SOA Preliminary Exam Study Guides

I have found that this company cuts out the bull, and makes studying for these crazy exams as straightforward as (possibly) can be. Here is the link: http://www.bpptraining.com/ . For each topic within an exam, you get a high level introductory online lecture, course notes that summarize everything on the syllabus, end of chapter textbook questions that are intentionally easy, an online multiple choice test with intermediate level questions, then a binder of old exam questions along with new exam style questions. The point is to start easy, then work your way up to exam style questions. They also provide a practice test that will be as close to mimicking a real exam as you can get. This is the deluxe study package, you can easily omit the lectures and online MC test (and additional flashcards) by purchasing the standard study package. I’ve compared this to ACTEX and other study programs, and I find this is by far the most helpful.

Author: Matt
Posted: Jacklyn

Review: Ronzoni Bistro

While I was at Fry's this week I noticed that Ronzoni Bistro Meals were on sale and I had a coupon :) So I figured I would give them a try. The bags are 8 oz and only 210 calories. They would make a good lunch for the days that I was too lazy to prepare a lunch (or so I thought). So today I tried my 1st one (Penne with Chicken and Broccoli) and I have to say I'm highly disappointed. I know that they were going to have to put a lot of preservative in that bag to make it safe but it's really not tasty. Eatable? Yes.

Overall I give this product a 1/5 due to the fact that it was easy to prepare. I will be eating the other 3 pouches that I bought because it is eatable, but I will definitely never buy this product again.

As a note there is a red sauce meal as well that I will not be trying but it may be better.

~Jacklyn

Actuarial Tables

Most people gives us blank stares when we tell them we're actuaries. So we tell them we're in risk management, or that we make pretty charts. Now we can tell them something new. We predict the death of childhood heros. :)

Actuarial

~Jacklyn

Goodbye Christine :(

After 4 years, Christine is leaving AMC. Here is the slideshow that was played at her going-away party.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Kim's last day

Better late than never...

The Amazing Appearance of the Jean Monster!!

So here we are just minding our own business working away when the light clicks on. "Oh Matt is here" we all think. But then !Bam! It's not Matt!! It's Matt being eaten alive by the Jean Monster!!! After we got over the initial scare of this new creature we found it to be relaxed and nice. We hope to see you someday again Jean Monster!

A scared observer quickly snapped this phone photo to preserve the appearance of this rare being!

Welcome Lydia!

Highlights from the Welcome Lydia Fest!

AMC Tie Dye Day Awards!

Here is the awards ceremony.

How Alison learned to love the Blog!

It was Wednesday, warma and drya. Alison had tears streaming down her face. Her joy was almost uncontainable (well, actually, since she was crying, "almost" isn't really correct).....Her joy was overwhelming. What was the cause of this sheer bliss that she was experiencing?

Alison had just been introduced to Mr. Gnome, SpiderTom, and Jacklyn's poetry. The Blog had literally brought her to tears. Alison is going to love working here! I believe I even heard her whisper, "AMC Rocks!"

That is all. Welcome to the blog Alison!

After witnessing this heavenly occurence, Lydia told the press, "It was beautiful! Like a sunset in the tropics"

Totally Groovy Tie-Dye Day!

What happens when you mix a bunch of actuaries and cool t-shirts?

Program Mangement Meeting

I brought my camera in hopes of documenting our entire trip for the blog. However, amidst the hustle-bustle of everything, I only took a few photos. Here's what I've got.

I also have this little shout-out to Ashleigh...

Presenting Privacy Glass

Dancin Fools - a blast from the past!

To celebrate Jacklyn and Stephen's 8 month and 1 day anniversary, I thought I'd share some of the fine videography from their wedding. Enjoy!

While Karen was at PMM...

We had leftover window film and an empty window... really, what choice did we have?

(Due to our efforts to not disturb the other employees, this clip is a bit on the quiet side.)

Gnome Nonsense

The gnome has struck again, this time managing to wedge himself between the pages of Dan's notes. How did he do it? Unbeknownst to the gnome, he was caught in the act and the answer to this question is surprisingly simple. He just made use a typical office photocopier.

Some might be inclined to reduce his actions to a typical office prank, the antics of a mischievous gnome. We at this blog, however, feel it can be better described as the embodiment of a new standard of sneakiness.

Reporting live for EverydayActuary.blogspot.com this is Kim Shill signing off.

Follow-up to the above article:
Seeing as the gnome is a statue and does not have the ability to walk, he enlisted a little help from Ashleigh and I in getting over to Dan's cubicle on Tuesday afternoon. We waited anxiously to hear Dan's surprised reaction upon finding the gnome, but we heard nothing of the sort. In fact, as of this morning, we were wondering if Dan had even found the gnome yet. "Honestly, had Dan not looked through all his notes yet" we wondered. Then, in the exact moment we were pondering the question, Ashleigh happened to look over and see this...

