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Nothing has such a dramatic effect on your finances as the Bank Rate. A decision taken by a committee of nine men at the Bank of England once a month influences the cost of your mortgage, the pricing of savings rates and the interest you pay on your credit card.
But that's nothing to the headwinds or tailwinds that the rates policy applies to assets, such as property, shares and bond markets. Or the impact it has on Britain's currency – the fall in sterling has effectively left us all 20pc poorer relative to the rest of the world in the past five years, an effect you will have noticed on holiday.
Other tools have been used to amplify the effect of low rates, such as quantitative easing (QE), the Bank of England's money printing programme, and the Treasury's Funding for Lending Scheme. The QE programme is on hold, but not unwound, and Funding for Lending is still running, artificially pushing down mortgage and savings rates.
As for the Bank Rate, the Bank's Governor, Mark Carney, has updated his "guidance" that it won't rise until unemployment drops to 7pc, which it originally forecast to happen in 2016.
The Bank's quarterly Inflation Report, published on Wednesday, suggested that that level of joblessness might be reached sooner, although it was stressed that this would be a point when a rate rise would just be considered.
Working out when this key interest rate will rise again is the holy grail of financial forecasting. But the "experts" have been pretty consistent in getting it wrong. When the Bank Rate was cut to 0.5pc in 2009 in an attempt to fight a financial crisis that threatened deflation, the vast majority of economists predicted that rates would rise within a year, woefully underestimating the problems. And they refused to change their minds, fixated on history that suggested rates quickly return to "normal".
In June 2010, the collective view of economists in a monthly poll by Reuters was for the Bank Rate to accelerate to 2pc by the end of 2011. By late 2011, with rates still at 0.5pc, these professionals were still predicting a rise by the end of 2012.
Of course, many will argue that rates should have risen long ago. The job of the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is to regulate the temperature of the economy. But its specific task is to control inflation. Looking two years ahead, the consumer prices index (CPI) should be kept between 1pc and 2pc. The MPC has failed miserably in this aim. CPI has been above this target for the past 47 months and prices have risen by 21pc since 2007.
Blackouts during the early Seventies energy crisis, which sent rates soaring
Britain's above-target inflation is fairly rare among the world's richest nations. Inflation in both America and Germany is at just 1.2pc, while in the eurozone, dragged down by the woes of Spain and Greece, it is just 0.7pc. Interest rates there are falling, cut from 0.5pc to 0.25pc last week. Price pressure is easing in nearly all parts of the developed world, with the exception of Japan – a country that holds a worrying portent for Britain's financial future.
In Japan, inflation is at 1pc, a giddy new high. The country has faced a two-decade battle with deflation. In the Eighties, a peak in its working-age population drove the economy and the price of assets such as property and shares to extraordinary highs. It ended in a banking crisis in 1989 and 1990 and a collapse in the value of those assets.
Policymakers in Western Europe and the US have nervously followed this slow-motion meltdown. Populations in the West, after all, mostly follow the same ageing pattern of Japan, but with a 20-year lag. One argument is that as more of our "baby boomers" move from being economically active to taking a well-earned rest in retirement and spending less, our economic growth will stagnate here in the same way and deflation, which was briefly a threat in 2009, could emerge as the greater danger.
The opposing view is that the effects of the measures deployed today could create runaway inflation – which would need panicked rises in rates to control it. As with Japan before it, Britain has borrowed far too much and inflation helps erode away those debts. That is why so many fear that the Bank of England and the Government are comfortable with allowing a higher inflation rate.
>> How interest rates predictions have changed in 2013 (click here for a full explanation of the chart)
So when will rates rise? And what does history tell us?
A Bank Rate rise is possible next year, say some economists. But the Bank's latest projection puts only 40pc probability on unemployment dropping to 7pc by the end of 2014 – and a 70pc chance by the end of 2016. The markets are sticking with a forecast of a rise in 2015. Tom Stevenson, a director at investment firm Fidelity, said it was unwise for investors to try to make precise predictions, but he believes that rates will stay lower for longer than the market suggests, and that even when they do start rising, will do so slowly. He added: "Don't forget rates were at 2pc for 20 years from the Thirties to Fifties. Inflating away a debt problem takes years."
That makes it a good time for shares. "This is potentially a Goldilocks scenario for UK equity investors – not too hot, not too cold – decent growth and interest rates at emergency low levels," Mr Stevenson said.
But when it comes to your finances it never pays to be complacent, and history should be acknowledged. Rates have risen rapidly and with little warning several times in the past, most notably during the energy crisis in the Seventies, which caused a spike in inflation so big that rates had to rise from 5pc to 13pc in 18 months.
Rates were raised in preparation for the ERM but Britian's attempts to join eventually failed in 1992
Towards the end of that decade, an even bigger shock was delivered by a rise from 6.5pc to 17pc in just 15 months. Most readers will also remember the surge in rates to nearly 15pc in 1989 amid Britain's disastrous attempts to ready itself for entry to the European Exchange Rate Mechanism. As the chart shows, monetary policy control has been less volatile since it was passed from the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the Bank of England in 1997.
If you plan to gamble that low rates will stay low, be aware of the early warning signs. Wages are rising at a pathetic annual rate of 0.7pc, official figures show. If this were to suddenly pick up, better buying power would push up shop prices – which would make workers ask for more. This is the much-feared inflationary spiral. History suggests that the canary in the coal mine is salaries in industry. Sadly, decent wages are a distant memory for most workers. Vocalink, which provides the payment mechanism for most wages in Britain, says pay in manufacturing is falling at the rate of 0.7pc a year.
If you're ready to make your own call on rates, read our Action Points below to understand how to profit with your portfolio. We will also publish a guide to what this all means for mortgage rates and savings rates in tomorrow's Daily Telegraph and here at telegraph.co.uk/money.
Jeremy Warner: Expect a long wait for 'normal' rates
Action points: How to profit by making your own call on low rates
The City's best-paid minds have consistently called rates wrong, while shrewd investors shy from even attempting to. When asked to offer a forecast this week, Edward Bonham Carter, chief executive of fund manager Jupiter, said: "We all want to know what's going to happen next, but it's a dangerous thing to believe you know the future."
With those words ringing in your ears, it is still worth remembering that those who do get ahead of events can profit. For example, the market believes rates will rise in 2015, and that expectation will be priced in. So bonds, which lose their appeal when rates are higher, have been falling in value. If rates don't rise as quickly as expected, bond prices should rise.
Recent history gives us a rough guide to assets that flourish when rates are low – namely, shares, property and bonds. But within that, are many nuances.
Stick with bonds?
Investors in bonds were one of the winners of the financial crisis. That is because the fixed interest paid on these investments, which are effectively loans from investors to companies or governments, become more attractive when interest rates everywhere else fall, so investors buy. It also helped that the Bank of England was printing money to buy an awful lot of gilts, or British government bonds.
The uncertainty that stalked markets also made the certainty of fixed payments more enticing. As the economy has improved and forecasts of rate rises have been brought forward, bond prices have fallen in recent months – so income yields have risen. Jason Hollands of wealth manager Bestinvest believes that the correction may have gone too far. "We are approaching a point when cautious income seekers might start returning to the core bond markets again," he said.
But investors should be aware of the theoretical damage that could be inflicted when rates do rise. Research by JP Morgan Asset Management suggests that a 1pc rise in interest rates has historically pushed down government bond prices by 16pc. It is that fear that has been pulling down prices. The impact on high-yield bonds, it should be noted, is far less pronounced.
One way to play this is to hold a "strategic" bond fund, where the manager can tread through the minefield for investors. Kames Strategic Bond and M & G Optimal Income are popular with advisers.
Consider buy-to-let
Residential property has proved a honeypot for investors in the world of low rates. With savers getting less than 2pc from the bank and gross yields of around 6pc or 7pc available on buy-to-let homes, it is easy to see the attraction. Government policy remains committed to pumping up prices, by keeping mortgage rates artificially low and by aiding the market with Help to Buy. These policies, property group Knight Frank said this week, would add 7pc to prices next year and 5pc in 2015. Of course, when rates do finally rise, it may send values tumbling. Don't bet the house.
Stay invested in shares, buy small caps
History suggests that when rates rise slowly from low levels, returns on shares have been "generally OK", according to analysis by JP Morgan. Kerry Craig, a global strategist at the company, said: "Slowly rising rates are a sign of improving economic recovery." But he warned investors to avoid "bond proxy" defensive stocks. However, if rates stay low it will be these high-income stocks that remain in demand and income hunters may extend their search outside the FTSE 100 and into smaller companies. Frequently tipped funds include Miton's UK Multi Cap Income and Standard Life Investments' UK Smaller Companies trust.


