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Spark New Zealand
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Spark New Zealand Limited
NZX: SPK
ASX: SPK
New Zealand Post Office
1 April 1987; 33 years ago (1 April 1987)
Justine Smyth, Chair[1]
Jolie Hodson, Chief Executive
Stefan Knight, Finance Director
Grant McBeath, Customer Director
Mark Beder, Technology Director
Matt Bain, Marketing Director
Heather Polglase, HR Director
Melissa Anastasiou, General Counsel
Tessa Tierney, Product Director
Spark Sport
Streaming Video on Demand
NZ$3,531,000,000 (2015)[2]
NZ$962,000,000 (2015)[2]
Spark Home, Mobile and Business
Spark Wholesale
Spark Digital
Spark Ventures
Spark Connect
Spark Foundation
spark.co.nz
sparknz.co.nz
sparkdigital.co.nz
sparkventures.co.nz
sparkfoundation.org.nz
sparksport.co.nz
Spark New Zealand Limited, more commonly known as Spark, is a New Zealand telecommunications company providing fixed line telephone services, a mobile network, an internet service provider, and is a major ICT provider to NZ businesses (through its Spark Digital division). Its name in Te Reo Māori is Kora Aotearoa,[citation needed] and it was formerly known as Telecom New Zealand until it was rebranded with its current name in 2014. It has operated as a publicly traded company since 1990. Spark is the second-largest wireless carrier in New Zealand, with 2.3 million subscribers as of July 2017.[4]
Spark is one of the largest companies by value on the New Zealand Exchange (NZX). As of 2007, it was the 39th largest telecommunications company in the OECD.[5] The company is part of New Zealand Telecommunications Forum.
Telecom New Zealand was formed in 1987 from a division of the New Zealand Post Office, and privatised in 1990. In 2008, Telecom was operationally separated into three divisions under local loop unbundling initiatives by central government – Telecom Retail; Telecom Wholesale; and Chorus, the network infrastructure division. This separation effectively ended any remnants of monopoly that Telecom Retail once had in the market. In 2011 the demerger process was complete, with Telecom and Chorus becoming separate listed companies.[6] On 8 August 2014, the company changed its name to Spark New Zealand.[7]
1.4 Mobile network
1.5 Industry regulation and company restructuring
2 Spark Broadband
3 Spark Mobile
3.1 Customer numbers and market share
4 Spark Sport
4.1 Sports
The Postal Services Act 1987 split the then New Zealand Post Office into New Zealand Post Limited (trading as NZPost), Telecom New Zealand Limited (trading as Telecom) and Post Office Bank Limited (trading as PostBank, sold to ANZ in 1989) and all three industries progressively deregulated. The selling price of Telecom was considered by some to be extremely low, given that Telecom had a monopoly of all phone lines in New Zealand at the time.[8]
In 1990, Telecom was sold to two United States-based telecommunications companies, Bell Atlantic and Ameritech, for NZ$4.25 billion.[9] After Telecom was privatized, the Kiwi Share agreement was drawn up, which included a provision that the company retained free local calling for residential customers.[10]
In 1991, Telecom listed on the New Zealand, Australian and New York stock exchanges. The following year Telecom implemented a NZ$200 million fibre-optic cable connection between Australia and New Zealand. Also in 1991, Roderick Deane was appointed CEO of the company. Then in 1993 Ameritech and Bell Atlantic reduced their share in Telecom to a combined 49.6% and BellSouth New Zealand Limited (BellSouth), subsequently acquired by Vodafone, set up the first mobile network to compete with Telecom.
Clear Communications reached an agreement with Telecom in 1995 on local service interconnection. Also in 1995 Telecom created First Media Ltd to develop a cable television network across Auckland and Wellington, called First TV. In 1996 Telecom established a telephone exchange in the United States for international traffic, and launched Xtra, which is New Zealand's largest internet service provider today.[citation needed]
1997 saw Telecom buy back NZ$1 Billion of its shares. The following year, Ameritech sold down its 24.8% shareholding in an international public offering, and Bell Atlantic issued exchangeable notes that were convertible into the Telecom shares that it owned. Also in 1998, Southern Cross Cables Limited (half owned by Telecom) announced plans to build a fibre-optic cable linking New Zealand with Australia and North America, and Vodafone New Zealand bought BellSouth and started a campaign to attract Telecom customers to its network.[citation needed]
In December 1997[11] Patricia Reddy was appointed to the Telecom board. She remained on it until 2008.[12] In March 2016 as Dame Patsy Reddy she was appointed Governor General designate of New Zealand.
In 1999, Telecom established a presence in Australia, buying 78% of AAPT, Australia's third-largest telecommunications company. Telecom upgraded its nationwide payphone network to smart card technology. Telecom's broadband Internet service based on ADSL technology, called JetStream, was launched and rolled-out progressively in local exchanges. Also at this time, Telecom began charging customers who connected to the Internet using a local dial up number, forcing all ISPs in New Zealand to change to an 0867 dial up number. This resulted in complaints that this was in breach of Telecom's Kiwishare Agreement where residential customers are allowed free local calling. The decade was rounded off with Theresa Gattung being appointed new CEO of Telecom, with Rod Deane moving to the position of chairman.[citation needed]
The original Telecom logo
In 2000, Xtra signed up its 300,000th customer. Telecom also raised its shareholding in AAPT to 100%.
Evidence emerged in early 2002 of Telecom having exploited an ill-considered, or fraudulently made to order, accounting standard (FRS38) to inflate its year 2001 reported profit by some $263m.[13] This standard required holding companies to incorporate profits and losses of associate companies into their group accounts by way of "equity accounting" except when the associate is insolvent. Being insolvent has been wrongly taken as substantial evidence that the holding company will no longer share in the associates profits and losses. The associate company Southern Cross Cables paid Telecom $263m in dividends as per (note 2 of) Telecom's 2001 annual accounts,[14] $US200m as per Southern Cross's annual accounts.[15] Southern Cross opened for (limited) business in November 2000 and its income from operations to 30 June 2001 was only $US13m ($US55m for the 2002 year). Southern Cross were insolvent to the extent of $US24m as at 30 June 2000 and this increased to $US280m as at June 2001 as a result of the dividends and other (net) expenses ($328m in 2002). The dividends were treated as income in Telecom's accounts there being nothing in FRS 28 to say that they should not be although such inclusion did breach an overall requirement that the accounts present a fair view.
In 2003, a new logo was launched.[16][better source needed]
In 2004, Telecom purchased Gen-i Ltd (in May) and Computerland Ltd (in September). The company also won the Roger Award for The Worst Transnational Corporation operating in New Zealand.
In 2005, Telecom introduced "Bitstream", a 256 kbit ADSL service sold at wholesale prices (at approximately 10% below the retail price) to other ISPs. Telecom also posted a profit of NZ$916 million. The company also launched online retail store Ferrit launches with about 150 retailers.[17]
9 May: An audio clip recorded on 2 March was released involving Telecom CEO Theresa Gattung admitting the use of confusion as a chief marketing tool in the industry. The March recording also dismissed the New Zealand Government as "too smart to do anything dumb" with regards to regulation.[18]
Late May: Roderick Deane resigns as chairman, and is replaced by Wayne Boyd the following month.
July: Matt Crockett is appointed CEO of Telecom's newly formed Wholesale division.[19]
All Computerland branches around New Zealand are rebranded as Gen-i.
16 January: The Librarians Association of New Zealand put in a complaint about a Telecom advertisement where 3 young school children state that, "Only dumb kids read books, brainy kids have broadband." Originally Telecom stated that is the views of the young children and not Telecom and the advertisement was unscripted, later that week Telecom choose to edit the advertisement to remove the comments made by the children.[citation needed]
19 January: It is reported that Paritai Drive, Orakei, one of the richest streets in Auckland, is still not capable of receiving a broadband SL service and there are many other well populated areas around New Zealand still not capable of receiving broadband. Opposition Woosh Wireless immediately tested their service in the area and gave residents the opportunity to join their wireless broadband service.[20][21]
5 February: Telecom announces that from March 2007 they will begin rolling out ADSL2+, more than a year after originally stated for roll out.
31 March: Telecom shuts down its old 025 D-AMPS/TDMA network with all 025 phones changed to 027 (CDMA).
May 2007: British Telecom have been in discussion with the New Zealand government regarding Telecom's monopoly control of the NZ broadband network. Three to four years previously, British Telecom were in a similar position to that which NZ Telecom are now in; the British broadband network has since been broken up and the NZ government are keen to learn and possibly copy the development/regulatory/investment model used by the British firm.
The Auckland Chamber of Commerce publicly stated that if Telecom did not invest in a next-generation high-speed network, comparable with that of other Western nations, they would fund a private fibre-optic based service in the 100 megabit speed range. The proposed coverage of this would be within 200m of a path running south from Auckland CBD (situated to allow as many businesses as possible to connect). Any company or private individual within this range would be offered a connection.
28 June: Telecom announced that Paul Reynolds, CEO of BT Wholesale, has been selected as the new CEO, to start on 27 September.[22] Simon Moutter was appointed as acting CEO in the interim.[23]
30 June: Theresa Gattung steps down as CEO,[24] with a reported leaving payment of $5.125 million.[25]
27 September: Dr Paul Reynolds starts as CEO of Telecom.
21 November: Mark Ratcliffe, Chief Operating Officer for Technology, is appointed CEO of Telecom's soon-to-be spun off network division.
A van with the Chorus livery.
16 January: Telecom announces the formation of Chorus, its new network infrastructure division.[26][27]
31 March: Telecom officially separates into three divisions (Chorus, Telecom Wholesale, Telecom Retail)
1 April: Russ Houlden, a colleague of Reynolds at BT, is appointed Chief Financial Officer. He replaces Marko Bogoievski, who joined Infratil.
12 January: Telecom announces the closure of its online retail store Ferrit.[17]
August: An industrial dispute emerged between Chorus and the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union after servicing contracts in the Auckland and Northland regions are awarded to Australian company Visionstream, which planned to change technicians' employment contracts to a dependent contractor model.[28][29]
