Europe declares war on rating agencies

<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Rating agencies and the debt crisis</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Reading the article at <a href="http://www.unisg.ch/UeberUns/HSGMediacorner/Aktuell/RssNews/Forschung-Lehre/2011/Juni/Ratingagenturen-Eurokrise-Studie-FGN-HSG-29Juni2011.aspx">http://www.unisg.ch/UeberUns/HSGMediacorner/Aktuell/RssNews/Forschung-Lehre/2011/Juni/Ratingagenturen-Eurokrise-Studie-FGN-HSG-29Juni2011.aspx</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">(in English), confirms my previous analysis regarding US Rating Agencies, posted on this blog.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Europe declares war on rating agencies

Rating agencies and the debt crisis Reading the article at http://www.unisg.ch/UeberUns/HSGMediacorner/Aktuell/RssNews/Forschung-Lehre/2011/...

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Living Life, Making Friends

Since we moved back to the Old Dominion, one of my goals has been to try to make friends. One of my other goals has been to start attending Weight Watchers meetings. <br /><br />It's a sad but true fact blogger world - outside of work I am friend-less. Part of this is self-induced, and part of it is my lack of ability to find a good, quality friend outside of my office. Actually, most of it is self-induced. I hate living in this city - I want to leave it sooooooo badly! Therefore, I have never fully tried to put down roots here because I always anticipated leaving ASAP. Well, five years later and this train is still parked in the station and doesn't look like it's pulling out anytime soon... so really, let's stop delaying a fulfilling life just because of our living arrangement, and let's start changing something about it! Ugh... anyhow, I'm getting off track.... <br /><br />Uhh, so let's kill two birds with one stone, shall we? I thought, what better way to make some buddies than at Weight Watchers meetings? When I used to attend meetings previously, I made a friend who kept me wanting to go back each week. While she slowly quit attending the meetings, I kept going, but didn't have much to look forward to (the crew at the only meeting I was able to attend was a little nutty!). So eventually I left too, but I left the state, not just the meeting!<br /><br />As I walked through the doors of the meeting center last night, I couldn't help but be excited. Seeing all of the Weight Watchers memorabilia surrounding me, and just the overall aura in the place was just the motivation I needed. The thing I enjoy most about meetings is that we're all here for the same reason - to lose weight. No matter our age, sex, goal-weight, whatever - losing weight is the commonality that binds us together, and I love that. I love when you can find a common ground with people no matter what your background. <br /><br />I weighed in with our leader, Sharon, who was awesome from the get go. And while I was planning on attending meetings on Thursday nights, I'm going to stick to Wednesday's after all. There were a few young women in there, and it could not have worked out any better! I decided to stay after the meeting to get the face to face update on Points+, since I have been doing it strictly online since it's launch. When the meeting ended, a mother-daughter duo stayed after to discuss some challenges with Sharon. As they were leaving, Sharon informed me that Christina (the daughter) is her superstar member. She summoned Christina back in to the room to introduce us and it turns out that Christina has lost a total of 90 pounds so far! So awesome. So inspirational. Christina was friendly too, and was like "I come to this meeting time every week - I hope to see you next week." Perfect!

Random Weight Loss Thoughts Weight Watchers Living Life, Making Friends

Since we moved back to the Old Dominion, one of my goals has been to try to make friends. One of my other goals has been to start attending...

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A Getting to Know Me Survey - Ha!

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm not gonna lie - I love these surveys!  I thought it'd be a fun way for those of you who read my posts to get to know me a little better :).  Thanks to <a href="http://gettingnshape.blogspot.com/2011/07/11-layers-of-me-post.html">From Before to After: A Journey Through Weight Watchers</a> and <a href="http://spoonfulofme.blogspot.com/2011/07/11-layers-of-me-quiz.html">Spoonful of Me</a> for posting this!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's called the 11 Layers of Me:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>LAYER ONE: On the Outside--</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Full Name:</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Hilary Janelle</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Birthday:</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">April 4</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">School: 2006 graduate of Penn State University, enrolled for a second degree at College of Southern Maryland</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Major:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Management Information Systems (Penn State), Nursing (CSM)<br />Current Location: the Old Dominion (Virginia)<br />Eye Color:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Blue<br />Hair Color: Brown/Blonde<br />Righty or Lefty:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Right<br />Zodiac Sign:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Aries<br /><br /><b>LAYER TWO: On the Inside</b><br /><br />Your Heritage: German<br />Your Fears:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Flying, Snakes, Heights<br />Weakness:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Reese Peanut Butter Cups<br />Goal(s): To become a registered nurse in the near future, to hit my weight goal and maintain it for the rest of my life!<br />Relieve Stress: Reading, Boozin, Shopping<br /><br /><b>LAYER THREE: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow--</b><br /><br />Your thoughts<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>first waking up: Nooooooooo!<br />Your bedtime:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>10 PM<br />Your most missed memory:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>having close-knit friends - I miss the college days of having all my friends close by...<br /><br /><b>LAYER FOUR: You’re picking--</b><br /><br />Pepsi or Coke:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Pepsi, but I do love me a diet Coke/cherry Coke split from Chick Fil A<br />McDonald's or Burger King:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Mc donalds<br />Single or Group dates: Single<br />Lipton Tea or Nestea:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Lipton<br />Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate<br />Cappuccino or Coffee:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Neither! Chai!<br /><br /><b>LAYER FIVE: Do You--</b><br /><br />Do Drugs:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No<br />Think you've been in love:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes - am currently!<br />Want to get married: Yes<br />Believe in yourself:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I try to<br /><br /><b>LAYER SIX: In the Past Month--</b><br /><br />Drank alcohol:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes<br />Gone to the mall:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes.<br />Eaten Sushi:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes<br />Gone skating:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>no<br />Colored your hair:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No<br />Done something exciting:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes<br /><br /><b>LAYER SEVEN: Have You Ever?--</b><br /><br />Changed who you were to fit in:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> No</span><br />Hid something from someone:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes<br /><br /><br /><b>LAYER EIGHT: Getting Old--</b><br />Age you're hoping to get married: I cannot foresee a marriage happening at age 27, but I would like to be married by the time I am 29.<br />Age you're hoping to have children: ehhhhhh... I like being the cool aunt!<br />Want to travel to:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes.<br /><br /><b>LAYER NINE: Perfect Mate--</b><br />Best Eye Color:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Blue<br />Best Hair Color:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Blonde/Brown (Joel, honey, whatever hair color you have)<br />Short or Long Hair:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Shaved ;)<br /><b><br />LAYER TEN: What were you doing--</b><br /><br />5 MINUTES AGO:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Working<br />1 HOUR AGO: Waiting in line at Starbucks<br />1 DAY AGO: Working<br />1 YEAR AGO:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And most likely working<br /><b><br />LAYER ELEVEN: Finish the Sentence--</b><br /><br />I Love:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>God, Joel, my family, reading, traveling, shopping<br />I Feel:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>sore in my shoulders<br />I Hate:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>where I live (the area, not the actual condo)<br />I Hide:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>how insecure I am about my weight<br />I Miss:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>college and having a a few great friends<br />I Need:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to figure out a way to keep taking classes for the fall semester even though my current school is not offering the classes I need online.</span></span></div>

Miscellaneous A Getting to Know Me Survey - Ha!

I'm not gonna lie - I love these surveys!  I thought it'd be a fun way for those of you who read my posts to get to know me a little...

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