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THE DETROIT STORY
2012 North American Int'l Auto Show
Published on Sat, Jan 21, 2012
The Ford exhibit
Just a few years ago, they were left for dead. Talk of bankruptcy and bailouts filled the air, and the talk applied as much to Detroit as it did to its auto industry. Today, the talk is about a come-back city with the come-back industry. Auto sales are booming. Attendance at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit is the best in five years. Chris Merlo and Mark Dapoz were there to witness the historic resurrection of the American car industry. Words by Christopher Merlo Pictures by Mark Dapoz BACK IN THE BLACK The domestic automakers are once again profitable, the Germans are growing and the Koreans are surging which all makes for an upbeat mood at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. Continuing our tradition, here is a brief summary of some of the trends and general observations at this year's show and press events. •	Automakers continue their relentless push to round out their portfolios with small cars and entry-level luxury vehicles all in pursuit of the youth market and first-time buyers. •	Detroit continues to be the auto show to premier concepts and production cars and crossovers. There was not a single new truck introduction. •	Both Toyota and Honda are refocusing their brands. •	The automaker without a hybrid in its lineup is now the exception. Plus, automakers are now beginning to move into second- and third-generation hybrid designs. •	Makers continue to trumpet their achievements in fuel economy and how they are achieving improved numbers be it lightweight construction, engine refinements, electrification and so forth. •	Connectivity solutions for "hands-free" phone operation while driving are the norm. •	As manufactures continue to hammer away at attracting new buyers and retaining customers especially in the compact, midsize, crossover and entry luxury segments they are placing greater emphasis on design to distinguish their "appliances" from the competition. Indeed, many automakers in their press conferences stressed the need to provide a driving experience that emotionally connects with the driver while others emphasized customization to "make it yours". That's a brief overview, now here's a quick look and review of the stars of the show.
2013 Acura RDX Crossover – World Debut Looking to reinvigorate its brand, Acura took to the world stage of NAIAS to introduce three models. First up, the second-generation of the five-passenger RDX luxury crossover. They called it a prototype that puts it just a notch above concept on the road to showrooms. Powered by a 3.5L V6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission for 273 hp (33 more than the outgoing model) and improved fuel economy of 20 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway. The front-wheel-drive RDX will also be available with an optional new AWD system. In showrooms this spring.
2013 Acura ILX Concept – World Debut This is a directional peek at an all-new sedan targeted at the highly competitive and growing luxury compact segment. Acura talks about it as the gateway to the brand. The sedan will offer 3 powertrains including a 2.0L and 2.4L and a 1.5L hybrid, Acura's first. Scheduled to launch this spring and priced below $30,000.
Acura NSX Concept – World Debut To call this one of the most highly anticipated debuts of this year's show is an understatement. What with the prestige, heritage and shear panache of having developed and marketed the first Japanese supercar that many claim challenged the Italian exotics, you'd be surprised if we all weren't clamoring to get a first look. In fact, when you consider that this revered pinnacle of the Acura brand ended production in 2005, it's been a long time in coming for enthusiasts. Acura did not disappoint both on the design and the unexpected. After all, this is 2012 and what automaker would conscientiously introduce a supercar that was not environmentally correct? Given the economy, what could be more politically correct than creating jobs in the States? Acura and the new NSX hit on all counts and then some. Number one: it is a hybrid with a mid-engine V6. Number two: it is more than a concept; it is going into production within 3 years and will be sold globally. And it will be developed by Acura R&D here in the U.S. with plans for assembly in Ohio. Once again, Acura (Honda) will have a stunning platform to showcase its technology and automotive acumen. In fact, (hint) don't be surprised to see to see the NSX enter the motorsports arena.
2013 Audi S4 Both the A4 and S4 (pictured) receive a minor refresh for 2013. The sportier and high-performance Quattro all-wheel-drive S4 comes standard with a 3.0L 333 hp engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission.
Audi Q3 Vail Crossover Concept – World Debut Audi seeks inspiration from the mecca of winter sports with the debut of the Q3 Vail crossover. This compact SUV clearly puts Audi into the fray of what is becoming a popular market – the premium entry-level crossover segment. Sporting an "Energy Red" exterior, the all-wheel-drive Q3 is powered by a 2.5L five-cylinder, 314 hp turbocharged engine paired with a seven-speed transmission. Audi confirmed that this is more than a concept; the Q3 goes into production at the end 2013.
2013 Bentley Continental GT and GTC V8 – World Debut This debut is simply the addition of a new 4.0L twin turbo V8 engine to its Continental lineup.
BMW 3-Series Sedan and ActiveHybrid 3 BMW's best-selling model, and making its North American debut is the sixth generation of the 3-Series coming to showrooms this February. Introduced in Germany last October, the new 3 is also joined by the hybrid model that combines a six-cylinder gas engine and an electric drive capable of delivering 335 hp and 37 mpg.
2013 Buick Encore Crossover – World Debut As noted, every automaker is fixated on the entry level of its vehicle lineup. Enter the new five-passenger Buick Encore, designed to compete in the compact, premium crossover segment. Built on a dedicated platform, Encore features signature Buick design cues – waterfall grille, chrome accents and portholes on the hood. A1.4L turbo engine paired with 6-speed automatic transmission delivers 140 hp and 148 lb.-ft. of torque. Encore goes on sale in early 2013.
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS Last year Chevy introduced its new entry in the subcompact segment, the Sonic. With a focus on attracting young and first-time buyers Chevy ups the fun factor with this RS equipped with a 1.4L Turbo that kicks out 138 hp and 148 lb. feet of torque. A unique grill, fog lamps and RS styling features round out the package.
Chevrolet Concepts – World Debuts Chevrolet continues its mission to attract young buyers to its showrooms with these two concepts. Automakers will frequently use concepts to test the market and evaluate consumer reaction. In this case, Chevrolet is using these concepts to test two very different looks. Chevrolet Tru 140s is based on the front-wheel-drive architecture of the Cruze and offers a fast, sleek design with loads of style evoking the look of exotic Italian cars.
Chevrolet Code 130r is a rear-wheel-drive coupe that conjures the muscle cars of the past.
2013 Dodge Dart -- World Debut Dodge (and the new Chrysler Group) is itching to get back into the performance game in the highly competitive compact car segment – the largest and most contested in the U.S. market. Dodge is resurrecting the Dart nameplate for this European Alfa Romeo Giulietta platform modified for the U.S. market. Look for the car to hit the market in the later half of the year. Available with a choice of three all-new engines matched to three transmissions including a 6-speed manual. Also loaded with an array of technologies. Dodge is putting an emphasis on customization – a bow to the youth market – by offering a slew of MOPAR accessories, five models and twelve colors. Dodge is shooting for 41 mpg and pricing that begins south of $16K.
2013 Ford Fusion -- World Debut Wow! Ford raises the bar in the midsized segment with the all-new Fusion. Only days old this newborn is already winning buzz and awards. Indeed, the world debut of the new Fusion opened the media days at NAIAS and sent the message that the domestic automakers are back in stride and playing for keeps. There is a lot to like here and Ford is playing the big chips in what is the most important segment in the car market. And it's not just the stunning looks and overall finesse of the new Fusion that is sparking the conversation. Consider the fact that like the Taurus this car will be a showcase for numerous Ford technologies including MyFord Touch connectivity; lane-departure warning; two EcoBoost engines (turbo); and choice of three driving configurations: conventional fuel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid rated at 37, 47 and 100 mpg respectively. Available in showrooms this fall.
2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept – World Debut After 30 years of production in the U.S., Honda is about to bring the 9th generation Accord to market. This is a sneak peek at what's to come. Certainly the chips are high given the fact that Honda is looking to make a comeback after a very tough 2011. The athletic and aggressive styling of this concept certainly delivers but keep in mind that the Accord faces off against some pretty highly rated midsized sedans – think Sonata, Optima and Fusion. So the stakes are high and the bar is constantly being raised in this hotly contested segment. Design aside, and that's not to marginalize its significance when all things such as quality, reliability and value are equal. So, not unexpectedly Honda is playing its trump card and counting on its strengths, After all, one might consider Honda more of an engine powerhouse than a design house. The new Accord will feature three all-new powertrains. It will be the first Honda in the U.S. to receive the new Earth Dreams 2.4L-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC® four-cylinder engine. The engine will be paired to a 6-speed manual transmission or a new Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Output is rated at 181 hp and 177 lb.-ft. of torque. Next is a re-engineered 3.5L 24-valve, SOHC, i-VTEC V-6 engine, paired to a new 6-speed automatic transmission or an available 6-speed manual transmission. Expect increased horsepower and torque compared to the current V6. And finally, the 2013 Accord will feature the first application of a new two-motor plug-in hybrid system. The coupe and sedan go on sale this fall. The Accord Plug-In Hybrid will launch next winter.