In October a new logo was announced.
Spark's headquarters in Wellington
November: Telecom moves into its newly built world HQ on Victoria St in the Auckland CBD. Costing the developer $280 million, it will consist of 2700 staff and be the largest corporate move in New Zealand history.
24 May: Crown Fibre Holdings announced that Telecom had been successful in partnering with the Government to build a fibre network.
9 June: The National Business Review reveals that in OIA documents that the Department of Internal Affairs considered at least one text message sent by Telecom to be in breach of the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007.[30]
1 December: Telecom divests itself of Chorus, the Network Infrastructure division, in a one for five share deal, with Chorus becoming a separately listed company.
9 December: Telecom announces sale of AAPT for A$450 million[31]
21 February: Telecom announces a name change to 'Spark', which took effect on 8 August 2014[32] to better reflect the company's new direction and aspirations.[7]
25 June 2014: Spark announce Lightbox, an online movie and TV show streaming service, in competition with Netflix and SkyTV.[33] Lightbox went live on 27 August 2014.[34]
8 August: Telecom rebrands as Spark. Individual subsidiaries of the company are rebranded to reflect the name change such as Telecom Mobile becomes Spark Mobile, Telecom Foundation becomes Spark Foundation, Gen-i is rebranded as Spark Digital. The company kept the existing Star shaped logo with each division using a different colour for the logo such as silver for Spark New Zealand, orange or pink for Spark Home & Mobile stores, green for Spark Business and purple for Spark Digital.
5–7 September: Spark experiences nationwide outages due to a denial of service attack, which was believed to have largely originated from malware that installed itself onto customers' computers when they clicked on malicious links to celebrity photos leaked in August.[35]
12 August: Spark released a new cloud based consumer service called Morepork, which offers smart home based security services. This enabled consumers to purchase security hardware and services through a monthly subscription for home monitoring linked to their mobile phone.[36]
7 December: Spark purchased a South Island based IT services firm, Computer Concepts Ltd, for $50million NZD.[37]
14 March: Spark launched its subscription based sports streaming service Spark Sport. The service would compete against Sky Sport (New Zealand) which at the time had a near monopoly on pay TV sports rights in New Zealand.
19 December: It was announced that Spark would be selling its Lightbox streaming service to the satellite television company Sky Television, which intends to merge Lightbox into its own online streaming service Neon in 2020. Following the merger, Spark will partner with Sky to make the service available to Spark customers through the telecommunication company's entertainment offers.[38][39][40]
Telecom started the first cellular network services using AMPS in 1987. This transitioned to D-AMPS TDMA digital services in the early 1990s. The service in the 800 MHz band gave great geographic coverage and set the bar for service performance for many years.
In 1996 Telecom introduced an innovative and first to market Wireless Data Cellular network known as CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) that provided IP connections with mobility. Introduced to the market by the Product Manager, David Beale, they succeeded in the very first iOT device connections in the region connecting amongst other things, Coke's Vending Machines, NZ Posts Couriers and Parcel tracking and Telemetry data from the Americas Cup Yacht races in Auckland to feed a realtime TV graphics service.
Telecom Mobile, the mobile division of Telecom, reached 500,000 mobile customers connected to its network in 1998, which doubled to one million customers by 2000. In 2005, a phreaker named ^god exposed a vulnerability with the mobile network, allowing public access to almost anyone's voicemail; in response to concerns over privacy and security, this network issue was resolved.
On 31 March 2007, the 025 D-AMPS ("TDMA") cellular network was closed down.[41] Then on 8 June of that year, Telecom Mobile announced plans to build a hybrid W-CDMA/UMTS-CDMA 850 MHz network,[42] based on the WCDMA HSPA technology, to eventually replace its current CDMA EV-DO network. On 29 May 2009, Telecom launched its new network, branded as "XT", to the public.[43]
In December 2009[44] and February 2010,[45][46] Telecom's new XT Mobile Network experienced high-profile failures for many customers in locations from Taupo south, due to a Radio Network Controller failure in Christchurch. As a result of the loss of service Telecom offered a five million dollar compensation package for its customers.[47]
In April 2010, Telecom released its first Android handset on the XT Mobile Network, the LG GW620.
On 31 July 2012, the Telecom CDMA mobile network was closed down.[48]
In September 2013, Telecom officially launched new Ultra Mobile branding and plans. These plans include a free 4G upgrade (4G was made available later in November 2013) with a 1GB of data per day from Telecom WiFi hotspots.[49] In October 2013, Telecom sought clearance to acquire management rights for parts of the 700 MHz spectrum with the intention of aiding in the development of its 4G mobile network.[50]
Industry regulation and company restructuring
In 2000, the New Zealand Government conducted a comprehensive review of the regulatory regime in the telecommunications industry. Subsequently, in 2001 the Telecommunications Act was passed, which among other things established the role of a Telecommunications Commissioner.
In a decision by the Government on 3 May 2006, Telecom was forced to unbundle the local loop, to provide "access to fast, competitively priced broadband internet".[51] The decision significantly affected the company's market share,[52] and allowed competitors (such as TelstraClear, Orcon and Ihug) to offer broadband and other communications services throughout New Zealand by installing their own equipment in exchanges.[53][54] The announcement of this decision was rushed ahead of schedule, as the documents were leaked to Telecom who advised the government of the leak. It was widely reported that the government had intended to make the announcement during the 2006 Budget. Most of Telecom's competitors and many independent commentators such as InternetNZ and Paul Budde applauded the decision, with opposition to unbundling coming from the Business Roundtable, Federated Farmers, and Bruce Sheppard (representing Telecom shareholders). Legislation was introduced to enable the regulatory changes. Three other political parties (New Zealand First,[55] the Green Party[56] and United Future)[57] supported the decision, which would give the government at least 66 votes if there were no votes against the party line. The main opposition National Party initially opposed the unbundling decision, but later voted in favour of it after a select committee hearing. This left the ACT Party alone in opposing the decision.
The company was then affected by a series of other government decisions. Firstly, in early-June 2006 the Commerce Commission ruled on the contentious issue of mobile telephone termination charges, announcing that calls between a landline and a mobile phone within a geographically defined boundary could be connected free of termination charges. This ruling allowed Vodafone New Zealand to establish a mobile phone product which could also provide free local calling. Then, the Commerce Commission granted two of Telecom's competitors, CallPlus and ihug, access to an unrestricted, Unbundled Bitstream Service, which would allow them to provide competitive broadband services.[citation needed]
On 27 June 2006, the company announced that it would voluntarily separate its business into two separate operating business units — Wholesale and Retail.[58] The Government introduced the Telecommunications Amendment Bill in November 2006 to force Telecom to open its network to competitors. The bill officially split Telecom into three business units from 31 March 2008, with network access separated from the wholesale and retail units.[59]
In January 2012 Telecom launched a new Mobile Network aimed at the youth market named Skinny Mobile [60]
On 28 March 2013, Telecom announced that it would reduce staff levels by constraint on recruitment activity and redundancies. This followed from speculation by MP Clare Curran that up to 1500 jobs would be cut from the company.[61]
Spark Broadband
Spark is New Zealand's largest Internet Service Provider. It was formerly named Xtra. The next largest ISP in the New Zealand market is Vodafone NZ, a position it acquired when it purchased TelstraClear in 2012.[62][better source needed]
Spark offers asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL), very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) and fibre to the premises (FTTP) fixed-line broadband. FTTP customers may choose either 30/10 Mbit/s, 100/20 Mbit/s, 200/20 Mbit/s, 200/200 Mbit/s, or in selected areas, 900/400 Mbit/s maximum speed (down/up); ADSL and VDSL customers' download speeds are only limited to what their line and equipment can handle. All three offer both data-capped and unlimited plans. Data-capped customers may choose either to pay extra per GB (or part thereof) over their data cap, or have their speed throttled back to 128 kbit/s at no charge once they exceed the cap. Unlimited plans have no data caps.
Spark Mobile
Main article: XT Mobile Network
Spark Ultra Mobile is New Zealand's second-largest mobile operator by market-share, behind Vodafone.[63] Telecom's mobile network was branded as "XT", and operates at 850 MHz nationwide (with some 2100 MHz overlay in urban areas), and delivers 3G data connectivity wherever there is coverage.
Telecom originally operated a TDMA (AMPS, Digital D-AMPS/TDMA) mobile network; this was superseded by its CDMA network. The TDMA network was turned off on 31 March 2007, and most of its customers migrated to CDMA. The CDMA EV-DO network was marketed as T3G, a 2 MB third-generation mobile system. Telecom announced on 8 June 2007 the intention to build a W-CDMA/UMTS network,[42] to be called XT Mobile Network, based on WCDMA HSPA technology, to replace its current CDMA EV-DO network. The network was launched on 29 May 2009. The specifications of XT were chosen to bring it into line with a number of other networks in overseas territories, such as Telstra's Next G (in Australia); furthermore, 850 MHz services can cover greater geographic distances and penetrate buildings more effectively than higher frequencies. The CDMA network ran in parallel with XT until it was shut down on 31 July 2012.
The TDMA network used the 025 mobile prefix, using a mixture of six- and seven-digit subscriber numbers. With the switch to CDMA, Telecom migrated to the 027 prefix and standardised the subscriber numbers to seven digits, adding a 4 to the beginning of old six-digit numbers.
Customer numbers and market share