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Sizzix Thinlits Die - Graceful Angel
Pete Hughes
Pete has been inspiring UK and European crafters for years. After leaving school, Pete trained as an illustrator, specializing in cartoons and caricatures before working for an educational publishing company. Pete has been with Ellison since 2005, where he enjoys producing projects for UK and European magazines, trade shows and demonstrations. Pete is also featured regularly on television demonstrating Sizzix products, including QVC. Says Pete, "My inspiration comes mainly from our wonderful customers."View Designer
New to die-cutting?
Or simply want to know more about it? We've got plenty of tips and tricks to help you get started.Learn More
Will it work with my machine?
Look below to explore the complete compatibility of this product
The Graceful Angel is an essential addition to any papercrafter's collection. This detailed design can be used to create beautiful accessories such as decorations and card fronts.
Thinlits create dazzling detailed shapes for more creative cardmaking and papercrafting projects. These wafer-thin chemically-etched die sets are designed to cut, emboss or stencil a single sheet of cardstock, paper, metallic foil or vellum. They are simple to use, compact and portable for cutting at home or on the go. Use them for enhanced intricacy and to add a special touch of inspiration to all your projects.
The Thinlits dies in this set are compatible with the BIGkick, Big Shot and Vagabond machines.
To cut, the sandwich requires use of a pair of Cutting Pads and the machine's included Platform; when using the Essentials Platform or Solo Platform & Shim, the Extended Adapter or Solo Adapter is required. Because of their intricacy, Thinlits dies may require up to three passes to cut. If extra ejection is needed for easier separation of the die-cut from the design, place wax paper between the Thinlits die and your material and then cut.
These die can also emboss when the machine's included Platform is combined with an Impressions Pad and Silicone Rubber sheet. The diagrams on the Platform offer easy guidelines about how to make the perfect Sizzix sandwich.
To stencil, place the die over desired material and apply ink or chalk to the die indentations. This technique can be used alone or to enhance embossed designs.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Every year once the President is done with the serious duty of pardoning a turkey, he addresses the country with a Thanksgiving proclamation. However, Obama's speech was a tad bit different than those in the past – he left out references to God. Well, not completely. His single reference to God was tucked inside of a George Washington quote:
Today, we recall President George Washington, who proclaimed our first national day of public thanksgiving to be observed "by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God," and President Abraham Lincoln, who established our annual Thanksgiving Day to help mend a fractured Nation in the midst of civil war.
But those were George Washington's words, which were balanced with the practicality of Lincoln's quote. Obama himself didn't invoke a deity. When you compare this to some of the things Bush said during his last Thanksgiving proclamation, you can see the difference:
On this day, let us all give thanks to God who blessed our Nation's first days and who blesses us today. May He continue to guide and watch over our families and our country always.
We recognize that all of these blessings, and life itself, come not from the hand of man but from Almighty God….
Having arrived in the New World, these early settlers gave thanks to the Author of Life….
And as noted by Jill Stanek, "President Bush called the 1st celebrants "Pilgrims," Obama said they were "European settlers."" A subtle but significant difference.
Some nonbelievers don't care when Obama gives a shout to non-believers or simply leaves God out of his secular speeches, but I think it's important. If our President invokes God like belief is normal, required, and patriotic, it alienates the "Nones" of America. By simply keeping his Thanksgiving proclamation secular, Obama is making baby steps toward a more inclusive environment. Yes, there is certainly more I think he could be doing, but I'll take what I can get for now.


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When Alissa Carloss was born, her mother was an assistant at J.C. Bradford & Co., the iconic southern brokerage firm. Two years later, her father joined the company as a stockbroker.
"I've been involved in this business since I was born. I grew up around it. I remember as a kid stuffing and licking envelopes for my dad. I never thought of doing anything else," says Carloss, who joined her father at J.C. Bradford at the age of 21—the youngest advisor the firm had ever hired. "My father never asked me to be in the business. We just knew it would work out that way."
Today, at 34, Carloss leads a team for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in Jackson, Tenn. that manages over $100 million in assets. It is still a family affair. Her father, Terry Nance, serves as the team's consulting group analyst and her mother, Patricia Nance, is in charge of correspondence and event planning. Client services associate Becky Gordon has worked with Terry Nance since Carloss was a teenager.
"Investments have always intrigued me but not near as much as interacting with clients and treating them like family," says Carloss, who is known for her exuberance, positive outlook—and to-do lists. "I really feel a need to help them understand their investments. It's more than just the factual side; it's the emotional side. This business is really more about relationships and psychology than it is about investments, to a degree."
In recent years, Carloss and Terry Nance have worked together with the clients he brought to the business while developing new relationships through her contacts. In a role reversal, Nance two years ago ceded leadership control to his daughter. (In the office, Carloss calls him Dad. "I just can't call him Terry.")
Clients, she says, have been receptive.
"I find women, especially, enjoy working with me. They'll say 'A lot of men intimidate me. You speak on my level.' Our male clients have also been receptive. One gentleman told me last week he really didn't want an advisor who had been in business for 50 years. He'd rather have somebody who has learned more recently, yet has experience," she said. "You don't want to go have heart surgery from a doctor who learned it 50 years ago."
In May, Carloss, looking for deeper resources for her clients, moved the team from Stifel Nicolaus to Morgan Stanley. Seven weeks in, the majority of clients had followed her. Complex manager John Terry said she was "well ahead of the average recruit" when it comes to client retention. In that same time period, Carloss also got five referrals.
"We're the winner in this thing," Terry adds. "Jackson is a market with great potential. Her team's presence doubled us in terms of assets and revenues. These are the folks that put us on the map in Jackson, Tenn. She's a terrific partner."
Carloss is also all things Jackson. She grew up there, got her bachelor's degree and MBA at Union University there, and is raising a family there. Carloss and her husband, Burt, have four adopted children between the ages of 19 and six. Until last year, when their oldest went to college, Burt Carloss was a stay-at-home father. Today, he's a college recruiter.
Alissa Carloss's is a team approach—both at home and in the office.
"My husband is very supportive, my primary consultant. When we made this move, I told him: "I can't do it if you can't.' We're a team. At home and in the office, I try to keep an open approach and listen. I'm a delegator," Carloss says. "It's true I do have a hard time letting go of things because I want them to be done correctly. If I delegate, I will check back. My kids call me 'the list maker.' I make lists for them—and I have my own."
What is on Carloss's to-do list?
Looking ahead, she would like to hire one more advisor and support staff.
As for this moment, she is reviewing all of the holdings of her 400 client households. "I never thought the toughest part of this job would be to find a decent interest rate," she says. Alternatives she has looked at recently: blue chip stocks with nice dividends; annuities to provide a guaranteed lifetime income; and equity-linked certificates of deposit.
"Every person is different and it is so important to sit down and understand each client's needs individually. It's not right to categorize them," she adds. "And when I do sit down with my clients, I sit on the same side of the table with them—literally. I am, and will always be, my clients' advocate."


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The Bank Shares the Wealth
In the highly competitive business of banking it is common to see these financial institutions spending large sums of money on advertising to attract new clients. But it certainly came as a surprise to the radio audience in Israel to hear a commercial from Bank Discount appealing for people to bring to its branches throughout the country old winter coats, sweaters, heaters, blankets and any other items which the bank would distribute to needy families "so that everyone would enjoy a warmer winter".
The bank did a great job of collecting the requested items as Jews once again demonstrated their generosity and their inability to simply discard an item no longer in use. But when it came to distributing the items the bank official in charge of the project realized that the best channel was a "Gmach" used-clothing center catering to the financially strapped large families in the chareidi sector. The director of the "Begged Yad Leyad" network of used-clothing centers was pleasantly surprised to hear a man from the bank call her to ask if he could deliver a large shipment to her central branch. She couldnt help but laugh when she recalled that upon hearing the commercial appeal she had wondered how a bank was going to handle distribution. Now that she got her answer she gladly welcomed the opportunity to help the bank share its new kind of wealth with the needy.


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Gun-rights group sues Winston-Salem over parks policy
A statewide gun-rights group is claiming the city of Winston-Salem is violating its Second Amendment rights through an ordinance banning concealed handguns in many of its city parks.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports that Rights Watch International filed a lawsuit Jan. 8 in Forsyth County Superior Court on behalf of three Winston-Salem residents and a High Point resident who works in Winston-Salem.
The lawsuit also alleges that the ordinance adopted by the Winston-Salem City Council in November 2011 is illegal under state law and is too vague, resulting in confusion among Winston-Salem residents.
Named as defendants are the city, the city's recreation and parks department, Mayor Allen Joines and city's recreation and parks director Tim Grant. Neither Joines nor City Attorney Angela Carmon was available for comment Tuesday.