2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo – World Debut Just a year after introducing the exciting Veloster sport coupe, Hyundai turns up the fun-to-drive factor with this turbo version. Going head to head against the likes of the Volkswagen GTI, Honda Civic Si and Mini Cooper S, it is powered by a 1.6L Turbo mated to a six-speed manual or automatic. The engine puts out an impressive 201 hp giving Veloster a number of best-in-class claims including output per liter (125+ hp), weight to power ratio and fuel economy (38 mpg). The "turbo" package includes a number of exterior styling cues including a really cool (and affordable) matte finish. Arriving in showrooms this summer.
2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Turbo – World Debut That's right. Hyundai took the wraps off two turbo models. The second, a midcyle freshening of the rear-wheel-drive Genesis coupe. The redesigned front fascia, grille, headlights, hood and wheels give it a more aggressive look. The 2.0L turbo can be paired with an 8-speed transmission (manual or automatic) and delivers 274 hp and 275 lb.- ft. of torque. There is of course a non-turbo version available that is powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine rated at 348 hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque.
Lexus LF-LC 2+2 Sport Coupe Concept – World Debut There's no denying that Lexus is putting on the bling to overcome its staid design image. Complements of its Caltech Design Center, this exuberant, sleek design – from the opposing Ls of the front grill, the glass roof and on to the jet-fighter, after-burner inspired rear tail lamps – exudes confidence while hinting at the brand's new design directions. Plus, the front-engine, rear-wheel drive LF-LC features the Lexus Hybrid Drive system.
Lincoln MKZ Sedan Concept – World Debut Sweeping, fluid lines. A sleek silhouette. This is the look of Lincoln's design future as well as a strong hint at the production MKZ arriving in dealerships later this year. The new design retains what has become a Lincoln design signature, the split-wing grille. A panoramic glass roof spans uninterrupted from the windshield to the top of the backlight bathing the four-passenger interior in natural light. The concept is built on an all-new midsize platform configurable for front and all-wheel drive powertrain options.
Maserati Kubang SUV Concept This is destined to be a first, an Italian luxury SUV built in the U.S. In fact, it will be assembled alongside the Jeep Grand Cherokee in Detroit. But its Italian origins are unmistakable – designed by Maserati and powered by an engine built by Ferrari. The Kubang expands the Maserati lineup into the highly competitive sport luxury SUV segment.
2013 Mercedes SL Roadster – World Debut On display next to the original 300 SL Mercedes is celebrating 60 years of roadster heritage with the debut of the new SL. And oh how far MB has come in 60 years and what a moniker for the times – SL stands for "Super Lightweight". Weighing over 300 pounds less than the previous model and claiming a 30 percent better fuel economy, MB claims the new standard V8 matches the performance of the previous V12. The Roadster is available in coupe and convertible body styles.
2013 Mercedes E-Class Hybrids – World Debuts Mercedes continues to expand its family of low-emission vehicles with the gasoline-powered E400 Hybrid Sedan targeting 27 mpg and diesel-powered E300 BlueTec Hybrid. Coming to showrooms in early summer.
2012 Mini Roadster – World Debut Mini welcomed a sixth member to its growing line up – the open-top two-seater roadster. Available in three models: the 121 hp base Cooper, the 181 hp Cooper S and the 208 hp John Cooper Works.
Nissan Pathfinder Concept – World Debut Nissan returned to the Detroit show this year in stealth mode. No press conference. No reveals. No hoopla. They simply displayed the new Pathfinder Concept and directed the media to their website for info. This is the directional look of the upcoming fourth-generation, 7-passenger Pathfinder built on a unibody platform. Powered by a V6 mated to a next-generation Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), the SUV goes on sale this fall.
2012 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet and Carrera S Cabriolet – World Debut Porsche unveiled the seventh generation of its 911 and specifically the Cabriolet editions of its famed sports car. Here again Porsche joins the overall industry trend of lightweight construction with the new models weighing 132 pounds less than their predecessors. The innovative and lightweight convertible top opens or closes at the push of a button in 13 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph. The Carrera comes standard with a 3.4L six with an output of 350 hp mated to a seven-speed transmission. The S gets a 3.8L capable of producing 400 hp.
2013 Scion FR-S Coupe The FR-S Coupe, the fifth vehicle to join the Scion lineup harkens back to Toyota's performance heritage. Inspired by the exterior styling of the Toyota 2000GT; the powertrain configuration and layout of the Sports 800; and overall fun-to-drive of the Corolla GT-S. The FR-S features the world's only flat boxer engine in a front-engine, rear-wheel drive configuration – like the Sports 800. Its 2.0L engine, a joint development between Toyota and Subaru, delivers 200 hp and 151 lb.-ft. of torque. That's an impressive 100 hp per liter. The engine mates with either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. Thanks to the use of lightweight materials the car weighs just over 2,700 pounds – guaranteeing a true driving adrenaline rush.
Smart For-Us Pickup Concept – World Debut Emphasizing its focus on urban transportation, the zero-emission Smart For-Us concept seeks to redefine the pickup for city dwellers. With room for two people and a docking/charging stations in the cargo area for Smart ebikes, this concept explores multiple modes of mobility.
2012 Toyota Prius c Hatchback – World Debut At last year's Detroit auto show, Toyota introduced the family of Prius hybrid electric vehicles including the Prius c Concept. The concept is now going into production as the fourth car in the Prius line up and it will be in dealerships this year. Toyota's strategy is to position the c as the entry-level car packaged and priced to appeal to first-time and young buyers. By the way, the "c" stands for city and it is specifically designed to be nimble and highly maneuverable in the urban environment thanks to a stance that is lower and a length that is 19 inches shorter than the Prius v. Toyota claims it will get an impressive 53 mpg and all for a price that starts under $19,000. Wow! That's less than the first generation Prius launched 12 years ago. The c is powered by a 1.5L gas engine and a 144-volt nickel-metal hydride battery for a total output of 99 hp.
Toyota NS4 Hybrid Concept – World Debut Separate from the Prius family, Toyota is testing this all-new midsize plug-in hybrid for rollout in the 2015 time frame. The hardtop also signals Toyota's new design direction. But what really distinguishes the car is the emphasis on connectivity. First, conventional mirrors have been replaced with cameras that provide the driver with a panoramic view on a dedicated, dash-mounted screen. Plus, there's a multi-touch screen with the look and feel of smartphone to control vehicle functions as well as cloud-based telematics. There are also a number of groundbreaking safety technologies including Toyota's next-generation pre-collision system. Finally, Toyota's goal is to use the NS4 to develop and test its next-generation hybrid drive system.
Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept That's "E" for electric, "Bug" for the Beetle and "Ster" for speedster. Last year VW introduced the all-new Beetle and now comes a study in a zero-emissions motoring via a 114 hp electric engine powered by a lithium-ion battery. With a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge, the Bugster's unique design – lowered or "chopped" roof line, 20-inch wheels and LED daytime running lights – makes it stand out on the road.
2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid – World Debut VW unveiled the most fuel-efficient Jetta in its lineup. Powering the all-new model is a high-tech turbocharged gasoline engine mated to a zero-emissions electric motor. The new Jetta Hybrid delivers an estimated combined fuel economy of 45 mpg. In addition, the Jetta Hybrid can be driven in pure electric mode at speeds of up to 44 mph and for up to 1.2 miles. Available in November.
Volvo XC60 Plug-In Hybrid Concept – World Debut Volvo is claiming that this hybrid concept is three cars in one. With the push of button the driver can choose pure electric, hybrid or power mode (enhanced performance combining both the electric and gasoline motors). Driving range is up to 35 miles in all-electric mode and in hybrid mode it'll get over 100 mpg. The electric motor produces 70 hp and when combined with the 280 hp from the all-new, four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine there's a total of 350 hp at the driver's command.


