Retirement plans established under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, commonly referred to as 401(k) plans, have become one of the most popular types of employer-sponsored retirement plans.
A 401(k) plan is an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan that offers significant tax benefits. You contribute to the plan via payroll deduction, which can make it easier for you to save for retirement. Perhaps the most important feature of a 401(k) plan is your ability to make pre-tax contributions to the plan. Pre-tax means that your contributions are deducted from your pay, and transferred to the 401(k) plan, before federal (and most state) income taxes are calculated. This reduces your current taxable income. You don't pay income taxes on the amount you contribute—or any investment gains on your contributions—until you receive payments from the plan.
For example, Melissa earns $50,000 annually. She contributes $5,000 of her pay to her employer's 401(k) plan on a pre-tax basis. As a result, Melissa's taxable income is now $45,000. She isn't taxed on her contributions ($5,000), or any investment earnings, until she receives a distribution from the plan.
You may also be able make Roth contributions to your 401(k) plan. Roth 401(k) contributions are made on an after-tax basis, just like Roth IRA contributions. Unlike pre-tax contributions to a 401(k) plan, there's no up-front tax benefit—your contributions are deducted from your pay and transferred to the plan after taxes are calculated. But a distribution from your Roth 401(k) account is entirely free from federal income tax if the distribution is qualified, as discussed below.
Many 401(k) plans let you direct the investment of your 401(k) plan account. Your employer will provide a menu of investment options (for example, a family of mutual funds). But it's your responsibility to choose the investments most suitable for your retirement objectives.
Note: Before investing in any mutual fund, carefully consider its investment objectives, risks, fees, and expenses, which can be found in the prospectus available from the fund. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Note: Special rules apply to SIMPLE 401(k) plans and safe harbor 401(k) plans.
You can contribute to your employer's 401(k) plan as soon as you're eligible to participate under the terms of the plan. In general, a 401(k) plan can make you wait up to a year before you're eligible to contribute. But many plans don't have a waiting period at all, allowing you to contribute via payroll deduction beginning with your first paycheck.
Some 401(k) plans provide for automatic enrollment once you've satisfied the plan's eligibility requirements. For example, the plan might provide that you'll be automatically enrolled at a 3 percent pre-tax contribution rate unless you elect a different deferral percentage, or choose not to participate in the plan. This is sometimes called a negative enrollment because you haven't affirmatively elected to participate—instead you must affirmatively act to change or stop contributions. If you've been automatically enrolled in your 401(k) plan, make sure to check that your assigned contribution rate and default investments are appropriate for your circumstances.
There's an overall cap on your combined pre-tax and Roth 401(k) contributions. In 2018, you can contribute up to $18,500 ($24,500 if you're age 50 or older) to a 401(k) plan. If your plan allows Roth 401(k) contributions you can split your contribution between pre-tax and Roth contributions any way you wish. For example, you can make $10,000 of Roth contributions and $8,500 of pre-tax 401(k) contributions.
But keep in mind that if you also contribute to another employer's 401(k), 403(b), SIMPLE, or SAR-SEP plan, your total contributions to all of these plans—both pre-tax and Roth—can't exceed $18,500 in 2018 ($24,500 if you're age 50 or older). It's up to you to make sure you don't exceed these limits if you contribute to plans of more than one employer.
Can I Also Contribute to an IRA?
Yes. Your participation in a 401(k) plan has no impact on your ability to contribute to an IRA (Roth or traditional). You can contribute up to $5,500 to an IRA in 2018 ($6,500 if you're age 50 or older) if you qualify. But, depending on your salary level, your ability to make deductible contributions to a traditional IRA may be limited if you participate in a 401(k) plan.
What Are the Income Tax Consequences of Contributing to a 401(K) Plan?
The five-year waiting period for qualified distributions starts on January 1 of the year you make your first Roth contribution to the 401(k) plan. For example, if you make your first Roth contribution to your employer's 401(k) plan in December 2018, your five-year waiting period begins January 1, 2018, and ends on December 31, 2022.
Employers don't have to contribute to 401(k) plans, but many will match all or part of your contributions. Your employer can match your Roth contributions, your pre-tax contributions, or both. But your employer's contributions are always made on a pre-tax basis, even if they match your Roth contributions. That is, your employer's contributions, and investment earnings on those contributions, are always taxable to you when you receive a distribution from the plan.
Should I Make Pre-Tax or Roth Contributions?
Assuming your 401(k) plan allows you to make Roth 401(k) contributions, which option should you choose? It depends on your personal situation. If you think you'll be in a similar or higher tax bracket when you retire, Roth 401(k) contributions may be more appealing, since you'll effectively lock in today's lower tax rates. However, if you think you'll be in a lower tax bracket when you retire, pre-tax 401(k) contributions may be more appropriate. Your investment horizon and projected investment results are also important factors. A financial professional can help you determine which course is best for you.
Whichever you decide—Roth or pre-tax—make sure you contribute as much as necessary to get the maximum matching contribution from your employer. This is essentially free money that can help you reach your retirement goals that much sooner.
What Happens When I Terminate Employment?
When you terminate employment you generally forfeit all contributions that haven't vested. Vesting means that you own the contributions. Your contributions, pre-tax and Roth, and the earnings on them are always 100 percent vested. But your 401(k) plan may require up to six years of service before you fully vest in employer matching contributions and associated earnings (although some plans have a much faster vesting schedule).
You can also roll all or part of your Roth 401(k) dollars over to a Roth IRA, and your non-Roth dollars to a traditional IRA. You may also be able to roll your funds into another employer's plans that accepts rollovers.
Payroll deductions can make saving for retirement easier. The money is out of sight, out of mind.
You may be eligible to borrow up to one half of your vested 401(k) account (to a maximum of $50,000) if you need the money.
You may also be able to make a hardship withdrawal if you have an immediate and heavy financial need. But this should be a last resort—hardship distributions are taxable to you (except for your Roth and any other after-tax contributions), and you may be suspended from plan participation for six months or more if the withdrawal takes place in 2018.
If you receive a distribution from your 401(k) plan before you turn 59½ (55 in some cases), the taxable portion may be subject to a 10 percent early distribution penalty unless an exception applies.
Depending on your income, you may be eligible for an income tax credit of up to $1,000 for amounts contributed to the 401(k) plan.
Your assets are generally fully protected in the event of your, or your employer's, bankruptcy (some exceptions apply).
Source: Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc.