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It was barely past noon on a Tuesday, but the team from Appalachian State was already filling beer cups.
"There's a tremendous amount of chemistry that happens with aroma," said Dr. Seth Cohen, standing between the beer table and a PowerPoint screen. "There are a lot of background factors you need to control to make sure you're getting good data."
Around the room, about 60 men and women from craft breweries across North Carolina took careful notes. They had gathered at Foothills Brewing in Winston-Salem for a workshop on the sensory evaluation of beer, and Cohen was getting deep into the details.
Aroma compounds, volatility, mouth enzymes, cellar-blindness, even the consistency of adjectives used to describe taste — Cohen covered it all in his step-by-step tutorial on how a professional tasting should be run. Quality control is a serious science, and the professors in Appalachian's Enology and Viticulture program take it seriously.
"We want to be known not just for a lot of craft breweries, but for high-quality craft beer," Cohen said. "We want people choosing North Carolina as a beer destination. And we want to get North Carolina beers on grocery store shelves all over the country."
It is a vision shared by the state's policymakers. Though craft brewing is still a relatively small corner of the nation's beer market, sales have been growing briskly. Craft beer sales in 2012 were up 15% from 2011, compared with less than 1% growth in overall beer sales.[1]
"There is clearly a thirst in the marketplace for craft brewed beer, as indicated by the continued growth year after year," said Paul Gatza, director of the national Brewer's Association, a craft beer trade group. "These small breweries are doing great things for their local communities, the greater community of craft brewers, our food arts culture and the overall economy."
With an eye toward the economic impact of breweries, which are direct employers and drivers of local tourism, the North Carolina General Assembly has been embracing the craft industry. News & Observer political correspondent John Frank, a craft beer enthusiast who writes reviews of North Carolina brews, noted the legislative enthusiasm at last year's "Rush the Growler" party, a soiree for lawmakers sponsored by the N.C. Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association.
"I think we are seeing a greater appreciation for craft beer than ever before," Rep. Susan Fisher, a Democrat who represents downtown Asheville, told Frank. "And I think it's something that goes across partisan lines."[2]
In 2005, the legislature upped the cap on alcohol by volume in beer from 6 to 15%, paving the way for the craft industry and making the state a mecca for small brewers. The North Carolina Department of Commerce promotes a list of brewery tours on its VisitNC.com website, and it dedicated April as North Carolina Beer Month.
Appalachian State's Program, which also provides laboratory services and research support for the state's wine growers, is designed to build on the momentum of the state's brew-friendly policies. Since 2012, the school has offered a Bachelor of Science in Fermentation Sciences, offering students the chance to learn both the chemistry of brewing and the art of building and marketing a business.
There's even an on-site test brewery where students get hands-on experience creating a marketable product. It is dubbed, appropriately enough, the Ivory Tower Brewery.
A glowing write-up in The Atlantic magazine touted the program's focus on career training, noting that many of the faculty come from industry backgrounds. "The academics and professors within the program—for now a small group comprised of former industry professionals turned educators who designed and wrote the curriculum—see that students are imparted with not just knowledge of fermentation sciences, but of business, too," The Atlantic reported.[3]
That focus also drives Appalachian's outreach and education to the state's active brewers. Back in Winston-Salem, as Dr. Cohen outlined his goal of seeing North Carolina beers on shelves across the country, dozens of bearded entrepreneurs nodded in assent. "It's definitely about living the dream," Cohen continued. "But it's also about hard work."
[1] http://www.brewersassociation.org/pages/business-tools/craft-brewing-statistics/facts
[2] http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/05/14/2890184/pintful-beer-politics-evolving.html
[3] http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/01/a-degree-in-beer-wine-and-kombucha/283093/


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NonCompetitive Event Permit
One of the benefits of being a USA Cycling certified coach is the ability to take out a non-competitive event permit for group training rides or clinics, normally something that only clubs/teams can do.
A benefit for having this permit is that your riders have the benefits of the USA Cycling coverage. As a coach carrying the professional liability insurance through the USAC provider, you will need to complete this registration process and have the event sanctioned in order for the insurance policy to be valid for the camp, clinic or training ride.
All members of the camp, clinic or group ride must be USAC racing license holders or purchase a one day license for each day of participation.
For more information on non-competitive event permits, please contact USA Cycling Membership at 719-434-4200.
This Article Published January 7, 2008 For more information contact:


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Portland Parks, Recreation & Facilities and the Portland Public Works 'Communications Office' maintains 6 day coverage from April to November (Monday – Saturday) and 24 / 7 Dispatch during winter months.
Call (207) 874-8493 During non DPS hours contact the Public Safety Office.
We maintain an Emergency 'On-Call' program for arboricultural emergencies that include weather related storm damage & tree incidents.
Major STORM EVENTS -
During major storm events Public Works Department Forestry Section crews are joined by city staff from other sections & departments. Major events may trigger the City's 'Emergency Operations Center' (EOC) incident command led by Portland Fire Department. This unified effort brings together city departments, utilities, regional & state resources. During 'tree emergencies' safety is the number one priority.
Hurricane & Storm Preparedness
Be Ready ! Having a 'storm plan' ready is always helpful. See NOAA web site: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php
Storm Restoration
storm damage assessment following an event involves a number of safety / risk factors. Power restoration, removing down trees & limbs, opening streets are part of the overall restoration effort. The City of Portland Public Works Department – Forestry Section works in unison with other City Departments and utilities in this regard. CAUTION is advised during & after a storm due to potentially unsafe condition.
'No Wires are Safe to Touch – Ever ! '
'No Wires are Safe to Touch – Ever ! ' has been the safety slogan of CMP for many years during storm events and power outages – and it is always good advice. After many of our storm events we see unaware public out to survey the damage while conditions remain unsafe. Downed wires can look dead and still be active, those without power and using generators can back-feed lines. STAY SAFE !


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Les Thatcher has travelled many roads in his career, he's been from Florida, to the Carolinas all the way to the eastern tips of Canada. And on April 13 in Las Vegas, he will be rewarded for his lifetime of service to the business.
Thatcher, born Leslie Maladay, has been selected the recipient of this year's Art Abrams Lifetime Achievment award by the Cauliflower Alley Club, an award that has humbled the veteran of many ring wars.
"I was tremendously excited and tremendously humbled all at the same time," Thatcher told SLAM! Wrestling. "I mean, I cannot tell you, I feel I've busted my hump in all aspects of the wrestling business to do my very best and I love what I do. I never set-out to win any mythical titles."
And although he's seen awards before, this one holds a special place for Thatcher.
"I've won some awards I would have to say that this is the icing on the cake for me," he said.
Thatcher's old promoter and friend Rudy Kay was pleased to hear of his success. "Maybe the guy didn't make it to the top echelon in wrestling but he was always really devoted to the sport from the time I knew him," Kay said. "So it couldn't go to a nicer guy."
It was Kay that brought the Ohio-born Thatcher into the Maritimes in the 1970s.
"I came in wrestling and came in as a heel with the idea that I was going to turn babyface at some point," Thatcher said. "Of course, back then if you were American and if the Canadians even thought you were close to draft age, then you were a bad guy, you were a draft dodger," he said with a laugh. "I wasn't even eligible for the draft but I was a draft dodger anyways because I was American."
Oddly, this was the only time in Thatcher's career that he worked as a heel, because the 5'10", 220-pound Thatcher never thought he fit the heel requirements.
"It wasn't like I was dead-set against being a heel or anything like that it just never came up," he noted. "And not that I was pretty -- then, now or anytime -- but I just looked more like a babyface and that was my strong suit. Nobody ever tried to change me.
"Again, Rudy, up there knowing the lay of the land, that I wasn't going to be accepted initially and we'd work it into where I would," he said. "I had the first, last and only opportunity to ever work heel."
During his stay in the Maritimes, Thatcher was moved from the ring to the announcers booth after the unexpected departure of regular match caller George "Crybaby" Cannon.
"I asked him and he jumped right in," Kay said. "And to my big surprise he was just as good as any commentator I had ever seen."
Thatcher still vividly recalls the change in his career.
"The funny thing is I remember it as if it were yesterday, because it was the start of another branch of my career as it were, it was kind of the fork in the road and I picked up another occupation," he said. "On Monday when we normally worked Moncton, Rudy called me and just started a conversation.
"He said 'oh, you remember when we were on the road in the Carolinas and talking about doing this and that, you said you'd might like to try commentary?' And I said yeah, I do remember saying that, and he said 'well, why don't you bring a coat, tie and suit with you tomorrow to Halifax?' I said why would I want to do that? He said 'because I think you're going to get a shot at trying.'"
Thatcher was skeptical about the move, as he had never done anything related to the production aspect of wrestling.
"As much as I'd wanted to do that, I had never read a television format, had never cued into a segment, like any other wrestler I had done interviews, but in terms of actually running a television show I had no clue," he said. "I can't remember if it was good bad or indifferent but we got through it and surprisingly enough I did a good job I think."
With his debut behind the mic done, it was learned that Cannon wouldn't be returning and Kay had a proposal for Thatcher.
"[Rudy] came to me and said 'look, you're doing a good job, and we turned you babyface, it'll all work out and I just want to keep you on as a commentator.'"
With that Thatcher moved into announcing regularly, and he remembers being on TV in whatever capacity afforded the crew amazing notoriety in the territory.
"The one TV out of Halifax virtually covered the entire Maritimes, and it was the forerunner of what the guys today must expect and feel when they're out in public," he said. "I remember my wife, my mother and father and the kids came up and I rented a cabin, furnished and everything out in Shediac (New Brunswick) for two weeks while they were up. At one point they went without me, I don't know where I was at, but they went to a pizza place in Moncton.
"After they ate my wife went up to pay at the register, and I guess it was the owner that said 'well Mrs. Thatcher how did you enjoy your food?' and without thinking she said 'just fine.' Then all of a sudden she stopped and she said 'excuse me, you're right of course, but how did you know that I was Mrs. Thatcher?' and he said 'I recognized the car.'"
The level of recognition he garnered took him by surprise.
"That was amazing to me, just the fact there was no place we could go that we weren't recognized -- which was something really new to me in that respect. You were known regionally by wrestling fans, but it was like there, every place you went."
Since TV was used mainly to showcase the talent by having them soundly put away talent of an enhancement nature, Thatcher never got much of a chance to call any great matches, but he does remember his time in the ring, especially with the Cormiers.
"As far as having matches, working that switch with (Freddie) Sweetan, the series with him was good," he said. "Leo Burke, who to me technically, is probably one of the most sound performers that ever stepped foot in a ring, in fact all the Cormiers, Beast (Yvan) was good to work with, Rudy was good to work with, Bobby was good to work with they were all good. There were 16 people in that family, they all didn't wrestle, but the ones that did were all pretty good."
"It was a good territory, it was a good crew of guys," he said.
"It was a great experience, the people were friendly, the country was beautiful I don't have any complaints at all. I could probably do a commercial for the tourism board," he said with laugh.
After leaving the Maritimes, Thatcher went through Jim Crockett's Carolina territory and eventually shared announcing duties with Gordon Solie. He slowly moved into the production area full-time as his in-ring days passed him.
By the mid-1990s he was running the Heartland Wrestling Association in Cincinnati, which was one of the WWE's developmental territories, and, for a time, he was the man behind the Brian Pillman Memorial shows.
Now 65, Thatcher still puts his all into the business, working with Harley Race and Tom Pritchard to groom young wrestlers through their Elite Pro Wrestling Training program.
In addition to molding the stars of the future he also makes personal appearances and writes a weekly online column called Wrestler's Eye View.
Jason Follett is on the brink of saying goodbye to education and hello to a life of being a desk jockey. And he still resides in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, where there is still no wrestling. He can be emailed at email@example.com.


