5 January 2015
With entry in the commercial register on 5 January 2015, Swissgrid takes over additional transmission grid elements, including the transmission grid company of the City of Zurich. These grid acquisitions mean that Swissgrid now has 30 shareholders.
19 January 2015
The Swiss Federal Office of Energy approves the construction plans for the 380kV Chamoson-Chippis line. The line had already been approved by the Federal Office in 2010, but this was followed by the submission of appeals. The construction plans have now been endorsed following the required optimisation of noise emissions. The new 380kV Chamoson-Chippis line is required to transport the energy produced by the large power plants in Valais.
9 February 2015
Swissgrid opens a second control centre in Prilly. Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard attends the ceremonial inauguration and also participates in the panel question and answer session. Swissgrid’s new control centre increases Switzerland’s security of supply and underscores the importance of Western Switzerland for the Swiss electricity system.
16 February 2015
The General Assembly approves amendments to the Articles of Association for the purpose of creating two share categories – it is approved by the Federal Council in March. Ronald Trächsel is elected to the Board of Directors to replace the departing Christophe Bossel.
24 February 2015
Swissgrid holds an information event on the Niederwil-Obfelden grid construction project in Bremgarten together with the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, the cantons of Aargau and Zurich, and Axpo. The event is met with great interest and receives very positive feedback from the majority of the more than 100 participants.
5 March 2015
The Swissgrid Board of Directors approves the additional measures proposed by the Executive Board at its last meeting to increase efficiency and reduce costs. In doing so, Swissgrid is pursuing the savings realised since 2009, which amount to several hundred million francs, and also intends to save tens of millions of francs in operating costs each year.
20 March 2015
The partial solar eclipse has a significant impact on solar radiation and electricity production from photovoltaic plants in large parts of Europe. Swissgrid and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) are well-prepared – they have been discussing ways to deal with the natural phenomenon since the summer of 2014. The measures taken ensure that the European electricity grid is able to deal with the solar eclipse without any problems.
27 March 2015
Swissgrid publishes the 2016 tariffs for the transmission grid. The average financial burden for electricity consumers remains unchanged. This means that a four-person household will continue to pay an average of around 62 francs, or seven per cent of its annual electricity costs, for Swissgrid’s services.
7 April 2015
Swissgrid procures primary control power in weekly, market-based tenders, which play an important stabilising role in the supply of electricity. The existing cooperation with the transmission grid operators from Austria, Germany and the Netherlands are merged into Europe's largest single market. Swissgrid hopes that this will lead to additional cost savings in control reserve procurement in the medium term.
29 April 2015
Switzerland achieves the best result in continental Europe in an evaluation of the system control quality by ENTSO-E. The control quality quantifies how well and how quickly a transmission system operator balances deviations of production and consumption from the planned course in their control block.
Efficient procurement and the appropriate use of control power by Swissgrid made a significant contribution to this pleasing result – together with other factors.
30 April 2015
Swissgrid presents the “Strategic Grid 2025” report. It shows the grid construction projects that Swissgrid believes will be necessary in the next ten years to ensure security of supply and prepare the grid for the energy future. Interest is great – over 400 participants attended presentations and panel discussions on sustainable grid development at subsequent events at ETH Zurich and EPFL.
30 April 2015
Swissgrid successfully commissions the 380kV grid connection for the new Tierfehd substation of the Linth-Limmern pumped storage power plant. This means that the section is now part of the Swissgrid transmission grid. Thanks to the good cooperation between the administrative bodies, authorities, Swissgrid and Axpo Power AG site management, the grid connection was completed on schedule.
7 May 2015
Following the great interest in the Training & Simulation Centre pilot project, Swissgrid decides to implement the centre permanently. In future, Swissgrid will be able to offer courses on the topic of managing electricity grids in the new centre. The simulation scenarios provide training for cooperation in normal operations and in case of grid faults as well as grid restoration.
26 May 2015
Credit Suisse and Swissgrid celebrate the ground-breaking ceremony for Swissgrid's new headquarters together with representatives from the canton of Aargau, the City of Aarau and numerous guests. Many Swissgrid employees use the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the project and the new location. The office building in Aarau will be constructed by the Credit Suisse Investment Foundation. The move is planned for the end of 2017 and will merge the current locations in Frick and Laufenburg – an important step in Swissgrid’s corporate development.
3 June 2015
The Swiss Federal Office of Energy, in partnership with the canton of Ticino, Swissgrid, Azienda Elettrica Ticinese (AET) and the Swiss Federal Railways (FFS), presented the implementation plan procedures for the transmission lines 106 Airolo – Lavorgo and 109 All’Acqua – Maggiatal – Magadino at two public information events. At the information events, Swissgrid and the project partners also explain the principles of the “Study on the Reorganisation of the High-Voltage Grids” on which the two implementation plan procedures are based.
22 June 2015
All of the proposals made by the Board of Directors are approved at the ordinary General Assembly of the Swiss electricity grid operator Swissgrid. Dividends totalling 13 million francs will be distributed for the 2014 financial year. The current members of the Board of Directors were reappointed for a further term.
2 July 2015
During a test between February and April 2015, Swissgrid was able to significantly increase capacities for importing electricity at the northern border. This will result in lower prices for cross-border capacities and greater alignment with the wholesale electricity prices in neighbouring countries, as well as increase Switzerland's security of supply. An additional expansion of the transport capacity between Switzerland and its northern borders is planned as part of the implementation of the “Strategic Grid 2025” initiative.
6 July 2015
The ESTI grants a large portion of the permits for the construction of the line between the Nant de Drance pumped storage power plant and Martigny. This new 380kV line is essential for the transportation of the energy generated by the Nant de Drance pumped storage power plant. The power plant is expected to start operation in 2018. Construction activities for the new 380kV line have commenced.
19 August 2015
The “Star of Laufenburg” is being upgraded: instead of a connection via a 220kV outdoor switching substation, the transmission grids from France, Germany and Switzerland will be connected in a modern GiS (gas-insulated switching substation). This requires only 5% of the footprint of the old system and will commence operation in stages through to 2017. The old 220kV switching substation will then be dismantled.
3 September 2015
Pierre-Alain Graf departs from Swissgrid. After overseeing the successful completion of the transfer of the extra-high-voltage grids as well as the strategic and organisational realignment of the company, he decides to tackle new professional challenges. Pierre-Alain Graf joined Swissgrid in 2008 and has been the Chief Executive Officer since 2009. Yves Zumwald takes over as interim CEO of the company with immediate effect.
10 September 2015
Swissgrid wins the Corporate Communications Award for the “Strategic Grid 2025” campaign. The campaign provides a good example of how even technically complex and politically charged issues can be communicated effectively to a broad target group. Swissgrid’s communication project was praised as a good model at both a national as well as international level.
24 September 2015
The planning approval dossier on the Bickigen-Chippis grid construction project is submitted to the Federal Inspectorate for Heavy Current Installations (ESTI). The next objective is to inform the citizens in the cantons of Berne and Valais who are affected by the line construction. Swissgrid holds several local information events for this purpose.
29 September 2015
Swissgrid holds various information events in Visp to provide information on the upcoming grid construction projects in Upper Valais. Swissgrid also has a booth at the ‘Foire du Valais’ in October, at which the focus is on grid projects in Lower Valais. An important message is the dismantling of lines. A new route and the bundling of lines means that the line length in Valais will be reduced by 90 kilometres in future. The grid construction projects are essential because electricity will have to be transported after the Nant de Drance pumped storage power plant has been commissioned.
2 October 2015
The The Swiss Federal Office of Energy approves the consolidation of the high-voltage lines between Attinghausen and Altdorf. It will be possible to bundle the lines, which are owned by Swissgrid and Swiss Federal Railways and are currently separate, along a joint line route. This will provide significant relief for the residential and industrial areas in the Uri valley – enabling a new area of land spanning 100,000 m2 to be developed for business.
21 October 2015
The Swissgrid Board of Directors resolves to take over additional transmission grid systems as of 4 January 2016 and propose the necessary capital increase to shareholders. The Board of Directors also resolves to implement the planned valuation adjustment of the grid systems acquired as of 5 January 2015. The respective amendments to the Articles of Association will be approved by the Federal Council in December 2015.
30 October 2015
Swissgrid successfully commissions the new schedule management system for the Swiss control area. The new system replaces the ET3000, which has been in operation for the past ten years. The Day Ahead, Intraday and Post Scheduling processes are all performed successfully. The system’s operation is stable following its introduction and its performance is good. The new system also enables the rapid, secure and cost-effective adaptation of functions to the constantly changing Swiss and European environment.
3 November 2015
Together with the School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg and other industry partners, Swissgrid begins offering Switzerland's first certified practical vocational training course for system operators from November 2015 onwards. The motivation for launching the course is that these operators must always reach the right decisions in a complex environment, often under time pressure.
10 November 2015
Swissgrid acquires share capital in the Holding des Gestionnaires de Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (HGRT). HGRT is the holding company of European grid operators and ensures its influence on the leading Central and Western Europe spot exchange for electricity, EPEX SPOT, through a 49% stake. As a result, Swissgrid joins the supervisory boards of HGRT and EPEX SPOT.
2 December 2015
Swissgrid estimates that the grid situation and energy supply will be strained for the winter of 2015/2016. Energy reserves are tight due to a series of interconnected special circumstances. As a result of the drop-out of the nuclear power plants Beznau 1 and 2, a large proportion of the base load is missing from the 220kV grid. This will have to be replaced predominantly from Swiss reservoirs, as electricity imports can only be used to offset this situation to a limited extent. The situation is aggravated by the fact that reservoirs are carrying less water than the long-term average.
10 December 2015
At Swissgrid AG’s extraordinary General Assembly on 10 December 2015, shareholders approve the proposals of the Board of Directors in connection with an increase in the share capital in order to acquire additional facilities as of 4 January 2016. The required changes to the Articles of Association are approved by the Federal Council on 18 December.
16 December 2015
Swissgrid publishes a consultation document with proposals for a new market design. These were developed in close cooperation with numerous market participants and deal with the pending changes to the power market, especially with regard to the energy reform. The market must continue to develop and be structured more efficiently in view of these changes. Swissgrid’s proposals will be discussed with the industry in a consultation process.


