APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966 — Space Available Mail, Nov. 26; Parcel Airlift Mail, Dec. 3; Priority Mail, Dec. 10; First Class Mail Letters and Cards, Dec. 10 and Express Mail Military Service, Dec. 18.
Alcoholics Anonymous A voluntary, anonymous self-help organization of individuals who have recognized their chemical dependence and are committed to living a life of abstinence Abstinence is achieved by a 12-Step Program and members of AA support each other by sharing their own struggles, experiences and hopes
A type of lava surface in which the surface was too stiff to flow well, and so broke up into fragments It is characterised by broken material which can vary from simple lumps to very sharp prickly fragments It grades to pahoehoe (qv)
Assigned Amount The Kyoto Protocols term for the total tonnage of greenhouse gas, measured in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent, that each industrialised (Annex I) country can emit over a commitment period Assigned amounts are calculated on the basis of the Quantified Emission Limitation and Reduction Commitments laid down in Annex B of the Protocol See also PAA
The Aluminum Association, based in USA is responsible for the industry standard grain refiner (TP-1) and dissolution (TP-2) tests, as well as chemical specifications for master alloys and compacts
A form of lava flow associated with Hawaiian-type volcanoes, consisting of basaltic rock, usually dark-colored with a jagged and loose, clinkery surface. Compare pahoehoe
Atomic absorption spectrophometry Refers to the analytical method or apparatus used for metals analysis
Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from AAA issues only in a small degree The "AA" rating may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the AA rating category
A company reputation that is rated AA is of high quality Although companies with reputations in this category score well across all reputation dimensions from all constituencies, the strength across certain of those dimensions may not be as great as those of the highest quality Companies whose reputations are rated AA are able to deploy their reputational strength in support of business expansion efforts but, unlike companies whose reputations are AAA-rated, the marketplace will not take their success in these endeavors for granted Companies in this rating category will receive support in times of controversy but not to the same degree or for the same length of time as companies in the AAA category Companies with AA-rated reputations may be able to charge a premium to market in some categories of products and services, but lack the leverage to do so in all
Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long-term risk appear somewhat larger than the Aaa securities