Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Resolute Forest Products Give Out Bonus
From the Forest Talk blog site:
AbitibiBowater’s executives receive bonuses for 2011
February 28th, 2012 | Posted in Financial News | 5 comments »
The Board of Directors of AbitibiBowater Inc. (doing business as Resolute Forest Products) has approved the payment of incentive awards for 2011.
The following awards have been issued under the company’s 2011 Short-Term Incentive Plan (STIP):
- $178,500 to Yves Laflamme (Senior Vice President, Wood Products, Procurement and Information Technology)
- $78,300 to John Lafave (Senior Vice President, Pulp and Paper Sales and Marketing)
- $91,120 to Jo-Ann Longworth (Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer)
- $151,725 to Jacques P. Vachon (Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Legal Officer)
Richard Garneau (President and Chief Executive Officer) was entitled to, but declined, an award of $401,625.
The value of the awards to named executive officers are 52.5% of the target established under the 2011 STIP, except for John Lafave whose award was 26.1% of target.
Ms. Longworth’s payout is prorated for her period of employment with the company in 2011.
2012′s STIP
The Board of Directors has established its material terms for AbitibiBowater’s 2012 STIP.
The 2012 STIP provides that participating employees, including each of the Company’s named executive officers, are eligible to receive cash incentive awards expressed as a percentage of their base salaries, based on certain quantitative Company performance goals over the 2012 annual period. In respect of the Company’s named executive officers, the target and maximum incentive awards are 100% and 150% of base salary, with no applicable minimum, and the applicable performance metrics may include: income from operations, reduction in selling, general and administrative expenses, profit per metric ton, frequency of safety incidents and severity of safety incidents.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
When Should You Play The Lottery?
From the Political Calculations blog site:
| Basic Lottery Game Data | |
|---|---|
| Input Data | Values |
| How many possible numbers are there to choose from in the main set? | |
| How many numbers from this set does the player get to pick? | |
| "Powerball" or "MegaBall" Data | |
| How many possible numbers are there to choose from for the Power or Mega Ball? | |
| How many numbers from this set does the player get to pick? | |
| Ticket Cost Data | |
| Cost of a Lottery Ticket | |
| Income Tax Rates | |
| Federal Income Tax Rate (%) | |
| State Income Tax Rate (%) | |
| Local Income Tax Rate (%) | |
| The Odds of Winning the Lottery and the Magic Jackpot | |
|---|---|
| Calculated Results | Values |
| The Odds of Winning the Jackpot (1 in ...) | |
| The Magic Jackpot (The Number That Makes Playing the Lottery Worth the Cost of a Ticket) | |
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Is Your State A Giver or Taker?
From the Big Picture Blog:
For each $1 paid in Federal taxes, how much does your state receive? (Political orientation approximated by the parties of states two Senators).
This is done on a per state basis, I’d like to see the data depicted on a per capita basis as well — both the paying and the receiving.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Thoughts For Today
From the simple dollar blog:
Robert Yates on work and credit
Some of the most amazing things I’ve ever done in my life were ones where no one really cared about who received the compliments or rewards later. So many things in life really come down to people positioning themselves for credit.
Some of the most amazing things I’ve ever done in my life were ones where no one really cared about who received the compliments or rewards later. So many things in life really come down to people positioning themselves for credit.
It is amazing what can be accomplished when nobody cares about who gets the credit. – Robert Yates
The best coworker I ever had truly didn’t care whose name appeared on documents or anything else.
Winston Churchill on carrying forth
This one has really inspired me a lot lately.
This one has really inspired me a lot lately.
Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. – Winston Churchill
The thing that really matters, above all else, is that you keep trying. You keep moving forward, trying to get better at what you do, and making effort to produce something worthwhile.
Benjamin Disraeli on hope and preparation
There is never a reason not to prepare for bad things, even when things are going well.
There is never a reason not to prepare for bad things, even when things are going well.
I am prepared for the worst, but hope the best. – Benjamin Disraeli
Never, ever allow yourself to be blinded by the light.
Henry Adams on teaching
Although this is a great teaching quote, I think it applies to a lot of things.
Although this is a great teaching quote, I think it applies to a lot of things.
A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. – Henry Adams
Whenever you do something that has an impact on someone else’s life, there’s a snowball effect that you never see.
The Tao Te Ching on desire
If you want something, your perspective on things is distorted by your own desire.
If you want something, your perspective on things is distorted by your own desire.
The secret waits for eyes unclouded by longing.
The less desire you have, the easier it is to see situations for what they really are.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Could You Pass A US History Quiz?
USA Law Quiz
Below is a link to a 30-question test to see how well you know US Law. Give it a shot, and see how well you do!
