Pieces from our trip through Central America. Trying to find a way to enter Nicaragua’s Mosquito Coast from Honduras. 6538 miles on a KLR 650. 2 months in Central America from the Texas border to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua and back. Then by truck back to Colorado! April – June 2009. More details at centralamericaon2wheels.blogspot.com Music by Manu Chao and Cuban Barrio
Video Rating: 5 / 5

This popular text surveys the history of the Central American region, covering Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, from pre-Columbian times to the present. It emphasizes the common characteristics of the Central American states as well as their potential for political union. Now completely updated, the third edition of Central America: A Nation Divided encompasses the significant new research and tumultuous events that have taken place since the last edition was published. The text now includes coverage of the civil wars in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, as well as the restoration of peace to the region under the Central American peace accords. It also recounts and analyzes the substantial changes that have occurred in the economic and social arenas as Central American states have turned increasingly to neoliberal policies that emphasize the private sector and the development of exports while reducing government entitlement programs. Students will find this text enormously helpful for sorting through the vast amounts of significant research that has been written and compiled in the past decade. In addition, the Selective Guide to the Literature section has been completely revised to reflect the great increase in research and writing on Central America. Comprehensive and incisively written, Central America: A Nation Divided is an essential text for Latin American History courses.

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This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

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Big4

New York, NY (PRWEB) January 18, 2012

Big4.com, the premier social networking forum for professionals and alumni of Accenture, Andersen, BearingPoint, Capgemini, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers PwC announced today the release of the 2011 Big Four Firms Financial Performance Analysis, providing a detailed financial and operating analysis of the performance of the four largest accounting firms in the world. The analysis shows the firms enjoyed outstanding revenue growth from 2010 to 2011 after a severe revenue decline in 2009, and stabilization in 2010, to solidify a rebound arising from the global economic slowdown. 2009 marked an abrupt reversal of five straight years of double-digit revenue growth.

PricewaterhouseCoopers PwC

PricewaterhouseCoopers’s FY 2011 global revenues for the year ending June 30, 2011 was US$ 29.223 billion, a 10.0% increase from the US$ 26.569 billion in FY 2010 in US dollar terms. However, on local currency terms FY 2011 revenues were actually higher than FY 2010 by only 8.2%. This highly commendable performance helped the firm regain its top ranking as the largest accounting firm on the planet. PwC maintained this top honor by beating Deloitte, who reported FY 2011 revenues of $ 28.8 billion, thus falling short of PwC by a good $ 420 million, after being ahead in 2011 by an extraordinarily slim margin of just $ 9 million.

PwC revenues rose 10% in 2010, enough to regain its leadership as the largest accounting firm on the planet

In terms of service lines, 2011 Assurance revenues was up 4.9% in local currency terms to $ 14.140 billion, but in terms of US dollars, revenues increased even higher at 6.5% from $ 13.273 billion in 2010. PwC noted excellent performance despite the fiercely global competitive market for audit and accounting services and downward pressure on prices which masked even stronger underlying growth. Audit revenue growth in 2011 was the highest in the past four years, since the service line grew 9.2% from 2006 to 2007. Tax services increased 5.7% in local currency terms to $ 7.625 billion, and 7.5% in US dollar terms from $ 7.090 billion in 2010. PwC noted steady performance across the network due to increased demand for tax and human resource consulting, indirect tax services and tax accounting and compliance work.

Advisory services for PwC was the top service line as revenues increased by 18.0% in local currency terms to $ 7.458 billion, and an astounding 20.2% in US dollar terms from $ 6.206 billion in 2010. PwC indicated outstanding performance from PwC’s consulting businesses, due to recovery in M&A activity, and continued demand for consulting services as well as contributions from strategic acquisitions.

Additionally, PwC said rather confidently that it expects growth to remain healthy in FY2012 as companies continue to position themselves for better times.

PwC expects healthy growth in FY2012 as client demand continues to be strong as companies reposition

In terms of geographies, Asia and Australasia 2011 combined revenues rose to $ 5.1 billion from $ 4.2 billion in 2010. This was a growth for Asia in local currency of 8.5% and 13.5% in US dollar terms; and correspondingly for Australasia a remarkable increase of 23.5% in local currency, and an increase of 38.4% in US dollar terms.

Americas turned in an excellent performance, with 2011 revenues at $ 10.836 billion, up 11.6% in local currency terms and 12.7% in US dollar terms from $ 9.730 billion in 2010.

