your hub
Earned Media
- When your audience shares either the email you've sent or the link to your post that you've shared in social networks, it crosses over into earned media – you have the ability to earn engagement in social networks, new connections and followers, and traffic to your digital hub
- Repurposing that post content into other mediums like presentations, podcast episodes or video then enables you to share across specialized networks like Slideshare, iTunes and YouTube and earn more engagement, followers, and traffic
By taking this view of how social networks factor into your overall digital strategy, you are not a prisoner to the, for the foreseeable future, frequent and potentially disruptive changes that will occur outside of your digital hub. You stay in control of the digital properties that you own.
Below is a visual architecture of the financial advisor digital portfolio with owned media as the central hub and earned media outside of, but tightly integrated with the hub:


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Why does this dork have a small helmet on a large head?
Great job on building great car Cadillac!!! This the car of my dreams! It sounds good, looks good, and looks like it haves great handling!! If the base model was car of the year, imagine this one
Looks like there's a lot of steering effort in this car..


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- Born: 15 September 1857
- Died: 8 March 1930
- Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio
- Best known as:
The large man who was U.S. president from 1909-1913
Blog posts mentioning William H. Taft
4 good links
- William Howard Taft
The formal history from the White House
- The Internet Public Library
Quick Taft stats and election results from POTUS
- Oyez, Oyez, Oyez: William Howard Taft
Quickie judicial bio from a fine site on the Supreme Court
- William Howard Taft Obituary
Lengthy report from a site devoted to Arlington National Cemetery
William H. Taft Biography
William Howard Taft was the 27th president of the United States, serving one term from 1909-1913. Taft was the son of Alphonso Taft, Secretary of War and Attorney General in the cabinet of Ulysses S. Grant. William graduated from Yale in 1878 and Cincinnati Law School in 1880, then went on to be a respectable Republican jurist and administrator. He served under Teddy Roosevelt as the first civilian governor of the Philippines, Secretary of War and a provisional governor of Cuba. A lifelong Republican, he was Roosevelt's successor as president, elected in 1908 and taking office in 1809. He lost a re-election bid in 1912 when Roosevelt ran against him and both were defeated by Democrat Woodrow Wilson. By his own admission, Taft wasn't much of a president, and historians tend to attribute his political rise to the ambitions of his wife, Helen "Nellie" Taft. Nonetheless, he was by all accounts a likable fellow with a great legal mind. In 1921 Taft was appointed Chief Justice of the United States by President Warren Harding; he held the post for nine years, resigning just before his death in 1930. Taft's son Robert A. Taft was a powerful senator known as "Mr. Republican" in the mid-1900s.
Extra credit:
Taft was a large man, weighing over three hundred pounds... When Taft visited Mexico's President Porfirio Díaz at Ciudad Juárez in 1909, it was the first time a U.S. president set foot on foreign soil... Taft was the first president to open the baseball season by tossing out a ball (1910).
Common Bonds
All the U.S. Presidents, from 1789-Present
Chief Executives Who Were Sons, Grandsons and Cousins


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October 11, 2011
In Japan , the demand for iphone is very high, not only the smartphone, but also its cake! Because of the huge demands for it, it is made in two colours, brown and white. buy cheap cialis online
it? Let us know in the comments, if there are a lot of demands, we may start selling this to you =)
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light blue zucchino canvas top handle crossbody bag
designer's notes
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Albums out today: Zac Brown Band, Hank Williams Jr., Woody Guthrie
Published July 10, 2012 12:26 pm
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
New albums out today include:
"Uncaged." Zac Brown Band "Old School New Rules," Hank Williams Jr. "Woody at 100: Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection," Woody Guthrie "Sunday Mornin' Singin'" Rhonda Vincent "Swing Lo Magellan," Dirty Projectors "Harakiri," Serj Tankian "Murdered Love," P.O.D. "A Diamond in the Mind," Duran Duran "The Complete Beat," The English Beat "Live From Mohegan Sun," Staind "Little Seed: Songs for Children By Woody Guthrie," Elizabeth Mitchell "Skelethon," Aesop Rock "Pure Velvet," Mel Torme "Come to the River," Rhett Walker "Masters of the Dark Arts," Coka Nostra "Hope in Transition," Brendan James "Jimi Hendrix Experience Live at Berkeley," Jimi Hendrix "Unsound," Mission of Burma
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