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Time to settle the Grand-Am championships
Scott Pruett
Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas are looking to wrap up the Grand-Am championship this weekend at the Mid-Ohio track.
Here we go! The final race of the 2011 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series is upon us this weekend on Sept. 17 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and, as every year, it's accompanied by mixed emotions. I'm anxious to wrap up the season yet looking forward to it starting again. It's a crazy feeling we racers share, and I'm guessing the fans do, too.
It has been another good season for the No. 01 Telmex Chip Ganassi BMW-powered team. We have celebrated wins in five of the 11 races held to this point, and obviously we hope to make Mid-Ohio victory No. 6 this year. My teammate, Memo Rojas, and I lead the Daytona Prototype drivers' championship by 20 points over SunTrust Racing's Ricky Taylor and Max Angelelli. That means we've almost sealed the championship; we have to start the race and each complete 30 minutes behind the wheel, and we'll be the drivers' champions.
Points situation aside, the competition is fierce, and the race should be a fight to the finish. Mid-Ohio is a very demanding and difficult racetrack. It requires a great deal of precision, both from the drivers and the engineers, because of the elevation changes, high- and low-speed combination turns, and last but not least, cement patches in the majority of the turns rather than the smooth asphalt comprising the rest of the circuit.
Mid-Ohio is also one of the toughest tracks to pass on, so track position, car setup and pit stops will be paramount to success. And let's not forget the GT cars. They also have a fierce competition and tight championship up for grabs. Both races going on simultaneously is going to make for some intense racing. All of these things, combined with the fact that Mid-Ohio is one of the best places to attend and watch a race in person, should make it an exciting time for everyone, on and off the track.
The other title still up for grabs is the manufacturers' championship. It's down to Chevrolet and BMW. Whoever wins the race, or places highest, will clinch the crown. Our car is the only BMW-powered Daytona Prototype competing in the series full-time this year while Chevrolet has four full-time teams. To still be in the fight given those odds speaks volumes for BMW's performance.
Since our last race three weeks ago in Montreal, I've been hitting the gym and counting the days until the finale. The Ganassi boys are checking and rechecking everything to make sure our car and team are ready for the fight. In other words, business as usual here.
If you can't make it to the race in person, tune in to Speed TV live this Saturday, Sept. 17, at 3 p.m. Eastern.
Man, I just can't get enough!
Editor's note: Scott Pruett, 50, is one of North America's most successful race-car drivers, with multiple wins and championships in karting, Trans-Am and Grand-Am racing, as well as victories in IMSA and CART, plus starts in NASCAR. He drives the No. 01 Telmex Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates Riley-BMW in Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series, where he is the defending Daytona Prototype champion. His 2011 duties also include work as one of Autoweek's Editors at Speed.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Browse CLE Courses Starting Law Firms In New Ways With Real Research
Starting Law Firms In New Ways With Real Research
Starting Law Firms In New Ways With Real Research - Handout
Course Description & Outline: Starting Law Firms in New Ways with Real Research
Course Credit Hours: CA 1
Launching a new law firm that complies with an attorney's legal and professional obligations without breaking the bank can be a challenge. Join Kat McKay of McKay research as she unravels some of the key complexities involving in starting a new firm. Topics covered include how to increase access to research resources, what to consider in selecting your firm's trade name, how to legally work as an attorney consulting across state lines, and what to consider when launching a virtual practice.
Length: 1hr 2min
Great presentation, worthy of ethics credit. Would love to see Kat do a full program on working across state lines, and will look for her future courses. Very, very well done and extremely informative.
- Diana C.
Kat McKay
PUBLISHED LEGAL WORK
As a member of a law firm team, I re-drafted significant sections in the published legal manual titled "Environmental Coverage Case Law, 22nd Edition, 2011" which was published by Munich Reinsurance America, Inc. in paperback format (available for order from: www.munichre.com/us/property-casualty/publications-expertise/knowledge-publications). I also participated in an update of this volume with the plan that it will be incorporated into a later publication.
REPRESENTATIVE CASE
Smith v. Toys "R" Us, Inc. 2012 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 2080 (App. Div., Sept. 5, 2012). We won this case and received written opinions in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, and Appellate Division, on behalf of a national insurer which declined defense and indemnification to a Fortune 500 Company. The declination was upheld pursuant to complex arguments related to commercial general liability policy exclusions and underlying contracts creating "additional insured" allegations. "Bad faith" arguments were also successfully won.
AWARD FROM A UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
Theodore L. Reimel Moot Court Competition, 1st place winner, Best Brief, Best Oralist Final Round (2001-2002), Current Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, The Honorable Sonia Sotomayor, led the three Judge panel which decided the final round of the competition.
ATTORNEY EXPERIENCE
Litigation often centers on accurate, detailed and aggressive research and writing. I have significant experience: Researching complex legal issues in all 50 states; Researching contracts, their provisions and the laws relating to them; Drafting legal publications; Revising business documents; and Drafting litigation documents, including: legal briefs asserting persuasive arguments; detailed memoranda summarizing case law relevant to client issues; discovery motions and motions for summary judgment; case evaluations for clients delineating case strategy, factual and legal analysis, and proposed resolutions; pleadings; interrogatories and requests for production of documents; and legal correspondence to clients and opposing counsel.
I also have vital experience working for insurers and on behalf of insurers outside of litigation: Researching complex legal issues; Drafting legal publications for insurers; Managing insurance large scale coverage claims on behalf of insurers; Reviewing policies, drafting correspondence, making coverage determinations; Making recommendations regarding setting and changing reserves; Determining payment and/or resolution of claims; Working with scientific consultants, other insurers, and state agency professionals to cleanup large hazardous waste sites. These claims often involved payment by insurers of tens of millions of dollars over decades toward the cleanup of hazardous waste sites; Working toward the payment of significant asbestos claims.
I have litigated complex insurance coverage, insurance defense, and asbestos defense cases. I have extensive experience: Arguing motions, including motions for summary judgment; Conducting discovery depositions; Appearing in court for all necessary conferences and arguments; Conducting client interviews and preparing clients for court appearances; Advising clients of the law and communicating potential legal arguments; and Negotiating settlements.
ATTORNEY PRO BONO (SERVICE WORK) HISTORY
I updated a working loose-leaf volume of cases which are most often used by staff and volunteer attorneys working for the Women Against Abuse legal services organization in Philadelphia, and I provided them to the organization along with some written guidance regarding the cases, the case histories, and related statutes.
I have litigated approximately 8 pro-bono cases in Trenton, Newark, Princeton and New Brunswick, on behalf of impoverished defendants. These were criminal defense cases, which I litigated both at the trial level and at the appellate level. I also litigated a termination of parental rights case on behalf of an impoverished parent.
Pennsylvania United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania New Jersey United States District Court for the District of New Jersey United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Temple University, Ph.D. in Philosophy, current student (part-time)
J.D., May 2003, Villanova University School of Law Class rank, top 11% Magna Cum Laude Arthur Goldberg Scholarship winner (3 year, full tuition scholarship to Villanova University School of Law) Legal Writing Teaching Assistant for Professor Emily Zimmerman.
B.A. Honors, May 2000, Villanova University Class rank, top 7% Magna Cum Laude Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society Member Villanova Women's Crew Team (NCAA Division 1, 1997-2000), Captain (1999-2000)
mckay@mckay-research.com


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Awards Athletes of the Month
January 2019 — Ali Sow
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 08:41 AM 11 February 2019, 08:41 AM Last Update: 11 Feb 2019, 12:58 PM 11 February 2019, 12:58 PM
Ali Sow of the Laurier Golden Hawks men's basketball team is the U SPORTS Male Athlete of the Month for January 2019.
In just his second year with the Golden Hawks, Sow has led Laurier's men's basketball program to a place it's been just once since the 1970's – a legitimate contender in the OUA. Guiding the Hawks to a 16-6 record to vault them to the top of the OUA West division, the Ottawa native averaged an incredible 28.9 points per game during the month of January, including scoring 20 or more points in eight games and recording 30 or more points on four occasions. Highlighting Sow's month was a stretch of three games on the road during a seven-game winning streak in which he averaged 38.0 points per game. Laurier picked up victories over McMaster and Algoma (twice), generating momentum that saw them tie the team record for most wins in a season over the weekend. This marks the second consecutive U SPORTS Male Athlete of the Month award for Sow, who also took home the honours in November.


Designed as a nail, the head and point highlighted with brilliant-cut diamonds, inner circumference approximately 160mm, signed Cartier, numbered, Swiss assay and maker's mark.
Inside signed Cartier, numbered 16, XN 0659, stamped with maker's mark and Swiss assay marks for 18 carat gold. Diamonds bright and lively, estimated total diamond weight approximately 0.50-0.60 carats, light scuffs to metal consistent with wear, gross weight approximately 33 grams, overall in good condition. For further information please contact the department on +44 (0)207 293 6409.


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Boo-Boo is the debut extended play from Boston indie rock band Big Dipper. The EP was remastered and re-released in 2008 as part of Merge Records' Supercluster: The Big Dipper Anthology set.

