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Virtuosity! Teacher Bios
Dr. Harold F. Carl, Trumpet
Dr. Harold F. Carl began playing trumpet and guitar at age 12. He was a trumpet section leader in his high school marching band. He majored in Music Education at Malone University and received his BS in Instrumental Music Education (K-12) in 1981. He has been certified to teach instrumental music K-12 in several states in the past. Dr. Carl has played in concert bands, marching bands, jazz bands and various musical ensembles. He has taught private lessons and instrumental classes. He is still an active player.
Dr. Kate Choi, piano
Dr. Kate Choi is an acclaimed musician, accompanist, and composer. Dr. Choi has played many solo recitals and concertos with the DK Orchestra in South Korea, and KU Symphony Orchestra at the Lied Center. She performed as a member of Orenunn contemporary trio in NJ, Seoul, and Bangkok. Dr. Choi has been active in numerous master classes and music festivals in Aspen, Chautauqua, and summer music schools in France. She holds a DMA from KU and MM from UMKC. Kate is a member of MTAC and has over 20 years of teaching experience. She joined SCA as a Virtuosity! teacher in 2020 after moving from Southern California. She has three children.
Kelly Copeland, Flute
Mrs. Copeland grew up in Liberty, Missouri and started playing the flute at the age of 11. She started taking private lessons a year later. At the age of 15, she earned the top performance rating at the Missouri State Music Festival for her solo performance. Mrs. Copeland enjoyed competing in Music all through high school. Mrs. Copeland then had the honor of accepting several music scholarships to attend William Jewell College in Liberty. Once in college, Mrs. Copeland enjoyed performing with the Symphonic Band, the Flute Choir, playing flute solos with the Chapel Choir and the Handbell Choir, and later enjoyed playing alongside her Flute Professor, Elaine Brown, with the Liberty Symphony. As a junior in College, she started teaching flute and later that year, won the honor of performing her solo in William Jewell's Concerto Aria, while being accompanied by the Liberty Symphony. Mrs. Copeland then earned her Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance with a minor in Music Education. One of her most exciting performances since being out of college, was performing The Nutcracker with the Southside Philharmonic Orchestra in Jefferson City about four years ago. Since then, Mrs. Copeland has continued to teach various flute students and has recently fallen in love with acting in Christian theatre. Mrs. Copeland and her husband recently moved back to Kansas City to be closer to family and she can't wait to share her love of music, performing, and for her love of Christ with all of you at Summit Christian Academy!
Trissa Lucht, Director; Piano and Group Voice
Mrs. Lucht has a B.A. in Music Education from Missouri Baptist College and a Master of Education from MidAmerica Nazarene University. She began her teaching career in 1993, after singing professionally and touring the country with The Lesters (a southern gospel music ministry). She taught various classes in K-12 general music, band, and choir from 1993-2002 at two Christian schools in St. Louis and Kansas City. In 2005, Mrs. Lucht joined the SCA faculty. Since that time, she has developed and maintained a top-notch, vibrant choral program that is highly respected in the KC Metro area. Mrs. Lucht directs secondary auditioned choirs and is an active member of NAfME, ACDA, and MMEA. Mrs. Lucht has served as the coordinator for the Women's Honor Choir in the KC Metro District. Mrs. Lucht was named Teacher of the Year for SCA in 2017, as well as the regional winner for the Great Plains Association of Christian Schools. In addition to teaching private piano lessons, Mrs. Lucht also offers group voice lessons for students entering 6th grade and above in the summer.
Caroline Munlin, Piano and Voice
Mrs. Munlin recently joined the SCA faculty and is originally from Springfield, Missouri. She received her Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, NJ where she studied voice with Margaret Cusack. Before discovering her love for teaching, Mrs. Munlin participated in several vocal festivals and Masterclasses in Vienna, Austria and Nice, France, while studying with Wolfgang Holzmair, Norman Shetler, and Dalton Baldwin. While pursuing a vocal career in Germany and Austria, she began teaching piano and voice lessons and soon fell in love with helping others find and cultivate their own musical potential. In December 2020, Mrs. Munlin received her Masters of Music with an emphasis in Music Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. She has been teaching piano and voice for the last five years. She and her husband are members at Liberty Baptist Church and enjoy serving where help is needed. Mrs. Munlin is excited to begin teaching piano and voice at SCA and help students find new ways to develop their musical gifts.
Joy Parke, Piano
Music has been a part of Mrs. Parke's life for as long as she can remember. She learned to play piano, violin, and flute as a child and was involved in school band, choir, and high school musicals. In college, Mrs. Parke studied piano and voice and completed her bachelor's degree in Music Education. She has taught piano lessons for approximately 20 years. She is thankful for the opportunity to teach piano at SCA. It is a joy for her to work one-on-one with the students and to see their progress in piano as well as their growth as individuals. Joy has been married to Phil Parke for 31 years, and they have three sons, one daughter, two daughters-in-law, two grandchildren, and one on the way! Joy sings and plays synthesizer on the worship team at her church, KC First Church of the Nazarene. She also helps her husband Phil with the church's teen Bible quizzing program. She is working on her master's degree in music--piano pedagogy emphasis--at UCM.
Libby Pierce, Violin & Guitar
Libby is in her 20th year of teaching private music lessons. She began learning the violin at the age of four, as well as singing in churches, growing up as a missionary kid in Mexico City, Mexico. She picked up playing several more musical instruments through the years and now performs weekly with multiple groups in the KC area. After a vocal performance degree from William Jewell College, she also received her education degree and certification in Vocal Music and Spanish. Libby has sung with the Kansas City Symphony Chorus and has served as music director at multiple churches. Currently, she is the vocal coach at Life.Church Northland. She runs a full private music studio out of her home in the Northland, where she resides with her husband, three beautiful children, and black lab.
Haley Roberts, Voice
Miss Roberts has taken voice lessons for 18 years and enjoys performing in various settings such as musical theatre, church, and cabarets. She graduated from Baker University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in music. Miss Roberts has been a cast member in over 30 theatre productions (a combination of musicals and plays). Recently, she played Sophie in Mamma Mia! and Miss Honey in Matilda: The Musical. Miss Roberts is excited to share her love of music with students and help them hone in on their craft and God-given talent.
Kristy Ross, Piano
Mrs. Ross has been teaching piano with Virtuosity! since its inception in 2011. She enjoys teaching students of all ages and has one of the strongest retention rates. Mrs. Ross also teaches our elementary and Jr. High worship team classes that help lead worship for the elementary chapels. Mrs. Ross received her education from Central Bible College/Evangel University with a major in music-emphasis in piano and voice. She sang and traveled with Revival Time Choir and provided music for its radio broadcast during her college years. Mrs. Ross' experience comes from 30 years of music ministry positions in churches across America. Mrs. Ross currently attends Evangel where she volunteers for the worship team and choir. Mrs. Ross has taught preschool through 12th grade music classes and was the chapel coordinator for Grandview Christian School. Mrs. Ross is looking forward to many years to come at SCA!
Dave Sager, Percussion and Drum Set
Mr. Sager is a Kansas City native and has been playing drums since the fifth grade. His formal education includes a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music Performance, both from the UMKC Conservatory of Music. He has performed with the Kansas City Symphony, St. Joseph Symphony, Lee's Summit Symphony, Kansas City Wind Symphony, and the UMKC Percussion Ensemble. Mr. Sager is currently the principle timpanist for the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS. He is on the Board of Directors and past-president of the Mid-America Music Association. Mr. Sager also maintains a private studio and performs in local professional groups. He has been teaching for 30+ years and enjoys inspiring percussionists of all ages.
Dr. Greg Turner, Voice and Piano
Dr. Turner joined the SCA faculty in 2018. He has a D.A. in Music and an M.A. in Music/English from Ball State University and a B.A. in Music/English Education from Indiana Wesleyan University. He began his career teaching junior high (7-9) music and English at Santa Barbara Christian School (CA). Since then, he has taught music in public schools in Nebraska and Wisconsin. Prior to coming to SCA, He was the division chair for humanities and fine arts at Fort Scott Community College (KS), teaching music and English. He is the music director (choir director and organist) at First Presbyterian Fort Scott (KS). He and his wife Emily have been married 47 years and they have four daughters and nine grandchildren.
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Management consulting firms exist in every corner of the planet and serve virtually every industry niche. While everyone knows about McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and Bain & Company, there are numerous other consulting firms that offer great client service and fantastic professional experience. But how do you know which consulting companies would be best for your career path? Well, we've aggregated a list of top management consulting firms for you.
If you're an aspiring consultant, don't stop at the Top 3 (MBB) consulting firms – there are many aspects to consider when looking at which consulting firm would be the right fit for you.
Jump to Rankings
What Makes a Top Consulting Firm?
Yes, MBB firms offer the greatest prestige, but there actually may be other firms that fit your specific career path better. Do you know what you want to do after your time in consulting? Are you just going to pick the consulting firm with the largest reach? If so, you might be surprised to learn that neither McKinsey, BCG or Bain are even in the top 10 in terms of revenue generated.
Some consulting firms require almost 100% travel, others require much less. Some charge by the hour and others by the project – there's a big cultural difference between being incentivized to complete your work quickly and maxing out your billable hours. You may want to be involved with a specific diversity group or live in a specific city. All of these are important considerations as you narrow down your personal list of target firms.
A quick note on the list below: there are many, many ways to categorize consulting firms. Here, we've first organized this ranking around types of consulting firms, and then alphabetically within each category. However, to use a consulting term, we wanted to be MECE (mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive). In other words, we wanted each of our top firms to fall into only one category.
In addition, we used the following criteria to rank firms: Prestige, Culture, Compensation, Work/Life Balance, Type of Project Work, Firm Size, and Future Business Outlook.
Types of Top Consulting Firms
We put the MBB – McKinsey, Bain, BCG – in their own category. Each firm has a foundation in core strategy, but now offers many other services as well. And each has a prestige level that is high enough that creates the need for a separate category.
We also have a General Management and Strategy consulting category for top consulting firms. What these firms do is somewhat similar to MBB. In addition, they have relatively high levels of prestige. These types of firms work on projects focused on setting strategic direction, pricing, organic and M&A growth strategy, sales, and organization. They also spend a lot of time focused on operations, financial engineering, and turnaround consulting. The top firms in this category are: Advancy, EY-Parthenon, Strategy&, Kearney, LEK, OC&C, Oliver Wyman, Roland Berger, and PwC Strategy&.
The Accounting, Finance & Technology category consists of Accenture, Booz Allen, Deloitte, KPMG, EY, PwC, and Wavestone. If we had to choose a "one-stop-shop" category, this would be it. These firms tend to have organizational histories in accounting, but technology consulting also plays a huge role in their service offerings. At the same time, firms in this group also do strategy consulting and operations consulting.
Economic and litigation consulting is its own beast. Firms in this part of the consulting market use advanced economic theories, tools, principles, and applications to help companies understand the value of assets or develop unique strategies. But they also tend to work alongside law firms to help place a value on the impact of illegal market behavior. Analysis Group and Bates White are the two contenders in this category.