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In 2005 Telecom launched New Zealand's first 3G network, using the brand name T3G. Being first into the 3G market, along with aggressive marketing and a $10-per-month text messaging package, Telecom were able to claw back some market share from Vodafone. In November 2005 Telecom reported 72,000 new mobile phone customers, compared to 27,000 for Vodafone.
In 2009 the mobile share was further decreased with newcomer 2degrees entering the market; both Vodafone and Telecom lost customers (25,000 and 19,000 respectively), some of which Telecom lost due to its unreliable image after its outages. In response to this, Telecom increased its marketing and improved its plan offerings.
The following shows customer numbers and market share information for Telecom Mobile, covering both the now-shut-down TDMA and CDMA networks and the current XT network.
No of customers
Market share %
December 1999 858,000 68.37%
December 2000 1,150,000 60.43%
November 2005 1,600,000 46%
March 2007 1,900,000 49%
February 2010 2,152,000 44.4%
August 2012 1,600,000 32.2%
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www.sparksport.co.nz
Spark Sport is a New Zealand sports streaming service, owned and operated by Spark. The service was launched on the 14th March 2019 after Spark obtained the New Zealand broadcast rights to various World Rugby events including the 2019 Rugby World Cup a year earlier. During that time, Spark Sport obtained the rights to several other sports to build its catalog, until the streaming service was ready for launch, coverage was sublicienced to TVNZ to screen. Its first major live sport broadcast was the streaming of the 2019 Australian F1 Grand Prix.
There were concerns that Spark's broadcast of the Rugby World Cup would struggle under New Zealand's internet capabilities especially in rural communities and anticipated audience numbers streaming matches resulting in similar issues to Optus Sport's broadcasting FIFA World Cup 2018 in Australia. On the second day of the Rugby World Cup, Spark Sport suffered technical issues during its live stream of the match between New Zealand and South Africa leaving viewers unable to watch the game, as a result broadcast of the second half was simulcast of traditional television on TVNZ Duke as part of a contingency plan with free-to-air broadcaster TVNZ for issues during the Rugby World Cup. Viewers would continue to report issues throughout the tournament, despite the issues Spark responded noting that there were no issues from their end in the broadcast feed and that the issues experienced were due to the individual viewer's set up configuration of their streaming devices.
Following its broadcast of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Spark Sport announced it had secured a six year broadcast deal with New Zealand Cricket for all domestic and international cricket played within New Zealand. The rights had been previously held by Sky Sport for over 25 years. Spark Sport will be the host broadcaster for the 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup held in New Zealand.
Spark had previously broadcast sport through its subscription video on-demand service Lightbox partnering with Coliseum Sports Media to deliver a subscription-based sports streaming service called Lightbox Sport streaming golf, English Premier League football and French Top 14 rugby.
New Zealand Cricket Domestic and International Cricket played within New Zealand.
England and Wales Cricket Board Domestic and International Cricket played within the UK.
Highlights from ICC events.
Men's Pro League
Women's Pro League
WTA Tour events excluding events played in New Zealand.
NBA via NBA TV
When Telecom held a general monopoly in New Zealand telecommunications, it was criticised for using its incumbent status to charge high prices. Prices have subsequently dropped as competition in the market has increased.
Competitors alleged that Telecom engaged in unfair practices to prevent them from gaining ground, for example by reselling broadband capacity to Xtra at lower prices than to other ISPs.[citation needed] In July 2005, two dozen Internet service providers formally complained to New Zealand's Commerce Commission via a letter.[64] Notably absent from the list of signatories were Telecom's ISP, Xtra, and several ISPs owned by its main competitor, TelstraClear. On 1 February 2007 the Consumers' Institute gave its "supreme ass award" for bad products to Telecom for its Xtra broadband service, Consumers Institute executive director David Russell claimed that since Telecom "unleashed" its broadband speeds, the institute had been "inundated with complaints of slower speeds and frustrating cutouts".[65] Telecom has been given the Roger Award more than once, in 2004 and 2007 – and only the second company awarded as such, with the defunct TranzRail being the first.[66]
The New Zealand Treasury once estimated the economic loss from Telecom's (now former) monopoly to be in the region of $50–$250 million a year.[citation needed] Another study commissioned in 1998 by competitor Clear (later TelstraClear) estimated that the loss was $400 million a year. At a retail level Telecom now faces competition in all areas — cellular, internet, toll-calls and, subject to ongoing developments, in local calling. At a network level these retail services often resell Telecom wholesale products.
Telecom claimed[67] one reason for poor broadband uptake in New Zealand was because of the fact New Zealand residential subscribers enjoy free local calling. Telecom stated "customers have the option of moving to faster broadband services, but free local calling creates a disincentive by allowing them to use dial-up for as long they want" (i.e. they do not have to pay a per-minute call charge while using dial-up, unlike many other countries where local calls are charged for). However, some experts and competitors disagreed — including the secretary of the OECD.[68]
Telecom failed to reach their self-imposed goal of around 83,333 wholesale broadband customers by the end of 2005. During her opening address to parliament, Prime Minister Helen Clark criticised the state of the internet in New Zealand.[69] This was followed by extensive criticism in the media such as in two high-profile television programmes, in two episodes of Campbell Live (whose past major sponsors include Telecom), during which CEO Theresa Gattung was challenged by host John Campbell, and an episode of the New Zealand edition of Sunday. Critical articles had been published by various magazines and newspapers, including the largest newspaper, The New Zealand Herald. Of significance, many of these were lengthy and high-profile articles compared to many previous articles critical of Telecom — among the most noticeable of these was published by the National Business Review, in which it was stated that "Far from being 'Xtraordinary', as its multimillion dollar advertising would have you believe, Telecom is strangling the nation's advancement." While in Wellington for an ICANN meeting, Vint Cerf was reported to have made a personal visit to David Cunliffe, the telecommunications minister where it is believed he recommended that Telecom be unbundled.[70][71] The government investigated whether it needed to force Telecom to unbundle the network, thereby allowing other companies access and improving broadband service for consumers.
From 2007, Yahoo! provided Telecom's email service, which came under heavy criticism in early 2013 following a spam and phishing attack described as the biggest to have ever hit the country.[72] Telecom and Yahoo! automatically reset tens of thousands of users' passwords.[73] In April, Telecom announced that despite the issue, it would keep Yahoo! on as an email provider.[74] Problems with Telecom's YahooXtra email continued into December 2013 and further into 2014 with the latest problems reported on 10 January.[75] They later moved their mail service to SMX, a New Zealand-based provider, in May 2017.[76]
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^ Chang, Adrian; Vaughan, Gareth (7 May 2009). "Vodafone, Telecom reach deal". Business Day. Fairfax New Zealand. Archived from the original on 9 May 2009.
^ Nash, Kieran (14 December 2009). "Telecom's XT network still down south of Taupo". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
^ "Telecom XT outages unacceptable - association". The New Zealand Herald. 27 January 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
^ "XT outage blamed on 'unusual problems'". The New Zealand Herald. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
^ Vass, Beck (3 February 2010). "XT users share $5m compo package". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
^ "Telecom names CDMA shut-down date". Netguide. 1 July 2011.
^ "Telecom launches vibrant Ultra mobile branding".
^ "Telecom seeks clearance to acquire radio spectrum". Scoop Media. 4 October. Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ "Govt announces broadband changes". TVNZ. 3 May 2006.
^ Pannett, Rachel; Louisson, Simon (4 May 2006). "$1.1 billion wiped off Telecom's value as shares plunge". The New Zealand Herald.
^ "Govt to open up Telecom network for faster broadband". The New Zealand Herald. 3 May 2006.
^ Withers, Tracy (3 May 2006). "NZ Says Telecom Must Give Rivals Greater Access to Network". Bloomberg.
^ NZ First (4 May 2006). "NZ First Welcomes Telecom Competition".
^ NZ Greens. "Government moves on Telecom welcomed".
^ United Future NZ. "Copeland: Local loop unbundling decision a win for all New Zealanders".
^ "Telecom to separate wholesale and retail operations". Telecom NZ. 27 June 2006. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013.
^ Keown, Jenny (28 November 2008). "Telecom's tough year continues — it's split into three". The New Zealand Herald.
^ "Skinny launch takes rivals by surprise; NZ price war anticipated". TeleGeography. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
^ "More job cuts possible at Telecom". TVNZ. 28 March 2013.
^ "Vodafone acquires TelstraClear". Vodafone.
^ "Vodafone — company facts & figures". Vodafone.
^ Saarinen, Juha (18 July 2005). "ISPs formally complain to Commerce Commission".
^ "The Consumer Complete Ass Awards 2006", 31 January 2007, Press Release: Consumer's Institute
^ "The Roger Award".
^ Nowak, Peter (25 October 2005). "Free calls mean less broadband — Telecom". The New Zealand Herald.
^ Nowak, Peter (31 October 2005). "OECD takes shot at Telecom". The New Zealand Herald.
^ Nowak, Peter (8 February 2006). "PM joins critics of internet monopoly". The New Zealand Herald.
^ Nowak, Peter (24 March 2006). "Open up access, says 'internet evangelist'". The New Zealand Herald.
^ Bell, Stephen (28 March 2006). "Cerf wary of biased broadband business models". Computerworld.
^ "Telecom rush to fix hack". 3 News NZ. 11 February 2013.
^ "Telecom defends email reset operation". 3 News NZ. 18 February 2013.
^ "Telecom sticks with Yahoo email". 3 News NZ. 5 April 2013.
^ "Telecom probes fresh YahooXtra email virus". 10 January 2014.
^ https://smxemail.com/our-company/blogs-news/press-releases/spark-replaces-yahoo-with-smx-managed-messaging-email-solution/
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spark New Zealand.