We Answer Your Questions
The more informed you are as a borrower, the better the chance that you will succeed with your efforts. So many borrowers get locked into the trap of spending because they lack a solid understanding of the fundamentals of money and effective repayment options. For this reason, we have provided a list of some of the most important and frequently asked questions our visitors pose when they consolidate. Before you select a credit debt program, make sure you review these questions and answers carefully so you are well-informed going into the rebuilding process.
How do collections agencies work?
When a creditor gives up on collecting a delinquent amount, the creditor sells the debt to a collections agency for a reduced price. For example, a creditor might sell a $5,000 debt to a collections agency for $2,000 then writes off the difference as a loss on their income taxes. At this point, the collections agency owns the debt and is responsible for getting the borrower to reimburse them on time.
One of the reasons why our method works is because collections agencies are usually willing to accept a lower payment amount than the original debt. This is sometimes referred to as a debt relief settlement and is typically negotiated by your company. Collections agencies will accept reduced amounts because they almost always still make a profit. For instance, continuing with the example above, if the collections agency accepted a payoff amount of $3,000 on the $5,000 debt, they would still make a profit of $1,000.
Why should I choose this method over bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy will have devastating effects on your credit score. Most bankruptcies will linger on your report and drag down your rating for seven to ten years. This means you will be responsible for outrageous interest rates for up to ten years if you can qualify for borrowing at all. A damaged rating can also lead to high insurance rates and lost job opportunities.
Debt consolidation, on the other hand, allow you to become free of much of what you owe without ravaging your rating in the process. These programs help you tackle your expenses responsibly and affordably without discharging them in a bankruptcy proceeding. Moreover, this type of program can actually help you improve your credit rating. Consolidating debt will help you pay on time consistently, and you will see the balances on your accounts dwindle as you make progress. On-time reimbursements and lower balances will both help elevate your rating after you tackle the expenses, whereas bankruptcy damages your score for years to come.
What are my credit card options?
Most of our programs specialize in credit cards. The providers tend to be more flexible on rates than others, so it is easier for consolidation services to arrange a workable debt solution with them. If you decide to consolidate professionally, your company will work to try to improve your standing. Ideally, your part will become more reasonable, allowing you to become debt free more quickly.
Another option is to use a loan or a balance transfer to take care of your cards. With a balance transfer, you consolidate debt by moving the balances of one or more cards onto one with better interest rates. The improved interest rates then enable you to pay off the balance more quickly. Secured or unsecured loans can also offer solutions for cards by allowing you to pay off your balances with a lower-interest loan from your bank.
What is unsecured vs. secured debt?
These two types differ in whether they are associated with physical property. Unsecured debt is not tied to a piece of property. They include credit cards, medical bills, and some types of payday loans. Secured debts, on the other hand, are attached to a piece of physical property, such as a house or a vehicle. Secured debts include mortgage loans, car loans, and personal loans that require collateral. Typically, the latter has more reasonable interest rates than the former because the lender faces less risk.
Most services like ours will only accept unsecured debts. They are much more difficult to consolidate and often don’t need to be consolidated in the first place because their interest rates are already low. Unsecured lenders tend to be more compliant with organizations such as ours because, unlike secured lenders, they don’t have the option of seizing property if the borrower fails to pay. As a result, these creditors are more willing to negotiate and cooperate with consumer debt management companies. Check out other tips and tricks on Maxbet.
How can I deal with creditor harassment?
We can refer you to a service that will help you put an end to harassment. The best way to stop harassment is to pay your bills on time, and this type of plan will help you do just that. This service will work on making your monthly payments more affordable so you can pay on time and pay down your balances rapidly. Once your creditors see that you’re holding up your end of the bargain, they will likely stop harassing you for payments.
Another advantage of getting your finances back on track is that you will not have to deal with your creditors directly after the consolidation takes place. You will send your payments to your creditors through the program, which then distributes the money to your individual lenders. As long as you keep up with your payments, your creditors should have no reason to harass you anymore.
What is nonprofit debt help? Are you a nonprofit?
Non profit consolidation usually refers to some type of counseling agency that assists consumers with budgeting, paying down bills, and dealing with creditors. Strictly speaking, credit counseling agencies do not provide traditional consolidation services. They can inform you of your options and offer counseling, but they do not actually consolidate your accounts for you. In other words, there really is no such thing as a non profit debt consolidation company.
Debt Consolidation is not a non-profit organization. All of our partner companies are for-profit services. Although for-profit services tend to charge higher prices than non-profit counterparts, they also tend to get better results for their clients. For-profit companies are more aggressive in dealing with your creditors and securing the most affordable payments possible for you.


BY DYLON MILLS
Here’s an Example of a Fortune 50 Company saving Over $4 MILLION annually… What are you waiting for?
Company background: This company is a Fortune 50 company operating out of the West Coast of the United States. The company has products for both the B2B and B2C markets and is a leading provider for businesses and consumers operating in a mobile and cloud world.
The main challenge they faced: This company set out to resolve a number of challenges across various business units. For their retail stores, the goal was to empower the customer with additional digital channels for an improved self-service experience. Other business units set out to improve self-service for initial product setup, improve help desk authentication and initial triage, and improve authentication and call routing.
Solution: This company searched for a digital engagement solution that could provide traditional voice callers with a digital alternative. After an intensive market search and vendor comparison, they chose Jacada Visual IVR.
They implemented Visual IVR which provided voice callers the option to pivot into a digital self-service session. Customers could easily resolve their inquiries without speaking to an agent or a store associate.
The solution was first deployed to the retail store which allowed callers to quickly and easily resolve questions on their digital device, including inquiries such as “Where is my order”, scheduling appointments, location searches and inventory. Following the successful rollout to the retail stores, other business units subsequently implemented Visual IVR to improve self-service for initial product setup, improve help desk authentication and initial triage, and improve authentication and call routing.
Speaking to the maturity and robustness of Jacada Visual IVR, the initial deployment was completed in 2 months.
Benefit they received: Of callers given the option to engage digitally through Visual IVR, over 45% of callers chose this new innovative service, and gave it a resounding 99% customer satisfaction rating. Customer effort was reduced by 70% (from 4.20 minutes to 1.20 minutes) and this company realized savings of over $4 million USD annually through the increased adoption of self-service tools.
- Self-service increased by 11% (net improvement)
- 70% reduction in customer effort
- Happy customers able to help themselves
The argument for Visual IVR over “other” digital initiatives:
First off, the “other” digital self-service initiatives I am referring to include any type of development on a website, mobile app, forums and others of the like. The reason the majority of these digital initiatives fall short really comes down to the point at which you engage with the customer. Sure… your website and mobile app are out there and available but does your customer know that?
Customers generally attempt self-service first and then revert to calling you when they can’t find the information they are looking for. Therein lies the problem… with all the digital information you are putting out to your customers, they often find it difficult or sometimes impossible navigating to the specific information they are seeking at the time they are looking for it (when they need it the most).
Visual IVR’s main benefit is in the ability to route customers to the information/solution/tools they are seeking – when they are looking for it. When a customer can get to what they are seeking – when they are seeking it – they are happy.
"A satisfied customer is one who will continue to buy from you, seldom shop around, refer other customers and in general be a superstar advocate for your business."
~ Gregory Ciotti


Cancelling Before Delivery:
You can cancel an order by contacting our After Sales team at email@example.com. We respond within 48 hours after receiving your email.
Should you wish to cancel an order please try and give us as much notice as possible because our products begin their journey to you three days before the delivery date.
Your Rights to Cancel where You Have Changed Your Mind:
If you are a consumer (i.e. not buying the product(s) in the course of your business, trade or profession), then you have the right to cancel Your order within 14 days after delivery of all the product(s) you have ordered without giving any reason.
The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the delivery date and after this 14 day period has expired we will not accept returns of any products purchased unless faulty or not as described.
If you are purchasing a flatpack item, they must be unopened and unassembled. We will not accept flatpack items that are assembled unless you have received them damaged, in which case please place them in the box and secure the box for our Courier to collect.
If we deem that the packaging is not appropriate for transit, we may:
(a) charge you a reasonable sum to repackage the products to a sufficient standard on collection of the products; or (b) accept the products and make a deduction where the inappropriate packaging or unreasonable handling has diminished the value of the products. Nothing in this paragraph affects Your statutory rights.
Except where our products are faulty or not as described, you will have to bear the direct cost of returning any products to us.
If You would like us to collect the products from you, then you agree that we may charge you return fees based on the size of each product to cover our direct costs.
To meet the cancellation period deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your notice of cancellation before the cancellation period has expired. If you send us a notice of cancellation by post and or return the product to us, we advise that you keep proof of postage.
If you decide to cancel your order, we will reimburse you for all payments which we have received from you in relation to your order, including the cost of delivery and any supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive option offered by us, less any return fees.
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of the products supplied up to the total price of the product, if the loss is the result of damage caused whilst the product was under your care.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and no later than 14 days after we receive back from you the products supplied.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise. You will not incur any fees as a result of the reimbursement. We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the products back or you have supplied evidence of having sent the products back, whichever is the earliest.