Track listing

1987 EPs
Big Dipper (band) albums
Jangle pop EPs

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) are used for tuberculosis (TB) screening in healthcare workers (HCWs). However, data on specificity of IGRA in serial testing of HCWs is sparse. Therefore the specificity and the negative predictive value of the IGRA - QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) - in German nursing students was investigated.
194 nursing students at the start of their professional career were tested with the QFT. 14 nursing students were excluded from the specificity analysis, due to exposure to mycobacterium tuberculosis. Two of these subjects were QFT- positive. None of them developed disease during the year of follow-up. A study group of 180 students, all with very low risk of prior TB infection, remained in the specificity analysis. Subjects were monitored for at least two years with respect to the development of active TB disease. IGRA was performed at the start of the training and after one year.
The mean age of the study group (n = 180) was 23 years (range 18-53) with 70.9% female and 99.4% German born. The specificity of QFT was 98.9% (178/180; 95% CI 0.96-0.99); lowering the cut-off from 0.35 IU/ml to 0.1 IU/ml would have decreased specificity only slightly to 97.8% (176/180; 95% CI 0.94-0.99). Of the 154 nursing students available for re-testing, one student who initially scored positive reverted to negative, and one student initially negative converted to positive. None of the monitored group with initially negative QFT results developed TB disease, indicating a high negative predictive value of the IGRA in this population.
Following our data, QFT can serve as an effective tool in pre-employment TB screenings for HCWs. As its negative results were stable over time, specificity of the QFT in serial testing of HCWs is high. As the risk of acquiring TB infection in the German healthcare system appears to be low, our data supports the recommendation of performing TB screening only in those HCWs with known contact to TB patients or infectious materials.
Screening healthcare workers (HCWs) for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and active tuberculosis (TB) disease is a fundamental aspect of infection control programmes in hospitals . The tuberculin skin test (TST) was the first method available for detecting LTBI. However, the TST has known limitations, including cross-reactivity with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections . Recently, new in-vitro assays have been developed that measure interferon (IFN)-γ released by sensitised T cells after stimulation with Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens. These tests are more specific than the TST since they use antigens not shared by any of the BCG vaccine strains and only by few NTM species (namely M. marinum, M. szulgai, M. kansasii, and M. riyadhense  that are still rarely detected in clinical settings, but that often have clinical relevance  Although in most slow-growing NTM-species ESX-5, a duplication of RD1 and its secretion system (ESX-1) has been detected, the secretion products seem to be secretion system specific  and thus do not seem to influence the specificity of the IGRA-assays. Interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) also have the advantage of correlating better with surrogate measures of exposure to M. tuberculosis [6–8] and have a higher predictive value for LTBI progression to active TB disease in close contact in low-incidence settings .
Despite a steadily increasing flood of studies on the use of interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) in detecting latent TB infection (LTBI), the number of studies evaluating specificity, i.e. measuring a test's ability to score LTBI-free subjects as test-negative, is small . Due to the lack of a gold standard to ascertain LTBI in a study individual, specificity can only be measured in healthy subjects who report no known risk for prior M. tuberculosis (MTB) exposure and - as far as possible - in an environment that itself offers little or no chance of spontaneous, unrecognised transmission to the test population. Therefore, studies to test a hypothesis of high specificity should be conducted in low prevalence countries where the risk of unnoticed exposure to MTB can be considered negligible. As a more specific test will produce fewer positive results than a less specific test with identical sensitivity, doubts may arise as to the sensitivity of the more specific test. In the absence of a gold standard, reliable proxy measurements for sensitivity are needed. The negative predictive value (NPV), i.e. the probability that a test-negative person is actually negative, is one such proxy for sensitivity. In the case of tests for LTBI, where the consequence of a false negative test may only become apparent long after the test date, the NPV of a test can only be measured in terms of its NPV for progression to active TB disease. As HCWs may be subjected to serial testing for LTBI over the course of their careers, high specificity of the test applied is of particular importance. Some paper gave concern to the specificity of the QFT as they observed high conversion and reversion rates. Therefore we examined the accuracy and specificity of the QFT in a follow-up study on low exposed students entering nursing schools in a low- incidence country.
Our study group consisted of nursing students (18 years of age or older), trained for work in nursing homes and hospitals, starting their professional career in healthcare institutions operated by the healthcare provider Vivantes (*Institut für berufliche Bildung im Gesundheitswesen (IbBG) Vivantes) in Berlin. Participation was on a voluntary basis. Participants were asked to complete a standardised questionnaire before starting their career in healthcare; questions addressed national origin, whether foreign born, how long they had been living in Germany, possible risk factors for prior exposure to MTB, history of TB disease, inclusion in TB contact tracing exercises in the past, and BCG vaccination status.
One year after enrollment, a second QFT was performed and a new standardised questionnaire was implemented, soliciting information as to specific activities undertaken in the course of the year. Questions addressed the wards or fields of healthcare to which the participants had been assigned, the time period spent there, contact with TB patients and, if any, type and duration of contact. In addition, participants were quizzed on non-professional TB risks such as cases of TB disease in the family or among friends and acquaintances, or journeys of two weeks or longer to high-incidence countries during the first year of work. Each individual was monitored with respect to the development of TB disease for a further year.
Student nurses with risk factors for prior TB infection, including birth in a country with a high TB prevalence, were not taken into account during the analysis of specificity. The study design was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Hamburg Medical Council in Hamburg, Germany.
Specificity is defined as the number of true negatives divided by the sum of true negatives and false positives. The NPV for progression to active TB is defined as the proportion of test-negative subjects that do not progress to active tuberculosis in a longitudinal follow-up study of individuals tested for LTBI. This value reflects a test's ability to correctly predict that an individual who tested negative for LTBI will not develop active tuberculosis later on in life, assuming that no further exposure to MTB takes place. As only subjects infected with M. tuberculosis can develop the disease, the NPV can be measured by following subjects that tested negative for LTBI over time and quantifying the number that have remained free from progression to active disease.
QuantiFERON Gold In-Tube (QFT) was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions (Cellestis Ltd., Chadstone, Australia). As recommended, the cut-off value for a positive test was IFN-γ ≥ 0.35 IU/ml for the TB-antigen minus NIL, provided the NIL control was < 8.0 IU/ml and the TB-antigen minus NIL response was at least 25% of the NIL response. The result was indeterminate if the NIL was > 8.0 IU/ml or if not positive and the mitogen control minus NIL value was ≤ 0.5 IU/ml. All other result profiles provided a negative result. The validated linear range of the QFT ELISA, as reported by the manufacturer, is 0 to 10 IU/ml, thus any value above 10 IU/ml is reported as > 10 IU/ml.
The categorical data was compared using the Pearson's χ2 test or Fisher's exact test, when expected sample sizes comprised fewer than five subjects. The Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test was performed to determine whether the means of two repeated measurements of IFN-γ concentrations differed. All P values reported are based on two-tailed comparisons with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 18.0 for Windows (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL) and BIAS version 8.3.6 for Windows (Epsilon, Inc., Frankfurt, Germany).
In all, 194 persons were enrolled between 1 October 2008 and 30 April 2009. The cohort was observed until 30 April 2011 (Figure 1) with a mean period between the first and second IGRA of 17 month (standard deviation 2 month). Of the participants, 104 were distributed to 69 different departments (e.g. gastroenterology, psychiatry, infection ward, etc.) in 33 different hospitals or 68 different departments of these hospitals. The other 90 nursing students worked in numerous nursing homes, rehabilitation centres and mobile nursing services. There were 13 members born in intermediate or high-prevalence TB countries (Cameroon, Poland, Ethiopia, Nepal, Romania, Pakistan, Kosovo, Turkey, Albania, Russia), of whom a 20-year-old woman who moved from Ethiopia to Germany in 2002 was QFT-positive (2.05 IU/ml), all other 12 subjects had negative QFT-results. One 18-year-old German male student had a positive QFT with high INF-γ concentration (> 10 IU/ml) due probably to close contact with an infectious TB patient as this student had worked in healthcare before the training started. However, this link could not be established with certainty. These 14 students were excluded from the specificity analysis. Details of the study population are shown in Table 1.
Steps for building the group for analysing specificity and NPV.
Of the remaining 180 subjects with very low risk of MTB infection, two study members, females aged 22 and 42 years, were QFT-positive with a difference of TB antigen-NIL of 1.75 IU/ml and 0.67 IU/ml, respectively. None of the study members had an indeterminate result (Figure 2). None of the study population showed high nil- controls (range from 0.00 to 0.18 IU/ml). Therefore, nobody was IGRA-negative due to the fact of a high nil control. Estimated specificity for the QFT was therefore 98.9% (178/180; 95% CI 0.96-0.999). The mean age of the specificity group was 22.96 ± SD 5.78 (min, max: 18, 53). Members were predominately female (128, 71.1%), and 86 (47.8%) had been BCG vaccinated, of whom BCG vaccination was certificated by a vaccination pass in 85 and one women without certification had a vaccination scar. There was no statistical difference between BCG-vaccines with respect to gender and country of birth. 179 of the low-risk persons were born in Germany, whereas the remaining subject, a 47-year-old man was born in Chile. A lowering of any cut-off value in a test compromises specificity for the supposed benefit of added sensitivity. In our study, if the cut-off (TB AG-NIL) is lowered to 0.10 IU/ml, only two more subjects would be positive with values of 0.19 IU/ml and 0.22 IU/ml; this would reduce our specificity estimate only slightly, to 176/180 (97.8%; 95% CI 0.94-0.99).
Dot plot of individual responses to QFT for 180 subjects with valid results and with low risk for TB exposure. The dashed line represents the cut-off of 0.35 IU/ml for IFN-γ.
Dot plot of individual responses to QFT for 154 healthcare workers available for a second test one year after initial testing. The dashed line represents the cut-off of 0.35 IU/ml for IFN-γ.
To our knowledge, this is the first specificity study which includes repeated testing and a follow-up period for calculating the NPV of the IGRA. As stipulated by the regulatory frameworks of the respective countries, individuals with contact to infectious TB cases must be investigated so as to prevent the spread of TB disease. However, testing of larger groups of persons in low-incidence countries without any known TB risk is difficult to execute, given ethical considerations. As a result, the number of persons whose presumed lack of infection with MTB is confirmed by a negative IGRA result is relatively low and study groups are quite heterogeneous. The general situation, therefore, does not lend itself to the performance of specificity studies.
Up to now, only six published studies evaluated the specificity of commercially available IGRAs, i.e. QFT and/or T-SPOT.TB, in a total of 736 subjects with valid IGRA results fulfilling the inclusion criteria, i.e. excluding studies performed in intermediate-incidence countries. The study conducted by Detjen et al. included 45 children with confirmed non-TB lymphadenitis or respiratory infections , Pallazo et al.  included 24 healthy blood donors as controls for TB suspects, and Ruhwald et al.  86 high school students and 38 members of the high school staff. In the paper published by Franken et al.  168 recruits in the Dutch Armed Forces could be considered as having little risk. Wang et al.  included 97 adult university volunteers and eleven hospital children, and the study by Bienek and Chang  comprised 278 persons in the low-risk group of U.S.-born Navy recruits. According to these studies, the specificity of the IGRAs ranged from 96.9% (95% CI 94.2-98.6%)  for the T-SPOT.TB ("European cut-off" without any grey zone) to 100% (95% CI 97.6-100%) for the QFT.
Our study of healthcare trainees just starting their active careers confirms the high specificity of the QFT at nearly 99% and thus presents numbers nearly identical to the estimates of between 98.8% and 100% of the four already published studies in which the specificity of QFT was examined. In addition, however, we retested our individuals after one year and followed them for two years in order to investigate whether a false-negative person not recognised by the test would develop TB disease in the near future. Of the 152 retested persons with initial QFT-negative results who were monitored for at least two years, none fell ill and therefore the NPV for progression was 100%. However, one of the 152 retested participants with an initial QFT-negative result, a student nurse in a nursing home, converted to a positive result. As there was no source of infection identified, the reason for the conversion remains unexplained. Some studies about serial testing in HCWs suggested the use of a grey zone from > 0.2 to 0.7 IU/ml for the QFT results in serial examinations [17–19]. Using this grey zone in our study we found no conversion. As LTBI prevalence in geriatric nurses was reported to be higher than in other HCWs  and the student worked in a nursing home, the conversion might be caused by a fresh infection of an unknown source occurring after the first testing. Over the same period, the individual who initially scored positive then reverted to negative.
No further latent TB infection appears to have occurred, although the medical activities of the study participants were carried out in 68 different hospitals (or different departments of those hospitals, including infection wards), in nursing homes and mobile nursing services and 35 students indicated that they had contact to TB patients. This data indicates that in Germany the chance of acquiring TB infection through work in the healthcare sector is low. Schablon et al.  tested 2,028 employees in the healthcare sector with the QFT test between December 2005 and May 2009, either in the course of contact tracing or in serial testing of TB high-risk groups pursuant to German OSH legislation, but even then a positive IGRA was found in only 9.9% of the HCWs.
Nevertheless, it was highlighted in a recent systematic review that conversion of IGRA serial testing results is common among HCWs . Two recent serial testing studies among German HCWs found conversion rates of between 1.9%  and 5.2% . In Portuguese HCWs the conversion rate was 11% . The higher conversion rate in Portuguese HCWs compared to in German HCWs is in agreement with the higher TB incidence in the Portuguese population. Furthermore, the conversion rates are similar to those described in a meta-analysis for the TST . In the three above-mentioned studies, serial testing was performed because of known contact to TB patients or infectious materials. Only 14.3% of the student nurses had contact to TB patients within the one year between the two QFTs. Exposure was therefore lower than in the two other German serial testing studies [17, 18] and a low conversion rate was expected. The conversion rate actually observed was as low as 0.7% (1 out of 153). This indicates a high specificity of the QFT and a good reproducibility of negative QFT results.
The inclusion of a follow-up period in our specificity analysis strengthens our study. However, our study also has limitations. First of all the sample size is rather small. Furthermore, the study was carried out in a population that was not completely free of potential exposure to MTB. But as only one conversion occurred, results were not substantially diluted by performing our study with nursing students.
Based on our data, it must be asked whether comprehensive serial testing of HCWs following pre-employment screening remains an expedient preventive measure, at least outside of high-risk settings such as TB wards or laboratories. However, as the reproducibility of negative QFT is high, QFT could conceivably be used to monitor the hygiene standards in wards where contact to TB patients or infectious material is to be suspected.
Anja Schablon, Roland Diel contributed equally to this work.
The authors would like to thank Petra Kuhnert for her skilful and dedicated work and all trainees for their study participation. The study was fully funded by an unrestricted grant from the Institution for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services.
RD has received reimbursement for attending scientific conferences and/or fees for speaking from Cellestis and Oxford Immunotec. The content of this paper has not been influenced by those companies.
AS participated in the design of the study, was responsible for the data management and was a key party involved in the drafting of. AN conceived the study and has been involved in revising the draft critically for important intellectual content. FCR has been involved in revising the draft critically for important intellectual content. GD and WP participated in the design of the study, made substantial contributions to the acquisition of data and were in involved in writing the draft. UA participated in the design of the study, made substantial contributions to the acquisition of data and was in involved in writing the draft. RD performed the statistical analysis and wrote the draft of the manuscript.