Words may drop passing color yet seeing you here now are born again, and again.
Closing a word in the mouth feels the sound until the tongue can't stay still.
They're playing the perfect music for our movie, Rushing to Meet Anima.
The rhythm's spacious enough I slip in the back door without a trace.
I descend from there to here where I see what I say even unsounding.
Saying depths in a tongue all hands puts the cards on the table over the edge.
Write this off as of a poet or one inspired by being written through.
A language hasn't come through to itself if being inside isn't self-instructive.
What configures signs, time switching subjects on the line like my life.
A journey ever worth taking records itself within your hearing even now.
Gnoaxial poetics, for want of right naming, finds pulse in grammatical drift.
I'm beginning to recall the forgotten adventure, long since signed for.
We hold these principles to be self evident—in order to be self evidence.
I'm willing to avoid special pleading but ignored distractions will have their say.
Tongue the surface long enough and you bleed old demons long in exile.
Learn from the dog to dig up old shame, then bury it where you want it.
The center is holding just fine, yet the periphery is forgetting where it is.
I can't deny my excitement upon reaching the threshold of carnality.
Contacting the word's core intent to mean itself is poetic insistence.
Logophagi know that certain morphemes are more delicious than others.


Johnson was recalled from the G League on Wednesday, Sean Cunningham of ABC 10 Sacramento reports.
Johnson will be with the Kings on Thursday when they face the Cavaliers. It's possible he makes his Kings debut.
Johnson signed with the Kings for the remainder of the season Tuesday and will be immediately assigned to the G League, Jason Jones of The Athletic reports.
Johnson most recently signed a pair of 10-day contracts with the Hawks, but he only ended up seeing limited action with the team. It doesn't appear Johnson will play with the Kings with the regular season drawing to a close, but he will likely get a bump in salary while getting to finish out the G League playoffs with Lakeland.
Johnson signed a second 10-day contract with the Hawks on Tuesday, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.
Johnson scored 11 points in his NBA debut last Sunday, but he has only scored six points across 21 minutes in his last four games. He'll have one more stretch to prove his worth to Atlanta before they have to decide to let him go or sign him for the remainder of the season.
Johnson recorded 11 points (4-4 FG, 3-3 3Pt), two rebounds, and one steal in 19 minutes during Sunday's 123-118 win over the Bulls.
Johnson enjoyed a perfect night from the field in his NBA debut. The 23-year-old rookie is on a 10-day contract, so this was a good first step in his quest to stick for the remainder of the season.
Johnson will sign a 10-day contract with the Hawks on Tuesday, Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Johnson has played well in the G League for Lakeland this season, posting averages of 14.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals over 38 games (31 starts). He'll aim to continue his success at the next level, where he'll have to prove he belongs over the course of the next week and a half.