Operations and turnaround consultants work on the front lines with clients. They might design new pricing strategies, get involved in sourcing key inputs, or be heavily involved in sales execution. When firms are facing or are actually in bankruptcy, they may need to hire a turnaround consultant. AlixPartners, Alvarez and Marsal, Insight Sourcing Group, and The Keystone Group all fall into this category.
Private equity consulting concerns itself with all things M&A and PE. Firms in this category serve clients throughout each stage of the M&A process.
Mercer is the lone member of our HR consulting category. Other HR consulting firms exist of course, such as Hewitt, but in our list of Top Consulting Firms, Mercer is the only HR consulting representative.
We have one more category with only one member. Bridgespan comprises the totality of our Non-profit consulting category. Bridgespan, and firms like it, can work on strategy development, operations, HR, or organizational issues, but focus on non-profit clients only. Oftentimes, strategies for fundraising are a key issue faced by nonprofits.
And finally, our list of top consulting firms contains some Industry or Function-focused players: Altman Solon, ClearView, DeciBio, Guidehouse, and Putnam fall here. These consulting firms focus on particular industries (i.e., healthcare, energy, financial services) or functions (i.e., supply chain, market research).
For each firm, we provide a summary of what they do. Then, we offer details on:
Prestige level – Highest, high, average, and boutique (our perspective on prestige comes, in part, from this article)
Key employee considerations – could be related to professional opportunities, work-life balance, compensation, etc.
A consulting firm profile link – for your convenience, we've also compiled a Consulting Firm Directory with hundreds more consulting firms listed. Office locations, diversity groups, practice areas and salaries are included in our listings.
List of Top Consulting Firms
Jump to Ranking Category:
MBB Firms
General Management and Strategy Firms
Accounting, Finance & Technology Firms
Economic and Litigation Firms
Operations and Turnaround Firms
Private Equity Consulting Firms
Human Resources Firms
Non-Profit Firms
Industry-Focused Firms
The most prestigious consulting firms on the planet. Generally, the foundation of their offerings is strategy consulting, but these firms offer surprisingly broad services.
Bain & Co.
Bain is the youngest of the world's top three consulting firms. The company places a large emphasis on camaraderie and has the "frattiest" culture out of the Big 3. Bain currently employs over 13,000 people across 50 offices worldwide.
Though "Bainees" build strong relationships amongst their teams, consultants are still required to work long hours in return for interesting projects and excellent exit opportunities. The firm utilizes a local staffing model, meaning that projects are as near each local office as possible. Bain has also differentiated itself through its expertise in private equity through Bain Capital, made even more famous by previous leader Mitt Romney. Bain has also earned a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign for 12 years and was named 'Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality.'
Prestige:
Employee Considerations:
Good Benefits
Ranked as top company to work for:
Long Hours
Constant Travel
Consulting Firm Profile Link:
BAIN FIRM PROFILE
The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is known as an innovative thought leader in the consulting industry with a strong focus on strategy. BCG has an intellectual culture that prioritizes creativity and academia. The firm has roughly 25,000 employees across 90 offices around the world. The company generates $11B in revenues annually.
BCG is consistently ranked as one of the best places to work even while demanding long hours out of its consultants. The firm offers unique programs to its top performers, such as the Strategy Lab and BCG Fellows program. BCG also offers several programs and internships that focus on diversity, one of the firm's core values. Consultants who leave BCG are provided with top notch exit opportunities across almost any industry.
High turnover for great exit opportunities
Demanding Culture
BCG FIRM PROFILE
McKinsey is a company that needs no introduction. The company is consistently ranked as the #1 most valued brand in the consulting industry, making it the most prestigious company on the list. Since its founding in 1926, the company has grown to over 38,000 employees across more than 120 offices around the world. The company generates a whopping $12.5B in revenue annually.
McKinsey's recruiting process is one of the most competitive in the world. The firm typically hires candidates with Ivy League backgrounds and/or prestigious work histories. McKinsey is also known for pioneering the recruitment of advanced professionals with non-business degrees to its consulting teams. McKinsey consultants are known to be amongst the hardest workers in the industry, which in turn result in outstanding exit opportunities.
High turnover for young adults
Great future career opportunities
MCKINSEY FIRM PROFILE
General Management and Strategy Consulting Firms
These firms have a primary focus on strategy, pay well, and offer excellent professional development opportunities.
Advancy is a pure-play strategy consulting firm whose small and nimble consulting project teams deliver in-depth industry insights to large global clients, aided by the firm's focus on just three sectors of the economy – Consumer Goods, Life Sciences, and Chemicals. The 300-person firm has a uniquely European feel to it owing to its origins in France. One of the hallmarks of the firm's culture is an annual trip where the company takes the entire global team on a international trip to a secret location. Who wouldn't want to work here?
Low travel requirements
Laid back culture
Above-average work-life balance
Ernst & Young acquired The Parthenon Group in 2014, increasing EY's presence as a Big 4 consulting firm. EY-Parthenon focuses on strategy consulting and currently employs over 9,000 professionals worldwide. The firm advises C-suite, business, and organizational leaders across multiple sectors, including consumer, diversified industrial products, education, financial services, health care, life sciences, oil and gas, private equity and technology, media and telecom.
While EY-Parthenon may be able to access the power, global reach, and capabilities of one of the world's corporate giants, the firm still retains its trademark boutique culture. The organization's leadership has remained intact, along with functions critical to retaining culture. As a result, consultants at EY-Parthenon highlight the firm's strong collegial atmosphere, entrepreneurial environment, and transparent management as key benefits of working at the firms.
Great professional development
Some have experienced a consistent need to reprioritize their work
Some bureaucracy
Average consulting work-life demands
EY-PARTHENON FIRM PROFILE
Kearney (formerly known as A.T. Kearney) is an American global management consulting firm that focuses on strategic and operational CEO-agenda issues facing businesses, governments and institutions. Kearney maintains offices in more than 40 countries globally. The company generates roughly $1.4B in consulting revenues every year.
The company is known for advocating strongly for female leaders, especially in countries such as India. Kearney offers several programs focused on diversity and inclusion.
$1,410,000,000.
Good Culture
KEARNEY FIRM PROFILE
L.E.K. Consulting is a management consulting firm founded in 1983 by three individual partners from Bain & Company: James Lawrence, Iain Evans, and Richard Koch. The company's primary service lines consist of corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and operations. The firm employs a generalist model across all major industries, including a large presence in defense, aviation, life sciences, healthcare, energy, entertainment, transport, retail, consumer products, financial services, and private equity (note: a majority of the firm's expertise is in life sciences and healthcare).
The company is extremely selective, and its consultants are known to work long hours, sometimes resulting in feelings of being understaffed. L.E.K. offers attractive bonuses and incentive programs, including benefits for families. The average tenure for new associates is roughly 2 years. The firm is known for its strong diversity programs, including for LGBTQ, women, and minorities.
Prestige Level:
Key employee Considerations:
Long work hours
Understaffed case loads
Strong mentorship culture
Bonus and incentive programs
LEK FIRM PROFILE
OC&C Strategy Consultants
OC&C turns away work that doesn't fall strictly into the box of strategy and thrives on its "challenger" mentality – and that tells you just about everything you need to know about the firm. OC&C was founded in London but has a rapidly-expanding presence in the United States. The firm spends the lion's share of its time on projects in 5 industries: Consumer Goods, Retail & Leisure, Business Services, Media and Technology.
The firm has 14 offices across 11 nations and employs a flat organizational structure, meaning anyone at any level can engage with anyone in the firm – whether an intern or Partner. If you're looking for a strategy firm where your merit determines your career trajectory, OC&C Strategy Consultants may be the place for you.
Pure focus on strategy work
Relaxed culture
Startup feel
OC&C FIRM PROFILE
Oliver Wyman is a quickly growing strategy consulting firm with deep connections in Europe and Asia Pacific. The firm is known for quick career progression – you'll hit a new promotion cycle every 18-24 months. The firm generates roughly $2.5B in revenue every year.
Oliver Wyman consultants express that it can be challenging working long hours at a growing firm but generally enjoy the fun work atmosphere. Fortune points out that the company is particularly popular with millennials, and the firm makes substantial accommodations for working mothers. Oliver Wyman also doesn't have requirements for an advanced degree, unlike many other top consulting firms.
Fun Atmosphere
Growing Firm
OLIVER WYMAN FIRM PROFILE
Roland Berger is a strategy consulting firm headquartered in Munich, with 52 offices in 35 countries. Roland Berger operates as a generalist strategy consultancy and advises clients on management issues ranging from strategy development to performance improvement. Roland Berger also advises in the fields of restructuring and marketing, with a focus on the Automobile Industry and the capital goods sector.
The company employs roughly 2,400 consultants worldwide and generates roughly $670M in revenues annually. The firm is known for its European culture and roots and for having bonuses that contribute to a major portion of compensation for employees.
Average (High in Europe)
Major Bonuses
Sabbaticals Offered
ROLAND BERGER FIRM PROFILE
Strategy& is a strategy consulting firm previously known as Booz & Company, which was acquired by PwC in 2014. Strategy& focuses on executive level strategy, similar to the projects you would find at McKinsey, Bain, and BCG. To help its clients compete, Strategy& places a heavy emphasis on foresight and innovative thinking – a trait that goes all the way back to founder Edwin Booz.
STRATEGY& FIRM PROFILE
Accounting, Finance, & Technology
Many of these firms have historical foundations in accounting but have built excellent general management and technology-based consulting offers.
Accenture is a technology consulting firm with a strategy consulting arm. The firm's footprint is massive, with an estimated 700,000 employees across the world. Accenture is especially great for aspiring consultants who value opportunities to learn about technology.
Accenture is known to have a challenging work culture. Overtime is optional, but many consultants reportedly need to work the extra hours. In order to excel at Accenture, its consultants say networking is essential in order to land the best teams and projects.
Optional overtime
Good opportunities to learn about technology
ACCENTURE FIRM PROFILE
Booz Allen Hamilton offers management and technology consulting services, with an emphasis on technology and services to the U.S. Federal Government. The firm previously spun off Booz & Co., which was acquired by PwC. The firm generates roughly $8B in revenue on an annual basis.
Booz Allen Hamilton consultants are known to work hard but not travel as much. On Glassdoor, employees give a 75% approval rating to the firm. The firm proclaims that it invented the management consulting profession in 1914. Booz Allen Hamilton has also worked on several interesting projects, including helping the U.S. Navy reinvent itself into a force critical in aiding in America's World War 2 victory.
Average (High in Middle East)
Mid-range benefits
Less Travel
BOOZ ALLEN FIRM PROFILE
Though the company's original expertise is in accounting, Deloitte Consulting has made a big name for itself in the consulting world. Deloitte enjoys #1 market share in terms of revenue among Big 4 firms, generating $59B+ on an annual basis. The firm is consistently ranked as the fourth most prestigious consulting firm (after MBB) and has more than 415,000 professionals worldwide.
Deloitte's consulting services are divided into five practice areas: Core Business Operations, Customer & Marketing, Enterprise Technology & Performance, Human Capital, and Strategy & Analytics. Consultants typically recruit for and advance their careers through one specific practice area. Deloitte's Strategy and Analytics arm – formerly Strategy and Operations – is essentially its management consulting arm, while its other practice areas have less to do with overall corporate strategy.