Europe combined revenues in 2011 of $ 13.283 billion, rose a solid 4.7% in local currency terms and 5.5% in US dollar terms from $ 12.611 billion in 2010. Western Europe revenues increased 3.7% in local currency terms and 4.1% in US dollar terms from $ 11.062 billion in 2010 to $ 11.518 billion in 2011. Central and Eastern European revenue increased 6.6% in local currency terms and 7.3% in US dollar terms from $ 0.726 billion in 2010 to $ 0.778 billion in 2011. PwC noted Middle East and Africa revenues rose 20% and South and Central America grew 23%

This analysis may be reproduced or distributed in parts or whole, but prominent and full attribution should be given at all times to “The 2011 Big Four Firms Performance Analysis by http://www.Big4.com.”

Disclaimer: Big4.com believes in these numbers, but does not guarantee their accuracy.

The full study can be downloaded as Adobe pdf at http://www.big4.com/analysis.

A summary video is available here.

About Big4.com

Big4.com is the accounting, tax, consulting and IT professions’ premier resource, and has been exclusively focused on Big Four firm professionals and alumni for 10 years, providing high quality content, connectivity and commerce. The Big Four Job Board offers fresh job opportunities – clients include the world’s leading companies. Big Four News covers key news, developments, events, survey results, press releases and appointments. The Big Four Blog provides opinion and insight on recent and key developments, news, happenings, management changes, regulations, acquisitions and capital market activities. Big4 Video is a professionally produced news covering key global developments in this space.

Big4.com has a strong presence on key social media platforms:

Youtube: Big4Video is a professionally produced weekly news magazine

Twitter: @Big4 has 8,500 followers. http://twitter.com/big4

LinkedIn: The Big Four Alumni and Professionals group is one of the largest alumni groups with 84,000+ members. http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=1022

Facebook: The Big4 fan page has 5,500 fans at http://www.facebook.com/big4page

Xing: The Big Four Alumni and Professionals group has 1,150+ members at http://www.xing.com/net/big4alumni

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The Rough Guide to Central America on a Budget is the definitive guide to making the most of this exotic region without breaking the bank. Backpackers, career-breakers, gap year travellers and those who want more bang for their buck, will find in depth budget information for all seven Central American countries and every aspect of travel. From accommodation and restaurants to special events, festivals and adrenalin-pumping outdoor activities, this guide is packed with the best budget information. This guide is packed with the best budget information for night-life, shopping, markets and entertainment, as well as “Treat Yourself” boxes that highlight great places and things worth splashing out on. There is a full-colour introduction with highlights for every country. You’ll also find useful words and phrases in every language and detailed maps for hundreds of locations.

Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Central America on a Budget.

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In depth report on the gang problems among youth in Central America. This is the first of 3 episodes.

Van Halen playing Panama live at Tokyo Dome 1989
Video Rating: 4 / 5

The relaunched National Geographic Traveler guidebooks are in tune with the growing trend toward experiential travel, providing more insider tips and expert advice for a more authentic, cultural experience of each destination. These books serve discerning, curious travelers and supply information and interpretation not available on the Internet.

In response to the interests of today’s traveler, the acclaimed National Geographic Traveler series includes exciting new editorial features, a contemporary redesign, and inviting new covers.

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Nobody knows Panama like Lonely Planet. Our 5th edition will take you to the hottest nightlife of Panama City, through the wilderness of the Darién, to the palm-fringed beaches of Bocas del Toro and high up to the cloud forests of Boquete. Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who get to the heart of every destination they visit. This fully updated edition is packed with accurate, practical and honest advice, designed to give you the information you need to make the most of your trip. In This Guide: Tailored itineraries help you get the most out of your Panama trip. Color highlights chapter showcases the top sights and activities. Unique Green Index makes eco-friendly travel easy.Nobody knows Panama like Lonely Planet. Our 5th edition will take you to the hottest nightlife of Panama City, through the wilderness of the Darién, to the palm-fringed beaches of Bocas del Toro and high up to the cloud forests of Boquete. Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who get to the heart of every destination they visit. This fully updated edition is packed with accurate, practical and honest advice, designed to give you the information you need to make the most of your trip. In This Guide: Tailored itineraries help you get the most out of your Panama trip. Color highlights chapter showcases the top sights and activities. Unique Green Index makes eco-friendly travel easy.

List Price: $ 21.99

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