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Regions of Birth for Immigrants in the United States, 1960-Present
Home » Programs » Data Hub
This bar chart displays the immigrant population in the United States, between 1960 and 2018, by region of birth. The chart demonstrates the major shift in origins—from mostly European to predominantly Latin American and Asian, and more recently African—that occurred as a result of significant changes in U.S. immigration and refugee laws, the growing U.S. economic and military presence in Asia and Latin America, and economic transformations and political instability in key sending countries.
The term "immigrants" (also known as the foreign born) refers to people residing in the United States who were not U.S. citizens at birth. This population includes naturalized citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), certain legal nonimmigrants (e.g., persons on student or work visas), those admitted under refugee or asylee status, and persons illegally residing in the United States.
Migration Policy Institute (MPI) tabulation of data from U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2018 American Community Surveys (ACS), and 2000 Decennial Census; data for 1960 to 1990 were from Campbell J. Gibson and Emily Lennon, "Historical Census Statistics on the Foreign-Born Population of the United States: 1850-1990" (Working Paper No. 29, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, D.C., February 1999).

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SpellQuizzer is a spelling program that helps kids learn their spelling and vocabulary words. Using SpellQuizzer you can enter the child's weekly spelling list and make audio recordings of the words in the list. The software then quizzes the child, playing each word back to him one at a time, checking his spelling as he types in the words. SpellQuizzer corrects him when he types in a word incorrectly, and re-quizzes him on any words he missed once the first pass is completed.
Spelling software helps students learn their spelling lists more quickly than traditional manual practice, such as writing down words by hand, because it is less of a chore for the child. Children today associate computers with fun and writing on paper with work. As such, they are more eager to practice their spelling words using spelling software like SpellQuizzer, than the old way of practicing where they sit at a table writing down their words over and over again. You can make spelling practice even more fun for the student by recording amusing sentences in the spelling software, or using a funny voice when you record your spelling lists. Users can easily export and import SpellQuizzer spelling lists to share with other users - this makes it easy for members of homeschool groups to share their lists rather than everyone having to record their lists individually.
I tried the product out myself and I thought it was great - I can definitely see us using it in the future with our kids, especially since we are planning to homeschool. It would be great for public school students as well, though. You can create your own custom spelling lists so you would be able to input your children's spelling list from school or use it to go with virtually any curriculum. I love that you can create your own lists - I can see myself having a lot of fun coming up with silly sentences to go with the words. :) Or if that's not your cup of tea, the SpellQuizzer web site has pre-made downloadable spelling lists that you can download from their website. The SpellQuizzer website is super helpful - in addition to the many lists for school children, they also have ones for preschoolers and adults! One of the free lists is letters of the alphabet and I know that will be right up my son's alley. The online community forum they have set up looks great - you can share information and spelling lists with others or request support if you need help. I know there are several homeschooling mommas that read my blog and the SpellQuizzer website has a page specifically geared toward homeschoolers if you'd like more information about that. Check out the SpellQuizzer website to download a free 30-day trial of the program!
- Follow my blog through Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs.
- Subscribe via feed reader or by email.
This giveaway will be open until Friday May 7th (my birthday!) at 9 PM (EST). I will choose the winner via random.org and notify them by a blog post (probably posted that evening/Saturday morning) and email. After a winner is chosen, I'll send the winner's email address on to Dan and he'll send you the free SpellQuizzer license! Good luck!
Sounds like a great product!! I am now your fan on facebook as real life moms I will be following you also on networked blogs too. Have a great Saturday.
Hi Shaylynne. Just happened to check in to West Central homeschooling yahoo group and saw your post. Hope everything is going well for you.
Thanks for the review for the spelling program. I will have to check it out. My son struggles with spelling, so I'm always looking for something new. Thanks again.
Thanks for stopping by! Things are going pretty good.
Cool program! I think being a good speller is very important. I think my son would love this too.
I follow you on Twitter @36momma!
I Subscribed via feed reader!
I Follow your blog through Google Friend Connect!! Happy Early Birthday!
What a great giveaway. I am a teacher for 7th and 8th grade special ed. My students learn best when using the computer and I can never find programs that will cater to their level.