Upward Mobilization
Lower morale than at Top 3
DELOITTE FIRM PROFILE
Ernst & Young's advisory business is known for services similar to those provided by other consulting firms. The firm focuses on four core areas: performance improvement, risk, IT risk and assurance, and other cross-advisory teams. EY is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and generates $45B in annual revenue. The firm is ranked 7th in prestige amongst all consulting firms.
EY is known for having a significantly better work life balance compared to some of the other top consulting firms. The firm's is known to have good communication across hierarchical levels and most employees are known for collegial personalities. Bonuses and raises at the firm are performance based.
Performance-based bonuses and raises
EY FIRM PROFILE
KPMG is well known as one of the Big Four accounting firms. The company has experienced massive growth in China and Hong Kong and generates roughly $35B in consulting revenue annually.
The main differentiator for KPMG is its work life balance. The firm offers great benefits, flexible hours, and a relatively mellow culture. KPMG consultants are known to be extremely supportive of one another and the firm places a high emphasis on feedback from supervisors.
Average to High
KPMG FIRM PROFILE
PwC Consulting
PwC provides a mix of industry and functional expertise to help clients address their most complex business issues and opportunities – from strategy through execution. PwC advises a significant number of the Fortune 500 and generates roughly $50B in annual revenue.
As standard with most of the top firms, hours tend to be long for consultants at PwC. Promotions don't happen as quickly at the firm compared to others, but PwC is a great place to start a career. PwC has numerous diversity groups and works with employees with disabilities.
Good place to start career
Valuable work experience
Frequent Travel
PWC FIRM PROFILE
Wavestone
With almost half a billion dollars in annual revenues, Wavestone is a serious up-and-comer in the strategy & implementation consulting space. Headquartered in Paris and with a distinctly European feel, the firm has been rapidly expanding its U.S. presence in recent years through numerous acquisitions and a targeted hiring spree. If the thought of working for a growing "do-it-all" consultancy lights you up, Wavestone may be the firm for you.
€525,000,000 ($570,000,000 USD)
Top Boutique
Rapidly growing up-and-comer with competitive comp
European firm culture (generally better work/life balance than U.S.-based firms)
WAVESTONE FIRM PROFILE
Economic and Litigation Consulting
These firms use deep economic analysis to help both corporations and law firms make better decisions.
Analysis Group, Inc.
Analysis Group is the world's premier economic consulting firm. What is economic consulting? This branch of consulting supports clients (mostly law firms and governments) with research and insight during litigation. If you're a numbers geek and econ whiz, Analysis Group offers you the chance to conduct economic analysis within an advisory function.
~$250,000,000
Great professional development opportunities
Demanding clients often lead to late nights
ANALYSIS GROUP FIRM PROFILE
Bates White
If the word "Antitrust" gets you jazzed, you're going to want to stick around for Bates White. This 250-strong economic consulting firm is headquartered in Washington, D.C and specializes in econometrics, statistics, antitrust, and specifically advanced econometric modelling. The firm is made up of really smart people – the majority of folks at Bates White hold a PhD or master's level degree, although the firm does hire some people straight out of their undergraduate studies. If advanced economic analyses are what get you out bed, Bates White may be the place for you.
Opportunities for PhDs & other Advanced Degree Candidates
Top rated internship experience
BATES WHITE FIRM PROFILE
Operations and Turnaround Consultants
These firms tend to work on 'front line' issues like pricing, sourcing, sales execution, and other topics that can help companies improve the bottom line in the immediate term.
AlixPartners
We've got two competitors coming up back-to-back. AlixPartners, founded in 1981, is one of the world's premier turnaround consulting firms. It has advised on some of the most famous Chapter 11 reorganizations in history, including Enron, GM, and Kmart.
The firm is known for its long work hours and meritorious culture, but compensation reflects this. If a fast-paced work culture and tight deadlines get your heart racing, as does bringing companies back from extinction, AlixPartners should be on your list of target firms.
~$2,000,000,000
Front-line work with great client and partner exposure
ALIXPARTNERS FIRM PROFILE
Alvarez & Marsal, also known as A&M, is a bankruptcy, turnaround, and restructuring firm made famous during the 2008 financial crisis, when it took over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The firm is a premier player in the consulting world, with the reputation and compensation to boot. If rescuing distressed companies sounds like fun to you, A&M may just be the firm you've been looking for – providing great strategy, operations, and finance exposure.
Turnaround Management and Performance Improvement – you're on the front lines
ALVAREZ & MARSAL FIRM PROFILE
Insight Sourcing Group
Insight Sourcing Group is the world's premier strategic sourcing and procurement consulting firm. Founded in 2002 by consulting alumni from the likes of Accenture and Deloitte, the firm takes special pride in helping clients navigate the challenges – and costs – of procurement and sourcing. A relatively small firm (~175 employees) the firm boasts a culture of tight-knit expertise across just a handful of offices, with Atlanta serving as HQ.
Open door policy with leadership; great work/life balance for consulting
INSIGHT SOURCING GROUP FIRM PROFILE
The Keystone Group
A 2023 newcomer to the list, The Keystone Group is squarely in the boutique category. TKG focuses primarily on operational improvement, turnaround, and growth strategy projects with clients across sectors. What sets The Keystone Group apart in the boutique space is just that – it's small size. This lends itself to a collegial tight-knit work environment and culture (the firm has fewer than 50 employees spread across three U.S. offices). If you're looking for a boutique feel with "big firm" opportunities for impact and career progression, The Keystone Group may be the right career next step for you.
~$20,000,000
Close-knit culture
Opportunities for accelerated upward progression
THE KEYSTONE GROUP FIRM PROFILE
Private Equity Consulting
These firms serve as a bridge between finance and consulting and are involved in all things M&A and Private Equity.
Palm Tree is a Southern California-based M&A advisory firm that terms itself a 'one-stop shop' for Private Equity. The firm's operating model, a unique combination of investment banking, consulting, and accounting, allows it to provide hands-on finance, accounting, and transformation support through all stages of the M&A process. In addition, the firm fosters a fun, collegial culture that employees rave about – they say folks at Palm Tree are genuinely good people (now that's a breath of fresh air!).
Supportive management team
Unlimited PTO
Intense deal-driven work at times
PALM TREE FIRM PROFILE
Stax is a strategy consultancy that mainly serves PE investors, PE-backed companies, hedge funds, and investment banks through commercial due diligence, value creation and growth strategy, and exit planning. The firm is industry-agnostic, but does a lot of work in the following industries: tech, healthcare, business services, industrials, consumer & retail, and education.
It's a small but quickly-growing firm with lots of opportunities to own and accelerate your career in the world of strategy consulting with a side of Private Equity.
Plenty of learning & development opportunities
Meritocratic, startup-type culture
STAX FIRM PROFILE
These firms help companies manage their talent, from compensation to organizational design to leadership and development training.
Mercer is known as the world's largest human resources consulting firm. Headquartered in New York City, Mercer has more than 25,000 employees, is based in more than 44 countries, and operates internationally in more than 130 countries. The company generates roughly $5B in revenue on an annual basis.
MERCER FIRM PROFILE
If you're looking for more firms specializing in HR consulting, check out Willis Towers Watson (WTW).
Non-Profit Consultants
These firms engage in many of the same activities a member of MBB might but do so to meet the needs of non-profit organizations.
Bridgespan Group
The Bridgespan Group is a global consultancy that collaborates with mission-driven leaders, organizations, philanthropists, and investors to break cycles of poverty and dramatically improve the quality of life for those in need. The company aims to find solutions to ensure equal opportunity and core human and civil rights.
Bridgespan concentrates on four broad fields: education; children, youth, and families; public health; and global development. The firm's services include consulting to nonprofits and philanthropists, leadership development support, and developing and sharing insights – all with the goal of scaling social impact.
Tough Workload
BRIDGESPAN FIRM PROFILE
Our final category captures firms that tend to develop solutions around industries or functions (i.e., healthcare, financial services, energy, market research).
Altman Solon
Altman Solon is the undisputed leader when it comes to advising the telecommunications, media, and tech (TMT) industries. The firm prides itself on its exclusivity with these three industries – a great filter to attract interested candidates and to weed out those not interested in a career in TMT. This means you can gain deep industry expertise in a short period of time. If this aligns with your goals, Altman Solon is a great place to work.
Top notch opportunities for career growth in TMT space
Industry focus limits exit opportunities
Consulting Firm Directory Link:
ALTMAN SOLON FIRM PROFILE
Clearview Healthcare Partners
If your passions lie at the intersection of life sciences and strategy, Clearview Healthcare Partners is for you. A young buck in the consulting space (founded in 2007), the firm has quickly gained a reputation as one of top boutiques – in any sector. If you're ready to brand yourself a life sciences specialist and have a role in the future of the business of healthcare, Clearview is a great place to be.
Prestige factor in the life sciences space
Work life balance is hit and miss, but gets better as you become more senior
CLEARVIEW FIRM PROFILE
DeciBio
Another top firm in the life sciences industry – and a 2023 newcomer to the list – but DeciBio goes a niche further by focusing exclusively on precision medicine. The firm is set apart by its utilization of data analytics and deep industry expertise. The 50-person firm gives employees the space to grow professionally by putting them in front of clients in year one, responsibility often given to 2nd- or 3rd-year consultants.
Low travel
Startup culture
Better work-life balance than competitors
DECIBIO FIRM PROFILE
Guidehouse
Guidehouse is headquartered in Washington, DC and is a specialized, global professional services firm. The firm employs over 8,000 consultants across almost 40 countries and generates over $1B in annual consulting revenue. The firm focuses on three key business segments: healthcare, energy, and financial services advisory and compliance, serving clients in both the private and public sectors.
Exposure to private and public sector clients
GUIDEHOUSE FIRM PROFILE
Founded in 1988, Putnam – formerly Putnam Associates – focuses on serving healthcare, private equity, and venture capital clients through sophisticated and robust analytics. The firm focuses on providing customized, actionable recommendations that draw on problem framing, cutting-edge methodologies, deep therapeutic area knowledge, extensive global networks of health care stakeholders, and expert synthesis across scientific, clinical, and business disciplines.
Putnam consultants have similar professional and educational backgrounds to those at strategy consulting firms. Uniquely, 100% of Putnam's work is dedicated to maximizing the value of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostic and device products. The company serves clients that market many of the world's best-known biopharmaceuticals and who are leveraging the genomics and "big data" revolutions month by month with new breakthrough therapies and higher quality patient care.
Good Supervisors
PUTNAM FIRM PROFILE
Which Top Consulting Firm Is Right For You?
Consulting firms differ in culture, workload, philosophy, and compensation, so choose wisely!
We trust this list of top consulting firms has been helpful for you in your search for your perfect fit. If you are looking to break into one of these firms (or ones not on the list), make sure your resume is optimized! If you have questions as to which consultancy might be best for your desired career path, book a 1hr session with a former MBB consultant today.
Case Interview Prep Guide
Consulting Resume Guide
Boutique Consulting Firms
Best Consulting Firms for Undergrad Salary
Filed Under: Accenture, Bain, BCG, Booz Allen Hamilton, Boutique Consulting Firms, Consulting Firms, consulting jobs, consulting recruiting, consulting salaries, deloitte consulting, Ernst & Young (EY), KPMG, McKinsey Consulting, Parthenon EY, PwC, Where do I Start?
What Makes a Top Firm
Types of Top Firms
General Management & Strategy
Economic & Litigation
Operations & Turnaround
Industry-Focused