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Cakespy: Deep-Fried Cupcakes on a Stick Recipe
Quirky, cute, sometimes controversial, always delicious recipes from Jessie Oleson.
Note: Jessie Oleson (aka Cakespy) drops by every Monday to share a delicious dessert recipe.
First things first. The title of this recipe has probably brought up a serious question, and I'd like to answer it straightaway.
The answer is yes, I am trying to kill you, Paula Deen style. These deep-fried cupcakes on sticks may in fact not stick to your New Year's resolution plan, but they're delicious.
The thick batter seals moisture into the cake, and the oil infuses it with a light savoriness that makes them absolutely tantalizing. The taste is like the intersection of childhood nostalgia and greasy fair food.
Deep Fried Cupcakes on Sticks
- Yield:12
- 12 mini cupcakes with buttercream frosting (smaller cupcakes work best; full-size cupcakes may not stay on the stick)
- 8-12 cups of vegetable or peanut oil, quantity depending on your pan
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups flour, divided
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Start out by peeling the wrappers off of your cupcakes, and spear each one with a popsicle stick, so that it is embedded into the frosting but does not poke through to the top. Freeze them for at least 2 hours, or even overnight--you want them to be like little rocks.
When your cupcakes are nearing the end of the chilling period, it's time to start heating the oil for frying. I poured about 6 cups of vegetable oil into a medium saucepan, so that it was about 4-5 inches deep. The exact quantity of oil required will depend on the size of your saucepan. Turn the heat to medium-high, and insert a candy or frying thermometer. The oil needs to reach 375°F on the thermometer, which will take about 10-12 minutes.
While the oil heats, prepare the batter. Place 1/2 cup of flour in a shallow bowl and set aside for the moment. Place 1 cup of flour in a small bowl and stir in the baking powder and salt. In a mixing cup, stir together the milk, vinegar, and oil. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry until smooth and free of most lumps. The batter should be thicker than a pancake batter--if it seems too liquidy (as if it might drip off when you dip the cupcakes in it), whisk in the remaining flour until it has reached the desired consistency.
Remove the cupcakes on sticks from your freezer. I found that it is best to fry one cupcake at a time, so you could take them out of the freezer a couple at a time so that the cupcakes fried later on don't get too warm while sitting out.
First, dredge your cupcake in the flour, covering it completely. Tap off excess and roll into the wet batter mixture until it is completely coated on all sides (the bottom may be bare; this is okay).
Quickly dip the battered cupcake into the oil, holding the stick from the very end (do not drop it or you might get oil spatter!). You will only be dipping each cupcake for a very short time, so keep a careful eye on it.
I did not wear gloves for this part and I didn't get burnt or spattered, but since the oil is very hot, it might be a good idea to wear an oven mitt to decrease the likelihood of getting spatter on your hands.
Once the batter has reached a pleasing golden hue, remove the cupcake from the oil and transfer to a plate covered with paper towel to soak up the excess grease. Repeat the battering and frying process with the remaining cupcakes, battering them one at a time directly before dipping in the frying oil. While frying, be sure to monitor the temperature of the oil and adjust your heat up or down accordingly so that it remains at 375°F. If the oil is too cold it won't fry quickly enough and the cupcakes will soak up too much grease; if it is too hot, the outside will get dark before the inside is fully warmed, leaving you with a delicious shell but a partially defrosted cupcake inside.
Do you have extra batter?
I had a tiny bit left after frying all of my cupcakes, so I used it to deep fry a couple of peanut butter cups. It was delicious.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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In celebration of the 2 year anniversary, I'll signing copies of Ethnic Scrapbooking in Laurel, MD November 21 -22, 2009. Savage Mill is such an inspirational place. I frequently buy gifts from here because of the uniqueness of each of the stores. Get in the Holiday Spirit and secure an autograph copy of Ethnic Scrapbooking at a SALE price, yes for the very first time, you can get my book on sale for only $15.00. Makes a great gift for parents, travelers, family historians and of course scrapbookers.
International Center For Artistic Development, Inc
New Weave Building, Mezzanine Level
Box 2049
8600 Foundry Street
Savage, MD 20763
ACelebration Of Cultural Influences & Heritage
Lisa Sanford, Pontella Mason & Clare Roberts
At the ICAD Art Studio & Gallery
Camellia A. Blackwell, Ph.D. , Fine Artist & Executive Director
November 21 & 22, 2009
Reception: Sunday, November 22, 2009, 2PM to 4PM
Historic Savage Mill
8600 Foundry Street • Savage, MD 20763
Phone: 301-604-4484 • www.icadev.org
Directions: From Wash. DC, I-95 N to Exit. 38A ( Rte. 32 E.) to Rte. 1South. Turn right at first traffic light on Howard St. Follow signs to Mill parking.