Pieter J. Mosterman, Ph.D. is Senior Research Scientist at MathWorks in Natick, Massachusetts, USA where he works on core Simulink® simulation and is Adjunct Professor at the School of Computer Science at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
Pieter is Associate Editor of Applied Intelligence: The International Journal of Artificial Intelligence, Neural Networks, and Complex Problem-Solving Technologies, International Journal of Critical Computer-Based Systems, and International Journal of Control and Automation. He is also on the Advisory Board for the Modeling, Simulation & Analysis Program at the Infrastructure and Geophysical Division, Science and Technology Directorate of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Previously, he was Research Associate at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. His primary research interests are in Computer Automated Multiparadigm Modeling (CAMPaM) with principal applications in design automation, training systems, and fault detection, isolation, and reconfiguration. He designed the Electronics Laboratory Simulator, nominated for The Computerworld Smithsonian Award by Microsoft Corporation in 1994. He received The Society for Modeling and Simulation International (SCS) Distinguished Service Award in 2009.
Pieter is the Editor of the CRC Press book series on "Computational Analysis, Synthesis, and Design of Dynamic Systems", coedited Model-Based Design for Embedded Systems (Computational Analysis, Synthesis, and Design of Dynamic Systems) and Real-time Simulation Technologies, Principles, Methodologies, and Applications, and coauthored A Theory of Discontinuities in Physical System Models, An Introduction to Multi-Paradigm Modeling and Simulation, A Combined Qualitative/Quantitative Approach for Fault Isolation in Continuous Dynamic Systems, Some Guidelines for Stiff Model Implementation with the use of Discontinuities, and A Java Implementation of an Environment for Hybrid Modeling and Simulation of Physical Systems. He also authored HyBrSim — A Modeling and Simulation Environment for Hybrid Bond Graphs which he was awarded the IMechE Donald Julius Groen Prize for in 2003. Read the full list of his publications!
Pieter served as Editor-in-Chief of SIMULATION: Transactions of SCS for the Methodology section, Guest Editor of special issues of SIMULATION, ACM Transactions on Modeling and Computer Simulation, and IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology (TCST) on the topic of CAMPaM, and as Associate Editor of TCST. Since 2004 he has organized the annual International Bellairs CAMPaM Workshop. From 2007 through 2009 he co-organized the Model-Based Design for Embedded Systems track at the Design Automation and Test in Europe conference and in 2009 he was General Chair of a 2009 workshop on Designing for Embedded Parallel Computing Platforms: Architectures, Design Tools, and Applications. He co-organized the Computational Modeling and Simulation of Embedded Systems track at the 2007 Summer Computer Simulation Conference, the International Conference on High Level Simulation Languages and Applications in 2007, and the 14th International Workshop on Principles of Diagnosis in 2003.
His patents include: Hierarchical references or links in modeling environments, Transparent subsystem links, Distributed model compilation, Automated approach to resolving artificial algebraic loops, Qualitative diagnosis system and method, Partitioning a model in modeling environments, Multi-domain unified debugger, Dynamic generation of formatted user interfaces in software environments, and Modeling delay using a discrete event execution modeling environment.
Pieter earned his Ph.D. (1997) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA with the dissertation Hybrid Dynamic Systems: A hybrid bond graph modeling paradigm and its application in diagnosis, his M.Sc. (1991) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Twente, The Netherlands, and his Bachelor of Science (1987) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Twente, The Netherlands.
Read Elements of a Robotics Research Roadmap: A Model-Based Design Perspective. Learn about his many keynote addresses and plenary presentations.


West Coast Wonder C-Rest Accommodation is a self-catering apartment situated in Lamberts Bay which is well-known for the West Coast's floral beauty that blooms from July to September.
The apartment comprises 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. There are 2 bedrooms with double beds. The other bedroom has 3 single beds. The first bathroom has a shower and the second bathroom has a shower and bath.
The living area is open-plan and the kitchen contains a fridge-freezer, a microwave, a stove, an oven, crockery, cutlery and a dishwasher as well as a dining table. The lounge area has comfortable couches and a TV. Outside is a patio with a built-in braai. Secure parking is provided.
Lambert's Bay is known for their long white stretches of beach as well as its various seafood restaurants as well as 2 open-air restaurants. Local outdoor activities include birdwatching, fishing, hiking, horse-riding, swimming, golf, as well as exploring and admiring the floral kingdom.


PCRS is an application for bundling interactive programming exercises with video-based instruction that has been developed at the University of Toronto under the supervision of Andrew Petersen. Currently, PCRS supports Python, C, Java, and Relational Algebra and SQL, in addition to multiple choice and short answer exercises, and is in use in courses at the University of Toronto. The system is also an active research platform, with data from PCRS being used to explore novice programmer misconceptions in Python and C.
PCRS is open source, is available for download, and can be used and modified freely. While most contributors to date have been based at the University of Toronto, we welcome collaborations in development and research.


A great hike with the San Diego Sierra Club and hike leader Sondra Morison in the San Diego Wetlands. . On Saturday, May 5, hikers left from the La Orilla Trailhead and spent the next 7 miles hiking and learned about the diverse ecological habitats of the area, as well as the California Coastal Trail.
The San Elijo Lagoon is located between Encinitas and Solana Beach in the northern part of San Diego County over approximately 1,00o acres. The lagoon is an ecological reserve that houses an impressive ecological habitat: with over 300 species of plants, over 20 species of fish, over 20 species of reptiles and amphibians, 24 species of mammals and over 295 species of birds.
To learn more about the lagoon visit the San Elijo Lagoon Reserve webpage here.
The San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy does important work to protect the area. Learn more by clicking here.
A huge thank you to Sondra Morison for putting together this hike, and to the Sierra Club for registering hikers. Sondra Morison leads hikes with the San Diego chapter of the Sierra Club.
Stay tuned for more day hikes by visiting our Day Hikes page.


