Description: David Januszewski looks at the the development of open source software in statistics. By comparing the virtues between SAS, the proprietary software and R, the open source software used by statisticians, he thinks that open source software "can and does coexist with the proprietary software" and "both have a purpose. "He further looks at the availability of the open source software in the actuarial profession and does not see "open source software sweeping across actuarial science like it has with other fields". Dave explains the possible uses and virtues of the open source software to actuaries and asserts that it may be beneficial that the open source is used together with the propriety software.

Description: This discussion is divided in three sections: Further Application, asking how much accounting can be done on computers. Conversion, looking at further functions integrated into the systems by companies converting to Electronic Data Processing function-by-function and Savings, examining if it is any clearer what the ultimate savings from Electronic Data Processing will be. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1959, Vol. 11, No. 31.

Description: Introduces new co-editor Eddie Smith and includes letters to the editor.

Description: Discusses the benefits of using the Instapaper application to manage and retrieve web articles.

Description: Discusses the section’s LinkedIn group and the contents of the January issue of the newsletter.

Description: This article discusses the powerful but yet infrequently used OFFSET function in Excel.

Description: This article discusses the changes occurring in the illustrations systems market.

Description: This is a letter from the editor. This issue completes his first year as editor.

Description: Discusses creating a user-friendly [and bullet-proof] spreadsheet.

Description: This article is about the critical role of actuaries in IT projects.