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100 Million Systems Vulnerable to Java Flaw
Jan 14, 2013 6:00 AM PT
A zero-day flaw in Oracle's Java programming language could make as many as 100 million computers connected to the Internet vulnerable to attack by cybercriminals.
The threat posed by the Java vulnerability was considered so serious that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security urged computer users to turn off Java on their machines.
The vulnerability discovered last week by security researchers exploits a flaw in version 7 rev. 10 and has already begun appearing in major kits used to create malware packages. It can be exploited to plant malware on PCs.
Of the 3 billion devices running Java, about 13 percent are running the flawed version of the software, said Bogdan Botezatu, senior e-threat analyst with Bitdefender. Of those systems, he estimates some 100 million are running Microsoft Windows and are connected to the Internet.
"Given the next patch cycle for Java is scheduled for February 15th, there's a large window for end users to be unprotected," Botezatu told TechNewsworld.
Oracle has a big problem with Java, especially when it comes to using it in a browser, AlienVault Labs Manager Jaime Blasco told TechNewsWorld. "The time of Java in the Browser has ended. The best defense we have right now for these kinds of attacks is to disable Java in the browser forever."
With the continued discovery of flaws in Java, Oracle is risking the technology's place in the enterprise, said HD Moore, chief security officer at Rapid7.
"The latest set of Java sandbox escape vulnerabilities demonstrate how far behind the platform is relative to other client-side technologies, such as Flash and SilverLight," Moore told TechNewsWorld. "Oracle must overhaul the Java security model or risk banishment from the corporate desktop."
Oracle declined to comment for this story.
Sharks, Vending Machines And Enterprise Security
What do sharks and vending machines have in common with enterprise security? More than you might think, if you listen to Rafal Los, senior security strategist at HP.
Los is a fan of Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, the University of Chicago economist and New York Times journalist whotogether in 2005 penned "Freakonomics," a series of essays on topics like cheating as applied to teachers and sumo wrestlers, information control as applied to the Ku Klux Klan, and real estate agents and the socioeconomic patterns of naming children.
Levitt's and Dubner's approach to critical thinking inspired Los to apply that approach to the world of enterprise security. "It made me think about what people are afraid of versus what they should really fear," he told TechNewsWorld.
It's then that Los came across a charming statistic for a Freakonomics fan. The odds of being killed by a shark are one in 250 million. By contrast, the chances of being killed by vending machine is roughly one in 112 million.
"We feel we've got to chase the next big hairy monster because that's what's got the CEO's attention at the moment," he observed. "When that scariness wears off, we're off to chase the next big scary thing. We have ADD in a horrible way."
He argued that instead of paying attention to the vending machine -- identity management, software security, good network management -- we're paying attention to the shark -- hacktivists, chaotic actors and nation-state advanced persistent threats.
RT Jailbreaking Ratcheted Up
Early in the week, a security researcher posted instructions on the Internet for altering Windows RT so it could run Windows desktop apps. Microsoft's reaction may have been more surprising than the hack itself.
"We applaud the ingenuity of the folks who worked this out and the hard work they did to document it," it declared.
Neither Microsoft nor the researcher, C.L. Roker, felt the revelation about the hack dangerous. Microsoft's relaxed attitude about the jailbreak, though, may be encouraging other hackers to follow in Roker's footsteps.
By the end of the week, a hacker with the handle netham45 had posted a tool on the Net to automate Roker's hack. One reason for Microsoft's laissez-faire attitude toward the jailbreak was the amount of tech savvy needed to implement it. Now much of that grunt work is performed by the tool.
After completing his tool, netham45 went wild and installed Windows 95 on his Surface tablet. He wasn't the only one to install a foreign operating system on Surface. Dublin hacker Steve Troughton-Smith got an old version of Apple's OS X server operating system to run on his Microsoft tablet, too.
It appears Roker has opened the flood gates for homebrew apps to start appearing on Surface. How long those gates will remain open remains to be seen.
Microsoft is laying back, for now. "We are actively investigating this and will take appropriate action as necessary," it said.
Data Breach Diary
- Jan. 7: A medical billing practice, Goldthwait Associates, and four pathology groups in Massachusetts settle for US$140,000 a lawsuit filed against them by the state attorney general for improperly disposing medical records for more than 67,000 people at a town dump. Records included names, social security numbers and medical diagnoses.
- Jan. 8: In a filing with U.S. Security and Exchange Commission, Global Payments revised costs associated with a data breach in March 2012 to $93.9 million from $84 million. Fraud costs associated with the event were also revised, to $35.9 million from $67.4 million. An estimated 1.5 million credit cards in North America were affected by the breach.
- Jan. 8: Europol reports that unreported data breaches are at the root of some of the largest credit card not present fraud cases in Europe. Such cases amounted to $1.1 billion in fraud on the continent in 2011. "A major problem in the EU is the lack of proper regulations for reporting data breaches to police authorities," the report said.
- Jan. 8: IDentity Theft 911 announces an insurance product to cover expenses associated with data breaches. Expenses covered include notifications, forensic investigations and attorney consultation costs.
- Jan. 8: State Sen. Vincent Sheheen introduces legislation apologizing to the people of South Carolina for data breach at the state's Revenue Department that resulted in 74.7GB of taxpayer and business data being stolen.
- Jan. 9: Bibb County, Ga., police report forensic experts are examining some 40 hard drives in surplus computers purchased online by BC Computer Repair in Macon after the shop discovered information on the drives that appeared to be social security numbers, pensions and other personal information of Macon police officers.
Upcoming Security Events
- Jan. 17 Hack.me: There's A Vulnerable Web App for That. Black Hat Webcast sponsored by IBM. 1 p.m. ET. Free with registration.
- Feb. 8-9: Suits and Spooks Conference: Should Private Companies Take Measured Offensive Actions against Attackers? Waterview Conference Center, Washington, D.C. Registration: $595.
- Feb. 24-25: BSides San Francisco. DNA Lounge, 375 Eleventh St., San Francisco.
- Feb. 25-Mar. 1: RSA Conference USA 2013: Security in Knowledge. Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco. Registration: Jan. 25 and before, $1,895. After Jan. 25, $2,295.
- Mar. 12-15: Black Hat Europe. Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Registration: through Jan. 10, Euro 1,095 (US$1,447); through Feb. 28, Euro 1,295 (US$1,711); Mar. 1-15, Euro 1,495 ($US1,975).
- Apr. 23-25: Infosecurity Europe. Earls Court, London, UK.


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Join us for Brunch, Lunch, Lunch Buffet, and Dinner. Check out our menu filled with all your authentic Mexican favorites including house made cocktail creations and an assortment of our favorite wines and Mexican beer.
Two Locations. Same Great Food.
9440 Foster Ave.
1/2 Block South Of The Rosemont Theatre
1905 Harlem Ave.
Hours Of Operation
Foster Kitchen Hours
Open Daily For Lunch!
Mon – Thurs
11am – 10pm
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12pm – 11pm
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Harlem Kitchen Hours
Mon – Thurs
4pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat
4pm – 11pm
11am-2pm Brunch Buffet – Kitchen Closes @ 10pm
Bar Open Late At Both Locations
Join Us For Dinner And Drinks Before And After All Rosemont Theatre Events!
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Relax in Fort Nelson
Located close to shopping and the water park
Welcome to our Ramada Limited Fort Nelson hotel near Poplar Hills Golf and Country Club. We are your getaway spot in beautiful northern British Columbia. Whether you are in town for a special event, or are looking for a relaxing weekend, our hotel is an ideal resting point for your travels.


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Customization versus standardization: it's a challenge to find the right balance in most industries, and financial planning is no exception. In fact, the prevailing view in financial planning has been that standardization simply has no place here–when every client is unique like an individual snowflake, the whole essence of financial planning is about customizing to the individual needs and goals of the client, right?
Yet the reality is that this viewpoint confuses standardizing the process and inputs going in, with the outcomes that come out. While standardization may have once meant that not only was the process always the same, but also the results at the end, this is no longer the case; instead, it looks more like Starbucks, where a highly standardized process also helps the company to better deliver that individualized, personalized coffee order. It's only through standardization of the process that Starbucks has simultaneously become a remarkably efficient and profitable company, capable of charging a premium for an effective customer experience for what is otherwise a commoditized product, and become the company that introduced comically long hyper-personalized coffee drink orders to our coffee culture.
In the financial planning context, this means it may be time to let go of the insistence that standardization of a financial planning process and deliverables are at odds with customized individual solutions for clients, and instead recognize that bringing better consistency to the process may actually be the thing that allows us to create more trust and make that personalized financial planning experience for clients better than ever.
The Difference between Process Inputs and Outcomes
When weighing the costs and benefits of standardization, it's important to recognize the crucial difference between standardizing the process going in, and standardizing the outcome for the customer/client.
Although the two are often viewed interchangeably, the reality is that they're not. Certainly, some of the earliest forms of standardization were all about standardizing not just the inputs but also the outputs – thus was the rise of mass production manufacturing assembly line innovated by Henry Ford to produce the Ford Model T. The more consistent the parts were, the more consistent the outputs (the final car that was produced) could be, and the more efficient the process could/would be to create them.
But the reality is that standardization has come a long way since the origins of the assembly line. One of the virtues of a standardized process is that ultimately, it allows for multiple products, services, or outcomes to occur based on a series of standard inputs. For instance, think of a teddy bear: the basic materials used to construct a teddy bear can be standardized to the last bit, but that doesn't mean you can't end out with a wide array of bears that all look different on the outside when the process is done. The same is true for a whole host of other goods: just because the underlying parts are standardized, and the construction/creation process is standardized, doesn't mean you can't still mix and match different standardized components to produce a remarkably customized solution!
Customized Starbucks Experience from Standardized Starbucks Process
And in fact, the potential to mix a wide range of standardized parts and processes into a customized solution isn't unique to manufacturing physical products; it works for experiences, too. For instance, look at what it's like to visit a Starbucks.
While Starbucks may "just" sell coffee, the reality is that Starbucks carefully crafts the entire "Starbucks experience" from how the store is configured, to the look of the walls and the feel of the cup, to the consistent creation of the order itself. As a result of the Starbucks experience, the store can charge a premium for what, in the end, amounts to just a cup of coffee that can be obtained at a lower cost with a similar quality from a competitor, or just home- or office-brewed for a fraction of the price.
In addition to a remarkably consistent Starbucks experience no matter where you go, every step of the coffee-making production itself is highly standardized, as that allows Starbucks to improve its efficiency further. Every ingredient that the barista may use is stored where it needs to be to keep the process efficient. The machines used for everything from brewing the coffee to preparing the right amount and consistency of milky foam have been iterated upon over and over again to make them better, reducing over the years the time it takes for Starbucks to produce that cup of coffee from several minutes down to 30 seconds… which in turn allows the store to serve even more customers faster and better.
Yet notwithstanding this astonishing depth of standardization and consistency in every step of the Starbucks experience, what results is a remarkably customized, individualized product! After all, Starbucks is not only an innovator for a speedy and standardized coffee-buying experience; they're also the ones who are responsible for the longest potential coffee order ever, the "Double Ristretto Venti Half-Soy Nonfat Decaf Organic Chocolate Brownie Iced Vanilla Double-Shot Gingerbread Frappuccino Extra Hot With Foam Whipped Cream Upside Down Double Blended, One Sweet'N Low and One Nutrasweet, and Ice" or in the case of my preferred drink of choice, the not-quite-as-long " Venti Sugar-Free Vanilla Nonfat Chai." Which is prepared and ready in less than a minute, thanks to the standardized process to make my entirely personalized drink.
And notably, the standardization and consistent experience isn't just about process and efficiency, either. One of the major reasons that Starbucks is so successful, with stores dotting the globe, is that their incredibly consistent outcomes for customers builds an incredible level of trust in the company, that what the customer gets will be exact what was desired and expected, every time.
In the second post on this topic, I'll continue the ongoing debate on customization versus standardization in financial planning.