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Meteor local server log: stream error Error during WebSocket handshake: Unexpected response code: 404 The following error seems to have appeared overnight, and is not identified with any community package that I can tell. Seems to be part of the core DDP and WebSocket modules.
stream error Error during WebSocket handshake: Unexpected response code: 404

It shows up in the log generated when starting the server. mike:mocha Mocha testing also seems to have broken.
Again, seems to have cropped up out of nowhere after having the app running correctly for a long time. May have been due to a meteor update. Meteor version is currently Meteor 1.1.0.2.

A: This can happen when you have a package or code on your server side that connects to another server using DDP or Websockets and there is an interruption where the server you're connecting to has a proxy and the underlying server goes offline.
This can happen from time to time. When you use websockets the connection is persisted for a very long time. It will immediately try to reconnect if there is a disconnection.
Nearly no cloud hosting provider is able to give 100% uptime so you can expect a few of these when there is an interruption. The error comes from trying to reconnect at this moment most likely.
If you have no package that bears this remote websocket connection attribute it could be meteor's package reporting system itself. You could opt out of this by adding the package-stats-opt-out package using meteor add package-stats-opt-out

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Service & Traffic Update
All the latest updates to our services in one place
As one of the busiest cities in the world, there is always something exciting happening in London. From parades and races to festivals and celebrations, you can almost guarantee there is a big event happening each month.
Whilst these city-wide events are lots of fun to watch and take part in, they can sometimes cause disruptions to our bus tours which are out of our control. To avoid disappointment, please take note of the London events throughout the year which may affect our service. Plan ahead for your day of sightseeing with Tootbus and make the most of your time in London.
If you need to know more about current service updates, speak to a member of staff at our bus stops or on board our buses for the most up to date information or contact us.
Current service updates:
Stop closures
- On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, between 10.30am and 12.30pm, stop #11, Buckingham Gate, on the yellow route is closed as a road closure is set up for the Changing of the Guards ceremony.
Closest stop is stop #12, Victoria Station, on the yellow route. It is approximately a 10 minute walk to Buckingham Palace.
- Due to road works, we are currently unable to serve stop #11, Buckingham Palace, on the yellow route. The bus is stopping further down the road outside the Rubens at the Palace Hotel, at 39 Buckingham Palace Rd.
Sunday 22nd January
A number of roads in central London will be closed on Sunday 22nd January to facilitate the Chinese New Year celebrations. We won't be able to serve stop #2, Trafalgar Square, on the yellow route. The bus will be serving the public transport bus stop B on Cockspur Street instead.
Sunday 5th February
The London Winter Run on Sunday 5th February will affect the yellow route significantly, with the tour diverted until the roads are expected to re-open from 2.30pm. The following stops are expected to be closed for the majority of the day:
Yellow route:
- Stop #2, Trafalgar Square
- Stop #5, Covent Garden
- Stop #7, London Bridge
- Stop #19, Parliament Street
- Stop #20, Horse Guards Parade
- Stop #21, Piccadilly
- Stop #22, Green Park Station
- Stop #23, Hard Rock Café
The following upcoming events are likely to cause disruptions to our service. More details will be given closer to the date of each event:
22nd January - Chinese New Year
5th February - Cancer Research UK London Winter Run
17th March - St Patrick's Day
2nd April - London Landmarks Half Marathon - significant diversions and stop closures
23rd April - London Marathon - significant diversions and stop closures
6th May - King Charles III Coronation
28th May - Ride London
10th June - Trooping the Colour
8th October - Royal Parks Marathon
11th November - Lord Mayor Show & Remembrance Day
12th November - Remembrance Sunday
24th December - Christmas Eve
25th December - Christmas Day
1st January - New Years Day Parade
The best family restaurants in London
Cool things to do in London for teens
The best way to travel around London


text:
is a railway station on the Aizu Railway Aizu Line in the city of Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, operated by the Aizu Railway.

Lines
Ashinomaki-Onsen Station is served by the Aizu Line, and is located 10.5 rail kilometers from the official starting point of the line at .

Station layout
Ashinomaki-Onsen Station has two opposed unnumbered side platforms connected by a level crossing. The station is staffed.

Platforms

Adjacent stations

Bus, Love and Peach, the station master cats
The station is home to , a long-haired cat who acts as the station master in a manner similar to Tama of Kishi Station. Bus was named after the Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro. Bus had been a resident of the station since June, 2000. She was appointed as the honorary stationmaster in April 2008. She had worked with a human station master and retired in December 2015.  succeeded the honorary stationmaster. He started working with them from July, 2014. Bus stayed in the station also after retirement with the title of honorary stationmaster of admirable longevity. She died on April 22, 2016.  On October 14, 2017, , who is Love's younger brother, was appointed as the rail manager (Head of facilities management). He retired in March 2020. , who is a younger sister of Love and Peach, began to work as an apprentice station staff in the spring 2020. She was appointed as an attendant on April 17, 2021. On October 5, 2022, Love died at the age of eight.

History
Ashinomaki-Onsen Station opened on November 1, 1927, as . The station was renamed to its present name on July 16, 1987.