Look at these photos to understand better what acupuncture for weight loss entails. There are lots of acupoints on the stomach, along the stomach and spleen meridians, on fatty parts, and on other related points.
In the above picture you can see the doctor has also chosen points on her legs. In the below picture, the girl has needles in her arms, to slim those areas as well.
We use electrical impulse machines to aid the fat metabolizing function of the needle. Adding the heat lamp over top contributes to the thermogenic effect.
The graphic below shows the added benefit of choosing so many stomach points: they represent fatty areas on the upper or lower body and limbs. Thus needling on the stomach can not only thin that area, it can also work remotely, on the thighs, for example.
For further explanation of how acupuncture for weight loss works, read these posts: TCM Weight Loss Acupuncture, and TCM Philosophy of Weight Loss.


Description: Schuyler Van Alen wants an explanation for the mysterious deaths of young vampires. With her best friend, Oliver, Schuyler travels to Italy in the hope of finding the one man who can help—her grandfather. Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the Four Hundred Ball, an exclusive gala hosted by the city's wealthy, powerful, and unhuman—a true Blue Blood affair.But it's at the after-party, a masquerade ball thrown by the cunning Mimi Force, that the real danger lurks. Hidden behind the masks is a revelation that will forever change the course of a young vampire's destiny.
Mini Review: Fantastic continuation of the series. I enjoyed this one even more than the first novel in the series. The history of the blue bloods is more fleshed out and there is a lot better character development in this installment of the series. There are tons of twists and turns in the plot and it keeps you guessing about what is going on. I like the heroine Schuyler as I find her rather sweet and real. I also enjoy her connection with her best friend Oliver as it really is an honest portrayal of what happens when friends start to grow up and the change in feelings that can occur. I am still irritated by all the mentions of designer clothes and beautiful people, but I do know that these books are not written for frumpy middle class moms like me. But it does affect my enjoyment of the story, hence why I give it 4, not 5 Dewey's. The intended audience for these books will probably enjoy this and give it a higher rating, but just wanted to be honest for those in the same category as me.
My neighbor's daughter Keira lent me this and the the next book in the series. I am not required to review this at all, just really enjoy the series and want you all to know about it too.


The Heights UPS store is more than just your average shipping store. Owners Bill and Jean Verdi have created a UPS store that offers a wide range of services, from printing needs and discount ink cartridges/toners, to online marketing, and advertising. Along with their talented and personable staff, the UPS store is unique, as they are the only store in the Heights to provide such diverse options in order to suit anyone's shipping or printing needs.
Since opening in 2004, Bill and Jean have seen their business grow and flourish in the Heights. As extremely business-minded individuals, they have recently welcomed new store manager, Sandra Fotez. As of February 2014, the Hastings and Gilmore UPS store has expanded their services and products to include passport photo (which process in less than 5 minutes!), online marketing and websites.
Being a franchise, Bill and Jean had the choice to open their new business in any location, but they chose the Heights. "We really liked this area because of the sense of community and family spirit. It has more than met our expectations," says Jean. This sense of community is important to Bill, who volunteers with Big Brothers, local schools, and is the former head coach for Richmond young adults' soccer team. They're so committed to the community, that they made The UPS Store a venue for special needs children to gain work experience.
As a Heights shopper, Jean appreciates what the Heights has to offer. When she's not busy running the store, she enjoys indulging at one of many restaurants on the Heights and spending time in the outdoors. Both she and Bill also enjoy spending quality time with their family, something Heights merchants and residents understand very well.
The UPS Store is located at 4111 Hastings Street, one block east of Gilmore Avenue. Call 604-205-5888, or visit www.theupsstore.ca/325.
Follow The UPS Store on Facebook and Twitter!


In talking to many of you, this summer you've been experiencing a steady flow of visitors, out-of-town and otherwise. In between trips to the Space Needle, Safeco Field, and Pike Place Market, you're also working to come up with meals for these friends and family. Thank goodness it's summer, and the eating's easy.
If your mouth doesn't water when you see these, something might be wrong with you. And these are all things you can grab at the Market, brush with your fat of choice, and throw on the grill.
When we had old friends who now live in Indiana show up, we threw Skagit burgers on the grill, opened a bag of potato chips, and chopped up a watermelon. Done.
The verdict? The bruschetta and quinoa salad were keepers. (Funny note on the quinoa salad: after listing the menu, Shawcross encourages her readers to become locavores and eat local, if only for a night. So...quinoa? I suppose some of her readers might be Peruvian Highlanders.) And if I had to choose between the bruschetta and the quinoa, I'd go with the bruschetta.
Therefore, I share with you this recipe, with Market-available ingredients marked with an asterisk (*).
Heat grill to medium-high. Place baguette slices on grill and lightly toast on each side. Remove slices from grill and rub one side with garlic clove. Spread about 1 tsp of goat cheese on each baguette slice. Top with a spoonful of tomato mixture.
Serve immediately. About 10 servings of two slices each.
Frankly, I could have made a meal of the bruschetta alone. And, if you haven't tried Tieton Farm and Creamery's offerings on Saturday, you're in for a treat. I'm betting their "Bianca" cheese would be awesome in this recipe.
Quinoa aside, we do enjoy such riches of local food that I'm not surprised everyone flocks to us in the summer. I only wish they'd brought some of their own local goodies to us! Our Indiana friends, for instance, told tales of the sour-cherry-picking extravaganza they enjoyed.
Sigh. Who doesn't love summer?
Of course, if all this cooking, easy as it is, sounds too much, and you missed the sour cherries in Niles, Michigan, you can always take your guests to the Market itself and let them choose from our smorgasbord of goodies, both prepared and unprepared. See you all there!


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Perry was a skilled furniture builder, usually beginning his work day ar ound six AM and continuing into the late afternoon. He had his own shop , located adjacent to his home on upper Wander Lane. Perry also played tr ombone and in his youth was part of the Hy Neilson band which performed f or dances hel in the upstairs portion of Hy's general store.


A Living Trust Attorney For Estate Planning?
Yes, an attorney would mean additional costs on top of the already expensive living trust fee, but it will all be worth it especially when the living trust becomes effective. When it comes to legal documents concerning your estate, it is wise to get aid from people who are experts in legal matters. As an example, Living Trust Attorney Long Beach ca is a company you can trust.
How Much Is a Bid Surety Bond Premium?