There is a little over a week left on the horizon before the 2015-2016 school year begins in New Jersey. Ten weeks of summer have flown by and, although my travels during the months of July and August proved to be quite adventurous, the time has come to pack my suitcase for my next excursion…an extended one…back to Room 106.
It feels good to be heading back to the familiar surroundings of school, and I'm anticipating an exciting trip. I'll officially begin my pre-flight checklist on September 2nd, with our annual districtwide welcome by the superintendent. Take-off, however, is scheduled for September 8th. That's the day my new class will arrive for boarding on their fourth grade charter flight. And that's when the non-stop adventure really begins.
The past two months have been spent preparing and packing for this trip. July and August were devoted to island-hopping on shorter excursions via the Internet. I brought home some useful souvenirs from these jaunts. Many factors need to be considered as I ponder what will be needed for the new school year. New travelers will be joining me and they're never flown this route before. What will the climate be like at our destination? Should I bring lots of luggage or throw caution to the wind and decide now that I can always find what I need in Room 106 and in cyberspace once we are underway?
When preparing for a trip, one must pack the essentials. In fourth grade, that means a basic curriculum for each specific content area. The most important thing to remember, however, is to bring along all the prior experiences that can help enrich our time together at all the stops we plan to make.
I have taken this journey many times before, and after 18 years, I am still learning what to bring and what to leave at home. But there are four things I will be sure to carry on: creativity, a positive attitude, enthusiasm, and a fresh perspective.
Setting the right tone for the trip will be essential. The airplane needs to get off the ground and into the air if we expect to have a smooth flight. If the takeoff isn't successful, it could be a bumpy ride!
This question was inspired by two educators I met this summer during an online course that was created by The Walking Classroom Institute. The course was designed to help teachers share ideas in ways that will enhance student learning across curriculums. To achieve this goal action is called for, and so we will begin by asking ourselves what we will DO this year to make the trip a success.
For example: in Classroom 4-T, We Do Laughter…We Do Homework…We Do Learning…We Do "I need help"…We Do Forgiveness. In 4-T, I hope to do many things. These hopes and plans (and a well packed carry-on case) should do the trick.
Several planned hiking and walking tours in Social Studies and Language Arts. The topics we will encounter are enhanced by our out-of-classroom, off-road adventures.
A little time at the pool to relax and escape with a portfolio of inspiring read-alouds to explore during Reading and Writing Workshops. I listed them in one of last year's posts.
A few scheduled sightseeing tours of history, through the use of interactive learning centers.
This will be my first attempt to manage time more effectively through the use of interactive learning centers. I need to be ready for turbulence. The Internet can go down without warning, but I don't want the plane to!
• Some "lost perspectives" I uncovered this summer (in closets and drawers) are definitely going with me on this trip.
• I also need to make room for some newly acquired resources gathered during summer's travels. Piles of books of varying genres and bulging files, thick with possibilities, have filled the empty, expectant folders now tucked carefully into my carry-on bag.
I'm ready. It's time to head to the airport. There is a slight increase in my heart rate as I find myself waiting for that moment when we will have just enough force to push us up into the sky.
As I depart for the trip, it's important for me to remember that I am not actually flying the plane. I'm not in charge of security checkpoints, and nobody has given me personal access to a specific flight plan (if there is one in Big Education today).
I hope there isn't as much rough weather as there was last year, with the implementation of new testing procedures, teacher evaluations, core content commentary, and other factors that affected the comfort of last year's passengers. Regardless, we'll be on the runway in about two weeks.
It is time to fly to places that are familiar, yet unknown. I'm looking forward to the trip, but I know I have to be prepared for whatever surprises may be in store. I need to be able to do my job, regardless of any political currents or change in flight path that await us once we're in the air.
Maybe I better pack an adapter…just in case.
Mary Tarashuk teaches 4th grade at Wilson Elementary School in Westfield, New Jersey. Mary has been an educator for over 20 years. She has served as content writer and creative consultant for the national, award-winning initiative The Walking Classroom since its inception in 2005. Mary's work has been published in Education Digest and was honored with the SmartBrief Education 2016 Editors' Choice Content Award. Trying to balance her old-school teaching style with New Age methods that integrate ever-changing technology keeps her on her toes. She believes that fresh air and exercise enhance learning and engage students of all ages. Follow her on Twitter @maryrightangle and check out her Kids on the Cusp page at Facebook.