Surrounding area

Kamimiyori Post Office
 Ashinomaki-Onsen

See also
 List of railway stations in Japan

References

External links

  Aizu Railway Station information

Railway stations in Fukushima Prefecture
Aizu Line
Railway stations in Japan opened in 1927
Aizuwakamatsu

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Android RelativeLayout design issue I am facing android design issue , I can't understand why it happened it is weird.
My layout code :
 <RelativeLayout
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_margin="10dp">

    <RelativeLayout
        android:id="@+id/outgoing_layout_bubble"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginLeft="60dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="8dp"
        android:background="@drawable/chatrectbg"
        android:padding="10dp"
        android:visibility="visible">

        <TextView
            android:id="@+id/message"
            style="@style/chat_text_message_style"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_toStartOf="@+id/time"
            android:autoLink="web"
            android:paddingRight="10dp"
            android:text="@{chat.messageText}"
            android:textColor="@android:color/white"
            android:textStyle="bold" />

        <TextView
            android:id="@id/time"
            style="@style/chat_timings"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
            android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
            android:layout_marginRight="4dp"
            android:padding="5dp"
            android:paddingRight="10dp"
            android:text="@{chat.messageTime}"
            android:textColor="@android:color/white"
            android:textStyle="bold" />

    </RelativeLayout>
    </RelativeLayout>

preview of this code is as below :

I want background color change wrapping text, but it doesn't.
I can't understand what I am doing wrong?

A: You can try like this,
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:padding="10dp"
    android:layout_gravity="end"
    android:gravity="end"
    android:orientation="horizontal">
    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:background="#555"
        android:padding="10dp"
        android:gravity="end|center_vertical"
        android:layout_gravity="right"
        android:orientation="vertical">

        <TextView
            android:id="@+id/message"
            style="@style/chat_text_message_style"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:autoLink="web"
            android:text="Message "
            android:textColor="@android:color/white"
            android:textStyle="bold" />

        <TextView
            android:id="@id/time"
            style="@style/chat_timings"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_below="@+id/message"
            android:padding="5dp"
            android:gravity="right"
            android:text="Time"
            android:textColor="@android:color/white"
            android:textStyle="bold" />

    </LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>


Rumors of a UFC sale continue to swirl and swirl — the word is the deal is done and simply waiting to be announced. Not that the UFC will admit that. They went so far as to threaten legal action against anyone in the company leaking these "misrepresentation of facts," just another example of the iron fist the UFC sometimes wields when they deem it necessary.
Other examples of that: banning MMA reporter Ariel Helwani from events for scooping them on fight announcements, and of course pulling Conor McGregor off UFC 200 after he balked at leaving training for a multi-city promotional tour. If details of the agreement between UFC parent company Zuffa and companies including WME-IMG and the Dalian Wanda Group are true, current UFC president Dana White will stick around for a couple of years after the sale to help with the transition … and keep everyone in check. Which is good, because it sounds like Conor McGregor is being Conor McGregor again.
John Kavanagh, the coach of Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, has said he expects that the sport's breakout athlete would ask for a stake in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) if it was sold.
With rumours circulating of a $4.2 billion UFC sale, Kavanagh raised the prospect of McGregor seeking equity from any new owner.
"Conor will have thought of this and I am sure, when he is sitting down with his new overlords, he will have that conversation," Kavanagh said.
Even owning a few percentage points of equity in the UFC would be massive for McGregor, who is the first MMA fighter to ever crack into the Forbes Top 100 Paid Athletes List. With the company's price tag rumored to be $4.2 billion, a tiny 2% slice of equity would be worth $84 million. Currently ownership in the company is divided between Lorenzo Fertitta (40.5%), Frank Fertitta (40.5%), Dana White (9%) and Flash Entertainment (10%), a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi government.
Could Conor force a few percentage points out of the new owners? Not likely while Dana White is around … and any new owner is likely to keep White in place as UFC president, at least in the short term. White called McGregor's bluff during their UFC 200 spat and came out on top. With Dana at the helm, the UFC has been pretty careful to limit even the pay per view percentages they offer headlining fighters and champions. Letting Conor demand equity would blow their carefully controlled pay structure to bits.
But Conor McGregor has roughly five more fights on his UFC contract, and White could be gone by the time that deal is up for renewal in around two years. With a massive fight against Floyd Mayweather always waiting outside the UFC for him, McGregor could generate the leverage needed to pry a few percentage points out of some less stubborn owners … especially if he continues to break pay per view records.
It's just another sign that the MMA world is getting more interesting by the day. By the end of the summer, the entire landscape could be completely different. How it will look is anyone's guess. Until the UFC is ready to admit a deal is done, we can only speculate.


text:
Destinations Magazine
SOCIETY ›
Latest Russian News
By Mendeleyeev
In Russian culture there is supposed to be lull regarding news during the holiday period. In fact, some publications even go on "holiday" during the season between the end of the year and just past Christmas on 07 January. Somebody forgot to remind the news-makers it would seem.
The funny: there is always an aspect of news in Russia that lends itself to hilarity. The country just cannot help itself apparently. So, it was not that big of a surprise when last week the interior ministry declared that miniskirts were no longer appropriate for female police officers. It is true that miniskirts have never been part of the officially approved uniform, however there is something about seeing a young female officer in a very short skirt, while wearing high heels, that just makes you want to be chased–and caught.
Interior Ministry officials have watched, literally we can only assume, as hemlines have become shorter and shorter on the skirts of female officers. Heels have inched higher, too. Having seen enough, officials have decided to lower those hemlines and heels, back to something more representative of a respectable police force. Commanders across Russia have been issued guidelines on daily uniform inspections. To keep it equal, male officers will no longer be allowed to wear sleeveless shirts in summer–something that had become somewhat of a trend in more recent years.
The odd: Tourism from the West is not exactly on the upswing as of late, due to sanctions and political spats between Russia and the West. However, the folk in Moscow are eternal optimists and just in time for the extended holiday period, the city has introduced a couple hundred "tourist police" on the streets. Think of them as bi-lingual tour guides with a map of the city in one hand and a pair of handcuffs in the other.
They can speak English (at least to a degree), help tourists navigate around the city, and then lock them up at night if the tourists misbehave. What a country!
The vanishing: the brain and talent appears to continue unabated. The latest high profile person to flee the country is Pavel Durov, the founder of Vkontake (known as "vk"), Russia's answer to Facebook. Durov says that VK had been under pressure to reveal personal information to the Kremlin regarding VK users from Ukraine. That came not long after President Putin had declared that the Internet had been invented as a tool for the CIA. We should note that Mr. Putin makes only scant use of the Internet.
Last week Durov as fired as CEO of the company he had founded and the Kremlin-friendly Igor Sechin, CEO of Russian oil giant Rosneft, was handed the reins. Perhaps Sechin was getting bored at his current job, oil sales are not exactly on the upswing as of late. The Kremlin has made no secret of its mistrust of the evil Internet.
Durov told technology newsite Techcrunch that he planned to launch another mobile social network. Outside of Russia, naturally. He told the publication that, "I am out of Russia and have no plans to go back."
The continuing crackdown on a free press: Last week the Kremlin moved to install new directors at the single remaining opposition radio network, Echo Radio, headquartered in Moscow. The station has been a thorn in the side of the Kremlin, and apparently a private summons for Chief editor Alexei Venediktov to meet personally with President Putin did little to bring the journalists of Radio Echo into "compliance." So, Gazprom Media, as in the state controlled Gazprom Oil (one of the largest oil companies in the world), still retains a majority interest in the stock of the station, has moved to tighten control. Gazprom owns 66% and the 89 journalists of Radio Echo own the remaining 34%.
To make sure that Radio Echo tones down the independent rhetoric, the government media watchdog Roskomnadzor slapped the station with a warning after Echo interviewed journalists who detailed direct Russian involvement in the war in Eastern Ukraine. After the broadcast, Roskomnadzor notified the station of the warning, saying that Radio Echo had broadcast "information justifying war crimes."
Roskomnadzor warnings carry weight–two warnings allows the government to shut down a broadcast facility.
Even more on the continuing crackdown on a free press: Yevgenia Albats, editor-in-chief of The New Times, one of the few remaining print publications independent of the Kremlin, has been accused of disobeying traffic police. Although authorities could not come up with specifics of her disobedience, the editor has been charged. She claims to have been pulled over in a routine traffic stop and handed over the proper paperwork when asked. The officers then charged Albats with disobeying police orders. If convicted she faces up to 15 days in jail.
Already the government-controlled television NTV, the channel that often conducts smear campaigns on those whom the Kremlin has labeled as enemies, has broadcast that the editor was leaving a "party at a Georgian restaurant" in Moscow. The state of relations between the Kremlin and the former Soviet republic of Georgia has remained tense since the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008.
The Albats case will be heard in court this Tuesday, 30 December.
The very bad: Most Western readers probably have little to no knowledge of the oil spill in the Black Sea last week. Why? Because the Russian media is not exactly racing to cover the story. Last week a large Russian oil pipeline burst a pipeline outside the town of Tuapse. Russian oil giant Rosneft was constructing pipeline in the area for use by Transneft, Russia's major pipeline transporter.
The local government has declared a state of emergency, and whether intended or not, the declaration has hampered efforts by independent media and world scientific experts to inspect the damage. Severe winter weather has hampered clean-up efforts.
Some sources claim that Satellite imagery indicates between 500 to 700 tons of oil were spilled into the Black Sea. If true, that would be almost 100 times more oil than Russian government sources have estimated.
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text:
Sign the Petition: It's Time to Pass the NY Health Act!
Dear Governor Cuomo, State Senators and Assembly Members,
We have a problem with healthcare. It is unacceptable that every day over one million New Yorkers are uninsured. Yet even those of us with private insurance go without or dangerously delay needed care because of the skyrocketing cost of premiums, deductibles, and ever-increasing copays.
But there is a solution to this crisis: the New York Health Act.
The New York Health Act will implement truly universal health coverage and eliminate financial barriers to care, while allowing people to go to the doctor and hospital of their choice. Healthcare will be based on need -- not tied to employment, immigration, income, or health status. Studies show it will cost less than the status quo, saving money for individuals, businesses, and the state.
The Assembly passed this bill four years in a row, and a majority of the newly elected state Senate is on record in support. Now that we have a path to victory, we need you make it a reality.
Add your name here to the growing number of New Yorkers in every corner of the state who are ready for universal, guaranteed healthcare!
campaign for new york health single payer Medicare for all NY Health Act RIchard Gottfried Gustavo Rivera