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The nation's largest family-owned network of metals service centers and component and tube manufacturing businesses
New Outsides Salesperson Joins OFR Metals Team in Growing Birmingham, Alabama Location
Click here to view PDF
Birmingham, Alabama– OFR Metals, a subsidiary of O'Neal Industries, began operations in Birmingham, Alabama, this June. The company is focused on growth in the Southeast and is expanding their outside sales force as part of this effort.
Butch Bosworth has joined OFR Metals as an outside salesperson focused on building relationships and growing sales in southern Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. "I'm excited for this opportunity to be part of a company starting out new in this area," says Bosworth, "there are great people, with great enthusiasm, working for a great company that is backed by O'Neal."
Bosworth has 15 years of experience in the steel industry. He will focus on growing accounts in carbon, stainless, and aluminum flat rolled metal products. "This hire represents the drive and ambition that our team has as a new player in a large market," says David Lyster, General Sales Manager, "Butch has a lot of experience and commitment that fits well with the overall focus that OFR Metals has in the Southeast Region."
About O'Neal Flat Rolled Metals
O'Neal Flat Rolled Metals is a leading supplier of carbon, stainless, and aluminum flat rolled metal products. With headquarters in Brighton, CO, OFR has nearly 20 locations nationwide that serve customers in diverse markets including construction, food service, transportation, HVAC, sheet metal fabrication, medical, automotive, and many others.
O'Neal Flat Rolled Metals is a member of O'Neal Industries, the largest family-owned metals service center in the U.S. with sales of approximately $2.5 billion in 2011. O'Neal Industries is headquartered in Birmingham, AL and has more than 90 locations in North America, South America,Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit onealind.com.
For more information on O'Neal Flat Rolled Metals visit us at www.ofrmetals.com or email marketing@ofrmetals.com.
2311 Highland Ave. S. Suite 200
Birmingham, AL 35205 USA
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Adam Smith & Tony Cárdenas
Compare the voting records of Adam Smith and Tony Cárdenas in 2017-18.
Represented Washington's 9th Congressional District. This was his 11th term in the House.
Tony Cárdenas
Represented California's 29th Congressional District. This was his 3rd term in the House.
Adam Smith and Tony Cárdenas are from the same party and agreed on 92 percent of votes in the 115th Congress (2017-18).
Feb. 14, 2018 — Protecting Consumers' Access to Credit Act of 2017
Dec. 19, 2017 — Systemic Risk Designation Improvement Act of 2017
Sept. 7, 2017 — Hunter of California Part B Amendment No. 77
July 13, 2017 — Rogers of Alabama Part B Amendment No. 88
Jan. 12, 2017 — SEC Regulatory Accountability Act
Jan. 10, 2017 — Velazquez of New York Part B Amendment No. 1


Entries for Rolex closed on Tuesday, so we're seeing the last few entries trickling in right now. This morning, Boyd Martin finally made his appearance on the list with three horses who will be contesting their first four-stars: Master Frisky, Pancho Villa and Crackerjack. We also saw the addition of Will Coleman and Obos O'Reilly, who will also be making his first CCI4* start, as well as Rolex Rookies Maya Black and Doesn't Play Fair.
Boyd himself missed Rolex last year after breaking his leg at Carolina International — suffice it to say, we're happy he made it through the event this past weekend in one piece! His two horses will be in experienced hands as they go around Kentucky for the first time.
Master Frisky, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Steve Blauner, is fresh off of a second place finish in the CIC3* at Carolina International. Boyd and "Mikey" finished on their dressage score after logging a double clear cross country run, and they are entered in the CIC3* at The Fork next weekend for their final tune-up.
In 2014, Master Frisky finished second in his CCI3* debut at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International, and he's gone clear across country in every FEI start he's made to date.
Boyd Martin and Pancho Villa. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Pancho Villa is a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by the Pancho Villa Syndicate that Boyd began riding in 2013. Together, they completed the horse's first CCI3* at Fair Hill last year in 17th place, and they're also coming off a solid start at Carolina International. "Pancho" lowered two rails over a tricky show jumping course in the CIC3* at Carolina but added nothing on cross country. He's also entered at The Fork and will compete in the Advanced division.
Boyd Martin and Crackerjack at Plantation Field CIC3*. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Crackerjack, owned by Lucy Boynton Lie, is a 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding who picked up a solid fifth place finish in the CIC3* at Carolina International this past weekend. He also finished in the top 15 in the CCI3* at Fair Hill last fall and has had a great start to his season leading up to Rolex.
Crackerjack is entered in the CIC3* at The Fork for his final practice run before Kentucky.
Will Coleman is set to make a return to the CCI4* level with Obos O'Reilly. Will represented the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games aboard Twizzel and has also been to Kentucky three times before. This year he's bringing Obos O'Reilly, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding who won the CCI3* at Bromont in 2013.
Most recently, Will and Obos O'Reilly finished 12th in the CIC2* at Carolina International and he's entered in the Advanced at The Fork next weekend.
Last but most certainly not least, Maya Black and Doesn't Play Fair are entered into their first CCI4*. Doesn't Play Fair, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Dawn Doffelmier, was third in the CCI3* at Galway Downs last fall and also won the CIC3* at Plantation Field in 2014. This pair also finished in the top 20 of the CIC3* at Carolina International and are entered in the Advanced at The Fork next weekend.
That brings our entries total up to 89 for this year, which exceeds last year's record high of 82 entries, and it's really shaped up to be a very exciting start list. We'll be keeping an eye on the entries for any late changes, but as of right now we have a very clear picture of who we'll see in Kentucky this year. Click below for the full entry list.


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Народний комісаріат юстиції СРСР (НКЮ СРСР, Наркомюст) — державний орган СРСР, що керував судовими та нотаріальними установами в період 20.7.1936-15.3.1946. У 1946 році, у зв'язку з переформуванням наркоматів створено Міністерство юстиції СРСР.

Накази та інструкції наркома юстиції СРСР були обов'язковими для наркоматів юстиції союзних республік.

Основні завдання НКЮ СРСР
 спостерігає за застосуванням судами «Положення про судоустрій» — кримінального, цивільного і процесуальних кодексів, узагальнює практику їх застосування та розробляє необхідні зміни і доповнення до них;
 спостерігає за застосуванням судами радянських законів і дає судам загальні вказівки з метою забезпечення правильності і узгодженості судової практики;
 керує організацією судової системи, організацією виборів суддів і організаційно-господарським обслуговуванням судів на всій території Союзу РСР;
 здійснює ревізію і інструктування судових установ;
 здійснює загальне керівництво і нагляд за діяльністю колегій захисників і організовує юридичну допомогу населенню;
 здійснює загальне керівництво і нагляд за діяльністю виробничо-товариських і сільських громадських судів;
 здійснює загальне керівництво і нагляд за роботою нотаріату;
 керує системою юридичної освіти і управляє відомчими вищими юридичними навчальними закладами та науково-дослідними інститутами;
 веде роботу з кодифікації законодавства Союзу РСР, дає юридичну консультацію і висновки для Ради Народних Комісарів Союзу РСР;
 веде судову статистику і облік осіб, позбавлених виборчих прав по суду;
 керує видавничою справою з питань правової літератури.

Посилання
 Народний комісаріат юстиції СРСР  //

Народні комісаріати СРСР

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