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The moment guests enter Frasers Gourmet Hideaway - owned and
operated by Chef Scott Fraser - they will notice an
attention to detail and a feeling of pampered senses that
continues throughout the evening.
Opened in July of 2006, Frasers Gourmet Hideaway immediately had
a strong client base of locals that continues to name the
restaurant a hometown favorite. Visitors from all over the
state, region and nation also send buzz that leads to press
Inside the rightly name gourmet hideaway, rich wood
floors, leather chairs blend with golden light from blown
glass sconces and chandeliers. The look is sophisticated, but
casual all the same. Scott designed the restaurant's
dramatic open kitchen where guests can enjoy the lively ambiance
of the dining room or cozy up to the action at the illuminated
onyx chef's counter.
Every night, Chef Scott Fraser builds on the 23 years he's
established in the community, and the countless more years he
spent before that tuning his skills in the finest French
restaurants in Vancouver, B.C.
Scott graduated from the French-focused Pierre Dubrulle
Culinary School understand the importance of food.
Fraser creates a seasonal menu that takes advantage of the
freshest local ingredients and promotes the bounty of the
Scott Fraser has a creative palette that takes food beyond the
expected to expand a guest's experience- all of this paired
with fabulous, vibrant Northwest and West Coast wines.
This restaurant has been labeled a gourmet hideaway for a
reason-once you find it, you too will know it is a rare culinary
Check Out Our Gallery!
Copyright 2020 Frasers
Gourmet Hideaway. All Rights Reserved.


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Elements Of Style
Fashion Friday: Armed and Ready
Army green is totally the new neutral. I'm seeing it everywhere and anywhere and am so glad it happens to be a good color on me!
Here's an outfit I love based on this Madewell jacket I am obsessed with getting. Love the tweed mixed with the casual army green cotton canvas! (And PS need those boots and bag too.)
jacket// jeans// tee// boots// studs// necklace// bag// nailpolish
A few other army green things for your wardrobe- I got these Current/Elliott pants (and paid full price-GRRRR-such a steal now!!!!) and love them, like leggings- so comfy. And this Madewell shirt I blogged about before- it's the perfect casual topper with white jeans for spring!
I'd love this tunic with leather leggings and this ladylike skirt would be so flattering- even with tights and knee high black boots for the cold days!


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Rowdy's Dream Blog #340: I Had an Experience on a Truck
I am riding in a flatbed truck with some farm workers. I spot some tornadoes on the horizon. We arrive at "Washer Heaven." A Great Dane tries to climb over the rail into the truck. I pat his paw. "Good Dog", I say and try to push him off.


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Visit Ghana and ask for the phone number of any ordinary person on the street, and most likely you'll be given the option of two or three different mobile network operators (MNOs) to choose from. Ghana has 19 million cell phone subscribers for its over 24 million inhabitants — an impressive proportion — most of whom subscribe to more than one operator.
Ghana is one of Africa's most vibrant and innovative communications markets. It launched the first cellular mobile network in sub-Saharan Africa in 1992, and was one of the first countries on the continent to be connected to the Internet and introduce ADSL services. A market leader in terms of liberalization and deregulation, Ghana Telecom in 1996.
Ghana is serviced by six MNOs, including: Scancom (MTN) with 50% of the market share; Millicom (Tigo), 21%; Vodafone Mobile, 18%; Bharti Airtel, 10%; and Expresso and Glo, the most recent additions with the smallest market shares.
In mid-2010 the voice market reached more than 70% penetration, but huge potential still exists for the 3G broadband services that were launched in 2009.
Mobile services
In terms of economic impact, the telecoms sector has contributed significantly to the country's increase in GDP over the past twenty years and there is still massive room for growth. The question, then, is how many of these businesses have ever rolled out an innovation to support agriculture?
Value-added services such as mobile money have created jobs in the telecommunications and banking sectors as well as for the more than 4000 merchants in Ghana's mobile money system. MTN's Mobile Money was the first mobile or branchless banking initiative in the country and operates in partnership with nine of Ghana's banks. They currently have more than two million active users and MTN expects this number to grow through the education of subscribers on the benefits of switching from cash payments to electronic ones.
But outreach activities rarely address the needs of our smallholder farmers. Is it because MNOs consider farmers to be poor to use the services, or perhaps not sufficiently savvy on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)?
Operator Risks
Risks factors for mobile banking operators come in the form of strategic, reputational, compliance and operational risks. Operators need to keep a close eye on their outsourced providers, ensuring their activities are consistent with the overall strategic goals of the regulated entity — a task that may not be easy in the isolated, rural areas where most of our smallholders are located.
The same is true of reputational threats, which come in the form of poor service via third-party agents or consumer experiences that are inconsistent with the overall standards of the operator. Operators may have difficulties with ensuring that privacy, consumer and prudential laws are complied with at all times.
Operational risks are usually the biggest risk to operators. Technology failure, human error, cyber fraud, agent fraud, insecurity and unreliability of services and lack of customer education are just a number of factors that put operators at risk when lending their services to all users, smallholder farmers included.
Operator benefits and Africa's booming mobile market
With so many potential risks, what are the incentives for getting involved in mobile services?
The simple answer is to have the ability to reach millions of new customers and offer a multitude of services from bank loans to account payments. Or, let's not forget, to supply vital agricultural updates that could improve the quality of lives of millions of people and assist in the economic growth of many countries.
The rapid growth of the mobile market across Africa has had a positive impact on the continent's economic growth. As the telecommunication sector grows, jobs are created not just within the MNOs, but also for their agents and supply chain partners.
Local businesses are benefiting from mobile banking as payments are easily made in the business to business and business to customer arena. Mobile application development has resulted in initiatives which have a massive effect on agriculture, medicine and the non-profit sector.
My worry is this: During the 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW6) conference held recently in Accra, Ghana, over 90 booths were sponsored by exhibitors attempting to speak to the theme of the event, "Africa feeding Africa through agricultural science and innovation." Fascinating technologies like the the all new 'fufu' making machine and fresh research findings like the "Push-Pull" strategy for pest management were exhibited by individuals, institutions and research organizations from Africa and the world over.
Among all these happenings, I failed to recognize any of the booths being occupied by an MNO. Maybe they don't have anything to exhibit. But farmers use their services too — so why aren't they here?
Full inclusion of the various mobile money services in the agricultural value chain could benefit both farmer livelihoods and the bottom line of mobile operators. I am of the strong opinion that its about time that MNOs are tasked with factoring farmers in to their innovation strategies. Maybe in three years' time, at the next AASW, we'll see a couple of MNO booths in the lineup.
Blogpost by Nana Darko, Rite 90.1 FM and a social media reporter for AASW6.
Photo: W. Vota


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The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue debuted in 1964 as a five page supplement meant to increase readership during the winter sports lull after the Super Bowl.
The very first cover featured a model in a conservative, non-revealing bikini. The photo was shot at a wide angle, almost focusing more on the beach background than the model.
Throughout the 60's, 70's, and 80's, the covers remained fairly tame; they generally featured a beautiful woman wearing a bathing suit any young woman would wear to the beach.
In the 90's and 2000's, a trend began. The models started wearing less and less, and the camera focused more and more on their bodies, and less on the surrounding scene.