Robert Egger, Founder and President of L.A. Kitchen
Robert Egger is the Founder and President of L.A. Kitchen, which recovers fresh fruits and vegetables to fuel a culinary arts job training program for men and women coming out of foster care and older men and women returning from incarceration. L.A. Kitchen is currently holding a pilot program at St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, and will move into its own kitchen facility in 2015.
Robert pioneered this model during his 24 year tenure as the President of the DC Central Kitchen, the country’s first “community kitchen”, where food donated by hospitality businesses and farms is used to fuel a nationally recognized culinary arts job training program. Since opening in 1989, the Kitchen (which is a $10 million a year, self-sustaining, social enterprise) has produced over 26 million meals and helped 1,000 men and women gain full time employment. The Kitchen operates its own revenue generating business, Fresh Start Catering, as well as the Campus Kitchens Project, which coordinates similar recycling/meal programs in 33 colleges or high school based kitchens.
In addition, Robert is the Founder and President of CForward, an advocacy organization that rallies employees of nonprofits to educate candidates about the economic role that nonprofits play in every community, and to support candidates who have detailed plans to strengthen the economy that includes nonprofits.
In Washington D.C., Robert was the founding Chair of both the Mayor’s Commission on Nutrition and Street Sense, Washington’s “homeless” newspaper. He was also the Co-Convener of the first Nonprofit Congress, held in Washington DC in 2006. Currently, Robert serves on the Board of the national addiction recovery program, Back On My Feet, the Philanthropic Collaborative, and Chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen.
Robert’s book on the non-profit sector, Begging for Change: The Dollars and Sense of Making Nonprofits Responsive, Efficient and Rewarding For All, was released in 2004 by HarperCollins. It received the 2005 McAdam Book Award for “Best Nonprofit Management Book” by the Alliance for Nonprofit Management.
Robert speaks throughout the country and internationally on the subjects of hunger, sustainability, nonprofit political engagement and social enterprise. He writes blogs and editorials to share his ideas about the nonprofit sector and the future of America.


Humans have the unique capacity to think about and reflect upon themselves as the object of their own attention. One consequence of this ability is that individuals tend to evaluate themselves against standards of worth and value. Contingencies of Self-Worth (CSW) (Crocker & Wolfe, 2001) reflect the degree to which individuals base their self-esteem in specific domains. Whereas some people may base their self-worth on being academically competent, financially successful, or living up to their moral or ethical standards, others may base their self-worth more on having others’ approval, being in a romantic relationship, or having love and support from their family.
Although CSWs are highly motivating and emotionally rewarding, they often incur costs to the self and to others (Crocker & Park, 2004). For example, people with high self-esteem become more preoccupied and self-absorbed – and less empathetic, caring, and understanding toward another person’s personal problem – when they highly base their self-worth on academic competence and receive negative feedback in this domain (Park & Crocker, 2005). Indeed, across a variety of domains and outcomes, research consistently shows that reactions to events depend on how much one’s self-worth is tied to the threatened domain (Park, Crocker, & Kiefer, 2007; Park & Maner, 2009; Park, Sanchez, & Brynildsen, 2011). For example, contrary to the belief that everyone responds the same way to rejection, only those who strongly stake their self-worth on others’ approval show drops in their state self-esteem and greater feelings of rejection after receiving negative feedback about their likeability, compared to those whose self-worth is less contingent on others’ approval (Park & Crocker, 2008). Overall, when people base their self-worth in domains of contingency, they are more vulnerable to both perceiving threats and responding in ways to cope with the threat (Park, 2010; Park, Naidu, Lemay, Canning, Ward, Panlilio, & Vessels, in press).
Financial Contingency of Self-Worth
Currently, our lab is investigating how basing self-worth on financial success affects motivation, well-being, and interpersonal outcomes. Across several studies, we find that individuals who base their self-worth on being financially successful experience more anxiety, stress, and financial hassles, even after accounting for effects of financial status, materialism, and financial aspirations. These individuals experience lower autonomy when reminded of financial insecurities; disengage more from their financial problems; and perceive their financial problems in a more negative light than those who base their self-worth less in this domain (Park, Ward, & Naragon-Gainey, 2017).
Recent research in our lab has examined reasons why people with Financial CSW tend to experience more social disconnection and loneliness (Ward, Park, Naragon-Gainey, Whillans, & Jung, 2020). In addition, we have examined the role that Financial CSW plays in romantic relationships, finding that those who base their self-esteem on money experience more financial conflicts and disagreements with their romantic partner, which in turn, predicts lower relationship satisfaction (Ward, Park, Walsh, Paravati, & Whillans, 2021). These findings emerge even after accounting for effects of income and economic pressures, suggesting that there is something unique about basing self-worth on money that is detrimental for relationships.
Our lab is also investigating how and why individuals come to develop financially contingent self-worth in the first place, using theories and insights from social psychology, developmental psychology, and sociology. This research suggests that individuals who grow up in regions with greater income inequality are more likely to make upward financial comparisons with others, which predicts having greater expectations of the benefits of financial success, which predicts basing self-worth more in this domain, which ultimately predicts lower well-being via feeling dissatisfied with one’s current financial status (Park, Jung, Naragon-Gainey, Ward, Piff, & Whillans, 2020). Recent research examines how basing self-worth on money relates to perceptions of and usage of time and to experiences of goal conflict and consumer behavior (Park, Ward, Naragon-Gainey, Fujita, & Koefler, 2022).


Britain’s got a class problem: working class kids can't get into Britain’s top jobs. Amol Rajan meets those hoping to hack the system. Do they change themselves, or change the job?
December 5, 2022
How can working class students break through the barriers to landing Britain’s elite jobs? Amol Rajan investigates the tips and tricks that could help them find their dream roles
December 12, 2022
Amol Rajan looks at solutions to Britain’s class inequality problem. How can employers and policy makers ensure a level playing field for working-class applicants to elite jobs?


DQS – ISO 9001 : 2015
Our company is ISO 9001 certified.
This qualifies our product and service quality in all process- and project-relevant processes.
For us it is indispensable always be up-to-date in the development and technology and to realize and live a continuous improvement process.
AEO – Authorized Economic Operator
Since 2011 we have been certified by customs as an AEO Authorized Economic Operator.
This authorization is an essential element of the EU security concept. It allows us a secure and reliable export declaration to the EU countries, as well as the third countries listed in the customs agreements: Switzerland, Norway, USA, Japan and China. An agreement with Canada is in the negotiations and expected to be signed in April 2017.
Thielmann Energietechnik GmbH has obtained the AEOC status.
You can find detailed information on the AEO certification at www.zoll.de
DVGW-Certificates for Cellular Gas Filters for placing on the market and provision in the EU economic area
The type examination carried out by the ‘DVGW CERT GmbH Certification Body’ for our cellular gas filters based on the test basis 2014/68/EU A III B and based on DIN 3386: 2012-10.
acc. to Pressure Equipment Directive EC 2014/68/EU
for pressure equipment p> 0.5 bar
The type examination in accordance with the EC Pressure Equipment Directive serves to place our cellular gas filters in the European Economic Area on the market for the use of pressure equipment with a max. permissible pressure p> 0.5 bar
- DVGW Type Examination Certificate Cellular Gas Filters 2017-2022
- Thielmann Certificate of Conformity Cellular Gas Filters 2021
acc. to EU Gas Appliance Regulation EU 2016/426 (GAR)
on appliances for the combustion of gaseous fuels:
The type examination according to the EU Gas Appliance Ordinance serves for placing our cellular gas filters in the European Economic Area on the market for the use of devices for the combustion of gaseous fuels.