Have you ever been scrolling through the internet and found something that you absolutely loved, or knew that you would want to be able to find again? Then, to do so, you clicked on the little yellow star in Chrome and that page was bookmarked; forever in your browser for you to return to when needed? That is what Bookmark Content is; something that makes people want to stay connected to it.
Many digital marketers think that every piece of information they put out there is important and useful, and they are right. But it might only be useful to them, or a select few within their niche. The key to getting people to bookmark content (pages, blogs, videos, etc.) is that it holds immense value and that it is captivating and unique. To be of immense value it needs to be actionable; that is, something that people can use to make their lives a little better, or easier. To be captivating and unique your content must be original, eye-opening and relevant to the times. It cannot be a replica of what others are doing, and it must place you as the expert in your field.
So, how do you do it? How do you create content that is original, interesting, of immense value and that places you as an expert in your field? Here are seven simple steps to creating bookmark content for your business.
To be honest, if you are just going to create another post on a topic that everyone is talking about, it won't stand out. You need to be offering something different, something they will not get anywhere else. But it needs to be relevant (to the lives of people or current trends) if it is going to get noticed. One way to start is to take your idea for a topic and put it into Google's search bar. Then, see what comes up with the predictor-text.
For example: if you want to write about the Paleo Diet, type in paleo diet and see what else Google suggests to you. Write them down. These things that come up are what people are most frequently searching for in recent times, in relation to your topic. You will want to choose one of these because you can be sure that people want it. Do this a few times with a combination of words around paleo (paleo, how to paleo, etc.) and make a list of at least ten topic ideas. Then choose one; it will be the basis of your text.
Then, once you have chosen one, type it into the search bar and read the articles/websites that come up on the first page. You want to do this so that you know what is out there and DO NOT create content that is similar; you want to be different and better than these! Note what you can do differently to these articles that gives more value, and you have your topic.
If you want to go one step further, do a keyword search for related keywords, and use these in your articles to help with your SEO rankings. It will assist your piece in getting read by more people.
Another thing that can work well is to make a promise (i.e., How You Can Lose 5 kilos in 2 Weeks on the Paleo Diet). But be careful, you need to show proof that it can be done, and it would be wise to pop in a disclaimer if necessary because not everyone will lose 5 kilos!
If you have trouble deciding on a headline, save it until the end of the article, because you may go off topic anyway. Then ask a friend to help you, or try writing 25 variations. You are sure to find one there! If not, there are plenty of Title Creator resources on the internet.
To create bookmark content, you need to place yourself as an expert in the field; you need to be seen as knowing what you are talking about and that what you have to say is of value. As such, do thorough research on your topic. You may have opinions or personal experiences, and that is great, but they are more likely to be influential if they are backed by truths or studies shown by other people.
If you have statistics on why the Paleo Diet is a waste of time, reference them in your text (and make sure you give credit to the source!). Or perhaps you include quotes from research studies around why the diet should help people lose 5 kilos in 2 weeks – use the quotes, identify the studies and reference the source. It doesn't need to be an academic paper with a bibliography, but a few external sources will help give you credibility. Also, show any proof that you have of your own.
Additionally, it is a harsh world out there and people will be quick to call you out if you get something wrong. Make sure that your facts are correct and that you have a strong basis for your opinions. There may be people who argue your point and you need to be able to back yourself. The best way to do this is to conduct thorough research before you begin the piece. It might take a little longer than you wanted, but it will save you heartache in the end!
So now that you have decided on the topic and conducted your research, you are ready to write the article/blog. How, then, do you make it engaging and bookmark-worthy? Well, the first thing is credibility, and you have that because you have done your research. Tick that one off the list.
Then you need to make sure that you add value. What can you give your readers in the article that will make life easier for them? What can you teach them that they didn't already know? What will they get out of reading your article?
Formatting is critical. If you are not a seasoned writer, you might just blurt everything out on the page. But readers won't cope with this. Give them a short burst of information at a time, keeping one or two ideas to each paragraph. It doesn't matter if the paragraph is only two sentences long; it will help the reader to break up their thoughts and digest your marvellous writing easier.
If you can, include visuals. But only use them if they are extremely relevant and add value. For example, a short video could give more detail about something you are explaining, or so too could an infographic.
It is best to let the article sit for a day or so before editing, and there are two reasons for this. The first is that you are too close to it at the end and you will not see every mistake. You will read what you intended to write, as opposed to what is actually on the page. Sounds silly, but it is true.
The second reason is that you may think of things to add once you walk away and relax, or are lying in bed at night. You might remember a source to include or an action that you wanted to give your audience.
After you are happy with it, do an initial spellcheck. Use the computer but also use your own eyes! The computer is not always correct, because of the correct spelling of the wrong word (i.e., their, they're and there). Then, when you are completely happy, give it to someone else to edit. Preferably not your housemate, but someone who is excellent at writing skills and can give you a valid opinion.
Before you publish that article, be critical. Would you want to bookmark this article? Why? Ask the person who edited your writing if they would bookmark it, and why or why not? If they say no, make the changes that they suggest, and then ask yourself if you could give more value?
What else could you include in the article that benefits the reader? Perhaps there is an infographic you could add or an instructional video. Maybe you could explain how something will work, or how to do something in more detail. Could you give 3 Simple Paleo Breakfast Recipes, to help get them started on their journey? Whatever it is, it needs to be helpful to the reader and make their life easier in some way.
Now that you have this amazing article, no one is going to bookmark it unless they know it is there! So, share it on your social media pages, share it via email and ask your friends to share it, too. When you post on social media, ask your fans to share it (but ask nicely!). For example, "We love this article! SHARE if you love it too!" Or, you could ask for people to provide their feedback on it in the comments section. They will not only give you feedback, but it will also start a social discussion and it will be shared with more people.
If it is an article designed to get people to your website or to buy something, you might want to consider spending a small amount on paid advertising to increase the reach.
If it is purely for content purposes, though, use as many free avenues as you can to promote it. Comment about it on other blogs or social media pages so that people can find it. In the end, what was the point of doing all of that amazing work if no one is going to read it?
Google, Facebook Or Instagram Advertising: Which One Is Best For You?


The Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation will hold its 5th installment of the Estate & Succession Planning for the Family Farm program on July 17, 2018. The program will help farm families and attorneys understand the importance of estate and succession planning to their business. Along with general planning techniques, attendees will learn how family dynamics can affect estate and succession planning.
The event takes place at the Indiana Farm Bureau home office. Continuing legal education credits for attorneys are being sought. Cost: $35 per person/$60 attorney CLE. Contact Maria Spellman, 317-692-7840 or Mspellman@infb.org with any questions.


In today's AFR I was asked my opinion about the future of Australia's insurance practices. The article came in the wake of many high profile members of Sparke Helmore's insurance team defecting to Hall & Wilcox.
I thought now might be a good time to elaborate on what I said in today's paper, and to share what US-based insurance lawyers said they were doing to survive in a rapidly changing market for their services.
Law firms continue to work on improving their processes and on quality control, while simultaneously responding to cost of service pressures from insurance organisations.
It's a challenging environment. And it's really only one that can accommodate firms prepared to dedicate, not dabble, in the sector.
As insurance defence work represents a significant component of the Australian legal market, I was pleased to see the specific challenges of marketing to this sector addressed in this year's Legal Marketing Association Conference in San Diego.
Getting leverage back on track. By letting go of highly-paid senior associates and unproductive partners and hiring more paralegals. Ideally, he said ratios should be about 4:1.
Opening up channels of communication with insurance firms. Do this by using client focus groups, insurance company councils and other forums. Innovative firms will take active leadership roles in this endeavour.
Reining in expenses. This includes renting cheaper premises, hiring cheaper people, and looking at getting value from your marketing costs.
Investing in technology and re-engineering work processes.
The LMA Conference also included a panel session discussing the latest business development ideas for insurance firms. The panel included an insurance lawyer, insurance company and an insurance law firm marketer.
Here's their tips on building stronger relationships and practices.
Capitalise on insurance expertise by expanding into adjunct or associated markets. For example, one firm was expanding its Professional Indemnity D&O expertise into a niche specialisation on data breach matters.
Use marketing to compile client research and relevant articles and circulate this weekly. Use your marketers to build relationships with industry conference organisers and include updates on these events in their report.
Profile the experience and expertise of each adjuster/claims manager and use this to inform and prepare lawyers.
Create moments for 'face time' with your contacts in insurance organisations, just to be seen and remembered.
Second partners and associates to firms overseas (ie London) to understand the global insurance market.
Try to understand the claims management philosophy of each insurance division and how they classify a 'win'.
Attend industry conferences and events. Have all lawyers report back to the rest of practice about what they learnt, observed or ideas to progress.
Provide 'learning' events – seminars, papers, or updates.
Use your firm's PI broker to introduce you.
Provide regular eNewsletters with relevant content that actually relates to what your clients do and helps them do their job.


where I could do no wrong.
I knew I'd found the way.
my saddle, straight and tall.
unless they're just like me.
and why don't they attend my church?
They are not good enough!
they fall in numbers too.
are not like me and You."
my high and mighty horse.
and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted."


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Kelly Holmes
A first for Castaway as this week welcomes the show's first ever Dame! Colonel Dame Kelly Holmes is a double Olympic champion, honorary colonel in the army, author, mental health campaigner and podcast host of 'What Do I Do? Mental Health and Me.' Together Laura and Kelly discuss embracing vulnerability and failure, what the word feminism means to Kelly, proudly ageing ungracefully... and bathroom bagpipe sessions with Alistair Campbell. Podcasts referenced in this conversation include: What Do I Do? Mental Health and Me Conversations of Inspiration The Guilty Feminist Happy Place How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
Dolly Alderton
We're wrapping up this season with an incredibly influential podcaster and author Dolly Alderton. Before announcing the end of the much-loved show The High Low, Laura had a chance to pick the brains of one of the most successful British podcast hosts about what podcasts she loves to listen to -...
In this week's episode of CASTaway, Laura welcomes Joss Stone - host of her debut podcast series A Cuppa Happy. Following a hugely successful music career and a world tour, Joss has now turned to podcasting interviewing the likes of Boy George and Wim Hof and unpicking what it is to be happy....
Emma Gannon
Today Laura is joined by OG podcaster, author and journalist - Emma Gannon. Emma started out the hugely popular Ctrl Alt Delete podcast back in 2016 and has been interviewing guests such as Elizabeth Gilbert, Ava DuVernay and Gillian Anderson on their careers and the choices they have made ever...
More from Laura Whitmore + Mags Creative
castaway.simplecast.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


FISHER'S LANDING gem in the heart of the Village neighborhood. Great SCHOOLS, & prime shopping/freeway access! Cul-de-sac, large private lot, NEW paint in & out! Gorgeous refinished woods & Hand Scraped TEAK flooring & new carpet. Entertainers dream Kitchen/great room w/ large island,2 pantrys & newer appliances. Large bedrooms w/ walk in closets, main floor office/den! Beautiful private yard with wrap around deck & hot tub in gazebo!


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Ioan Mihai Cochinescu () este un prozator, scenarist și regizor de film, artist fotograf și muzicolog român.

Studii
 A absolvit în anul 1974 Universitatea Națională de Muzică din București, Facultatea de Compoziție-Muzicologie, unde i-a avut ca profesori pe George Bălan, Dan Constantinescu, Myriam Marbe, Victor Giuleanu, Emilia Comișel, Dumitru D. Botez, Marin Constantin, Grigore Constantinescu, Dan Buciu, Alexandru Leahu.
 Doctor în muzică (estetică) al Universității Naționale de Muzică din București cu teza "Barocul muzical venețian ilustrat prin creația și personalitatea lui Antonio Vivaldi", 2005).
 În prezent, Ioan Mihai Cochinescu este profesor de estetică și pian la Liceul de Artă din Ploiești.

Activitatea literară și artistică
 Participă în anii '80 la activitatea unor cenacluri literare bucureștene cunoscute, cum ar fi: Cenaclul de proză "Junimea", condus de criticul Ovid S. Crohmălniceanu, Cenaclul de luni , condus de profesorul Nicolae Manolescu, Cenaclul "I. L. Caragiale" din Ploiești, dar și la unele aproape anonime, din Câmpina, Mizil, Pucioasa sau Cenaclul Literar din Slănic, încercând astfel să anihileze, ca mulți dintre colegii săi optzeciști, efectul nepublicării lor în volume sau reviste literare, ca urmare a cenzurii practicate în epocă. Are apariții sporadice, cu proze scurte, în revistele "Argeș" (1968), "SLAST" (1986) și "Tribuna" (1987). Este scos de către cenzură dintr-un volum colectiv de proze scurte (1986, Editura Cartea Românească).
 Participă cu lucrări de artă fotografică la expozitii și concursuri în țară, dar și în Franța, Brazilia, Polonia, ș.a.m.d. (1982 - 1986), obținând prestigioase premii. Publică eseuri, articole și traduceri în revista "Fotografia".
 Inventează formele fotoplane și fotospațiale, expuse la Galeriile de Artă Fotografică AAF (București, 1983), Sala Dalles (Bucuresti 1983) și în Polonia (1986). Inițiază în 1987 la Ploiești Primul Salon Național de Eseu Fotografic, ESEF '87.

Afilieri
 Ioan Mihai Cochinescu este membru al Uniunii Scriitorilor din România - USR (1993), membru al Asociației Artiștilor Fotografi din România - AAF (1982), membru fondator și președinte al Societății Pentru Literatură Ploiești - SPLP (1990), membru fondator (1994) și membru în Consiliul de conducere (1996) al Asociației Scriitorilor Profesioniști din România - ASPRO.

Opere literare și de cercetare științifică
 Debutează editorial după revoluția din 1989, cu romanul Ambasadorul (Editura Cartea Românească, 1991).
 În 1993, apare volumul Rock & Depeche. Filmul unui roman (Editura LiberART, Ploiești).
 În 1996 apar Visul de iarnă al Isabellei și Insula, (Editura RAO), proze scurte din anii '80.
 În 2001 apare volumul Tratatul de caligrafie (eseuri, Editura Noel Computers, Ploiești).
 În pregătire pentru editare, volumele: Sublimul (studii de estetică, 1994), Alchimia și muzica (2005), Barocul muzical venețian (2005) și monografia Antonio Vivaldi (2005).

Volume publicate
 Ambasadorul, București, Cartea Românească, 1991 - roman
 Rock@Depeche. Filmul unui roman, roman (1993)
 Visul de iarnă al Isabelei, povestiri (1996)
 Tratatul de caligrafie, eseuri (2001)
 Paris: À la recherche des rues perdues, traducere Ioana Emilia Drăgoi, Ploiești, Edit Art, 2006.
 Vulpea lui Akira, editura Trei, 2022 - roman-puzzle

Creații în domeniul cinematografiei (ca regizor și scenarist)
 Ultimul om de zăpadă (1968)
 Când oamenii se joacă (1969)
 Casa de pe colină (1969)
 Orașul (1970)
 Peștele în apă (1971)
 Nunta (1974)

Colaborări la reviste literare, radiodifuziune, televiziune
Revistele : Contrapunct, România Literară, Literatorul, Caiete Critice Televiziunea Română, Radiodifuziunea Română, TV Antena 1, etc.