Self-hosting is the activity of having and administrating your own server, typically at home, to host your personal data and services yourself instead of relying exclusively on third-parties. For instance, you can self-host your blog, such that it 'lives' on a machine that you have control of, instead of having it on somebody else's computer (a.k.a. The Cloud) in exchange for money, advertisement or private data.
Self-hosting implies owning a server. A server is a computer which is typically accessible on the network 24/7, and usually does not have any screen or keyboard (it is instead controlled remotely). Contrarily to a popular belief, a server is not necessarily a huge and extra-powerful machine: nowadays, a small, ~$30 ARM board is adequate for self-hosting.
Self-hosting is not about making "your Internet" more secure and does not provide anonymity by itself. Instead, it is about being autonomous, and in control of your services and data - which also means being responsible for them.
Why should you host yourself ?
You believe in a free, open and decentralized internet. In a centralized internet, private companies and government can spy, analyze and influence people by dictating how they connect with each other, and by filtering content. Yunohost is developed by a community who believe in an open and decentralized internet, and we hope that you do, too!
You want to have control of your data and services. Your pictures, chat messages, browsing history, and that text you are writing for school, have nothing to do on somebody else's server (a.k.a. The Cloud). They are part of your private life, but also part of your family's life, your friend's life, and so on. These data should be managed by you, not a random company in the US who wants your data to analyze them and sell the results.
You want to learn about how computers and the Internet work. Operating your own server is a pretty good context to understand the basic mechanisms at the heart of operating systems and the Internet. You might have to deal with command line interface, network architecture, DNS configuration, SSH, and so on.
You want to explore new possibilities and customize things. Ever dreamed of running a Minecraft server for you friends, or a persistent IRC or XMPP client? With you very own server, you can manually install and run virtually any program you want, and customize every bit.
Why should you not host yourself ?
Self-hosting requires some work and patience. Hosting yourself is a bit like growing your own garden or vegetables: it requires work and patience. While YunoHost aims to do all the hard work for you, self-hosting still requires that you take time to learn and configure a few things to setup your server properly. You will also need to perform maintenance tasks (such as upgrades) from time to time, or to ask for support if some things break.
With great servers comes great responsibilities. Operating a server means that you are responsible for the data you are hosting. Nobody will be able to recover them for you if they get lost. YunoHost provides backup features, which you should use regularly to backup the configurations and data you care about. You should also keep and eye on security news and recommendations so that your server or critical data don't get compromised.
Quality and performance probably won't be as good as premium services. YunoHost (and most of the applications packaged for it) are free and open-source software, developed by communities of people in their free time and on the basis of best effort. There is no absolute guarantee that software will work in every possible circumstance. The performance of your self-hosted server is also related to its CPU and RAM, and to the available internet connectivity.


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NATO turns into IOTO as it spread to the East
Posted: January 14, 2013 in Asia Pacific Region, Australia, Human Rights, Middle East, News, UK, USA, war
Tags: Alliance, Aus-US Alliance, australia, Australian Politics, CIA, CIA Asset Sir John Kirr, CIA Coup, Coup, Fraser, gillard', Global Military Alliance, Global Military Forces, Military Alliance, NATO, NATO Expansions, Rudd, us, war, Whitlam
With the prodding of the United States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) appears to be making another long-leap to the east. Already extending its influence in the Mediterranean and North Africa through the Mediterranean Dialogue and the Middle East through the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, NATO now looks set to extend its North Atlantic Charter well into the Indian Ocean. The «North Atlantic» Treaty Organization may one day be expanded to be called NATO- «IOTO», or the NATO – Indian Ocean Treaty Organization.
The United States has just been admitted to the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) as a «dialogue partner». In essence, the United States has received the same type of membership in the thirteen-year old Indian Ocean regional bloc as NATO has afforded to countries like Australia and Japan. There is little doubt that NATO and Washington see American associate status in IOR-ARC as a vehicle for bringing more nations to the East into the NATO fold. The United States joins NATO nations France, Britain, and NATO «global partners» Japan, Pakistan, and Egypt as an associate partner of the IOR-ARC.
India, which has served as chair of IOR-ARC since 2011, will turn over the chair to Australia in 2013. Under India's chairmanship, the United States became a dialogue partner, and with close U.S. military ally Australia in charge from 2013-2015, IOC-ARC cooperation with NATO can be expected to grow even closer. The other IOR-ARC dialogue partner is China, and the politics behind America's entry into Indian Ocean regional bloc politics can only be seen as a further attempt by Washington and its allies to resurrect the old George F. Kennan Cold War-era anti-Soviet «containment» policy and apply it to China.
By island-hopping through the Indian Ocean, NATO can eventually use the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN's) regional forum, in which NATO members Canada, the United States, and NATO members in the European Union, as well as U.S. NATO global partner allies Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea, have dialogue partner status, to extend NATO's reach from the Indian Ocean into the Asia-Pacific region. It is clear that NATO intends to become a global security bloc that would see the world in two-dimensional «NATO versus anyone else» terms.
Currently there are 28 members of NATO. Other nations in Europe waiting in the wings for full membership are Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Montenegro. Adding NATO global partners Iraq, Afghanistan, and Mongolia to the Mediterranean Dialogue countries of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and perhaps, soon, Libya and the ICI countries of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, and the true «road map» of NATO expansion comes into sharper focus.
IOR-AOC partner status will give the United States the diplomatic offices to convince the group to align itself with NATO, just as a joint Turkish-American initiative convinced the Gulf Cooperation Council countries of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE to sign up for the ICI.
With Australia at the helm of the IOR-ARC from 2013 to 2015 and considering the fact that the Australian Labor Party of Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the Liberal-National Coalition of Opposition Leader Tony Abbott outdo each other in following the dictates of Washington, NATO will be in a commanding position to bring IOR-ARC nations into the western alliance's firm grip. The easiest nations to convince will be those having an existing military relationship with the United States and/or Britain: Kenya, Oman, Seychelles, Mauritius, Thailand, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Nations where France has influence, Madagascar and Comoros, will quickly fall into line.
Indonesia, India, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Mozambique will see the economic benefits of cooperating with NATO. That will leave Malaysia, South Africa, and more interestingly, Iran, left out of the equation. However, NATO's propaganda arm, which cleverly disguises its operations and those of the Central Intelligence Agency through the financing of non-governmental organizations associated with George Soros's Open Society Institute, has trained its sights on the governments of Malaysia, South Africa, and Iran. The goal is to replace the governments of the three nations with more subservient regimes that will follow Washington's and NATO's orders.
It is clear that Washington is relying on the Gillard government in Canberra to extend NATO's and America's military influence in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. After attending the NATO Summit in Chicago in May 2012, Gillard agreed to a major presence of U.S. naval and air bases in Darwin and Perth, as well as the establishment of a drone base on the Australian-administered Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean. There have been suggestions that Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was ousted in a parliamentary coup organized by the CIA and its Australian counterparts because Rudd was not keen on Australia's closer military ties with the United States and NATO. Rudd reportedly favored a more independent and Asia-oriented foreign policy. If Rudd was a victim of a «perfectly-democratic» CIA coup, he would not have been the first victim. Independent-minded Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was deposed in a CIA-initiated constitutional coup in 1975. Whitlam was replaced by Liberal leader Malcolm Fraser, who, like Gillard, was more in synch with Washington's wishes.
To be fair, Fraser, who is now 82, was one of the first Australian leaders who came out against the U.S. base expansion in Australia. In 2009, Fraser left the Liberal Party, criticizing its leader, Abbott, as a «conservative» and not a «liberal». Earlier, Fraser's denunciation of Bush's war policies, earned him the wrath of neo-cons in the Liberal Party, one of whom called the former prime minister a «frothing-at-the-mouth leftie» who supported Islamic fundamentalists. The criticism was similar to other knee-jerk character assassinations launched against anyone who disagreed with the neo-con, Israel-genuflecting, globalized NATO crowd. Whitlam, who is 96, patched things up with Fraser long ago. In 1996, they united to support Australia breaking its ties with the British crown and becoming a republic. Both were keenly aware that it was the Queen's appointed Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, a longtime CIA asset, who engineered Whitlam's ouster in 1975.
Expansion of NATO into a global military pact has its roots in the George W. Bush administration and, specifically, in a 2006 proposal floated by Bush's ambassador to NATO, Ivo Daalder. Writing in the Council on Foreign Relations publication Foreign Affairs, Daalder proffered a neo-conservative dream: a «Global NATO» bringing into full membership South Africa, Japan, Brazil, and Australia. Arch-neocon publisher Rupert Murdoch has made no secret of his desire for his home country of Australia to become a full member of NATO. Many leading Zionists in the United States, Canada, and Britain have called for full NATO membership for Israel. Other neo-cons see a NATO with Singapore, New Zealand, South Korea, and India as full members.
The Mediterranean, ICI, and IOR-ARC moves by the United States are laying the groundwork for global NATO expansion. There is one development that could stand in NATO's way: the fragmentation of NATO members from within, The possibilities of an independent Scotland splitting from England, an independent Quebec separating from Canada, and arising from the potentially failed states of Belgium, Spain, and Italy, independent Flanders, Catalonia, and Venice, may be the internal cancer that finally metastasizes into a disease that kills off NATO, once and for all.
Republished with persmission via Strategic-Culture.org
The "War On Terror" Spreads to Africa: U.S. Sending Troops to 35 African Nations
#PDFTribute list of documents – Academic documents posted online open access