The Axcend Focus LC® is built to be a robust and reliable HPLC device, requiring minimal routine maintenance – which means significantly reduced support cost and minimal downtime. Our services are built around keeping your instrument analyzing the greatest possible time, while providing the least total cost of ownership.
As any lab manager knows, the routine running costs of an instrument are usually a significant portion of the cost of ownership. But with the Axcend Focus LC, not only are solvent costs magnitudes lower, but instrument operating cost is also significantly lower.
By way of design, many traditional HPLC support services can be provided remotely, such as installation and method transfer and implementation support. We offer a full suite of services including instrument qualification, preventive maintenance, and breakdown protection.
For Support assistance, please email [email protected] or use the contact form below.
If you need immediate help, you may contact Matthew Morse at 781-752-5450 or email him at [email protected].
Lease an Axcend Focus LC®
Thank you for your interest in the Axcend Focus LC® and the option of leasing this compact, capillary HPLC system from Axcend®. For example, in the United States, 100% of the equipment cost is deductible in the first year, up to $1,000,000 (IRS Section 179).
Additionally, Lease Financing does not appear on personal credit reports; however, we do report to PayNet (which increases your company’s lending capability). And last of all, Lease Financing preserves capital and eliminates the need to tap into your company’s line of credit, which can be used for non-collateral goods.
We offer qualified organizations the option to lease an Axcend Focus LC for terms ranging from 24 to 60 months. We also include a buyout option at the end of every Axcend Lease which gives you the ability to purchase your Axcend Focus LC for an additional, one-time payment of just $1. Presuming you’d like more details about how you can lease an Axcend Focus LC, please fill out the contact form below and we’ll contact you right away.
Want more Information?
Thank you for visiting our website! If you would like to learn more about the Axcend Focus LC® or schedule a demo of our compact HPLC device (Virtual or In-Person) then please submit your details using the contact form.
"*" indicates required fields


Enjoy big savings by using Harrods discount code October 2023. With Harrods coupons, you will score discounts on beauty, jewellery, watches, clothings,…
Harrods is one of the world’s most famous department stores that sells luxury and high-quality goods. Charles Henry Harrods founded it in London, England in 1849. Harrods offers a huge range of products from women’s clothing, men’s clothing, jewelry, watches, kids, beauty to souvenirs, home and furniture, food and wine. At Harrods, you can find many famous brands such as Chanel, Gucci, Valentino, Burberry, Givenchy, Armani, Lancome, Kenzo Baby, Max Mara, Vera Wang, Dior.
How to use Harrods discount codes 2023
Here is how you can redeem a Harrods discount code.
• First, search for your desired Harrods promo code on this page. Then choose your Harrods coupon and click on the button. Copy the code, if provided, to your clipboard. However, if no code is provided, your saving will be applied automatically.
• Next, follow the link to Harrods’ website and shop as usual.
• When you are ready to pay, click on the cart icon to take you to the checkout screen. Then enter the Harrods code in the designated box.
• See the price in your shopping bag automatically drop.
Harrods runs a loyalty program called Harrods Rewards, where you can earn points for every £1 you spend on the Harrods website. Harrods points can be converted into cash at any time. You can join Harrods rewards by creating an account and get 10% off your first purchase.
Harrods free shipping
Harrods offers free shipping when you spend on orders over £100.


The CFPB has published a notice in the Federal Register seeking comment on its request for approval by the Office of Management and Budget of a new one-time survey of student loan borrowers. Comments must be received by September 18, 2023.
The survey is intended to allow the CFPB “to understand [student borrowers’] borrowing decisions, their experience managing their loans, and their expectations for the future.” The CFPB will send the survey to a random sample of individuals selected from individuals in its new Consumer Credit Information Panel (CCIP). The CCIP is a sample of de-identified credit records from one of the nationwide consumer reporting agencies. Responses to the survey will be matched to the CFPB’s CCIP data to provide a more complete picture of borrowers’ financial standing. In conducting the new survey, the CFPB plans to follow similar methods to its Making Ends Meet and Consumer Views on Debt surveys but will sample a different population of borrowers and focus primarily on student loans.


In the business and consumer marketplace, our government goes to extraordinary lengths to ensure fair dealing — keeping thumbs off the scales.
In the political marketplace, sadly, too often it’s the opposite.
From our nation’s earliest days, government officials have worked to guarantee equity and build trust in the market for goods and services.
Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power “to fix the standard of weights and measures.” On March 2, 1799, President John Adams signed the nation’s first weights and measures law.
Ever since, state and local governments have embraced the latest advances in precision measurement and enforced laws on accurate transactions to benefit businesses and consumers.


-fix collections/deliveries or other crucial appointments (extra cost threat) have to be advised before confirming the transport (special tool bookings, hired staff and specialists, follow up transports and similar) – no additional cost will be accepted without previous warning!
-after arrival, we only guarantee 3hrs waiting/loading/offloading time, every hour over 3hrs will be charged by 40€ (max 400€/24hrs)
-we are not giving away any contact details of our hauliers/partners - should this information be necessary for loading or any other activity connected to the transport, you have to advise before sending the order.
-we accept only cancellations within 15:00 of the working day before the agreed loading date - unreasonable cancellations after 15:00 without a proof of real problem will be fined as a cancellation in the day of loading!
-in case of order cancellation in the day of loading we charge 80% of the agreed transport rate
-in case the transport will be postponed in 1 or more days in the day of loading, we charge waiting cost as per 2nd point of this conditions
-you should provide us complete information about the transported goods and its value - our insurance covers 8,33SDR/1kg - in case your cargo has higher value, we need the information before loading.
-we do not accept higher replacement truck cost then 10% of previously agreed rate – and only in case of delay of 24hrs (if agreed fix collection/delivery)
-we do not transport ADR goods, goods for which is a special licence needed and high value goods (FTL value higher then 100.000€) without previous agreement - in case we will not be informed before confirming the order, the extra cost connected to the issue will be invoiced to you
-we do not accept any additional cost without a proof / cost for loading equipment & packaging purchased at the loading place must be confirmed by a signature and written name of the driver – information about this purchase must be sent within 10 days after loading, otherwise we can not guarantee the payment!
-we do not accept any invoices for loading material and packaging materials without being previously agreed with the agent - the need for specific equipment or pallet change must be explicitly agreed per email!
-our drivers are only providing the transportation, any extra activities like loading/offloading assistance has to be paid extra to the transport charge. If the loading/offloading assistance not agreed before accepting the order, the driver has the right to refuse the assistance and waiting will be charged as per 2nd point of this conditions...
-you ensure that the goods are packed sufficiently and it will protect the goods from all risks during the transportation (swinging, vibration, humidity, reloading operations etc.) - we are obliged to speak out doubts, which might lead to cancellation of the shipment - extra cost connected to repacking or waiting will be charged as per point 2 of these conditions or point 5 in case of cancellation.
-we are a freight forwarding agency and all transports are made by our subcontractors, therefore you will receive the CMR with hidden information about our haulier - should this be a problem for you, inform us immediately.
*you were informed about this matter and we do not accept any delays of our invoices for that reason!
- we are not sending original paperwork per post – scanned Copy only!! Should this be a problem, let us know immediately!!
-we only accept bank transfer payments (bank account stated on the invoice) – no extra reductions without previous agreement accepted.
-this agreement is governed by Austrian substantive law and the court of jurisdiction is in Innsbruck.
GB - Should you have difficulties understanding these conditions, let us know immediately!!
DE - Sollten Sie Schwierigkeiten haben, diese Bedingungen zu verstehen, bitte um sofortiges Bescheid!!
FR - Si vous avez des difficultés à comprendre ces conditions, veuillez nous le faire savoir immédiatement !!
IT - In caso di difficoltà nel comprendere queste condizioni, fatecelo sapere immediatamente!!
Thank you / Danke/ Gracias / Merci / Grazie


On Taking Care of Each Other
I had a fascinating conversation yesterday with my Dutch friends about cultural differences between the Netherlands and the United States. The family I’m staying with here in Sassenheim spent four years living in my hometown in California, so they’re well-versed in our way of life on the other side of the Atlantic.
At dinner last night, talk inevitably turned to politics and the current administration. I explained that despite four attempts by the Republicans to repeal the law, the Affordable Care Act is still in place. We discussed the differences between our two countries’ political systems - here in the Netherlands, there are over eighteen political parties with seated representatives, compared to our paltry two - and how dismal the social safety net is in the United States, especially when compared to the robust protections here.
My Dutch friends know how expensive healthcare is in the U.S. and how little the government provides for the safety and wellbeing of residents there. Income inequality is much lower in the Netherlands, they explained, due to protections here that ensure a basic quality of life regardless of one’s ability to work. The system sounds excellent. Rates of homelessness and poverty are minuscule, relatively speaking, and there is a strong belief in universal healthcare across all political parties, from the ultra-conservatives to the Communists. To say that I wish that the U.S. government protected basic rights like this would be the understatement of the year.
I said something to that effect to my friends, and one looked at me and paused.
“Yes,” she said, “The government should provide for people in this way. But something that I miss about the U.S. is how people took care of each other. Here, because the government takes care of us, that doesn't happen as much.”
I was taken aback. I have long touted the social benefits of a strong governmental safety net, but I had never considered whether such a system would also have social costs.
My friend went on to explain that in her experience living in California, people took care of each other. Neighbors dropped off homemade gifts around the holidays, friends visited each other in the hospital, and anonymous donors sent checks to cover the school fees for kids whose families couldn’t afford to pay them. There’s a system of communal care based on reciprocity, because everyone knows that your misfortune today could be mine tomorrow. That doesn’t happen here, she said. Everyone knows that we have protections if disaster strikes, and so we don’t take care of each other outside the family.
She used the example of what happened in my neighborhood when the largest wildfire in California history loomed in the hills behind my family’s house. Everyone was knocking on each other’s doors, calling to check in, and ensuring that everyone was accounted for on my street. My mother and a couple other people physically pulled an elderly neighbor, who was fast asleep, out of her house as the flames leapt toward our houses. There were no officials there to evacuate us; we did it ourselves, and we made sure everyone was out and safe. In the Netherlands, she said, everyone would just run.
I’d never thought about it before, but she was right. Especially in my adopted home of Washington, DC, people really took care of each other. I was in countless message threads and Facebook groups centered around community care. If someone couldn’t pay rent, we chipped in; if an activist needed money for legal fees, we paid them; if someone was hurt, we set up a GoFundMe to pay for their medical bills. I hate that any of this was necessary in the first place; in a just world, no one would want for any of these basic, essential things. But that is not the world we live in, and in the gaping void torn open by capitalism and corruption, communities flourish. In spite of toxic, oppressive forces that try to isolate us, we take care of each other. I refuse to stop fighting for the protections that would render these networks of care less necessary, but I can celebrate their existence in the meantime.