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" The comfort of living in your own home with all that's familiar and treasured is something we at Sue Mann Nursing and Community Care understand. For 30 years we have provided quality nursing and in-home care to our local area by a team of professionals, hand-picked not only for their skills and experience, but their passion for care.
I invite you to discover myhomecare – where you, or your loved one is the centre of your unique
story and personal journey. Quality care for your individual needs, by skilled professionals from your local area to help you remain
independent, with a sense of wellbeing in the place you feel most secure… your home. "
Read more…
Getting older can make everyday tasks such as bathing, cooking and grocery shopping a little more of a challenge than it was before. Many people choose to leave home and make a fresh start in one of Lake Macquarie's community care centres. If you're feeling like some of your everyday tasks are becoming more challenging but you'd like to keep you independence and remain at home, we can help you to do just that.
Sue Mann, one of Lake Macquarie's Community Care providers, helps to ensure that older people can continue to live in their own homes, providing the critical support and help needed in all aspects of their every life.
Our home and community care team in Lake Macquarie off a range of in-home care and nursing services to residents in the local area.
We are a local team, catering for local people, so we are always close by when you need us most. Our community care services available in Lake Macquarie include the following;
Our team of registered nurses are available to take care of your medical needs and we also have a team of allied health professionals on call to ensure that help is always at hand should you need it.
We can arrange to have a professional and experienced physiotherapist, dietician, nutritionist or physiologist call to your home and our team will be happy to install any health-monitoring equipment that you need access to.
A big part of our home community care in Lake Macquarie is helping our clients maintain their personal care regimes.
We can help to make bath time safer, and we can help to keep you looking and feeling your best by assisting with everything from grooming to helping you prepare your meals.
Staying social and active is ever so important for both the mental and physical health of older people. Our community care assistance Lake Macquarie team can take you to social outings, help you connect with family, friends and loved ones via technology and take you to enjoy your favourite activities.
For those suffering from injury or illness, or recovering after surgery, our community health care Lake Macquarie team can provide an array of specialist services. We can provide dementia care – helping you to get a diagnosis, implement changes and manage the illness.
We can also provide palliative care for those with critical illness and offer wound care and pain management for persons who have undergone treatment or surgery.
As the leading community care agency in Lake Macquarie that focuses on helping clients keep their independence, our team strives to ensure we do everything in our power to provide a superior standard of care.
All of our Lake Macquarie community care services are customisable to meet your specific needs so feel free to reach out to us today and tell us more about how we can help you.
Sue Mann Nursing and Community Care also provide a full range of specialist aged care services in other local areas of NSW including Central Coast, Hunter & Newcastle so you can live in the comfort of your own home as independently as possible....Hide Content
I have never experienced such expertise as displayed by Sarah and Kim. Three times a week they visit me at home to change my bandage from a recent melanoma and graft operation. Sarah is a fantastic communicator, always jovial and encouraging by keeping me up to date on the healing process. In my opinion, you are lucky to have such expert clinical staff as employees.
Bruce, Vietnam Veteran, Woy Woy
" I would like to thank you for the wonderful service provided by the nurses. Each one of them were wonderful in helping me through my sickness, they were comforting, supportive, polite, happy and at all times helpful in every possible way and I cannot speak too highly of them. The nurses who visited me in my downtimes were absolutely wonderful – they are a credit to your business "
Valerie, Killarney Vale
" Thank you, the care and companionship your nursing and cleaning staff showed to my Dad was exemplary, they were kind, gentle, understanding and extremely helpful. I would recommend them to anyone regarding care "
Deborah, Daughter
" Sue Mann Nursing & Community Care are a team to be proud of – providing professional service with empathy / encouragement with independence, allowing one to feel like an individual with needs. I feel like they are extended family and I'm happy to welcome them into my home "
Del, Umina Beach
" Sue Mann thank you for all that you do with your remarkable team! We would like to say a big thank you to all out wonderful carers for the great work they provide. The cheerfulness, politeness and attitude to the tasks they are given and to Vanessa for her organisation of our package. Again, many thanks, TEAMWORK makes the DREAMWORK! "
Henry and Yvonne, Woongarrah
" Michelle has been a wonderful support person for me – always available when I was in trouble. I found her to me very caring and capable. I couldn't have managed without her "
Margaret, Erina
" Thank you for all you have done for my parents over the last years. All your staff are very caring and helpful – you can be proud of the reflection this gives Sue Mann's. Their help and caring was just incredible. I will never be able to thank them enough "
Michael, Son
" our staff are wonderful! I hold the highest regard for my carers, Trish and Tracey. They treat me like a human being and their service is 15 out of 10! Thank you also to your cleaners and gardeners who provide a quality service too! "
Robert, New Lambton
" To all who work at Sue Mann Nursing & Community Care. We would like to thank you for your service to the community and to let you know it is both recognised and appreciated. "
The Rector and Parishioners of Holy Family Anglican Church, Wyoming
Here at Sue Mann Nursing and Community Care we have designed a care service that is all about you – a unique way called myhomecare.
Our approach to care focuses on you – your personal journey, the particular care needs you have, and importantly, what makes you smile.
myhomecare means you and family members make informed choices about the type of care and support that's needed, and guides the Sue Mann team to meet those needs.
myhomecare is our unique way of care. One that recognises every person is different through their experiences, family background, culture and life choices.
myhomecare helps you to build on your strengths, abilities and life passions. It's all about maintaining your health and wellness at home. It gives you the opportunity to make informed choices about the type of care and support you, or a family member needs, and how those needs are met.
There are five steps to myhomecare. Together we create goals, develop a plan and organise the professional in-home services needed to support you living at home and improve your sense of wellbeing.
The journey to support you to remain in your local community living at home is guided by you. It starts by introducing you to your personalised myhomecare journey.
We work together to understand how involved you want to be in your care – you may want to manage the details yourself or might just be happy to steer and leave the nitty gritty to us.
Of course you change your level of involvement in directing your care at any time.
Then comes your story. You are encouraged to share your story about what brings you joy; what is most important; and how you prefer care and support to be provided.
In this process of storytelling and assessment, we get to know you a little more and begin to understand your aspirations, life's passions, abilities and concerns.
At Sue Mann we have the local relationships and trained staff to ensure everyone has rightful access to the care and support services that suits them. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders; older Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse communities; our respected Veterans and War Widowers; and people from a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual and intersex community can be assured of culturally sensitive care through myhomecare .
Through listening to your story and your history, together we work out your aspirations and abilities and discuss your care needs and priorities. We establish a range of goals around the things that are important to you – the personal goals in which the care provided by us can help you achieve them. Some areas we explore to develop your goals are:
After helping to develop realistic goals and the kind of support you would like, we map out a care plan. It's a flexible range of professional services and supports tailored to suit you.
Discussing ways to fund your care plan is another way we can help as you may be eligible for government subsidised support. Our friendly customer service team can point you in the right direction when it comes to finding the best funding solution.
With myhomecare your ongoing wellbeing is nurtured and improved. Through regular conversations and reviews, we work with you to adjust your care plan to make sure it continues to meet your changing needs and any new goals you may have.
Watch our video to see what our clients have to say about our home care services.
Older Australians and people living with a disability have more choice than ever in the provider
and services they can access for in-home care.
What makes us different as a provider is the 'Sue Mann way'. Built on 30 years experience of specialist community nursing, we are the provider of choice for clinical nursing and in-home care on the Central Coast, Hunter and Sydney.
myhomecare, is about you. We focus on your story, your needs and what makes you happy to support you living at home amongst family, friends and your local community.
30 years of dedicated in-home nursing and home care, the leading and largest provider in the region; we are local people looking after local people.
we offer the full range of Government subsidised programs, providing flexibility to transition as your care needs changes. These include Low Care (Levels 1 and 2) and High Care (Levels 3 and 4) Home Care packages, HACC funded services including clinical nursing, allied health, personal care, domestic assistance and social support.
within hours, we have the staff to cover all regions; you have the reassurance of a nurse nearby.
including clinical care, allied health, expertise in supporting people living with dementia and facilitating dignified end of life care.
founded by Sue Mann from a passion to make a difference by providing people in need of nursing and care the choice to be cared for at home; we are 100% family owned and operated.
delivery of care that is continually monitored and improved by SMNCC quality management system; we are accredited to ISO 90001:2008.
An improved sense of wellbeing and peace of mind is something our clients often tell us they experience, and it's a wonderful benefit from the services we offer. Sue Mann Nursing and Community Care provide a full range of specialist nursing care, in-home and support services so you can live in the comfort of your own home as independently as possible.
There are a number of ways to fund your care and you may be eligible for subsidised care from the Australian Government.
Our friendly and knowledgeable team can assist you with identifying the best way to fund the services that meet your individual care needs from the following programs:
Living an independent lifestyle in your own home may become increasingly difficult with declining health and mobility. Sue Mann Nursing and Community Care has a wonderful team of Registered Nurses and aged care staff who are here to help and based in your local area – from the Central Coast, Hunter and Sydney.
We can make all the difference for you to stay living comfortably in your own home. SMNCC's myhomecare covers all the services that are subsidised by the Australian Government, however if you are not eligible you can become a SMNCC private care client. Our friendly customer service team can talk to you about how to find this out.
Through myhomecare, Sue Mann's unique way of care we offer a full range of Level 1-4 Home Care packagesREAD MORE
Enabling support services to help you to remain living in your home
Listening to your personal story and care needs is the starting point of our journey togetherREAD MORE
We have a long and close affinity with the Veteran community in the Central Coast regionREAD MORE
Sue Mann Nursing and Community Care private care offers you our full range of services and supportsREAD MORE
Our Transitional Aged Care program helps you resettle from hospital to your home
There are a number of ways to fund your care and you may be eligible for subsidised care from the Australian Government.
At Sue Mann Nursing and Community Care we understand you can only provide the highest levels of care and be a leading provider, with a great team – that's why we believe our people are our greatest asset.
Each of our qualified staff are hand-picked professionals. We look for the best people for the right job. Our staff are people who love what they do and are committed to delivering quality care to our clients. They are on board with the company's mission, vision and values.
We provide a professional and friendly work environment that is inspiring, innovative and progressive. We aim to provide our team members with the most up-to-date training, resources and equipment, in a supportive culture that encourages continuous education, respect and open communication.
Hear what our nurses and carers have to say about working as part of the Sue Mann home care team on the Central Coast.
Thank you for your interest in joining the Sue Mann Nursing and Community Care team. Please fill in the enquiry form below.
We actively recruit a diverse workforce and value staff from all cultural backgrounds. All team members are subject to a Criminal Record check and must have a car, third party property car insurance and an unrestricted driver's licence. All staff must have a smartphone.
Erina Office
Suite 3.20, Level 3 (West Wing)
Platinum Building
4 Ilya Ave, Erina NSW 2250
Phone 1300 241 300
Fax 02 4365 5732
Email firstname.lastname@example.com
Postal address
Sue Mann Nursing and Community Care
PO Box 3301 Erina NSW 2250
If you are a client, family member, service partner or would like to find out more about what Sue Mann Nursing and Community Care offers, we would love to hear from you.