50+% of all individuals over 50 failed the test. Take the test and be surprised at what we don't know.
Click here to take the quiz and see how other groups of folks have done.
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Thursday, February 16, 2012
Marlee's Story
Almost everyone has been touched by cancer, either through their own personal battle or through someone they love. Marlee is the daughter of a good friend of mine. Below is Marlee's story:
I am a cancer patient. I was first diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2006, a month after graduating from Fort Mill High School. Barely over a year later in early 2008, I was diagnosed with a rare soft-tissue cancer called Alveolar Soft-Part Sarcoma, and I have been fighting it ever since. I have had surgeries, cryotherapy, and radiation therapy, as well as conventional & research chemotherapies through clinical trials. I have had blood tests, breathing tests, CTs, PETs, and MRIs. I have traveled to Boston, New York, Detroit, and Washington DC for treatment. I've felt the effects of cancer on myself, and have seen it in my friends, my family, and even acquaintances. I hate what I see everyone going through, and that is why I Relay.
I am participating in the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life because I want to make a meaningful difference in the fight against cancer. I want to help put an end to this disease. I want to find a therapy that works for my cancer, I want to see my friends I've met through clinical trials 100% healthy again, and I want to stop the hurt & general feeling of helplessness that follows the word "cancer" everywhere it goes.
Marlee lost her battle this month. Click here for a link to Marlee's Relay for Life page and consider making a donation.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
How Hostile Are You?
From the personal branding blog:
15 Questions To Test Your Hostility Level
Answer these questions (honestly – no one will know but you):
1. An office mate eats a sandwich with a whole lot of onions
a. I consider his odor might increase my chances for a promotion
b. I consider telling him he’s stinking up the place
2. My IT consultant leaves after fixing my computer – it goes down the next day
a. I call him up and tell him what a miserable job he did
b. I call him up and let him know what happened
3. I am waiting in the express line at the bank that says: “loan payments only.”
a. I check my voicemail and Facebook account for updates
b. I look ahead to see who’s got a deposit slip or cash in their hands
4. The news is filled with stories about the number of foreclosures in the US
a. I believe people who can’t pay their mortgages knew they were taking out loans they couldn’t repay
b. I believe a lot of people were victims of bad loan deals or lost their jobs unexpectedly
5. There have been times when I was very angry with others
a. I was always able to control any desire to lash out physically
b. I have impulsively hit or pushed someone
6. An online news source discussed the causes and costs of drug addiction
a. I wish society had more effective prevention and treatment options
b. People involved with substances get what they deserve
7. The emergency room is jammed up with uninsured people
a. People who don’t have healthcare insurance are irresponsible
b. Healthcare insurance is priced out of range for many people
8. I sometimes argue with a colleague or customer
a. I occasionally use profanity, it’s common now even on television
b. I rarely use curse words or off-color language
9. A driver cuts me off on the road
a. I honk and consider speeding up to return the favor
b. I decelerate to put some room between our cars
10. Something extremely important must be done at work
a. As usual, I take it on myself so that it’s done right
b. I ask a co-worker if she can pitch in
11. Frequently I let an angry feeling
a. Come and go, because it avoids making a big deal out of something small
b. Be the catalyst for my speaking my mind; it’s not good to hold anger in
12. Someone criticizes something I’ve done
a. I feel annoyed
b. I try to decide if there is merit in the criticism
13. I overhear an unkind comment about me
a. I typically forget about it after a short while
b. I think about it for hours, sometimes longer
14. My co-worker is asking a lot of questions about a project we’re starting on
a. I assume she’s trying to be proactive and solve some problems that might be ahead
b. I assume she’s not capable or confident about her part of the project
15. My friend expresses an ignorant belief about politics
a. I set him straight
b. I let the comment pass
Scoring: Hostility has three categories. Each one: cynicism, anger and aggression are represented by five of the questions in the quiz. See below to rate yourself (the answer in parenthesis is the hostile one). For each category, if you score just 0-2 points, you’re doing okay (zero being ideal). If you’re scoring higher, you now have some insight into why your career or business may be sputtering.
Cynicism: 3(b), 4(a), 7(a), 10(a), 14(b),
Anger: 1(b), 6(b), 9(a), 13(b), 12 (a)
Aggression: 2(a), 5(b), 8(a), 11(b), 15(a)
Want some tools to help you lower your level of hostility? (And no, none of them involve deep breathing or meditation). Email me: Nance@NanceRosen.com
Author:
Nance Rosen is the author of Speak Up! & Succeed. She speaks to business audiences around the world and is a resource for press, including print, broadcast and online journalists and bloggers covering social media and careers. Read more at NanceRosenBlog. Twitter name: nancerosen
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