Premii literare
 Premiul Academiei Române (31 august 1993)
 Premiul Uniunii Scriitorilor din România (1992)
 Premiul pentru proză Liviu Rebreanu (1992)

Bibliografie
 Academia Română, "Dicționarul General al Literaturii Române" (Editura Univers Enciclopedic, București 2004, lit. C/D, pag. 297);
 Eugen Simion, "Fragmente Critice" (Editura Fundația Scrisul Românesc, 1998, pp. 50–55);
 Ion Bogdan Lefter, "Romanian Writers of the '80s and '90s, A Concis Dictionary" (Editura Paralele 45, 1999, pag.65)

Legături externe

 Situl oficial al scriitorului
 Blogul scriitorului

Nașteri în 1951
Nașteri pe 16 aprilie
Cineaști români în viață
Fotografi români
Fotografi români din secolul al XX-lea
Muzicieni români în viață
Pedagogi români
Prozatori români
Regizori de film români
Scriitori români în viață
Timișoreni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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ABOUT OPTIONS REAL ESTATE
Options Real Estate was founded in October of 1991 as a full service commercial real estate company specializing in Southern Dallas County with one mission in mind: To make our neighborhoods and business owners better through the built environment.
Our team believes in enhancing the quality of life of Southern Dallas & Northern Ellis Counties and advancing its image, in order to provide an enduring inheritance to our children and grandchildren.
We hope to build a community where residents can enjoy educational and employment opportunities that utilize the technologies of the 21st century, find cultural and spiritual fulfillment, and have a diversity of OPTIONS for shopping, dining, entertainment, living, or homes.
Not only has our team done thousands of transactions over the years, but we've restored and built places like the Belmont Hotel, the Texas Theatre, various buildings in the Bishop Arts, Downtown Duncanville, surrounding Downtown Midlothian, Thorntree Country Club and much more. Through active participation in civic groups and community organizations, preservation, urbanism and environmentalism, we have done community development for profit.
View Our Available Properties Now »
Monte Anderson
President, Sales Associate, Developer, Development consultant, South Dallas native, new urbanist
Since 1984, Monte has been improving the living and working environments in Texas' southern Dallas and northern Ellis counties. He's an outspoken man who cares about people, and he is an advocate for policies and practices that serve urban neighborhoods.
Rick Keeler
Rick is a dad, friend, cyclist, art lover, wine drinker, and roamer of the Earth. He joined the team in 1997
Lena Liles
Lena is a lifelong resident and active member of the South Dallas community. As a new urbanist, she enjoys working on development projects that cater to small local businesses. In her free time, she hangs out with family, friends, and her dog, Maggie
Jace Ousley
Designated Broker/Vice President
Jace is committed to making all properties that he finds a better place–not only for his kids but for future generations. He focuses on making properties more sustainable, repurposing properties to reduce need for raw materials, and developing a sense of place in certain properties to ensure their use for years to come. He enjoys spending time outdoors with his family when he can.
Tammy Espinoza
Tammy is a mother of three and lives in Midlothian. She is a communicator and seeks to make the people she interacts with feel confident that she is there to help them. She loves trivia, so when time permits she enjoys Jeopardy and board games with her family. She also loves making music with her kids, who are quickly learning to play different instruments. Her three children–Obi-Juan, Lucas (or Luke), and Leia– are purposely named after her love of Star Wars! She joined Options in 2005.
Yolanda Perry
Property Management Accounting, Notary
Yolanda is bilingual. She is also a mother of two. She values honesty and respect. In her free time, she enjoys reading, walking, and going to her grandkids sports games. She joined Options in 2002.
Locally owned small businesses the focus of new development on South Beckley
[This article was originally posted by at oakcliff.advocatemag.com on October 19th, 2020.] By Rachel Stone An unremarkable L-shaped building on South Beckley is bringing small-business opportunities to South Oak Cliff. Real estate developer Monte Anderson is...
'A Collaborative Village': Artists, Makers, and Entrepreneurs Embrace Creative Collisions as Tyler Station Hits 100%
[This article was originally posted by at dallasinnovates.com on September 5, 2019.] The mixed-use creative development in Oak Cliff was the brainchild of new urbanist pioneer Monte Anderson. As one tenant puts it: "I don't know of anything like it in Dallas or really...
Options Listings Monthly Spotlight: 100 S Main Street in Duncanville
For July's Monthly Spotlight, we're turning our attention to Main Station, located in the heart of Duncanville at 100 S Main St. Built in 2003 at 23,000 SF, this mixed-use property features residential lofts over first-level retail spaces, high visibility and bikable...
D Magazine Hits All of Tyler Station's Best Angles in New Profile
Tyler Station was created with the intention of redeveloping the old Dixie Wax Paper plant into a neighborhood collaborative workplace for everyone. As new urbanists and preservationists, we saw a really good opportunity to connect a mix of commercial uses, a commuter...
Options Real Estate Wins 5th Straight CLIDE Award
We are proud to announce that for the fifth time in a row, Options Real Estate has received the North Central Texas Council of Government's CLIDE Award. CLIDE stands for Celebrating Leadership in Development Excellence. This year, we have been recognized in the...
Plans for small-scale developers boot camp underway in the Triad
Incremental Development Alliance is planning to hold a Small Developers Bootcamp this year in Greensboro. Jim Kumon has big ideas for small developments. That's the gospel he preaches as executive director of the Incremental Development Alliance, a Minnesota-based...
Options Real Estate Investments, Inc.
111 E. Davis Street Suite 101
Duncanville, TX 75116
monte@optionsre.com
Brokerage Services Information


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Choral Music, Orchestral Music
Winston-Salem Symphony: Mozart's Requiem
Winston-Salem Symphony & Chorus Give Powerful Performance of Mozart Requiem
Choral Music, Orchestral Music Review by Timothy H. Lindeman, March 31, 2019
( Sun., Mar. 31, 2019 - Tue., Apr. 2, 2019 )
Performed by Winston-Salem Symphony; Winston-Salem Symphony Chorale; Jessica Morel and Christopher Gilliam, conductors, Ilana Lubitsch, Soprano; Stephanie Foley Davis, Mezzo-Soprano; Daniel Stein, Tenor; and Andrew René, Bass.
Wait Chapel, 1834 Wake Forest Road , Winston-Salem, NC 27109
The concert will open with Schubert's dramatic and emotional Symphony No. 4 in C minor, D 417 (Tragic). This piece takes the listener on a journey through the full range of emotions. While it is at times full of effervescence and vitality, at other moments it portrays haunting anguish and melancholy. Overshadowed by Beethoven during his lifetime, Schubert's symphonies are now revered for the surprising harmonic turns and thrilling musical moments.
The concert continues with Mozart's Requiem in D minor, K. 626, with the Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus and the guest singers joining the Symphony. Considered a masterpiece and one of the strongest expressions of faith that can be found in art, Mozart's Requiem moves audiences with its transcendent power and beauty.
Tickets beginning at $20
http://www.WSsymphony.org
WSS Classics
Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 7:30 PM
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Smedley, A., & Penney, D. (2009). A partnership approach to the preparation of preceptors. Nursing Education Perspectives, 30(1), 31-36.
The role of nurse preceptor is critical to the successful integration of nursing students into the profession. Collaborative, partnership-based learning between beginning and more experienced nurses is central to this role. This article describes a targeted course for registered nurses designed to increase their knowledge and skills for preceptoring and achieve attitudinal changes to enhance the student/RN learning relationship in the clinical workplace. The course development and participation experience is discussed in relation to action learning as a model for nurse professional development. Prospects for extended and more formalized application of action learning in nursing and nurse education are discussed.
Nursing Education Perspectives may be accessed from the National Library of Australia here.