Helix Sleep hybrids that have targeted cushioning conform closely, making them ideal for side sleepers. While mattresses with moderate cushioning don't conform as much and are ideal for all sleep positions. Lighter individuals may feel most comfortable on models with balanced support, while people who weigh 130 pounds or more tend to favor the variants with additional support.
Helix Sleep also markets 2 variants with dual-firmness, the Helix Dual Balanced (with targeted cushioning and balanced support) and the Helix Dual Extra (with extra support and moderate cushioning). Both of these models have one 'Firm' side and one 'Soft' side, making them great for couples with different preferences. Lastly, the Helix Nightfall is a hybrid developed for bigger, heavier people. This model has an additional layer of memory foam for maximum support.
Cover – Originally, all Helix mattresses come with exactly the same cover, made of 100% polyester. I found it to be stretchy and thin, allowing for some nice breathability. However, if you prefer something more amped up, you can opt to swap out the regular cover for the UltraCool one, which is composed of a phase change material to regulate heat.
Comfort Layer – Up top, you will find a thick layer of memory foam. This material has a slow reaction to pressure, which means you are likely to experience some gratifying body shaping. While it might seem odd for a supposedly medium firm bed to make use of a memory foam comfort layer, it's crucial to remember that the presence of deep sinkage does not always translate to softness; in fact, oftentimes it produces quite a firm feel.
Transition Layer – After getting past the comfort layer, you will find a transition layer of poly foam. This layer of foam works to curb the sinkage of the memory foam and set a supportive, medium firm feel as you hit the individually wrapped coils below.
Support Layer – Most of the mattress is made up of this segment of individually wrapped coils. This system gives a supportive lift to the structure, working to place the sleeper "on top" of the mattress, instead of "in it". Since the coils are individually wrapped, they are also going to give additional breathability as air flows through the spaces in the coils.
Base Layer – Last but not least, you will discover a thin section of high-density poly foam. This segment does not affect the feel of the mattress too much, functioning mostly to give the individually wrapped coils something off of which to respond.
The firmness level of the Helix will vary widely depending on which model you pick out. The Helix Dusk and Midnight, have medium firmness levels, which is going to be very versatile and therefore best-selling. If you are more particular, however, Helix Sleep is happy to oblige you with more options.
Laying down on the Midnight, the memory foam layer is soft and generates some top quality body shaping, while the rest of the materials in the Midnight work to control this and make an overall firmer composition. The individually-wrapped coils and the firmer support foams also assist with re-positioning.
For back sleepers, there is just enough good comfort material in the mattress to conform to your lumbar while supporting your upper spine in a neutral position. For heavier sleepers or those who want a firmer bed, there are 2 more options for you in the Helix Dawn and Helix Twilight models.
Most side sleepers will feel totally comfy on the Midnight, but, if you're wanting a bit less pressure while still going with a flexible medium firmness, you might decide to take a look at the Helix Dusk, which uses a body-conforming latex-alternative foam that's breathable and gives the surface a small bit of bounce.
Side sleepers typically need to be more mindful of pressure because they sleep with most their weight on a smaller area. Those who are lighter than average or those in the market for a lot of pressure relief may want to stay with the plusher models.
Those who sleep on their stomach will feel comfortable in the Midnight, especially if this is not their primary position or they have a tendency to switch things up a lot. Firmer mattresses might be preferable for exclusive tummy sleepers so that they can make sure their hips do not dip and over-arch their back.
Last, the manufacturer suggests Helix for sleepers up to 350 pounds or couples who weigh a maximum of 250 pounds each. In the event you or your spouse are substantially bigger than average, Helix has also produced a bed called the Nightfall that's made to accommodate a total weight of 1000 pounds.
Keep in mind that if neither of these options feel quite right, you can always check out the four other beds in the newest collection: the Sunset (plush, softer compared to the Moonlight), Dusk (moderate feel, a little firmer than the Midnight), Twilight (firm, made for side sleepers), or Dawn (the firmest option of the bunch).
Based on my observation, Helix Sleep exceeds expectations for hybrids in this space because of the quantity and quality of foam it incorporates, in addition to the pocketed coils that help trap motion at its source. If you're a light sleeper concerned that movement from the opposite side of the bed will bother you, you should not have much concern with this mattress. I'd say that all of the Helix mattresses are a good choice for couples.
While getting a brand-new mattress, most people would like to know whether they will feel like they're sinking "into" the it or lying "on top" of it.
Even though you are going to experience a little immediate sinkage in the uppermost foam layers, by the time you sink through those layers, you will hit the individually-wrapped coils and feel amazing support. This combo will appeal to a vast range of sleepers, but will satisfy back and stomach sleepers in particular.
While I do feel the memory foam collapse as I sit close to the edge of the bed, the individually-wrapped coils prevent the mattress from compressing too much beyond that. I feel quite secure seated on the mattress.
In my opinion, Helix mattresses are well above average for edge support in comparison to other bed-in-a-box brands, which is because of their newly updated edges that contain reinforcement in the coil system. There may be a little compression in the comfort foams when you sit with your entire weight on the side, but lying on the side should feel comfy and secure. Couples who want more space to stretch out normally love stronger edges.
Laying down, I feel like I can get close to the edge of the mattress without feeling like I'll fall off or be pushed off the bed. Overall, I believe the Helix has nice edge support.
One of the best features of purchasing a bed-in-a-box online is the sleep trials they usually include. Helix Sleep is not any different. You customize the mattress that is meant for you, place your order, and within two weeks, it is sent to your home. From the minute you click to purchase the mattress, you have 100 nights to check it out (minus the time for delivery, so it's more like 90 nights). If it isn't ideal, you can return it for free, and receive a complete refund.
Helix offers an awesome 10-year warranty that covers defects, but it has a few limitations, exceptions, and the burden of proof is on the purchaser (like most guarantees ). Of course, you should be the first owner of the mattress to make use of the guarantee, and you will need to be sure you keep your receipt as proof of purchase.
As long as you follow all of the manufacturer's expectations for use, your warranty is valid. That means you will need to have a suitable base (no adjustable bed frames or slats over 4 inches apart) and that you don't use the mattress improperly – no jumping on the bed!
If you're certain that a Helix Sleep mattress is excellent for you, you will find the pricing and size information beneath. But please bear in mind that these prices reflect standard pricing, and doesn't consider my special discount. Click here to get my special discount and receive up to $125 off your Helix today.
For routine cleaning, it is suggested to use cool water with gentle dish detergent to clean any stains or dirt. Make certain that you wash using gentle circular motions, rather than rubbing.
The features of this mattress were thoughtfully manufactured to deliver options whether you were searching for a mattress that keeps cool all night, in the event that you wanted one to support your curves with a thick comfort system, or both! The pocketed coil unit should provide great edge support and motion transfer is minimal with their individually-wrapped construction.
Hopefully, I have given you some idea of what the typical sleeper can expect from the Helix, but it truly does provide a sensational range of customization with a choice for literally every particular need or desire. Your next best sleep could just be a short online quiz away.