Chivirico came to the bank with me a couple of weeks ago and was totally fascinated by the ATM machine. The fact that I put my card in, and money came out astounded him. He stood there watching wide eyed as more people used the machine, and from that moment all he wanted was a bank card so that he too could go and use the machine.
I explained to him that you have to have an account with the bank, with money in it, in order to be able to take money out of the machine. That was it. His sole purpose became earning money to open a bank account. He has washed the car (well the bottom half of it);
Fed the dogs.
Each time he gets paid a few pesos, but straight away goes to the colmado to spend them on a biscuit or sweets. I explained to him that if he spent all his money as soon as he had it, he would never have any to put in the bank. His reply was that he was hungry and it was more important to eat than put money in the bank and he could only save money if he wasn't hungry.
The discussion continued over a game of dominoes and I said that if he had 10 pesos he should spend 5 pesos on a biscuit and then save 5 for the bank. That appeared to be a satisfactory solution, and within a few days he had 15 pesos saved and we were prepared to go to the bank the next day to see about opening an account. He was beside himself with excitement.
The next morning arrived and once school was over Chivirico came to the house and announced he could not go to the bank as his father had come to the house and taken 10 of his 15 pesos to give to his brother and sister. His father had told him it was very important to share. This of course is true, especially in this country, and I remembered being in hospital when I was 5 to have my tonsils out and my grandmother sent me a box of chocolate teddy bears. The nurses told me it was important to share them with all of the children on the ward, with only one for me. I remember being heartbroken and furious at having to share my chocolate teddy bears so it was interesting to see that Chivirico just accepted that it was the right thing to do share his hard earned cash with his siblings, although it meant that going to the bank was on hold until he could earn some more money.
The next day he earned some more, so off we went to the bank with 11 pesos.
We arrived there during lunch hour and so the bank was nearly empty. Chivirico sat down and put his 11 pesos on the counter and announced he would like to open an account. Unfortunately the children's accounts need a minimum of 500 pesos to open them, and he would not be able to have a card to take money out of the machine, it comes with a savings book. The account must be opened by an adult and it is that adult who can take the money out, although Chivirico can pay it in. In order to open the account he just needs an adult to do it, a copy of his birth certificate – and 500 pesos. He went into great detail at the bank about how he was earning money, and that it was best not to spend it all on sweets, concluding by saying he needed the money to buy a Jeep. All of the bank staff were in total hysterics.
Although disappointed, he was not defeated. We got home and he made a money box out of a Gatorade bottle, and I have told him when it is full then we can go back to the bank and open his account. We just need to decide who the responsible adult will be! The money in the bottle appears to be going up and down, although it is counted several times a day. I think it is probably being raided for sweets and biscuits at the colmado.
One day he will have his bank account. In the meantime, if you want to keep up with his activities on a regular basis, he now has his own Facebook page, set up by one of his fans - Chivirico the Body Guard.


Fall financial aid book charge dates: August 22-September 9
Orders not picked up after 15 business days (Monday-Friday) from the date of the order will be refunded less a 25% restocking fee.
Textbook Buyback (D1501)
August 29-31 8:30am-4:30pm
Semester Extended Hours
Monday-Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Friday 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 27 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.


Cybit, the UK's leading online Telematics Service Provider, has signed an exclusive partnership agreement with Ford Motor Company, to provide a fully managed service branded 'Ford Fleet Telematics' solution for Ford Fleet customers.
The agreement provides a framework that formalises Cybit's relationship as Ford's appointed telematics partner. Under the terms of the agreement, Cybit has exclusive telematics access to Ford's detailed and confidential CanBus coding information, which allows Cybit software to interface with the existing Ford CanBus systems on the current Ford Transit and Transit Connect models. This enables Ford Fleet customers to have confidence in the accuracy of the reports generated using CanBus data.
Commenting on the partnership Richard Horsman, Cybit's Chief Executive Officer said: "We have an established relationship with Ford, which has led Cybit to help develop and power Ford’s own branded Fleet Telematics solution. This enables Ford Fleet customers to realise operational cost and productivity benefits whilst also helping them manage their duty of care requirements.
"We are delighted to be working with the most prominent brand in the commercial vehicle market to bring significant benefits to Ford's Fleet customers."
The use of Cybit's fleet tracking and vehicle data technology will enable organisations to make strategic business decisions and to reduce costs from their fleets in a range of areas - from fuel usage to preventative vehicle maintenance. The vehicle tracking software integrates with Ford's CanBus vehicle management system to generate customised reports on a wide range of vehicle movement or driver performance indicators that enable strategic fleet management and identifies opportunities for drivers to improve their skills through training.
The system works via an unobtrusive GPS device located inside the vehicle that provides real-time positioning information which when collated is combined with CanBus data and transmitted via O2's GPRS network to Cybit's servers. This data is processed into a broad spectrum of user defined strategic reports, providing real-time fleet visualisation or historical analysis, and then distributed via the internet.
Cybit is a global force in Telematics, operating within three core sectors: Internet-based vehicle Telematics solutions; Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) Management; and Private Mobile Radio (PMR) based asset tracking and precise positioning solutions.
In the vehicle Telematics sector, Cybit is one of Europe's leading Telematics Service Providers (TSPs). More than 1,700 business to business clients use the company's fleet and asset management solutions to manage in excess of 45,000 assets primarily in the public sector, service industries and logistics and distribution markets. Solutions include in-vehicle technologies, work flow management, CanBus integration and internet-based monitoring and reporting software. The company also provides consulting services to advise on operational and legal issues such as duty of care and working hours.
Cybit is also a global leader in the field of EEZ fisheries management, tracking many thousands of fishing vessels on a daily basis. The company provides vessel monitoring and catch management solutions for many of the world’s major fishing nations. As well as EC governments including the UK, Ireland and Greece, Cybit helps to manage valuable fishing stocks for emerging nations such as Ghana, Namibia and Mozambique
Cybit's PMR business provides asset-tracking and precise positioning solutions for both maritime and land-based applications including exploration and mining. Its precise positioning solutions are in constant use in the location and exploitation of oil, gas and mineral reserves around the globe.
Additional information is available at www.cybitholdings.com, www.cybit.co.uk, www.truck24.com, www.amatics.com, www.cybitpositioningsolutions.co.uk and www.bluefinger.com
IBA - PR for Cybit
Tel: 01780 721 433
Marketing Manager, Cybit
Tel: 01480 389100
Issuers of news releases, not Targetwire, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.


At Vzy, we’re committed to making website building accessible and affordable for everyone, no matter where you are in the world. We understand the importance of providing fair and equitable pricing, and we’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Paystack, which allows us to offer Parity Pricing for our Nigerian users.
Parity Pricing means that Vzy’s incredible website-building capabilities are now available to Nigerian users at prices that are aligned with the local market. We believe in providing the same value and quality to all our users, and Parity Pricing ensures that our Nigerian users can enjoy all the benefits of Vzy without breaking the bank.
- Basic Sites: Our Basic plan, which typically costs $15 per month, is now available for just N7500 per month in Nigeria. And if you prefer to pay annually, you’ll get an even better deal at just N60000 per year.
- Pro Sites: For those looking for advanced features and capabilities, our Pro plan, usually priced at $35 per month, can be yours for only N17500 per month in Nigeria. And the annual pricing for Pro sites in Nigeria is an incredible N150000 per year.
We understand that currency exchange rates can fluctuate, and the cost of living varies from one country to another. To ensure fairness and affordability for our Nigerian users, we’ve set our Parity Pricing based on a discount rate of N500 to $1. This means that you’ll enjoy significant savings when compared to the parallel market rate, which can be as high as N1000 to $1.
Vzy Paystack Integration is a game-changer for Nigerian users. It means that you can create stunning, feature-rich websites without worrying about exorbitant costs or unfavorable exchange rates. With Vzy, you have access to powerful website-building tools at a price that aligns with your local economy.
We invite all our Nigerian users to join the Vzy community and experience the freedom of creating beautiful websites with ease. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a blogger, or a small business owner, Vzy empowers you to bring your online vision to life without financial barriers.