Touche' Dan!

Jon's Birthday Celebration

Happy Birthday Jon!

A good time was had by all at the latest AMC Phoenix Birthday Bash. We had the now traditional ice cream cake and good conversation. It also gave us a chance to reflect on Jon's contribution to our office. We're all glad you're here Jon!

Jacklyn's Graduation Surprise!

Our office wanted to let Jacklyn know that we are happy for her accomplishment. Here's how...

2 min

David Feinberg is my Hero...

I love poetry and I love math how much better can this get :)
~Jacklyn

“The Square Root of Three”
by David Feinberg

I’m sure that I will always be
A lonely number like root three

The three is all that’s good and right,
Why must my three keep out of sight
Beneath the vicious square root sign,
I wish instead I were a nine

For nine could thwart this evil trick,
with just some quick arithmetic

I know I’ll never see the sun, as 1.7321
Such is my reality, a sad irrationality

When hark! What is this I see,
Another square root of a three

As quietly co-waltzing by,
Together now we multiply
To form a number we prefer,
Rejoicing as an integer

We break free from our mortal bonds
With the wave of magic wands

Our square root signs become unglued
Your love for me has been renewed

Where's Jacklyn?!

Office calendar and set up before the official release




Where's Jacklyn: The Making Of




Blooper Reel

During a phone call at approximately 3:00 this afternoon, Tom Garrity put his feet on his desk, leaned back in his chair, and glanced nonchalantly at the ceiling above. To his surprise, something in the ceiling started back at him. The AMC gnome had been spying on Tom since 12:15 pm the previous day. After 26 hours and 45 minutes, he was finally caught in the act of Peeping on Tom.

After the gnome's original hiding, fellow employees caught on fast and began betting how long it would take for Tom to actually notice our sneaky little friend. Karen Kiowski, a coworker and long-time friend of Tom, won the bet.

When asked how she did it, Karen responded,
"I've known Tom for a really long time so I am well aware of his observation skills. He may not be the most observant kid on the block, but I knew that he woud catch a glimpse of Mr. Gnome while chatting away on a phone call."

Pictured below: Karen accepting her bag of Cheetos for guessing most closely, without exceeding, the time it would take Tom to find the Gnome.

Gnome Home

Our Gnome has found a new home in Tom's office. The question is, when will Tom find him? Guesses have been made and there is a bag of Cheetos at stake. I have unfortunately already lost. I grossly underestimated Tom's focusing skills.

Here are the guesses:

Ashleigh: 10 minutes
Dan: When someone tells him
Jacklyn: One week, May 7th
Jon: End of today, April 30th
Amberly: Has yet to place her guess
Karen: Friday by noon, May 2nd
Kim: Next Tuesday morning, May 6th
Matt: Has no guess, he is however enjoying the contest
Paul: Noon tomorrow, then, after seeing the location, took it back and guessed 1:00 pm today. Wrong Paul, like me you were so wrong.




-Ashleigh

What's up with "What's up?"

Today in passing, I asked Matt "What's up?"
"I don't know," he replied with a straight face.

This started a conversation about the origions of the phrase "What's up" and it's meaning. I didn't find anyone claming to know exactly where the phrase started, but many attribute the popularity to Bugs Bunny. Here are some fun facts for you.

'Eh, What's up Doc?' joins 'That's All Folks!' as the best-known lines from Tex Avery's Looney Tunes cartoon series. It was delivered by Bugs Bunny, while nonchalantly chewing on a carrot, in most of the cartoons in which the character appeared, beginning with A Wild Hare, 1940. This was the first Bugs Bunny cartoon, although Bugs wasn't named until the second cartoon - Elmer's Pet Rabbit ('Happy Rabbit', a prototype Bugs Bunny with a somewhat different personality had appeared earlier).
Avery explained how the line became established in the numerous cartoon confrontations between Bugs Bunny and the hapless hunter Elmer Fudd:
"We decided he [Bugs] was going to be a smart-aleck rabbit, but casual about it. That opening line of 'Eh, what's up, Doc?' floored them. They expected the rabbit to scream, or anything but make a casual remark. For here's a guy pointing a gun in his face! It got such a laugh that we said, 'Boy, we'll do that every chance we get.'"
Chuck Jones went on to explain that the demeanor of Bugs when delivering the line was adapted from Clark Gable's performance in It Happened One Night. In that film, Gable's character leans against a fence eating carrots and gives instructions with his mouth full to Claudette Colbert's character. The scene was well-known to audiences at the time who would have been well aware that Bugs was spoofing Clark Gable.
The line has outlived Bugs Bunny and is now commonly used worldwide as a jokey alternative to the straightforward query 'what's up?', i.e. 'what's going on?'.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/406400.html

Happy Birthdays!