Owning your own car isn't always necessary for travel within East Toronto. Living in a Preston Apartment means that as a traveler you can count on convenient access to a variety of public transit, cycling and car-sharing options.
90 Eastdale Avenue is located only minutes north of bustling Danforth Avenue. It's also steps away from major bus routes offered by the TTC that conveniently connects passengers to the Bloor-Danforth subway line. Passengers can transfer to the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line via Spadina and Yonge Stations and get into the downtown core in a matter of minutes.
The 87 Cosburn bus stop is right outside the doors of 90 Eastdale Avenue. This route is ideal for people traveling between east and west Toronto from Broadview Station and Main Street Station on the Bloor-Danforth subway line. The 64 Main bus route runs as far south as Queen Street East and Wineva Avenue, and is a perfect route to access the Beaches area of Toronto in only 15 minutes. This route is also right outside the doors of 90 Eastdale Avenue on the corner of Eastdale Avenue and Goldwood Park Crescent.
The City of Toronto has been taking positive steps to improve the streets for cyclists. Not only are they adding more bike lanes in East Toronto but many online services are popping up that provide cyclists with accurate routes with a focus on speed and safety. Biking Toronto has a fully functional map of all the bike lanes in Toronto to help cyclists plan their route. Google style biking maps for Toronto have also sprung up on Ride The City Toronto. On this website, cyclists can input their starting and destination points for the fastest and safest bike routes from 90 Eastdale Avenue.
You can get around the city affordably without depending on public transit, cycling or even walking. Autoshare and ZipCar offer low-cost rental cars in every neighbourhood in Toronto, which can be booked online in minutes. Their service allows drivers to reserve and pick up a car from various locations near 90 Eastdale Avenue such as Victoria Park Station (east), Main Square Community Centre (south) and the corner of Woodbine Avenue & Mortimer Avenue (west). If you just need a ride to get to and from work, Toronto's Smart Commute has car and van pooling options. They have made it easy to get started with quick online registration and a handy list of employer locations throughout the city.
Travelling to and from 90 Eastdale Avenue is a breeze and very affordable. See what Preston Apartments have to offer for yourself by filling out an online Pre-Approval form on our website and see if you qualify! Once you've been pre-approved, one of our rental agents will contact you to schedule a viewing of one of our apartments.


text:
ASPCA Commends Los Angeles City Council for Passing Motion to Create More Pet-Friendly Housing
Los Angeles is the first city in the nation to require all city-financed housing to be pet friendly
LOS ANGELES– The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) commends the Los Angeles City Council for approving an ordinance that requires all city-financed housing to allow residents to have pets. Sponsored by Councilmember Paul Koretz, this ordinance will ensure pets and families can stay together as well as reduce shelter intake rates by removing housing barriers for low-income and homeless pet owners. A similar motion was unanimously approved by the L.A. City Council last year.
"A lack of access to pet-friendly housing can require pet owners to grapple with an impossible decision: either give up their pet or keep a roof over their heads," said Susan Riggs, senior director of state legislation for the ASPCA, Western region. "While this painful choice can be difficult to imagine, it is often a grim reality for those with few housing options or special housing needs. We are grateful to Councilmember Koretz for moving this ordinance forward to open up more pet-friendly housing options in the city and providing much needed relief to lower-income pet owners."
"This ordinance has been a long time coming because it does not make sense to penalize homeless and low-income renters and their animals when we're talking about publicly-financed housing," said Councilmember Paul Koretz. "We're supposed to be removing barriers to finding homes, not erecting them. I thank the ASPCA for being an effective and crucial force behind the scenes in getting this done at long last."
A national study conducted by the ASPCA revealed that those who rent are more likely to need to rehome their pets for housing issues than for any other reason. Between 2011 and 2015, 23 percent of all dog surrenders and 19 percent of all cat surrenders in Los Angeles were due to a lack of pet-friendly housing options. This adds up to nearly 30,000 dogs and cats being surrendered to shelters each year for housing issues in Los Angeles alone.
The ASPCA operates a fully-subsidized spay/neuter clinic in South Los Angeles, along with two mobile clinics that provide no-cost spay/neuter and basic veterinary care services in Los Angeles. In addition to the South Los Angeles clinic in the City, the ASPCA is stationed at two of the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control's Animal Care Centers with the goal to increase accessibility of resources to pet-owning families, and as a result, improve the welfare of L.A.'s animals and help keep pets and people together.
For more information about the ASPCA or to join the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade, please visit www.aspca.org.


"Technology" is often seen as a dirty word, forcing companies to update manufacturing equipment and processes to 'keep up with the Jones's'. However some advances, such as those in communication, have helped the small business to SHOUT!!! about their services and products too (and as loudly as 'the Jones's').
Although Websites are the most obvious choice for advertising your business, as customers (and people) most of us have also used social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest for personal use, but have not considered these avenues to increase our business coverage. In a recent survey of businesses, which use social media, 92% of business owners indicated that it is an important part of their business and are continuing to re-allocate budgets away from traditional methods of advertising towards social media and other inbound marketing strategies.
In a recent campaign launched by Saatchi, using micro-video platforms like Vine or Instagram, they had 50,000 likes and 26,000 reviews within the first 5 days of release, so is it time for businesses to get tweeting or Pinning?? I think so….. lets not waste the opportunities that 'Technology' exacts upon us and embrace our social side.


Slicing down on your property remodeling cost really is not troublesome. Shower curtain change might be some of the cheap bathroom reworking ideas that you are able to do to your rest room. But relatively than working designing towards that determine, consider livability as a major part in your kitchen transforming venture budget.
There are so many designs you possibly can set up at a decreased dwelling remodeling value. It is also recommended that you have a tape measure available, when getting ready to start your subsequent bathroom remodeling project. You must perform a little research so you may plan out what exactly you need to do. You may get transforming ideas from magazines, or you can search on-line for issues like photographs, up-to-date ideas, ground plans, and even blueprints.


SCREEN Thief - Screen Capture System!
SCREEN Thief is a screen capture program that will capture the screens other programs cannot reach.
currently being run followed by a number, eg, "FILENA01.GIF".
This will save all captured image files to the "C:\CAPTURE"
syntax of this switch is /M+ to enable and /M- to disable.
run, overriding the defaults so that you only need to type "ST"
bring up an error message and quit the program.
loading SCREEN Thief, by typing "ST /?" from the "\ST"
left-arrow key will return you to the list of help subjects.


text:
Posavski konj ali posavec je slovenska avtohtona pasma konj, ki izvira iz porečja Save, v glavnem Posavja, goji pa se ga tudi na Hrvaškem. Gre za manjšega hladnokrvnega konja, ki je navadno rjavec in vranec, redkeje sivec in lisjak. Konji so v večji meri klavne živali, ki se jih goji za pridobivanje kvalitetnega konjskega mesa, določeni posamezniki pa služijo kot delovni in vprežni, redkeje tudi jezdni konji.

Izvor in razširjenost
Posavski konj je domača pasma, pri oblikovanju katere so sodelovali predvsem kmetje, ki so konje redili glede na podnebje in naravo tamkajšnjega področja. Za izvorno območje posavca štejemo porečje Save, kjer so v preteklosti na kmetih gojili avtohtone konje, ki so jih priložnostno in nenačrtno križali s tujimi pasmami delovnih (hladnokrvnih) konj, predvsem z belgijskim hladnokrvnim konjem. Organizirana reja (vodenje rodovniških knjig) se je v Sloveniji začela šele v letu 1993, reprodukcijske podatke, namenjene potrebam selekcije, pa so pričeli zapisovati leta 2009.

Med prvotna območja razširjenosti, kjer je še danes teh konj največ, štejemo kraje spodnjega toka reke Save, kot sta na primer Krško in Brežice v Posavju. Reja posavskega konja je značilna tudi za Hrvaško. Danes naj bi bilo živečih okrog 1910 konj posavske pasme v Sloveniji (in približno 6000 na Hrvaškem), pri čemer je populacijska velikost glede na prejšnja leta razmeroma stabilna. V Sloveniji naj bi bilo 8 % vseh konj pripadnikov posavca.

Značilnosti

Posavec je hladnokrvni konj manjšega okvirja z globokim in širokim trupom, za katerega je značilna majhna in ozka glava, srednje dolg vrat, razmeroma kratek hrbet, širok križ, globoke prsi in kratke ter čvrste noge, ki imajo precej velika in močna kopita. Pritlehne dele nog pokriva zaščitna dlaka. Pri posavcu je izražena velikostna spolna dvoličnost, saj so žrebci in kastrati z od 145 do 152 cm višine opazno večji od kobil, katerih viher doseže od 135 do 148 cm.

Za posavskega konja so značilni predvsem rjavi in vranci, redkeje je moč videti lisjake in sivce, lisci se ne pojavljajo. Bela, depigmentirana znamenja so nezaželena. Med pasemske odlike poleg močne in čvrste postave sodijo tudi značajske lastnosti, kot so dobrohotnost, vztrajnost in delavnost. Kobile so praviloma dobro plodne, konji obeh spolov pa zmorejo uspevati tudi v nekoliko slabših rejskih pogojih in učinkovito porabljajo dano krmo, tudi takšno slabše kvalitete.

Vzreja in uporabnost
Kot mnoge druge slovenske avtohtone pasme se tudi posavskega konja redi v glavnem na tradicionalni, ekstenzivni način, za katerega je značilno, da se večina populacije v vremensko ugodnem delu leta pase. Nekoč so posavce rejci odbirali glede na prilagojenost tovrstni pašni reji.