Dentist offers a wide range of dental procedures at affordable, capped costs, with payment choices to fit your budget – so you can budget ahead of time and know exactly how much your dental treatment will cost.
Dentist Henley Brook cost also provides a unique dental Member Program, which helps you save even more money on your dental treatments in the long run, unlike many other dental practices.
Assisting you in budgeting for your dental care in Dentist Henley Brook
Many people put off going to the dentist Henley Brook because they are afraid of unknown charges or unforeseen charges. As a result, we provide interest-free payment options.
Our whole range of dental treatments includes low capped rates and flexible payment options to meet your needs. So you can budget ahead of time and know exactly how much your dental procedure will cost.
Does private health insurance pay for dental care?
Many Australians pay for dental care using private health insurance. Most health insurance plans will only cover around half of the cost, leaving you to foot the bill.
Various health funds have different policies. There are variances in what they will pay for and what they will cover. There may also be annual restrictions on how much you may claim. Before receiving dental care, it’s critical to double-check what’s covered under your policy.
In the ‘General treatment, Extras or Ancillary’ part of your policy, you may find out what your health fund covers. Because various funds use various phrases to describe what they will pay for, you should read the policy carefully:
- X-rays, exams, cleaning and polishing, fluoride therapy, tooth extractions, and fillings are all part of routine dental care.
- Crowns, veneers, bridgework, implants, and dentures are examples of major dental work.
- Some health plans have preferred providers, which means you’ll see dentists who they recommend. You receive lower prices, more outstanding refunds, and more preventative services this way, but you don’t have as many dentists to choose from.
How long does professional teeth whitening last?
Professional whitening is not a permanent treatment and must be maintained, but it may last longer than a home remedy. Henley Brook Professional teeth whitening effects are predicted to last anywhere from six months to several years, but over-the-counter teeth whiteners may only last a few weeks.
Dentist Henley Brook: What are the different types of veneers?
Porcelain is the most frequent material for dental veneers. Traditional dental veneers require more prep work than alternatives, commonly referred to as “no-prep veneers.” These no-prep veneers, including Lumineers and Vivaneeres, take less time to install and are less intrusive.
Veneers are not the same as crowns or implants. Veneers are thin shells that cover the front of the teeth. Implants, on the other hand, are tooth replacements that replace the complete tooth. Veneers cover the tooth’s front surface, whereas crowns enclose the entire tooth (which is visible with a smile).
How much do veneers cost?
Veneers in Dentist Henley Brook are considered a cosmetic operation; they are seldom covered by insurance. According to the Consumer Guide to Dentistry, traditional veneers can cost anywhere from $925 to 2,500 per tooth and can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years. No-prep veneers range in price from $800 to $2000 per tooth and last 5 to 7 years. Traditional veneers are frequently the most cost-effective solution in the long run.
The cost of your veneers is determined by a variety of factors, including the type of veneers you choose, the brand name your dentist has on hand, the cost of living in your location, and the dentist’s experience.
How often do you need to go to the dentist?
Every year, the Australian Dental Association (ADA) surveys dental practitioners to get average pricing statistics on more than 120 dental procedures.
The average cost of a periodic check-up, which includes an inspection, scale and clean, and fluoride treatment, is roughly $215, according to ADA statistics from 2019.
However, prices vary widely across dentists; the lowest will set you back $156 for those three products, while the most costly would set you back $296.


Medical crises take no vacation, occur in good economies and bad, and strike people at all income levels. But thanks to generous donors, The Doorways is open 24/7, 365 days a year, through good times and bad, for all of our guests, regardless of their ability to make a donation for their stay.
The Doorways counts on annual contributions from churches, foundations, civic and veterans organizations, businesses, and individuals, including guests and former guests to serve the approximately 8,000 guests who stay with us each year.
We welcome gifts of all types, including checks, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. We will work with you and your financial advisors to maximize the tax benefits for you and the value of your gift. Gifts can be deducted from your adjusted gross income on your tax return.
Our most critical financial need is funding for day-to-day operations, because our House, just like yours, has heating, air conditioning and maintenance costs. And, while volunteers provide many services for The Doorways, a small staff is still necessary to keep everything running smoothly.
Every dollar makes a difference!
Online Giving Gifts and pledges can be made online here.
Send checks made payable to The Doorways to:
612 East Marshall Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Honorariums and Memoriams
A gift to The Doorways is a thoughtful way to honor a milestone important to your family and friends, or to celebrate the life of a loved one whose memory will live on not only in your heart, but also in our mission.
Gifts of Stocks or Bonds
A gift of long-term appreciated securities has two major advantages. It provides the donor with an immediate income tax deduction and eliminates a capital gains tax to the extent allowed by tax law. Typically donors have stock transferred from their brokerage account to the account The Doorways holds with Merrill Lynch. Electronic transfer is the safest and fastest way to give stock to The Doorways. Instruct your stock broker to transfer your shares to:
Merrill Lynch DTC #5198
Merrill Lynch #75804009
If you have any questions regarding the transfer or stocks or securities, please contact Shawn Walker, CFO, #804-828-6901.
Tax Id # 54- 1240348


BOSTON— Senator Sal DiDomenico and his colleagues in the Legislature unanimously adopted a resolution to encourage equitable and diverse gender representation on boards of companies in the Commonwealth. The Senate passed the resolution in July, followed by the House of Representatives in October. Senator DiDomenico was a co-sponsor of this resolution.
“This resolution will help to ensure that women continue to play a key role in driving the health of the Commonwealth’s business climate and the success of our economy”, said Senator DiDomenico, Vice Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means. “By actively promoting diversity and gender equity in Massachusetts’s businesses, we are also committing to the long term success of our companies. While this resolution makes a declaration of Massachusetts’s commitment to fairness and equality, it will also help to ensure that we continue to remain an attractive place to conduct business.”
“This is not just a women’s issue or a family issue. This is also a business issue,” said Senator Karen Spilka, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and the lead Senate sponsor of the resolution. “Research consistently shows that businesses with greater gender diversity in their leadership ranks have a competitive advantage. The future of the Massachusetts economy depends on bringing the best talent to the table. With this resolution, we are making a strong statement of public policy that Massachusetts values equality, justice and diversity.”
“This resolution encourages the Massachusetts businesses to become national leaders in expanding the number of women as board members,” said Senate President Stan Rosenberg. “Diversity in leadership allows for a variety of perspectives when making important decisions on the direction of companies and nonprofits.”
The Women on Boards resolution had support from 62 co-sponsors in the Legislature, the Alliance for Business Leadership, 2020 Women on Boards, local advocates and business leaders. The legislation encourages privately held and publicly traded companies in Massachusetts to:
- Adopt policies and practices designed to increase the gender diversity in their boards of directors and senior management groups and set goals by which to measure their progress;
- Publicly disclose the number of women and total number of individuals on their boards of directors; and
- Have a minimum of three women directors on boards of nine or more and a minimum of two women directors on boards with fewer than nine directors by December 31, 2018 AND measure their progress toward a goal of equal representation of men and women in leadership positions on an annual basis.
The Boston Club’s 2014 Census of Women Directors and Executive Officers of Massachusetts Public Companies reports that women hold 14.9% of the board seats and 11.8% of executive officer positions in the 100 largest public companies in Massachusetts. Twenty-four of these companies have no women on their boards of directors, 46 have no women executive officers and 19 have no women on their boards of directors or in their executive suites.
A 2014 Credit Suisse report that analyzed over 3,000 companies across the world found that greater gender diversity on boards of directors and in management “are empirically associated with higher returns on equity, higher price/book valuations and superior stock price performance.” In addition, the authors “find no evidence that female led companies reflect greater financial conservatism where leverage is concerned [and] dividend payout ratios have been shown to be higher.” Additional reports reinforce the correlation between greater gender diversity in top management and enhanced corporate performance.


WB Financial has 17 offices Australia-wide along with the Head Office (Licence) which is located in Brisbane. Our team of Advisers service most capital cities and are also able to assist clients that may not be located within close proximity to an office.
Free Call 1800 458 044
Head Office: Ground Floor, 32 Logan Road Woolloongabba QLD 4102
WB Financial is inclusive of WB Financial Management Pty Ltd (ABN 71 073 303 885) Australian Financial Services Licence holder (No. 236 839) and WB Credit Management Pty Ltd (ABN 35 145 548 018) Australian Credit Licence holder (No. 386 671).


Zynga Poker makes $1.14 billion
Zynga, the rising star of facebook, reports record revenues for 2011
|by Alligator Blood||February, 17th 2012||
Above: Zynga Poker, the rising star of facebook, is booming
Zynga Poker has reported staggering record revenues of $1.14 billion.
The firm behind facebook's most popular games, including Farmville and Words with Friends, also said the huge rise in income was set to continue this year.
But the online gaming giant still made a loss because of a monster $510 million tax bill and IPO costs.
Since it launched in 2007, Zynga Poker has become one of the most popular games on the internet with 35 million regular players globally.
The firm is set to move into real-money poker later this year and has also positioned itself as a dominant force in the mobile/apps market.
It is currently valued at $8.3billion on the New York Stock Exchange.
Zynga was one of the first companies in the world to launch a 'Timeline App' on the new-look facebook last month. Only 60 firms globally have so far launched the apps, which are expected to dominate the social networking site this year as it seeks to commercialise its user base in the run up to its own stock market floatation.