For thoes who want to relive the magic, here's a clip from Karen, Tom, and Amberly's birthday party.



-The Party Planning Committee

The Gnome Strikes Again!

Matthew Troy's cubicle was invaded by a wandering garden gnome Tuesday morning. Gnome intrusions such as this have been known to be a problem in the AMC office area, but due to their non violent nature, the gnomes are usually just encouraged to move on.

True to Matt's character, he was able to remain calm in the face of such an unnerving situation. Witnesses report that his only statement of alarm was "Is there supposed to be a gnome in my file drawer?"

-Ashleigh

Dan's Birthday

We were lucky enough to celebrate with Dan at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant for his birthday. His birthday glow must have been evident, because the servers graciously brought Dan cake with a smile and a song. How did they know??




-Ashleigh

This is belated, but we will miss Alia! Good Luck Girl!

Healthy Competition

-Ashleigh

Themed cubes

Here are some cubes to get us thinking....

-Ashleigh

You guys should try this on your next trip north!

~Jacklyn

One of the Many ways that Kim brings joy into our lives

Here is a short clip summing up the adventure that Jacklyn and I participated in last Friday to save fair Kim's purse... and other belongings. Hopefully you are able to get past the shakes of my amateur filming skills to see the real joy that Kim provided that day.




-Ashleigh & Jacklyn

Our HERO!!!

Always learning

A new word has popped into Jacklyn's vocabulary. Haza. (Ok, maybe it is just new to me.) In the spirit of expanding our vocabulary here at AMC, this is a short tutorial, given by Jacklyn herself, exemplifying the proper use of "Haza."

Who's on vacation next?

Consider your self warned. Haha

http://www.5min.com/Video/How-To-Win-A-Cubical-War-6392599

It could have been worse.

We've had our fair share of interesting work arrangments the last few months. As our time in make shift desks comes to a close, I'd like to take this opportunity to honor those brave men and women around the country who have it way, way worse than we do.
-Ashleigh



"A multibillion-dollar marine-terminals company decided to put its IT contractor inside a 40-foot steel cargo container. He calls it "the hamster cage." To get electricity, he ran a 100-foot extension cord to a power substation. In the winter, a small electric heater provided white noise, but little warmth. When it rained, he had to close himself in. And you think you have trouble getting a wireless signal...."





"When the first floor of his office flooded, management decided that rather than telecommute, everyone would pack into the second floor. Without enough desks to go around, this poor guy pulled out the drawers of a filing cabinet and stuck his monitor on top."

"This cubicle features a single fluorescent light, paperclips as cubicle hooks and overturned boxes as shelf space, while lacking both windows and a working land line. What's worse, these guys don't even get their own cubes."

"We'd assume this cubicle dweller is just a bad photographer, but he assures us the lighting in his office really is this depressing. As is the utter lack of décor. Dude, get a plant."

All pictures and discriptions were found at http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/multimedia/2007/11/gallery_saddest_cubicle?slide=1&slideView=3

Good Idea

Karen,

So, can I work from home tomorrow?

-- Kim

Darts

Darts seems to be the most popular thing around the office these days. Ashleigh holds the current record, but Jon is closing in with frequent and rigorous training each day. Alia and Jacklyn aren't bad either but I haven't seen Dan or Karen play. We're all hoping that Kim will stop creating dents in the drywall. That is all. Good luck to all who play...

Actuarialize in Style

Every profession has their own trend setters, but none seem so poised, elegant, and stylish as AMC's own Alia Eccles. She brings with her a sense of confidence and glamour that remain unrivaled by any other

Those crazy germans...

Here is a German kids show Schnappi with such a memorable tune (in other words prepare to have this suck in your head, consider yourself warned)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8folCCkYQso&feature=related

The approximate translation:

I am Snappy the Little Crocodile,
I come from Egypt. I live out on the Nile.
At first I was inside an egg,
and then - Schni schnap! - I finally got away.
(Chorus)
I am Snappy the Little Crocodile,
I have sharp teeth. I have a pretty smile!
I'll snap at you - you'd better watch your tail,
I'll snap at me, because I snap so well!
(Chorus)
I am Snappy the Little Crocodile,
When I play I'm snapping all the while,
At the crypt I make the mummies run,
But when I snap I'm only having fun!
(Chorus)
I am Snappy the Little Crocodile,
When I play I try not to go wild,
When my Daddy puts me to bed,
I go to sleep and bite him on the leg.
(Chorus)
fin

~Jacklyn

Mickey and Friends

I know I promised Mickey but this was as close as I could get :)



The Best thing to see at Disneyland :)





~Jacklyn