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10 Low PE Stock Picks for the Enterprising Investor – March 2019
There are a number of great companies in the market today. By using the ModernGraham Valuation Model, I've selected 10 low PE stocks for the Enterprising Investor.  These companies have the lowest PEmg (price / normalized earnings) ratio out of all companies reviewed by ModernGraham. Each company has been determined to be suitable for the Enterprising Investor and undervalued according to the ModernGraham approach.
Defensive Investors are defined as investors who need to select only the companies that present the least amount of risk. Enterprising Investors, on the other hand, are able to select companies that present a moderate (though still low) amount of risk.
LyondellBasell Industries NV (LYB)
LyondellBasell Industries NV is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the low current ratio, insufficient earnings stability or growth over the last ten years, and the poor dividend history. The Enterprising Investor is only concerned with the level of debt relative to the net current assets. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be Undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $6.13 in 2014 to an estimated $10.84 for 2018. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market's implied estimate of 0.41% annual earnings loss over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on the Benjamin Graham value investing formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price.
At the time of valuation, further research into LyondellBasell Industries NV revealed the company was trading above its Graham Number of $77.64. The company pays a dividend of $3.55 per share, for a yield of 4.3%, putting it among the best dividend paying stocks today. Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 7.68, which was below the industry average of 20.47, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry. Finally, the company was trading above its Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) of $-16.01.
LyondellBasell Industries NV performs fairly well in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring a B. (See the full valuation)
Lincoln National Corporation (LNC)
Lincoln National Corporation is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the insufficient earnings stability over the last ten years. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be Undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $4.25 in 2014 to an estimated $7.01 for 2018. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market's implied estimate of 0.58% annual earnings loss over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham's formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price.
At the time of valuation, further research into Lincoln National Corporation revealed the company was trading below its Graham Number of $117.31. The company pays a dividend of $0.87 per share, for a yield of 1.7% Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 7.33, which was below the industry average of 30.63, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry.
Lincoln National Corporation performs fairly well in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring a B+. (See the full valuation)
Synchrony Financial (SYF)
Synchrony Financial is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the insufficient earnings stability over the last ten years, and the poor dividend history. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be Undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $2.22 in 2015 to an estimated $3.36 for 2019. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market's implied estimate of 0.7% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham's formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price.
At the time of valuation, further research into Synchrony Financial revealed the company was trading below its Graham Number of $43.03. The company pays a dividend of $0.72 per share, for a yield of 2.2%, putting it among the best dividend paying stocks today. Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 9.91, which was below the industry average of 21.22, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry.
Synchrony Financial fares extremely well in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring an A-. (See the full valuation)
BorgWarner Inc. (BWA)
BorgWarner Inc. is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the low current ratio, poor dividend history. The Enterprising Investor is only concerned with the level of debt relative to the net current assets. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be Undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $2.58 in 2015 to an estimated $3.51 for 2019. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market's implied estimate of 1.72% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on the Benjamin Graham value investing formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price.
At the time of valuation, further research into BorgWarner Inc. revealed the company was trading below its Graham Number of $43.32. The company pays a dividend of $0.68 per share, for a yield of 1.6% Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 11.93, which was below the industry average of 21.23, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry. Finally, the company was trading above its Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) of $-9.33.
BorgWarner Inc. performs fairly well in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring a B+. (See the full valuation)
Citizens Financial Group Inc (CFG)
Citizens Financial Group Inc is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the insufficient earnings stability over the last ten years, and the poor dividend history. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be Undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $-0.08 in 2015 to an estimated $3.21 for 2019. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market's implied estimate of 1.47% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham's formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price.
At the time of valuation, further research into Citizens Financial Group Inc revealed the company was trading below its Graham Number of $60.22. The company pays a dividend of $0.98 per share, for a yield of 2.7%, putting it among the best dividend paying stocks today. Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 11.44, which was below the industry average of 16.24, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry.
Citizens Financial Group Inc fares extremely well in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring an A-. (See the full valuation)
Morgan Stanley (MS)
Morgan Stanley is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the insufficient earnings stability over the last ten years. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.
At the time of valuation, further research into Morgan Stanley revealed the company was trading below its Graham Number of $63.69. The company pays a dividend of $0.9 per share, for a yield of 2.1%, putting it among the best dividend paying stocks today. Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 12.29, which was below the industry average of 18, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry.
Morgan Stanley fares extremely well in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring an A-. (See the full valuation)
Bank of America Corp (BAC)
Bank of America Corp is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the insufficient earnings stability or growth over the last ten years. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be Undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $0.76 in 2015 to an estimated $2.2 for 2019. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market's implied estimate of 2.46% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham's formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price.
At the time of valuation, further research into Bank of America Corp revealed the company was trading below its Graham Number of $39.29. The company pays a dividend of $0.54 per share, for a yield of 1.8% Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 13.42, which was below the industry average of 14.65, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry.
Bank of America Corp performs fairly well in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring a B+. (See the full valuation)
KeyCorp (KEY)
KeyCorp is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the insufficient earnings stability or growth over the last ten years. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.
As for a valuation, the company appears to be Undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $0.91 in 2014 to an estimated $1.24 for 2018. This level of demonstrated earnings growth outpaces the market's implied estimate of 2.16% annual earnings growth over the next 7-10 years. As a result, the ModernGraham valuation model, based on Benjamin Graham's formula, returns an estimate of intrinsic value above the price.
At the time of valuation, further research into KeyCorp revealed the company was trading below its Graham Number of $22.58. The company pays a dividend of $0.38 per share, for a yield of 2.4%, putting it among the best dividend paying stocks today. Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 12.83, which was below the industry average of 14.65, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry.
KeyCorp fares extremely well in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring an A-. (See the full valuation)
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN)
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the insufficient earnings stability or growth over the last ten years. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.
At the time of valuation, further research into Huntington Bancshares Incorporated revealed the company was trading below its Graham Number of $15.53. The company pays a dividend of $0.35 per share, for a yield of 2.6%, putting it among the best dividend paying stocks today. Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 13.86, which was below the industry average of 14.65, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry.
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated fares extremely well in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring an A-. (See the full valuation)
Regions Financial Corp (RF)
Regions Financial Corp is suitable for the Enterprising Investor but not the more conservative Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the insufficient earnings stability or growth over the last ten years. The Enterprising Investor has no initial concerns. As a result, all Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach should feel comfortable proceeding with the analysis.
At the time of valuation, further research into Regions Financial Corp revealed the company was trading below its Graham Number of $21.6. The company pays a dividend of $0.32 per share, for a yield of 2% Its PEmg (price over earnings per share – ModernGraham) was 13.99, which was below the industry average of 14.65, which by some methods of valuation makes it one of the most undervalued stocks in its industry.
Regions Financial Corp fares extremely well in the ModernGraham grading system, scoring an A-. (See the full valuation)
What do you think?  Are these companies a good value for Enterprising Investors?  Is there a company you like better?  Leave a comment on our Facebook page or mention @ModernGraham on Twitter to discuss.
The author held a long position in Starwood Property Trust Inc (STWD) but did not hold a position in any other company mentioned in this article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing those holdings within the next 72 hours. Â This article is not investment advice and all readers are encouraged to speak to a registered investment adviser prior to making any investment decisions. Â ModernGraham is not related to the companies mentioned in any capacity. Â Please take a moment to read our detailed disclaimer.
Feature, Screens
BAC, BWA, CFG, enterprising, HBAN, KEY, LNC, Low PE, LYB, MS, RF, Screen, SYF, undervalued


Leaving the comforts of sunny San Diego, California to come to the UK, which is infamous for its cloudy rainy days, was at first a challenge for me. I had been acclimated to 365 days of summer where the winter temperatures are comparable to UK's summer weather! I wasn't sure if it was going to be a good fit; and I couldn't have been more wrong.
If you're ever feeling like, "Gee, I miss a good sunny day", and you just want to talk about it, don't worry, all people do here in the UK is talk about the weather! In fact, it's what Brits are known for! (Seriously, check out this link because knowing how to talk about the weather 'proper like' is a big part of the culture here. And it's fun!) Don't let the rainy days keep you inside (as it doesn't even affect the locals out here), as there is so much the UK has to offer and such a short amount of time to experience it all during your studies.
Although humans are naturally predisposed to resist and fear change, change is the only constant in life; so might as well embrace it. Crossing the pond and studying in the UK can be the positive change that prepares you for all future changes that are inevitably and irreversibly heading you way. If you're ready for a change, please contact one of our ATP advisors today!