The Dow rallied on Wednesday and the S&P 500 crossed 3,000 points for the first time ever on the back of prepared remarks from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, who hinted that a rate cut is coming.
Powell, who is beginning his biannual congressional testimony on Wednesday, pointed at economic crosscurrents, including “uncertainties around trade tensions and concerns about the strength of the global economy [that] continue to weigh on the US economic outlook.” He also noted inflation continued to run below the Fed’s target.
Investors read that as a sure sign that the Fed plans on cutting its interest rates at its next meeting later this month.
Stock futures had been in the red Wednesday morning but turned higher after the remarks were published ahead of the opening bell.
The S&P 500 bounced 0.7% higher. The Nasdaq was up 1%. The Dow was up 0.7%, or 188 points, marking its first higher open in four days. The Dow logged its third consecutive close in the red on Tuesday.
Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq hit intra-day record highs just a few minutes into the trading day.
Market expectations of a near-term interest rate cut had dominated for weeks until last Friday’s jobs report. The better-than-expected data suggested that the economy might not need the boost that a rate cut would provide.
On Tuesday, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker said he didn’t see any need for interest rate changes. He said he would consider a rate cut if the economy weakened substantially, according to The Wall Street Journal.
But Powell’s remarks on Wednesday seemed to send a clear signal to the market. Expectations for a rate cut, measured by the CME’s FedWatch tool, returned to 100%, with 84% expected a 25 basis point cut. It had slipped to 96% earlier Wednesday, after sitting at 100% for week.
Lower interest rate make it cheaper for companies to borrow money and are thus supportive for the stock market.
Powell’s testimony will be followed by the minutes of the Fed’s June meeting, which will be released at 2 pm ET. On Thursday Powell will appear before the Senate Banking Committee.
Yields on US government debt, which is in part driven by interest rate expectations, dropped initially on Powell’s remarks but bounced back. The 10-year US Treasury yield is little changed at 2.0647%.


How Much Do I Owe You? A vacant bank is transformed into a site-specific art exhibition that asks the public to reflect on their relationship to contemporary systems of exchange. 12 Dec 2012 -13 March 2013. The Clock Tower, 29-27 41st Ave, Long Island City, Queens.
I presented a video documentation of the "Left-over Penny Campaign", Germany 1998-2002, 43 min11 sec, English.
“Left-over Penny Campaign”
CONTENT OF THE VIDEO
The Restpfennig Campaign collected unused economic and intellectual capital – ideas and wishes – in the form of one German Pfennig coins from 1998-2002. 13 tons of coins were collected in public space throughout Germany. The public collection sites were located in Berlin (Alexanderplatz), Munich (Marienplatz) and Nuremberg (Königstrasse), as well as smaller collection sites and thousands of private collection boxes. 1,601 ideas and wishes were gathered through letters, e-mails and interviews. An integral element of the concept was to involve the public in the decision-making process of what should happen with the collected coins and visions. 1,087 people applied to be a part of the decision committee. Of these, twelve were randomly selected on 3 April 2002 in a public event and invited to decide which of the 1,601 ideas and wishes should be realised.
The committee met for two weekends in May and June of 2002 in the ACC Gallery in Weimar. On the first weekend, they collectively worked out a list of criteria and they decided upon rules for voting. On the second weekend, they chose four wishes.
In June and July of 2002, all of the collection boxes were emptied, publicly sorted and brought to the appropriate national banks for depositing. Over the four and a half years, hundreds of thousands gave their spare pennies. There were 1,601 idea donors and approximately 500 people actively helped the project. Many institutions, government officials, prize juries, decision makers and private citizens helped to make this project possible. The wishes were realized between 2002-2007.
As an art project in public space, the Restpfennig Campaign posed three questions:
1. The potential of art to work in societal contexts.
2. The principle of people cooperating and working together.
3. The responsibility of the individual in regard to its unexploited creative potential.
The Restpfennig Campaign was my artistic attempt to take the responsibility "to make the future, that we want or do not want, an object of civic discourse." The Restpfennig Campaign accumulated cultural capital in the form of a comprehensive wishing and idea archive; it accumulated social capital in form of the interested people and volunteers as well as economic capital in the form of approximately 13 tons of coins – not to mention project funding. ‘’To collect left-over pennies is an economic nonsense’ was a pivotalstatement at the beginning of the project in 1998. It was a crucial question, whether and how it could succeed to move these quantities of 'waste money' in such an economically driven world and then convert it into intellectual capital. A further, crucial question related to the decision-making process regarding this accumulated capital, which was delegated to a representative public. Thanks to thousands of hours of unpaid work, project funding, sponsoring as well as a full-time volunteer it was possible to use the largest part of the Restpfennig mountain for the realization of the selected four wishes. My three initial questions could be answered positively despite the ‘economic nonsense’: the visionary potential of an idea could accumulate an immense cultural and social capital. Thousands of people participated on their own impulse. Unused capital of this kind exists in our society. In 2003, a book was designed to give an adequate form and public to the intellectual capital of the project (desires and ideas). The desires and ideas form an important part of this art project; they are the engine of my work. Furthermore the book served the reflection of this work.
 When the committee met on the first weekend in May 2002, they worked out a list of criteria and they decided upon rules for voting.
The list of criteria was as follows:
1. The idea must be able to be realised with the pennies/ materials to hand
2. The idea must come from the idea pool
3. The idea is defined in a way that can be realised
4. The idea is effective and sustainable
5. Synergies are recognisable
6. The idea is immediately effective/ clearly effective/ concretely effective
7. The art/ the identity of the Restpfennig Campaign must be retained
8. The idea is accessible
 On the second weekend in June 2002, they chose four wishes:
1. Wish 1485: The preservation of the mountain of pennies in a smaller form. 250 kg of the coins (approximately
10 buckets) should to be taken from the collection sites and preserved as a symbolic mountain of pennies.
2. Wish 995: To set up and realise an Artistic Idea Competition: since this was a very complex idea, the committee decided to support an existing artistic competition. The artist group finger called for submission for "Evolutionary Cells – A Self-Representative Design of Societal Perspectives". They were given a grant of
€6,000: €5,000 to award their chosen favourites and an additional €1,000 to cover the administrative costs for the project. [Online] Available at www.evolutionaere-zellen.org [accessed 12 February 2012]
3. Wish 631: Seating in public space: working together with artists and/ or participants in the cities of Berlin,
Munich and Nuremberg, seating was created. All three projects were finalised by 2007.
4. Wish 1400: Covering costs of the project: any open costs of the Restpfennig Campaign should be covered (with the foreign currency coins); the artist Susanne Bosch should not be required to bear these costs.


Daryl is an author and educator on the subject of using your assets to realize the greatest amount of security and satisfaction during the retirement years. He is well-known among his peers as one of the first financial advisors in Canada to identify the special skills and knowledge required to effectively and efficiently address the needs of the retirement income market. His work focuses on helping retirees reconcile their varying needs for income and lifestyle fulfillment as they progress through different stages of their retirement.
Although no longer working directly with individual clients, his Winnipeg, Manitoba-based practice, Diamond Retirement Planning Ltd, was dedicated to this service as well as the specialized investment strategies, health-risk management issues and wealth transfer considerations that are unique to this market. Of his 45 years in the financial services industry, the last 30+ years have been dedicated to the specialized area of retirement income planning. His current focus is on advisor education and training.
He has published four retirement income guides. “The Structure of Retirement Income” was released by CCH Publications in 1998. His second book “Buying Time” was first published by John Wiley and Sons in 2003.
Your Retirement Income Blueprint
His signature book, “Your Retirement Income Blueprint” was released in April 2011 and updated for re-release in 2014 and 2019 as a Canadian best seller.
Retirement for the Record
In October 2020, his latest book, “Retirement for the Record” was released. As a companion to Blueprint, this was a legacy project for Daryl, combining the accumulation of more than 30 years of experience in this specialized area of financial planning with his love of an inspirational era of music for the Baby Boomers. “Retirement for the Record” is a collection of real-life client stories that every retiree can relate to, in short and concise chapters. A brilliant combination of technical information on retirement income planning combined with relevant musical references from ‘our time’ drives the point home and engages the reader with memories of a time when some of the best music ever made was the soundtrack of our life.
Daryl is currently the Chief Retirement Income Strategist for Dynamic Funds. Sign in to LinkedIn to find his posts and podcasts here.
Member: The Financial Planning Standards Council of Canada
Member: The Financial Advisors Association of Canada (Advocis)