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✎ About Richard LeFrak
Birth Place: New York, New York, United States
Alma mater: B.A. Amherst College J.D. Columbia University
Occupation: Businessman
Spouse(s): Karen Tucker
Children: James Tucker LeFrak Harrison Tucker LeFrak
Parent(s): Samuel J. LeFrak Ethel Stone
Richard LeFrak
Richard LeFrak was born on 1945 in New York, New York, United States. Richard LeFrak became CEO of the LeFrak Organization in 2003 when his father Sam died. The father-son team transformed the business, which started in France in 1883, into one of the largest real estate developers in the New York area. Holdings include LeFrak City - a 20 building, 5,000-unit apartment complex in Queens - and hundreds of acres across from Manhattan to Newport, N.J. Known for apartments for moderate-income tenants in the areas around New York City, LeFrak has recently been expanding into luxury and new markets. LeFrak sat on President Donald Trump's infrastructure council before it was disbanded in August 2017. Trump and LeFrak are longtime friends.
Richard LeFrak is a member of Real Estate
Some Richard LeFrak images
Famous Quotes:
The real estate business is just a proxy for the demographics of a community. If a community is growing, the real estate business benefits from it. If the community is shrinking, then the real estate business gets damaged.
Biography/Timeline
LeFrak was born in 1945 to a Jewish family in New York City, one of four children of Ethel Stone and real estate developer Samuel J. LeFrak. LeFrak received a B.A. and graduated cum laude from Amherst College. LeFrak also holds a J.D. from Columbia University. In 1998, LeFrak received an honorary doctorate degree from Amherst College.
LeFrak joined his family's real estate firm, LeFrak, in 1968. In 1975 he was appointed President. In 2003, he was elected chairman and CEO following the death of his Father, Samuel J. LeFrak. In 1986 LeFrak and his Father began building in Jersey City, New Jersey on the site of abandoned piers and rail yards. The area is now known as Newport, a 600-acre neighborhood with 8 office buildings, 13 apartment towers, 2 hotels, an urban beach, schools, a Retail mall, and parks.
LeFrak currently sits on the board of Directors of the Prostate Cancer Foundation and is a member of the board of trustees of the American Museum of Natural History. From 1995 to 2007, he was a board member of Smith & Wollensky. Previously, he served on the board of trustees of Amherst College and Trinity School; was a member of the New York State Banking Board; and served as Director of BankUnited, Florida.
LeFrak was ranked #16 on the Commercial Observer's Real Estate Power 100 in 2013, # 20 in 2012, #20 in 2011, #10 in 2010, #18 in 2009, and #64 in 2008.
In 2017, St. Joseph's Chapel, the Catholic September 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center, located in the Gateway Plaza in Battery Park City, was threatened with closure due to the St. Peter's parish's reluctance or inability to pay a tripling of its rent by a management company run by LeFrak corporation and partners.
LeFrak is also credited with leading the LeFrak organization's expansion and diversification outside of the New York area. In 2008 the company purchased a 12-story office building on Hollywood Boulevard as well as a medical building in Beverly Hills, California. In 2012 LeFrak purchased a stake in a South Beach, Miami luxury mixed-use property, including a hotel formerly known as the Gansevoort. The project is expected to open in early 2014 as the eco-minded 1 Hotel Homes.
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I have been working on transforming my laundry room into a place that is more organized and therefore a better place to work in. Our laundry room is actually quite large (for a laundry room), but it is in a dark basement.
On top of that it is the first room you see when you enter the house from the garage. The garage entry door opens opposite the laundry room door.
This was actually my Lenten promise: organize the laundry room - even though you really don't want to and there are several other projects on your mind that would be more fun and exciting. Also, do not start any other project until this project is done!
So step 1 in transforming my laundry room was making my utility sink more utilitarian.
I am actually very excited about this part of the Laundry Room Makeover!
We have one of those large plastic utility sinks that is great for when you need a large basin to clean things in that you don't mind getting dirty, but it is also quite an eyesore and takes up quite a lot of space.
The utility sink cover/lid is on a hinge so that if folds up and out of the way for when you need to work in the basins.
One of the things our laundry room was missing was countertop space. So, this project helped to provide more counter space and to also be an area where dirty clothes can lie and be stain treated. My washing machine is directly to the left of the utility sink (it actually empties into the sink via the hose you see entering the sink in the left basin).