Posavski konj je namenjen predvsem zakolu; gre za pasmo z odlično klavnostjo, ki se jo uporablja za proizvodnjo konjskega mesa in drugih mesnih izdelkov. Določen delež zaklanih konj predstavljajo za ta namen pitana klavna žrebeta, ki jih rejci hranijo s posebej pripravljeno močnejšo krmo. Pri posavcu gre tudi za delovnega konja, ki kmetom pomaga pri opravljanju kmečkih opravil, dela v gozdu z gozdarji in v turistične ali rekreativne namene služi kot vprežni konj. Zaradi manjše zahtevnosti se lahko posavske konje tudi jaha in uporablja kot terapevtske konje.

Galerija

Sklici

Zunanje povezave

Pasme konj
Slovenske avtohtone pasme


Oooh! Can't wait to see! Reminds me of a childhood experience with very small wood turnings (aprox 2.5 in tall).
I wonder what stories they will tell!
what a perfectly wonderful transformation that will be. when i first looked i thought they were bobbins.


text:
Lebanese fear spread of Iraq-style Jihadists
By Khaled Yacoub Oweis
BEIRUT, May 24 (Reuters) - The Lebanese fear the spread of Iraq-style Jihadist violence in a country known as the liberal heart of the Arab world after Islamist militants challenged the army this week.
"We thought we have seen it all, but this form of extremism, which is destroying Iraq, is new to us," Charbel Bassil, who runs Le Chef restaurant in Beirut, told Reuters.
The army has been battling Fatah al-Islam, a militant group which shares the ideology of al Qaeda, in northern Lebanon.
"These groups will only multiply as long as Saudis, Iranians, Syrians and Israelis and God knows who keep using Lebanon as a theatre (to settle scores)," Bassil said.
The usually packed Le Chef was empty on Thursday, with businesses hit across Beirut by violence this week, including two bombs in the capital and a third just to the east.
Daily bloodshed in Iraq, where Islamist militants have been a major player in the fighting, has raised concerns that Lebanon could see something similar.
"We have seen what these groups can do in Iraq. Our government has waited too long to begin cracking down on them," businessman George Boulos said, dipping into a bowl of humous.
"Militants have been operating in the north for years. All the Lebanese I know, both Muslims and Christians, understand that they do not represent Islam," he said.
Northern Lebanon, where Fatah al-Islam is based, has a different flavour to Beirut, a liberal city bustling with bars and restaurants. Tripoli is a largely conservative Sunni Muslim city, and its political leaders have long complained of neglect by the government in Beirut.
But politics, not guns, has mostly been the norm since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war, when Sunni Islamist militant factions existed but secular groups held more sway. ' In 2000, Islamist militants clashed with the army near Tripoli and 40 people were killed.
"It takes a lot to scare the Lebanese off the streets. But fear of bombs on an Iraq scale has done just that," said Hala Hammoud, a mother of two children.
Dozens of people, including civilians and at least 22 militants and 32 soldiers have been killed in this week's clashes between the army and Fatah al-Islam -- Lebanon's worst internal fighting since the civil war.
While many supported the army's operations, some were not sure that the state could gain the upper hand in the conflict.
"With our luck, these groups will only mushroom and we will have our own version of Iraq," said Taline Kanledjian, who runs a perfume shop in the Hamra district of the capital.
But with the civil war legacy still alive in people's minds, there was optimism that Lebanon would overcome the violence.
"We might have entered the Iraq tunnel and people are terrified, but we won't continue," said Lina Abdel Nabi. "There is a consensus on rejecting violence."
Reuters - Thomson Reuters Foundation
For more humanitarian news and analysis, please visit https://www.trust.org/alertnet
"I can go without food, but my children can't." Children and families in Lebanon face critical days as curfew begins
Lebanon + 1 more
Qatar Charity Provides Medical Surgeries, Winter Aid for Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
Qatar Charity
Lebanon Emergency Crisis and COVID-19 Response Social Safety Net Project (ESSN)
Restoring damaged housed and rebuilding businesses


text:
är en animeserie baserad på mangan av Shirow Masamune. Serien innehåller sex delar.

Historien bygger på att flera stora företag sägs hotats ekonomiskt av en hacker som av media fått namnet The Laughing man. Section 9 stöter under olika uppdrag på samband mellan nuvarande uppdrag och den så kallade Laughing man incident som inträffade några år tidigare då The Laughing man hotade en högt uppsatt man som var viktig för Japans storföretag. Det visar sig finnas kopplingar mellan olika kriminella och politiska händelser samt med offer till den ovanliga sjukdomen Cyberbrain Sclerosis.

Se även
Räddaren i nöden (en bok som spelar stor roll för handlingen under första säsongen av serien)

Production I.G
Anime- och manga-deckare
Ghost in the Shell


For over 40 years, Barry Joe has represented consumers and businesses on real estate, corporate, business and estate matters. He established himself in Surrey over 40 years ago and is a former director of the Surrey Chamber of Commerce. His practice covers real estate transactions, subdivisions, construction and condominium projects, as well as incorporations, business purchases, franchises and lease negotiations.
Barry has a special interest in the food and hospitality industry. He has been involved in this industry for over 40 years as a lawyer, as owner of a number of restaurants, and as captain, waiter and "bottlewasher". His wide ranging hospitality clientele include award-winning restaurants. Barry applies his unique background and experience to advise and guide his clients through the many issues and pitfalls in the start-up, purchase and sale of restaurants.
Barry is a member of the Vancouver Chapter of the American Wine Society, as well as the Law Society of British Columbia and the American Bar Association (Associate Member) – Economics Section.
He also consults with clients in Cantonese.


text:
Pompey and Wimbledon rearranged
The Greens' rearranged Sky Bet League One home matches against AFC Wimbledon and Portsmouth have been confirmed for the first two weeks of March.
We will take on Wimbledon for a 7:45pm kick off on Tuesday, 8 March and then face Pompey a week later, on Tuesday, 15 March again for a 7:45pm kick off.
The game against Portsmouth at Home Park on Wednesday, 29 December and our fixture with AFC Wimbledon on New Year's Day had to be postponed due to a considerable number of COVID cases within the Argyle squad.
Tickets for both games are available to buy online at www.argyletickets.com by calling 01752907700 or by visiting the Home Park Ticket Office in person.
Pricing for both fixtures:
Devonport End, Lyndhurst Road Stand, Mayflower Grandstand Upper
Wheelchair adult
Wheelchair over 65
Wheelchair under 23
Mayflower Grandstand Lower
Tickets purchased for the original games will remain valid for the rescheduled fixtures and you are still able to claim a refund on both matches up to a week before each match.


Home / Politics / Probe Muhammadu Jubrilla over certificate forgery – Adamawa Youths demand.
Probe Muhammadu Jubrilla over certificate forgery – Adamawa Youths demand.
An All Progressives Congress, APC, youth group, known as the Black Cap Revolution, has staged a public protest at the Adamawa State House of Assembly, demanding for probe into certificate forgery allegation against Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla.
Mustapha Atiku Ribadu, the group leader, urged the legislators to investigate claims that Governor Jibrilla forged a WAEC certificate which he had submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in 2015.
He said, "We are not saying the governor is guilty, we are simply demanding for investigation in to the matter.
"We are a law abiding citizens who nurture transparency, integrity and good governance. There is an allegation against our governor that the certificate he presented which earned him the leadership is a syndicated forgery, which is synonymous with corruption.
"We want Governor Jubrilla to come out clean and clear. We want him to appear before the state lawmakers to defend the allegation.
"However, should the allegation hold water, Jubrilla should honorably resign in addition to withdrawing from the 2019 gubernatorial race and face the legal case, lest our state be reduced to the republic of certificate forgery forever".