Download our personal financial statement software and create your own professional-looking financial statement today. Our powerful, yet easy-to-use software lets you complete your personal financial statement quickly and easily.
Your purchase includes the following:
> Free email and phone support
> Free download again at any time
> Free software updates
> Free backup USB drive mailed to you
> One-time payment
Our personal financial statement software is used by those looking to get a loan, buy real estate, file for divorce, plan a budget, or engage in other situations that require a professional looking personal financial statement.
Our personal financial statement software is also used by business owners, investors, tax preparers, financial planners, CPA’s, and accountants.
Lenders, banks, landlords, and other businesses require a personal financial statement to evaluate collateral, assets, and to look at a person’s expenses, long-term liabilities, and net worth.
Our personal financial statement software covers these topics and more:
- Checking and savings accounts
- Monthly expenses
- Assets and liabilities
- Net worth
- Financial information for individuals and couples
- Real estate owned (with the ability to list unlimited properties)
- Vehicles, boats, planes and other assets
- Personal and home assets
- Credit card debt
- Unpaid taxes and liens
- General debts payable
- Stocks, bonds and retirement funds
- Preparer’s information
Our #1 rated software covers important topics that are required by banks, businesses, and courts – including bankruptcy and divorce.
Our personal financial statement software will….
- Automatically add up all the numbers in each category.
- Automatically transfer the number from each category to the totals row in both the assets and liabilities column. (Example: You own 10 different pieces of real estate; our software will automatically total the values for all ten properties and then transfer the total to the column for all real estate owned).
- Calculate both annual and monthly totals for income and expenses.
- Calculate what percentage of the total the number entered represents.
- Automatically insert lines as you need them in each category.
- Print or e-mail your personal financial statement as a PDF document.
- Create as many personal financial statements as you like, for yourself or others.
- Password-protect any financial statement you create.
- Show who prepared the personal financial statement in the preparer’s section.
- Allow unlimited entries for all categories.
- Automatically calculate your net worth.
Why is our personal financial statement software the best?
1. Our summary page has features like what percentage of the total each number represents and gives both monthly and annual totals for income and expenses. None of our competitors have these features on their printout or summary page which is the most important part of a personal financial statement.
2. All reports are detailed and easy-to-read.
3. Our personal financial statement software is easier to use than others.
Simply fill in your numbers and all math calculations are automatically done for you. You’re ready to print or email a great looking personal financial statement.
The importance of a professional looking personal financial statement cannot be overstated as most businesses and financial institutions require high quality financial statements. We know this because we have provided customized personal financial statement software to some of them.
What’s the difference between the Preparer’s Version and the Regular Version?
The preparer’s version is for CPAs, accountants, tax preparers, consultants, and others who prepare financial statements for others. Our website copyright notice is not on the printouts. In addition, the preparer’s version gives you a license to create an unlimited amount of personal financial statements for your clients at no additional charge. The regular personal financial statement is for your own personal or business use and our copyright notice is on the bottom of any printouts created.
We have sold thousands of copies of our personal financial statement software, and have thousands of satisfied customers to show for it.
All future updates are FREE. We also provide “Crash Protection”: If your computer ever crashes, you can download the personal financial statement software again FREE.


About AL-SAFA Group
Al-Safa Group was established at the beginning of the year 1996. The first store was opened in the British countryside in the same year.
The company started its journey with 10 employees with a paid-in capital of 100,000 Saudi Riyal. Today, Al-Safa Group becomes one of the strategic investment groups in the pharmaceutical, retail, contracting, manufacturing and trade sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With total assets exceeding 300 million Saudi riyals, average sales of 400 million Saudi Riyals, and more than 2,000 employees.
Al-Safa Group is proud of its ancient Saudi heritage and its strong presence in the local arena. We currently have large numbers of markets and commercial centers operating with various products that we produce and distribute in more than 150 points of sale that are spread in the largest and most luxurious commercial centers in all the cities in Saudi Arabia, under the umbrella of retail companies; Al-Safa and Al-Aqd Al-Otor Trading Company are owned by The Beauty Secrets and Natural Touch brands with their global partnerships with pharmaceutical companies represented by Al-Safa Store Company for pharmaceutical.
Also, the Arabian Yalin Contracting Company works within the group administration, which is classified as a second contractor specialized in electricity, water, and infrastructure. The company is implementing many major and vital projects as the main contractor for the Ministry of Water and Environment and many small and medium-sized companies as start-up investments that play a key role in strengthening the structure of the group and the diversity of its income sources.
Al-Safa Store Co. for Pharmaceuticals, Ltd
Al-Safa Co. for Pharmaceutical and medical supplies With Limited Liability
Aqd Al-Otor Company
Al-Safa Factory Co. for Concrete Products
Al Safa Poultry Co. Ltd
Arabian Yalin Contracting Co. Ltd
Across Al Safa Advertising Company
Karam Joudy Co. for Trading
Leave a Message
+966 11 420 1015
PO Box 2769 Abi Bakr Al-Siddiq - Al-Taawon District - 6185 Unit No.: 24 Riyadh 12475-2835


January 12, 2024
Abu Dhabi, January 12, 2024 – Lunate Capital LLC, an Abu-Dhabi-based management company licensed by the Securities & Commodities Authority (SCA) and a subsidiary of Lunate Holding RSC Limited announced the launch of the Chimera S&P India Shariah ETF (Bloomberg: CHINDSHI), a physical, in-kind, liquid, and fully fungible exchange traded fund (“ETF” or the “Fund”) that will list on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (“ADX”).
The Fund will track the performance of Shariah-compliant Indian equities listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Investors can subscribe through the six Authorized Participants as well as the ADX eIPO portal from January 12 to January 17, 2024.
The Chimera S&P India Shariah ETF, the ninth sub-fund under the Securities and Commodities Authority (“SCA”)-registered Chimera Umbrella Fund, will replicate the performance of the S&P India Shariah Liquid 35/20 Capped Index (Bloomberg: SPISLCAP) (“Index”). The Index is provided by the S&P Dow Jones Indices and tracks the performance of the 30 most liquid Shariah-compliant Indian stocks listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Current constituents include Reliance Industries, Infosys, and Tata Consultancy Services.
The Fund is an Income Share Class B which is planned for listing on the ADX on January 26. Dividends received by the Fund are intended to be distributed on a semi-annual basis.
Sherif Salem, Partner and Head of Public Markets at Lunate, commented: “The Chimera S&P India Shariah ETF offers investors on the ADX direct access to the world’s fifth-largest stock market and one of the fastest growing economies globally. This ETF is also Shariah-compliant which will appeal to a broader range of investors who prioritize adherence to Islamic financial principles. The Chimera S&P India Shariah ETF enhances the range of ETFs available to investors in the UAE, now giving them direct access to markets in eight different countries worldwide.”
The ETF will be managed by Lunate Capital LLC, which is licensed by the SCA as a management company. BNY Mellon will act as the ETFs’ global custodian. Authorized Participants for the Fund are International Securities, EFG-Hermes, Arqaam Securities, FAB Securities, Daman Securities, and BHM Capital.
Abdulla Salem Al Nuaimi, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, said: “Our congratulations to Lunate for the launch of the Chimera S&P India Shariah ETF. This new listing augments ADX’s status as a premier ETF hub with vital market coverage and extensive reach. The geographical diversification of funds listed on the ADX platform provides investors with the opportunity to access multiple regional and global markets that they might otherwise face difficulty investing in individually. In 2023, ADX’s trading values of ETFs exceeded AED 5 billion, marking a remarkable 160% increase from the previous year. Notably, trading volumes reached 1 million units, reflecting a substantial 205% year-over-year growth. These results underscore Abu Dhabi's position as a thriving capital hub and ADX’s role in offering retail and institutional investors strategic solutions to strengthen and diversify their portfolios locally and globally.”
Michael Mell, Global Head of Custom Indices at S&P Dow Jones Indices commented: “S&P Dow Jones Indices is pleased to continue working with Lunate Capital LLC and to license the custom S&P India Shariah Liquid 35/20 Capped Index for their new ETF. The Index measures the performance of 30 of the most liquid constituents of the underlying Index listed in India.”
Hani Kablawi, Head of International, BNY Mellon, added: “This latest ETF offering provides further opportunity for investors to access this fast-growing market. As the global custodian for all of Lunate Capital’s ETFs, we continue to support Lunate’s funds with our open architecture platform, ETF expertise and scale.”


Once this form is submitted, you will be redirected to our PayPal to enter your payment information.
- The cost for posting on the MCVMA job board is $500 for three months.
- In the interest of equity, small BIPOC-owned businesses with less than 20 employees get a 50% discount if the business owner is a member of MCVMA.
- 10% off for residencies/universities/internships (including private internships)
- 25% off for non-profits (all sizes)
- 50% off for small BIPOC-owned businesses (less than 20 employees)
Submitters are asked to self-select the appropriate payment based on tier.


Accounting is the window to your business. It is the overall process of identifying, measuring, recording, interpreting, and communicating the results of economic activity; tracking business income and expenses and using these numbers to answer specific questions about the financial and tax status of the business.
At Finn Warner & Associates we can prepare your records and receipts to provide an insight into how you organisation is performing. It is not only important to know where you are going, you must work out how to get there and what resources you need to achieve your goals.
The services we offer include:
- Preparation of financial statements
- Business advice
- Support of MYOB, QuickBooks, JobBag and other accounting software


DMV/VERIFI Tip of the Week, #72
Short Reminder About Sale Price Entries and Accuracy
A recent review of VERIFI records revealed thousands of vehicles in dealer records with selling prices of between $1,000,000 and $10,000,000. These amounts are clearly the result of misplaced decimals or otherwise bad data.
Because the information contained in the VERIFI system represents your official records, we strongly urge that you double check your entries and make reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of your data.
Below are some suggestions:
- Only enter the whole dollar amount in numbers (decimals and commas are not allowed)
- Round your taxable sale price from your invoice to the nearest dollar amount on all sales prior to entering in VERIFI. (VERIFI automatically populates the “.00” at the end of the entered value.)
- Double check your entries. (sticky keys, mistypes, etc...)