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By DAVID GREEN
Morenci city council members began a discussion Monday about a problem that's troubled city employees for years: Tracking down the responsible parties from rental units and land contract deals.
City hall staff is trying to get on top of problems they experience frequently with people moving in and out of houses, said mayor Keith Pennington.
"They're tracking down not only who owns the property but also who is responsible for water bills," he said.
Several homes in town are advertised for rent or for sale. In many cases, the potential renters agree to sign a land contract to purchase the home.
Building inspector Kevin Arquette and city administrator/clerk Renée Schroeder suggested to city attorney Fred Lucas that land contract sales could be included in the rental inspection program. Pennington explained the recommendation from Lucas was that land contracts could be registered with the county register of deeds, any property that was not registered would immediately fall under the rental inspection program. If a question of ownership arose, staff could call the county office. If registered, city hall would not be involved. If not registered, the property would fall under the rental inspection program.
Councilor Brenda Spiess didn't see how that would help with water and property tax payments. In order to obtain water service, she suggested, perhaps renters and land contract buyers could be required to sign an agreement stating they are responsible for water payments.
At times, the mayor said, multiple parties are identified as the land owners and the water bill is split up. He knows that apartment complexes generally accept only one person of record to be responsible for water bill payments and he suggests the city do the same.
If property is not recorded, added city treasurer Crystal White, it cannot be claimed for the Homestead Property Tax Credit in the buyer's name.
City staff needs to find out who's accountable for the bills with people just moving in and out, White said.
Assistant city clerk Diane Varga said the problem is a little out of hand and does affect the water program.
"I do want to make sure that property taxes and water bills are not only handled fairly, but also efficiently," Pennington said, "so our staff is not spending hours and hours chasing all of this down."
Arquette asked council members if they thought it would help to include land contract sales in the rental inspection program.
Council member Jeff Bell said although it may be helpful with problem cases, it would also burden other buyers who are paying their bills.
Pennington thinks a lot could be accomplished simply by adding a line to water service agreements stating that the signer is responsible for payments until they give written notice that they are no longer living in the residence.
"That should really clarify who's responsible for the bills," he said, "and it gives them some impetus to come in and say, 'I've moved out.'"
Police chief Larry Weeks told council there was one situation where the buyer of a land contract got into trouble in an unrelated issue, but in discussion with the person, Weeks learned he was receiving state rental assistance that was being applied for the purchase of the home on a land contract.
He suspects that some people may be circumventing rules regarding state assistance.
"Your understanding," Pennington said, "is that state assistance that is awarded for rent is not eligible to be awarded in a land contract or purchase?"
"Yes," Weeks responded. "That's what I was advised when that incident came up previously."
He said that other interaction in similar situations imply there are potentially more occurrences taking place.
"That's why I think it's important that council addresses the issue and takes a look at it."
Oversight of the issue is provided by the Department of Human Services. Pennington said he's willing to speak with representatives of the department to make sure funds are dispersed correctly in the city.
Council member Robert Jennings suggested tabling discussion on the issue while gathering further information while councilor Greg Braun cautioned that council needs to continue working on the matter. Braun suggested speaking with other community leaders to see if they have ideas that Morenci could adopt. Mayor Pennington suggested we could gather information and have further discussion of the issue within 30 days.


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2.1ch TV Base Speaker with Bluetooth® technology
2.1ch TV Base Speaker with Bluetooth® technology
All-in-one listening
Give movies and music an audio boost. Designed to sit underneath your TV, the HT-XT100 combines 2.1ch virtual surround technology with a built-in subwoofer for balanced movie sound. A convenient all-in-one design doubles as a wireless speaker, so you can stream music in an instant using easy Bluetooth connectivity via NFC One-touch.
Be at the heart of the action
Feel the full force of every movie soundtrack with this 2.1 channel speaker system. The HT-XT100 is designed to deliver immersive, full-frequency audio that hits you from every angle. With support from a built-in subwoofer, you'll feel every bass kick, explosion, and car chase come to life around you.
Foundation in sound
The base speaker features a powerful built-in subwoofer, lending your films and music depth of sound and a great lower-mid range. It also features two-way coaxial drivers and a super tweeter, for listening across all frequencies.
S-Master digital amplifier
Optimised playback
Big sound for all your devices
With an array of connectivity features, you'll be able to experience clean, powerful surround sound on everything you watch and listen to. Connect devices quickly and easily via Bluetooth and NFC, or directly via USB to make this your high-powered hub for music.
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Simply touch selected NFC-enabled smartphones and tablets to the base speaker, and make an instant one-touch connection with Bluetooth.
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Enjoy great quality music when you connect your tablet or smartphone directly to the base speaker via Bluetooth.
USB playback
With instant playback, you'll be able to immerse yourself in all your favourite songs from the moment you hook up your MP3 or USB device.
Part of the furniture
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The sleek, minimal styling of the HT-XT100 is designed to complement any room in the house. This compact base speaker also functions as a TV stand, saving on space where it often comes at a premium, while the slim profile and 8cm (3.2") height fit comfortably into tight spots.
Made for each other
Matching Sony TVs
The sturdy yet compact frame is designed to support TV sets of up to 30kgs (66lbs) in weight, with up to a 140cm (55") display. Its refined style makes it the perfect partner for the simple elegance of a Sony TV.
- Power Output (Total)
- Amplifier Channels
- 2.1ch
- Input and Output Terminals
- Analog Audio In (Inc TV CEC) (1 mini jack), Bluetooth Reception (Ver. 4.0 ) / NFC, HDMI Output (1), USB (Charge 1A)
- 70.2 x 7.9 x 31.1 cm


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Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said Tuesday he didn't intend to suggest during a television interview that a Toronto Star reporter is a pedophile, but the journalist rejected the apology and said he would proceed with a defamation lawsuit.
Ford said it is "unfortunate that the word I did not say has been ascribed to me by the media but I wish to sincerely apologize."
U.S. & World
Reporter Daniel Dale served Ford with a libel notice last week, demanding Ford apologize.
Ford, who admitted last month to smoking crack "in a drunken stupor," appeared on a Vision TV interview and accused Dale of taking pictures of his little kids. Ford said he didn't "want to say that word but you start thinking what this guy is all about."
Ford's insinuation was related to an instance when Dale was close to Ford's house in May 2012, investigating a plot of public land adjacent to Ford's home that the mayor wanted to buy.
Dale has said he was writing a story about the plot so he went to take a look at it when the mayor emerged from his home to confront him. Dale said he didn't take any pictures and said the mayor's two children were nowhere in sight.
"I did not mean to insinuate anything about Mr. Dale personally in my interview," Ford said in prepared remarks in City Council. "I certainly did not intend to suggest that he is a pedophile. I was merely commenting on the thoughts that went through my mind on the night."
Dale said on Twitter that Ford's apology was unsatisfactory.
"I asked Mayor Ford to 1) retract all of his false claims about my conduct and 2) issue an unreserved, abject, complete apology," Dale tweeted.
"In his "apology," the mayor didn't retract anything at all. Instead, he blamed the media for its reasonable interpretation of his words."
Ford has rebuffed intense pressure to resign over his admitted crack use and revelations of other erratic behavior. The Toronto City Council has stripped him of most of his powers in an attempt to sideline him but the conservative mayor has vowed to seek re-election next year.
The bombastic mayor has not shied from the limelight. During a council session Tuesday, Ford danced vigorously to a band playing "One Love" on the chamber floor — around the same time that Dale was sending his Twitter messages.
Ford has said he has quit drinking alcohol and is exercising daily after having a "come to Jesus moment."
His lawyer, Dennis Morris, said Ford has lost 26 pounds (12 kilograms) in the last five weeks. The mayor weighed himself in his office Tuesday and found he was down to 310 pounds (140.6 kilograms), said Morris, who was at City Hall to pick up some bobblehead dolls of Ford to give as Christmas gifts. The mayor has signed some of the bobbleheads for charity.
Ford has taken pointed shots at the media, calling journalists maggots. Allegations about Ford smoking crack surfaced in May when two reporters for the Toronto Star and one from the U.S. website Gawker said they saw a video of Ford appearing to smoke from a crack pipe, but they did not obtain a copy. Ford vilified the Star, accusing the paper of trying to take him down.
Ford first denied the tape existed but later when Toronto police announced in October they had obtained a copy, the mayor admitted he had smoked the drug.
Ford lashed out at Dale's bosses at the Toronto Star on Tuesday, saying they put him and Dale in this situation
Toronto City Councilor Shelley Carroll called Ford's apology "insincere."
"He's an expert at non apologies. He's been doing it for years. A real apology is 'I caused you harm Daniel, I am sorry for that,'" Carroll said. "You'll never get an admission of guilt from Mayor Ford. It's not his style and it hasn't been since birth."
Copyright AP - Associated Press


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Several Maine legislative recounts scheduled for this week
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) � State elections officials have scheduled several recounts in tight legislative races, including one in which the leading candidate is unofficially two votes ahead.
The recounts start Wednesday with House District 80 where Republican incumbent Melvin Newendyke holds a five-vote lead over Democratic challenger Rachel Sukeforth. The seat represents the towns of Wales, Monmouth and Litchfield.
The Sun Journal (http://bit.ly/QDFzYd ) reports that a recount for House District 70 is scheduled for Thursday. Democratic challenger Wayne Werts holds a two-vote advantage over incumbent Republican Bruce Bickford. The seat represents parts of Auburn and Lewiston.
A recount for Senate District 17 is expected Friday. Republican incumbent Mason Garrett has a 33-vote lead over Democratic challenger Colleen Quint. The seat represents 10 communities including Lisbon, Livermore and Turner.
Recounts are open to the public.
Information from: Sun-Journal, http://www.sunjournal.com


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