text:
Skills For Justice
Justice, Community Safety, Armed Forces, Legal Services
Your Sector
Cultural Awareness for Social Justice
Social Justice denotes the creation of conditions suitable for members in a community to have equitable access to services, resources, and opportunities. For there to be Social Justice in our diverse societies today, cultural education must be conducted. Diversity is part of human nature. Human beings are made strong through their similarities but more so through their differences. That is what allows for a diversity in ideas, in opinions and thought. A lot of the ideas that are prominent in the world today including Democracy are a result of human diversity. In light of this, people working for social awareness should portray cultural awareness. Keep reading to understand what this means.
Cultural Awareness Implies Being Self Aware
To properly serve the ends of social justice, a social justice worker must portray self-awareness. As a requirement of cultural awareness, this requirement demands that such a worker be deliberately aware of their culture, its world view, its biases, and prejudices. A deliberate understanding of one's culture may bring to the open certain truths that one should be aware of as they seek social justice. For instance, if one is introspective enough they may realize that some of the issues facing our communities include an inherent sense of superiority and privilege in some members of the community. This understanding may also reveal that many in the community have to deal with the consequences of being deemed inferior to others. By understanding this truth a social justice worker will be able to be more inclusive and effective.
Valuing Diversity
As mentioned before cultural awareness for social justice implies an understanding that there is beauty and strength in diversity. A good social worker should be able to understand the intricacies of how different cultures within their community think and their world view. So to speak they should be able to put themselves in different culture's shoes. They must understand that because diversity is a natural human characteristic, sometimes there is not always one way of doing things or one way of thought. More so, they must realize that many communities are unable to express their diversity and this has an effect on their access to social justice. In so doing, the social worker's impact will be deeper in their communities
Acknowledging the Presence of Inequity
A social worker should not be blind to the many intentional and unintentional inequities within he/she's community. Doing so also implies having an understanding of the historical circumstances that lead to these inequities. Such an understanding also allows the social worker to understand the role of access to power in resolving some societal inequities. Where equity implies access to equal opportunity, service, and resources, inequity implies unequal access, such that some communities are left more impoverished than others as a direct result of this. Acknowledging the presence of inequalities will help the social worker to understand their role as advocates of social justice within their communities.
Embracing other Cultural Identities
Cultural awareness for social justice also implies being able to embrace and include as many cultures as possible within the sharing of resources, access to services and access to opportunities.
In conclusion, cultural awareness for social justice means the creation of conditions suitable for all members within a diverse community to have equitable access to services, resources, and opportunities. This awareness can only happen with the exercise of certain skills listed above. For there to be Social Justice in our diverse societies today, cultural education must be conducted to make social workers aware of these skills. This is because diversity is part of human nature such that human beings are made strong through their similarities but more importantly through their differences. To that end, a lot of the ideas that are prominent in the world today are a result of human diversity. The skills required in the promotion of social justice through cultural awareness include self-awareness whereby the social worker understands their culture's world outlook, biases, and prejudices, valuing diversity, where the social worker embraces diversity, acknowledging the existence of inequities in order to resolve them, and embracing other cultural identities. It is only in so doing that true social justice can be achieved in our diverse communities.
Introducing our New Apprentices
As part of the recently launched Higher Apprenticeship in Legal Services for Wales, Skills for Justice is delighted to be working with Cardiff-based personal injury specialists NewLaw, who have nominated four employees to undertake the apprenticeship.


Agnes E Todd was born on December 1, 1907. She died on October 27, 2001 at 93 years old. We know that Agnes E Todd had been residing in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah.
Agnes E Todd's biography is built and maintained by people like you. Create an online profile of Agnes so that her life is remembered forever. If any factual information is incorrect, please edit Agnes's biography.
This genealogy profile is dedicated to the life and ancestry of Agnes E Todd and her immediate Todd family. Add to Agnes E Todd's genealogy page to share your memories & historical research with her family and other genealogy hobbyists.
Do you know the final resting place - gravesite in a cemetery or location of cremation - of Agnes E Todd? Add burial and funeral information.
Agnes E Todd lived 23 years longer than the average Todd family member when she died at the age of 93.
It is unknown if Agnes E Todd is a military veteran.
1907 - In the year that Agnes E Todd was born, the second Hague peace conference was called by Russia in the Netherlands. While nothing was settled regarding the matter of peace among nations, many resolutions were passed (and accepted by many nations) about the conventions of war - especially the protection of noncombatants.
1911 - When she was merely 4 years old, the Triangle Shirtwaist fire occurred, one of the deadliest industrial disasters in U.S. history. 146 workers (123 women and 23 men, many of them recent Jewish and Italian immigrants) died from the fire or by jumping to escape the fire and smoke. The garment factory was on the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors of a building in Greenwich Village in Manhattan. Doors to stairwells and exits had been locked in order to prevent workers from taking unauthorized breaks and to prevent theft, so they couldn't escape by normal means when the fire broke out. Due to the disaster, legislation was passed to protect sweatshop workers.
1941 - At the age of 34 years old, Agnes was alive when on December 7th, the Japanese attacked the military base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The surprise aerial attack damaged 8 U.S. battleships (6 later returned to service), including the USS Arizona, and destroyed 188 aircraft. 2,402 American citizens died and 1,178 wounded were wounded. On December 8th, the U.S. declared war on Japan and on December 11th, Germany and Italy (allies of Japan) declared war on the United States. World War II was in full swing.
1982 - When she was 75 years old, on September 14th, Princess Grace of Monaco (American actress Grace Kelly), 52, died of injuries when her car plunged off a mountain road. Her 17 year old daughter, Stephanie, was also in the car and suffered serious injuries but recovered. It's believed that the accident was caused when Princess Grace, who was driving, had a mild stroke.
1986 - By the time she was 79 years old, on January 28th, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after launch. All seven crew members died. The cause of the explosion was later found to be a failed O-ring. The O-ring failure was due to the unusually cold conditions at Cape Canaveral.
This obit of Agnes E Todd is updated by the community. Edit this biography to contribute to her obituary. Include details such as cemetery, burial, newspaper obituary and grave or marker inscription if available.
Agnes E Todd passed away on October 27, 2001 at 93 years of age. No cause of death has been listed for Agnes. She was born on December 1, 1907. We are unaware of information about Agnes's immediate family. We know that Agnes E Todd had been residing in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah.
What do you remember about Agnes E Todd? Share your memories of special moments and stories you have heard about her. Or just leave a comment to show the world that Agnes is remembered.


Srinagar: Bodies of three policemen who were abducted by suspected militants in south Kashmir's Shopian district were found in a village adjoining Kapran.
Reports reaching said that the bullet riddled bodies of the trio have been spotted by the locals in Lamni-Wangam village adjacent to Kapran and accordingly informed police concerned immediately.
A police officer also confirmed the incident and said that the cops were earlier abducted by the militants and later killed all of them.
The officer identified the deceased as Firdous Ahmad Kuchey, Kuldeep Singh, Nisar Ahmad Dhobi.


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Ritter Acquires Maryland-Based Secure Benefits Alliance
Published by Nicole Pericich • Sep 1, 2020
Ritter Insurance Marketing today announced the purchase of Secure Benefits Alliance (SBA), a Maryland-based health and life benefits agency.
In order to expand and strengthen Ritter's growing footprint, this deal will bring SBA agents into the Ritter fold, providing them with cutting-edge technology and support through Ritter's service platform.
This new acquisition solidifies Ritter's insurance distribution network in the Maryland market and will help to expand Ritter's service to agents and clients in a target region. Agents in SBA's hierarchy will now have access to more effective ways of doing business, including full use of the Ritter Platform.
"I've known Jake and Shelly McGeoy for many years, and I'm very excited to welcome them to the Ritter family," said Craig Ritter, CEO of Ritter Insurance Marketing. "Secure Benefits Alliance (SBA) will bring new skills and knowledge to us, along with long-standing agent relationships and strong carrier relationships. They are well positioned in the Maryland, Delaware, and Washington D.C. markets, which we believe are poised for tremendous growth for many years."
Ritter's marketing tools and sales technology will allow SBA's current and future agents to become more productive. Equipping agents with everything they need to be more successful in serving their clients was the key factor for SBA cofounder Jake McGeoy and his partners in agreeing to the deal.
"The real point of attraction for us to become a part of Ritter was the established technology," McGeoy said. "The capability to do electronic enrollments through Medicareful is beyond anything else we've seen from any other upline. Being able to leverage all of Ritter's personnel resources and technology, and the reputation that Craig and the organization have, was 100 percent crucial."
Under the terms of the acquisition, McGeoy, along with his wife and business partner, Shelly, will continue in new positions within Ritter's organization. Jake will serve as Ritter's Senior Manager of Agent Relations in Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
"This new role will let me concentrate on what I like doing and what I'm passionate about doing," Jake McGeoy said. "And that is helping agents to do the right thing for their clients, helping them do it better, more efficiently, and make a good living."
9 Tips to Submitting an Error-Free Application
Any time an application gets flagged during the submission process, it's a delay on your clients' coverage and your commission. What if we told you we can help you avoid stalled applications? Read More
The Ritter Platform Launches Provider Lookup, FastTrack, & Lead Sharing for the 2022 AEP
Three brand-new and exciting features are now available for Ritter agents to use during the upcoming Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)! FastTrack prefilled enrollment applications, lead sharing for agency management, and provider … Read More
Ritter Acquires Executive Resource Insurance Network, Expands in Florida
Ritter Insurance Marketing has announced its purchase of Executive Resource Insurance Network (ERIN), an independent wholesale brokerage agency in Sarasota, Florida. The purchase increases Ritter's distribution network in one of … Read More


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