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Buckle up: The Fed is about to get tough on inflation
By Paul R. La Monica, CNN Business
Updated 10:15 AM EDT, Thu April 21, 2022
What the Fed needs to do as recession looms over US economy
05:27 - Source: CNNBusiness
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- Source: CNNBusiness
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Bank of America CEO predicts 'mild recession' next year
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Grocery chain CEO on food prices: 'My crystal ball is broken'
The jobs market is strong, but showing 'significant cracks'
What the Fed's latest historic interest rate hike means
New York CNN Business —
Last month, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time since December 2018. Now there are growing expectations that the central bank is about to dramatically step up the size and pace of its rate hikes in order to put a brake on surging consumer prices.
St. Louis Federal Reserve president James Bullard, one of the more hawkish members among the Fed's regional bank chiefs, reiterated at an event Monday that the Fed needs to "expeditiously" raise rates in order to tamp down inflation. (Inflation hawks typically push for higher rates while so-called doves favor lower rates to stimulate growth.) Bullard suggested the Fed could raise rates by as much as 75 basis points.
Fed chair Jerome Powell has started to sound a lot more hawkish in recent weeks, but he may not want to move as aggressively as Bullard would like. But it's clear that rates are likely to start climbing a lot higher soon.
"The Fed should have taken the opportunity to raise rates earlier. There is only so much they can do now, it's almost already too late," said Johan Grahn, vice president and head of ETFs at AllianzIM. "But they have to get ahead of this, and unfortunately the recipe for that is to move more aggressively with rate hikes."
Traders are now pricing in a nearly 100% likelihood of a half-point hike at the Fed's May meeting, according to the widely watched federal funds futures trading on the CME, and a more than 25% chance of another 50 basis point increase in June.
New homes under construction are seen at a housing development on March 23, 2022 in Novato, California. According to a report by the Commerce Department, sales of new single-family homes slowed in February as mortgage rates inch up and and house prices continue to rise.
Inflation is so hot the Fed may have to hike interest rates like it's 1994
Investors also are pricing in a more than 70% possibility that the Fed will lift rates by three-quarters of a percentage point in June. That would leave the Fed's key short term rate at 1.5%, a dramatic rise from the beginning of the year, when rates were still near zero.
It can't be stressed enough just how unusual it would be for the Fed to raise rates that sharply. The last time the central bank boosted rates by a half-point was in May 2000 when Alan Greenspan was Fed chair, just after the dot-com bubble peaked. The last three-quarter point hike took place under Greenspan, too, in November 1994. (Greenspan retired in 2006.)
The Fed is in a tough spot right now, according to José Torres, senior economist at Interactive Brokers.
"They have to tighten quickly and pray that nothing breaks. It's the only policy they have," Torres added. "Being so late to hike rates reduces the Fed's flexibility."
Bond investors have already figured out that rates have nowhere to go but up. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury is now hovering near 2.9%, up from about 1.5% at the end of 2021. That has put upward pressure on mortgage rates, with a 30-year fixed home loan now averaging a rate of 5%.
Recession fears rising
Higher rates could eventually slow the red hot housing market, but that could be a blow to the broader economy.
That's exactly what happened when the Fed aggressively raised rates to 20% in the late 1970s and early 1980s under the late Paul Volcker to fight double-digit inflation. The consequence was a double-dip recession, then a brief downturn in 1980 followed by another pullback that lasted from mid-1981 through late 1982.
With that in mind, the Fed has to be ready to pivot quickly to reverse any damage that comes from higher rates, which is what the Fed has historically done. It started cutting rates in July 1995, for example. And in 2001, following a massive stock market meltdown, the Fed reversed course and lowered rates a whopping 11 times.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Here's how the Fed's interest rate hike will affect your wallet
Jenny Renton, a partner with Ruffer, an investment management firm, worries that the Fed is likely to be overly aggressive with rate hikes as it belatedly tries to shove the inflation toothpaste back into the tube.
She's concerned that Fed rate hikes could lead to a recession. And that would mean the Fed may need to quickly cut rates again, leading to more volatility.
"People are talking about a policy mistake coming from the Fed, but it's already happened. The Fed was way behind the curve with inflation. Now they will have to react to recession pressures," she added.
Still, others think the Fed should remain more focused on inflation worries than concerns about an eventual slowdown. After all, the job market remains tight, with the unemployment rate at just 3.6%…not far from a 50-year low. And the Fed has a so-called dual mandate: It needs to focus on both price stability and maximum employment.
"I believe that [the Fed] takes their mandate quite seriously," said Brad Conger, deputy chief investment officer at Hirtle Callaghan & Co., in an email to CNN Business. He added, however, that "the additional pressure on prices from the Ukraine war has made that calculus more fraught."
"Before the war, it seemed plausible for inflation to gradually subside to a 3% range. Given the impacts of the war and a Covid outbreak in China now foreseeable, we would be fortunate to see consumer price inflation below 5%," Conger added.
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IN: Number of dimensions of dataspace.
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2. Big Dog proposes the setting up of a committee to investigate how Ramli had accumulated so much wealth with so little [Doing due diligence on the Dato'].
The Ram vs "All the Rogues"
Ramli Yusuf, who is suing the Government + Attorney-General Gani Patail + ex-Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan + MACC + "all the rogues" (to quote Din Merican here), will have a lot of explaining to do, if documents pointing towards his assets which appear in blogs the last few days are to be used against him.
Last week, a new blog Justice for the Ram started a series of postings (FIVE so far!) apparently in support of Ramli. It appeared on my radar after The Benchmark, one of the few on my Blogs-That-Rock roll, reproduced 12 pages of documents which appear to be a Declaration of Asset by Ramli himself. Read Benchmark's posting Ramli Yusuf - Lebih Bersih Dari Kain Kapan.
If the documents are genuine, they would suggest an amazing, even world-record-breaking, financial feat by an individual earning less than RM10k a month (RM18k plus, if combined with spouse's income). Ironically, these docs first appeared in Justice for the Ram.
There are 11 more sheet$ h e r e.
I was told that our anti-graft men opened a file on these assets but never did get to close it. What or who's to stop the MACC now from finishing what it started back then?
p.s. When asked about the suit, Ramli said he was doing it for the men in blue.
Well, I have a suggestion. Instead of suing the Government, Ramli should conduct courses for police officers on how to accumulate great wealth with their meager income. That would really help.
Tell me, Rocky, did the PM list his assets and those of his family members ? Did his son buy into listed companies ? Did Nor Yakcop declare his children's assets to allow his son to buy into a listed company ? How much are Shahreezat's children worth ? How much is Jamaluddin Jarjis' family worth ?
Lu ini macam cakap tak betoi. Lu mesti tanye - siape dalam kabinet Najib ada buat decalaration ? Shahreezat ada buat tak ? Najib ada buat ? What about Nazri ? What about Nor Yakcop. These are the real filthy rich people. They buy condos, bungalows, they buy listed companies.
Both my parents are retired police officer. My dad's last rank before he retired was SAC1, while my mom's was one rank higher than ASP (can't remember what...sorry!). Have never taken a bribe in their life. We live in the same terrace house for more than 30 years...my parents have NEVER owned a first hand car EVER!!! Semua second hand...cannot afford otherwise. My mom tak pernah ada savings account until she retired as she did not have any money left to save! My classmate's father, whose rank was lower than my dad's when he retired and whose wife is a stay-at-home mom, stays in a HUGE bungalow, drives posh cars and bought my classmate a BMW convertible. When asked how, her excuse was that her dad is a good businessman. Yeah right! I guess this guy too is a "good" business man. The thing is, there are many police officers like my parents...and they KNOW ALL about officers like this guy and my classmate's date. The only problem is...how to prove? Dengan manusia boleh lah tipu, tapi dengan Tuhan, macamana?
apa yg Rocky risau sangat kalau Ramli tak ada bukti kukuh ?
Takut kerana salah, berani kerana benar.
What about Abdullah Badawi children and son-in-law? I think we should include him also. And while at it I suggest to call upon KJ to conduct courses for new graduates on how to become filthy rich AFTER marrying a Prime Minister' daughter and live a life that one do not have to worry where you next meal is coming from for your future generations to come.
Considering the damage done to the men in blue, since being a public servant and yet being able to amass so much wealth, its no wonder everyone seems to have an impression that every police officer from constable to the highest ranking are all corrupt. He should have beem brought to court to ascertain yhat all his wealth are legitimately accumulated. From his declaration it is obvious a few of the assets are underdeclared. A semi-d house in Tropicana indah were sold at time of launch for mu h higher than from what was declared.
Anon 3.33pm hit the nail on the head: rocky, are you going to call for all public servants at high places to put this online as he has done?
Salam Rocky.The crux of the matter is he was wrongly prosecuted.His procution was done malaciously.That is why his case was thrown out by the court.
He loses his right to be considered for promotion to the highest post.His name was indeed tarnished by the legal process.As such he has every right to clear his name and put him back to the society.
His right to be heard is guranteed by the constitution,as such let him has his day in the court of law.
I wonder what happen to Ling liong Sik case,Sharizat Case,Perwaja case,Khir Toyol Case..... all not guilty.
The issue here is simple: you take a civil servant's declaration, and you post it in public for all to see. This civil servant has already been vetted by the MACC and no action was taken, so why paste his details in public ? What about those who fail to declare their assets, including the cabinet members ? Why should ANYONE even bother to declare their assets if such a declaration can be used against you by unscrupulous bloggers with an axe to grind ?
There is no confidentiality in this country if it does not involve UMNO - that's the real moral of this thread.
aku rasa mamat anon 3.33 & 3.58 tu org yg sama. Sikit sikit kena fair, kena check yg belah sana lah and so on. Yg salah tetap salah... still try nak divert main issue dlam tajuk ni. aku pun tak suka jugak si polan yg mamat tu mentioned tapi jgn jadi anjing menyalak bukit. kalau bengang sangat kat si polan tu, cari bukti & siarkan. klu boleh saman terus.. aku pun akan sokong saman tu.. ini tidak,asyik nak merepek tak tentu hala..
jgn lah jadi bodoh piang..
Mengata orang dia yang lebih. Diorang ni macam gitulah. Spt Lim Guan Eng bertanya Zam, "Why does it always have to be about race?" padahal dia lah yang tak sudah2 bercakap pasal bangsa, cuma dia ni cerdik sikit - bila nak kutuk Melayu dia gunakan "Umno".
I'm all for people in high public office to decclare their assets BUT that's another matter that even you and your masters can champion too.
The issue at hand is this asset declaration made by Ramli Yusuf. With combined salary of just RM18k plus, he has managed to accumulate so much wealth. Fixed deposits alone exceed RM3.5 million. Ramli Yusuf claimed (in Din Merican's blog) that the IGP and the Home Minister had okayed his declaration of assets.
Naturally, you'd have questions , 1. is it normal for a senior police officer to have so much wealth with so little? 2. if it's not normal, why did his IGP and Home Minister okayed his declaration? 3. what happened to the investigation that the ACA had launched?
You and your masters have accused police officers of being corrupt. But when you see the facts and figures on those 12 pages, you say it's OK? Just because Ramli Yusuf is suing the government? Come off it, please!
Not saying shouldnt question this fella and how he got his assets - by all means - BRING IT OUT and question him! dont spin it!
issue is you seem to only question anyone that ruffles your boss's feathers. perhaps instead of projecting yourself as an impartial journalist, just declare openly where your loyalty lies (and for how much perhaps). A disclaimer of some sort.
you have plenty of people who read your blog. use that influence to start demanding cabinet ministers declare their assets. nazri and family ? ah jib? khairy?
yes? no? thought so. must be hard to point the pistol at your own bosses.
Everybody make money from the stock market. This including MB,Ministers,Top Civil servants.and teacher .
If you getbthe right tip,you can make million even if you plat contra T+4.
Even your close friend like Kadir Jasin,Nazri Abdullah,Mutalib and Khalid make million of ringgit .
Why raise this issue after 15 years.
It is interesting to note where was Ramli when the super-bullish years of the IPO madness 1992-94 and what was his rank back then. From thar, you can work out backwards how much his pay and accumulated savings (Lets for arguments sake he is a very thrifty man).
We need another assumption too. Ramli wasnt hit at all and complete spared when the Asian Financial Crisis of 1996-7 came and then KLSE crashdived from 1300 points to barely 260 points.
Ramli must hv a bloody good crystal ball!
(Mind you, there were very few ppl who can afford handsets (as I recall the popular term in the 90s). Especially not at a supritendant of police and later assistant commissioner of police pay.
Probably it wise to compare the lifestyle of police officers in the cohort of Ramli, in the likes of Tan Srì Musa Hassan and Bakri Omar, who were his compemporaries if not bosses.
Tell us, which JUSA C officer whose spouse isnt a successful entrepreneur back in 2007, could afford a RM1.1m condo in Pavilion, considering that he has a long list of other luxurious properties?
Pls know that I am extremely proud of the honesty and integrity of your parents as polis.
Pls convey my gratitude to them for serving the people in the way that they have.
PDRM should have more personnel like your parents.
Cinabeng tak payah kutuk melayu. Cinabeng tahu yang terpaksa kutuk ialah DUMNO. Cinabeng tahu bukan semua melayu sama dengan perangai Dumnoputra.
"Tell me, Rocky, did the PM list his assets and those of his family members ? Did his son buy into listed companies ? Did Nor Yakcop declare his children's assets to allow his son to buy into a listed company ? How much are Shahreezat's children worth ? How much is Jamaluddin Jarjis' family worth ?
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones."
If we wanted to extend this line of enquiry to those in power, with equal rigour, Malaysia would need to build new prisons.
DAP collaborating with PAS and PKR to win Sg Limau - ini kira "kutuk" melayu ke ? Lim Kit Siang menang Gelang Patah - dia tu "kutuk" melayu ke ?
I know you are not racist, but you are toeing the UMNO line that if there is insufficient explanation, just turn to race and religion to distract the real issues at hand. I feel sad for you, Latuk. A cheap cigar and a swig of single malt, and you are ready to do the devil's bidding. Naik lah harga sikit.
Rocky bro, please define filthy. Is Sharizat's family filthy ? Is Nor Yaacob's family filthy ? Is KJ's family filthy ? Is Najib's family filthy ? tolong sikit kasi definasi filthy.
Trifling jester is spot on with his comments.
"Mengata orang dia yang lebih. Diorang ni macam gitulah. Spt Lim Guan Eng bertanya Zam, "Why does it always have to be about race?" padahal dia lah yang tak sudah2 bercakap pasal bangsa, cuma dia ni cerdik sikit - bila nak kutuk Melayu dia gunakan "Umno".
"Why (is Felda) not putting money into assets that are synergistic to its strengths in agribusiness?"
In what way is this racist as a question?
Zam's contorted logic is laughable.
SPRM is not competent enough. For public servants or police officers it is clear. If your gaji is only 10,000 per month then 3.5 million is simply not possible unless you are corrupt.
There is no need for proof for corruption laws. It is clear. Income that cannot be explained is corruption simple.