text:
Year in Review 2018: Writing the Future
This past year, McLean Hospital has seen a number of great achievements thanks to our dedicated faculty, staff, strategic partners, generous donors, and friends.
McLean's Year in Review highlights some of the significant milestones we have recently celebrated, including the launch of exciting national trauma initiatives, a first-of-its kind educational collaboration between McLean and organizations in India, and the expanded use of technology to advance clinical care, research, and education.
McLean continues to be a leader in the field of mental health, while the influence of our world-renowned faculty is felt both in our own backyards and around the world. As a community, we are proud to share McLean's vision with you.
We envision a world in which every person will have access to the knowledge, care, and support they need to achieve and sustain behavioral and mental health.
McLean will be the recognized leader in psychiatry, bringing together the best of science, innovation, and compassion to provide specialized, person-centered clinical care and conduct transformational, state-of-the-art scientific investigation. We will disseminate our knowledge broadly in order to alleviate psychiatric illness, advance the field toward realizing prevention and cures, and eradicate stigma.
In pursuit of our vision, we will strategically focus our efforts to:
Grow our clinical capacity while setting new standards for highest quality care and optimal patient experience
Expand access, enhance efficiency, and improve outcomes through technology and digital health
Extend our reach and amplify our impact globally—through consultation, education, and collaborative partnerships—leveraging external resources to scale growth without proportional expansion of our workforce
Accelerate translation of scientific discoveries into more effective practice
McLean was named the #1 place in the United States to receive psychiatric care (for the second year in a row) by U.S. News & World Report.
Our faculty and staff continue to be thought leaders, not only for our own institution but also for national and international organizations.
Brent P. Forester, MD, MSc, chief of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at McLean, has been named president-elect of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, the largest organization dedicated to promoting the mental health and well-being of older people through professional education, public advocacy, and support of career development for clinicians, educators, and researchers in geriatric psychiatry and mental health.
Shelly F. Greenfield, MD, MPH, chief academic officer, chief of the Division of Women's Mental Health, and the Kristine M. Trustey Endowed Chair in Psychiatry at McLean, is serving as the president of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP). As relentless advocates for individuals with substance use and mental health disorders, AAAP members are committed to transforming lives by using evidence-based practices to continually improve clinical approaches and outcomes for their patients.
Dost Öngür, MD, PhD, the William P. and Henry B. Test Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and chief of the Division of Psychotic Disorders at McLean Hospital, was recently named the editor in chief of JAMA Psychiatry, a leading journal in the field of psychiatry published by the JAMA Network.
Milissa Kaufman, MD, PhD, medical director of McLean's Hill Center, was honored with the Cornelia B. Wilbur Award from the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation for her work in the assessment and treatment of acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and dissociative disorders.
Justin T. Baker, MD, PhD, Mona Potter, MD, Laura Germine, PhD, and Ipsit Vahia, MD, are leading the McLean Institute for Technology and Psychiatry, where McLean is on the cutting edge of how technology can be used to improve the delivery of mental health care and accelerate research into clinical practice.
Adriana Bobinchock and Scott O'Brien of the McLean Office of Public Affairs launched the podcast Mindful Things as part of the hospital's new public education initiative. This audio series explores mental health through frank, in-depth, personal, and sometimes difficult conversations about the many things that affect our mental well-being.
Staci Gruber, PhD, is an international leader in studying the therapeutic effects of medical marijuana and has recently begun a first-of-its-kind, double-blind, randomized clinical study—the gold standard of scientific investigations—looking at the effects of a cannabis-based product on people with anxiety to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of these treatments.
Since the fall of 2017, the hospital has been engaged in strategic planning that will allow us to expand clinical services, fuel our groundbreaking research, and further disseminate education and training in support of our critical mental health imperative. We have ambitious aspirations for enhancing our ability to effect positive change through innovative consultations, public and professional education initiatives, collaborative industry partnerships, and the adoption and scaling of new technologies that enhance behavioral and mental health assessment and care.
There is great excitement about all that we have accomplished and greater anticipation of achievements to come. With enormous enthusiasm, we go forward from our #1 position to continue to provide the highest-quality care while conducting research that is truly revolutionizing the field.
We hope that you will join us as we work together locally, nationally, and globally to improve the lives of people, families, and communities affected by psychiatric illness.
Leveraging Digital Data to Examine Individual Trajectories of Severe Mental Illness
McLean Hospital researchers are set to commence work on a study that will leverage extensive digital data to evaluate, at the individual level, the biological, environmental, and social factors that trigger dangerous mental states, particularly mania and psychosis, in people with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Thousands Attend Mental Health Exhibit in Mumbai
While people around the world may speak different languages and have cultures that are vastly different, there is one thing that affects every community: mental illness and the impact it has on individuals and families.
Deconstructing Stigma: Finding Strength Through Writing
"I think the biggest problem in my culture is that mental illness is not thought of like cancer or diabetes or any other serious illness. It's considered to be 'all in your head.' Of course, we know that's not true. Beyond that, so many people are more concerned with their reputations and social standing. They don't realize that if you don't help somebody with a mental illness, they could very well die."
Advancing the Understanding of PTSD
Perhaps one of the most misused words in modern society, "trauma" is used in daily language to describe all sorts of unpleasant or uncomfortable situations. But for 5-10% of the population, trauma and the accompanying post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a very precise condition with very real impacts on daily life. And that precision is what also makes it one of the best understood psychiatric conditions and one with the best potential for effective treatments.
Peer Counseling's Critical Role in Psychosis Treatment
If a journey of a thousand miles begins with a step, what is better than having someone along with whom to share it? That is the philosophy behind the peer counseling program at McLean Hospital's Division of Psychotic Disorders. "A lot of people with these conditions have difficulty working outside the house, living independently. This isn't because the person is into doing their own thing. It's because the help that's available hasn't really been enough, it hasn't been up to the task."
Yale Hicks: His Journey to Becoming a Peer Specialist
Yale Hicks told his college friends in New Orleans that he cut short his junior year abroad in Ghana because of malaria. "I lied to everybody, including myself," said Hicks, who was experiencing hallucinations associated with what was eventually diagnosed as bipolar disorder. "I was about 21, and it altered my life forever, because as soon as that happened, and I was diagnosed, I started to have self-shame, self-stigma, as far as what I thought of myself in relation to this label that was put on me."
Bringing the 21st Century Classroom Experience to the Arlington School
Today, students and their parents expect to have the latest technology," said Suzanne Loughlin, APRN, BC, director of McLean Hospital's Arlington School. "And in the past year, we've taken additional steps to bring the 21st-century classroom experience to the Arlington School." With the help of a $50,000 donation from a parent of a former Arlington School student, the school has purchased five new smartboards and launched a comprehensive, state-of-the-art learning management system (LMS).
Ride for Mental Health Founder Mac Dorris Wants to Expand the Conversation Around Mental Health
The difference between writing a check for an important cause and riding a bike for one is Mac Dorris. In founding the Ride for Mental Health in 2017, Dorris has created an opportunity for people to do both. The event's scenic course, stellar logistics, and excellent vibe have attracted both serious and recreational cyclists from New York to Boston. Its purpose: to raise money for McLean Hospital and inspire more people to talk about mental health issues.
Martin Richard Foundation: Helping Those Who Help Others
They did what they were trained to do: ran toward the explosions to shield and tend to the injured and comforted the frightened as they were transported to waiting ambulances. The first responders were among the biggest heroes of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
Deconstructing Stigma: It Doesn't Matter How Tough You Are
"The first responder world is made of tough-as-nails, tight-lipped individuals who live a life where nothing seems to bother them. It's gotten better in recent years, but mental illness is still very much a taboo subject."
Read more in the full issue
McLean Launches Deconstructing Stigma Campaign at Jerusalem College of Technology in Israel
Relieving Pain's Impact on Mental Well-Being


text:
It Should Be Easy
Pulling out of the driveway, Claudia's car passes their car, waiting to pull in. Max is driving. Lacey's auburn hair casts remarkable light. From behind the windshield, Claudia forces a smile. But she sees Lacey about to open her window—obviously to say hello. Claudia presses the gas pedal. They'll get to that later.
She promised Lacey, no hiding. After all, in the spring Lacey will marry this man, making Claudia his mother-in-law. Arranging this visit, Lacey explained, "We're eloping, Mom. Partly because of how you are and partly because Max's family is the other extreme. Still, you must meet him, shake his hand and say hello."
This isn't the same as when she used to avoid Lacey's high-school friends, letting the kids enjoy the house on their own.
How that annoyed Lacey, even after Claudia portrayed it as an example of trust. "Ha!" her daughter scoffed. "That's your excuse."
Possibly. Claudia feared embarrassing Lacey. The idea haunted her.
Her own mother, obnoxious from drinking, had embarrassed Claudia so much that she had done whatever possible to hide her. Lacey doesn't know that.
Of course, by now Claudia and Lacey both recognize Claudia's problem as plain fear. Until Lacey started high school, Claudia coped well enough. But once her daughter's friends grew big, and circumstances shifted, rarely forcing Claudia to face other people, she withdrew. When Lacey went to college and moved to the city, Claudia phoned and emailed regularly. But before long, even Lacey's presence proved daunting.
Claudia's overnight job requires processing catalogue orders over the phone, never in person. She shops at a 24-hour Piggly-Wiggly, after her shift, at five a.m.
At work, Claudia concentrates on her plan. No more nonsense. She vows all night to rise to the occasion.
Home at daybreak, she sets the table and makes coffee. Soon they're scuffling overhead. Lacey's giggling. Claudia senses their young bodies stretching, their backs arching. She listens to water running, their voices sounding like chimes.
It should be so easy. She imagines calling out, "One egg or two, kids," in her telephone voice. They're coming downstairs. Lacey says, "Smells great, Mom." But Claudia panics. She ducks into the front closet the moment their shadows appear.
Smothered between coats, Claudia strains to escape the trap she's built for years. Why doesn't it explode? It's charged like that.
Lacey mock-screams in exasperation.
Max says, "When your mother feels right about it, she'll appear."
Yes, Claudia thinks. Max understands. I can appear when I'm ready.
Eyes squeezed shut, she rises, weightless a split-second. A sweet aroma, separate from the coffee, surrounds her face and moistens her cheeks. And then, not giving in, she darts out of the closet!
They watch her but don't say anything. She blinks and her right hand swings stiffly up. "Hello."
Lovely piece, Kathleen. The bizarre always appeals to me and the idea of this woman popping out of the closet with her eyes shut is delightful. Also the suggestion in this that the daughter and mother's roles have reversed to some extent is great.
Thanks, Paul. Mother-daughter roles, I think, need to teeter in small measure from one to the other almost as soon as the daughter can freely speak her mind. Along with that, however, the mother should remain the protector until she's too old to hold her own.
This mother lost her balance much too soon. But here, compared at least to my previous experiment, the mother manages to spring free from the worst and the daughter might well flourish, after all.
Gives new meaning to coming out of the closet!
I guess that's true. But in both meanings, someone's just trying to find a way to be him- or herself, which the world has implied (or worse)isn't normal, without causing anyone grief.
Mike French said...
Great stuff with the Mum becoming a child herself and hiding in the closet.
Strange how we all behave.
Sometimes when I see people I know in the street I have a split second to decide to cross over and say hi, or to put my head down and increase my pace. Sometimes I say hi, sometimes I don't. Can't really explain why.
I wonder here if the mother really understands why she is avoiding her daughter? Which is good - you are left imagining what happens to their lives.
Thanks, Mike. With these short pieces, I'm confident for once that I'm not telling too much. Of course, whether that fits the famous advice to leave the reader wanting more is another question.
I'm joining the chorus about liking the role reversal between mother and daughter. I also liked the way you used the present tense - it makes the scene seem to be developing as fast as you can type it.
Stella, thanks. I'm glad you liked the present tense. This one didn't feel right to me in the traditional past tense. Then, too, the present cut several words.
The present tense is difficult to pull off. It usually sounds artifical, but you made it seem natural.
Stella, I certainly hope the present tense sound natural here, especially since you're right: it so rarely does. But the moment was such a breakthrough for this woman, I wanted to highlight that, even though from the outside in, it looks like no big deal. Other than: what weirdo literally hides in a closet?
It was just right - stream-of-consciousness without being annoying or confusing.