The NDIS has finally begun its full roll-out across Australia, after being trialled in various shapes and forms and places over the past three years.
It is hailed as the biggest social transformation in Australia since the introduction of Medicare, yet there are growing fears that it is being derailed by the pressure of funding cuts, vested interests and 'welfare blaming', and that the understanding of true 'choice and control', the NDIS slogan, is being lost.
Last month The Australian reported that founding NDIS chair Bruce Bonyhady has been replaced "following a year of scandals and blunders", amid a broader shakeup of the Board that will see a number of corporate heavyweights take up positions. That's prompted concerns that it is lacking representation of people with disability.
That makes this two part article on the NDIS by El Gibbs, published as part of her crowd-funded #CripCroakey series, so timely and important.
In this first part, Gibbs looks at worrying mistakes and directions in the emerging NDIS and asks: where are the voices of people with disability and a deep understanding of human rights in all this?
In the follow-up piece, she will explore how the NDIS was designed to end the "lottery" system of support that people with disabilities endured and questions whether the "scandals and blunders" are symptomatic of a scheme that is far removed from its goals.
The NDIS was initially framed around the rights of people with disability – the right to be part of the community and to have the supports necessary to do that.
It also envisioned a new system that would mean people with disability would have 'choice and control' (as the rhetoric went) over what kinds of supports they wanted and used.
Now, just a few years on, the NDIS is instead framed as a terrifying drain on the budget and part of Australia's ballooning welfare bill. Neither are true, but there is an increasing hostility towards the NDIS at the moment that seems to miss crucial components of the Scheme and the rights of people with disability seem to have vanished in a mirage of budget emergencies and, troublingly, perhaps in the makeup of the NDIS board, with experience with disability no longer necessary.
Of equal concern, the key promise of the NDIS – that it would revolutionise disability support services to centre disabled people and what they need and want – seems to be getting lost in a world of IT failure, problems with implementation and changes to how the scheme works.
At the same time, a decision has been made to end the practice of making a float available for people using the NDIS who manage their own supports and funds. Previously, once a person was deemed eligible for the NDIS, and their plan and supports finalised, they could have this money in advance so they could begin to pay for the services they used.
Adding to these issues are strong concerns about how the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) and Local Area Coordinator parts of the NDIS are being both funded and rolled out.
The First Peoples Disability Network is continuing to ask about whether the NDIA is listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about their very specific issues with the NDIS.
University of Sydney researcher John Gilroy wrote about the failure of the NDIS to date to address the needs of Indigenous people, in this article at The Conversation. He said that individual choice requires service and support opportunities to exist in local communities, so limited opportunities, especially in remote communities, equates to limited choice.
Last month, new concerns emerged that eligible new participants are being turned away in the ACT, where places have now been capped after participant numbers reached "total capacity" under the bilateral agreement.
I have been a critic of the model of the NDIS as a voucher system of support, with the only choice seeming to be on offer being that of a consumer, purchasing options in the market place. But even this neoliberal model of the NDIS seems to be out of reach.
Is this very idea of a market – as the only way to be able to have a disability support system that is flexible and tailored to individual people with disability – what is causing problems? Could a public and not-for profit system provide that choice and control central to a person's right to a decent life?
Where are the voices of people with disability in all this?
The key idea here, and one I have highlighted before in this series, is that people with disability deserve the same rights as people who do not have a disability. It is the understanding that disability is not something that happens to some other people, but something that is part of normal, ordinary life. It is often said in disability circles that people are just temporarily able bodied – the idea that a 'normal' body is not a disabled body is a fantasy.
The NDIS was not to be a system that works for those disabled people "over there" – it is intended to become part of our essential social infrastructure, available to all Australians, which will ensure that having a disability will no longer mean poverty or a denial of basic human rights.
The social model of disability, while not without its own flaws, says that it is not my impairment that disables me, but that it is way the world is designed that is the problem. A world with stairs, and signs in flat lettering and noise and judgement is one that only works for people who can climb, read text, hear and look a particular way. This narrow criteria to be able to access the world means that much of what is taken for granted as 'normal' is actually restricted.
Fixing this restrictive world, with all its limitations, discrimination and outright hostility to anyone who functions outside this narrow criteria is not down to the NDIS – this is more the role of the National Disability Strategy as I outlined in my first #cripcroakey article.
However, the NDIS works within the Strategy to get people the right supports they need. Without these basic supports, many people with disability won't be even able to start being part of the community. Getting the NDIS right, and making sure that the new system works for people with disability is a vital part of changing that narrow criteria of who gets to be in the world.
At the core of the disability rights movement is the bleeding obvious notion that people with disability have the same rights as every other citizen. These rights have been codified in the UN Treaty on the Rights of Persons with Disability, that Australia ratified in 2008, and include the right to live in the community, the right to education and safety and the right to participate as a full citizen in the world around us.
Putting disability support in terms of rights makes the gaps obvious between levels of citizenship for people with and without disability. Questions of access and support become questions of rights, not welfare or charity. I have the right to an education and to choose who I live with. I have a right to adequate medical treatment that I have some kind of say over. I have a right to be part of my neighbourhood, to take public transport, to go to a concert, to laugh loudly and get excited about things. I have a right to be safe, to go to bed when I want, to eat what I choose, to have someone I trust support me to shower and go to the toilet. Exercising these rights is not a matter of charity or welfare, but about the fact that my rights are the same as your rights.
Having the support a person needs goes part of the way towards exercising these rights. Having the infamous 'choice and control' over what kinds of supports a person wants and needs is integral to being able to give expression to these rights.
Of course, there are wider structural issues that both need to change and need to be recognised for people with disability to experience full citizenship as discussed in my first #cripcroakey piece, but providing the supports needed for a individual's impairment is also part of this picture.
If I can't get out of bed, or don't have access to the type of gear I need, or are shut away in an institution, then how many rights do I have?
You can track the #cripcroakey series here.
What is the role of nutrition research in undermining public health policy?