Dear Readers,

One day last week I arrived home from work just in time to intercept the UPS man before he rang our doorbell. We don't get packages very often, so I was already intrigued, but my curiosity was heightened even further when I noticed my 4 year old son's name on the box. With much fanfare we opened the package to discover a toddler-sized UPS uniform inside. I'll admit it was pretty bizarre opening up a UPS package delivered by a UPS driver with a UPS outfit inside, but what really struck me was the invoice lying there innocently nestled among the packing peanuts. Thirty-six dollars! That's how much, after shipping, the LaRusso family had spent for our son's Halloween costume.

Now I know how important it is to have proper attire for the two-hour candy grab that comes every October 31, but with three kids to outfit, I'm certain we're paying more for their haul than if we simply bought them the candy and skipped trick-or-treating altogether. Maybe saying this means I've officially become my father, but when I was a kid, we almost never wore store-bought costumes. Usually I'd just pull on one of my sports uniforms, grab a pillow case for the candy and start knocking on neighbors' doors.

Occasionally, though, I would get creative. One year I painted my hair and face green and shredded a pair of jeans and a shirt to go as The Incredible Hulk. The television series with Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk was popular at the time, so the costume was definitely a hit. I remember getting a lot of nice comments and can't help but think the creative outfit was the primary reason for my massive candy haul that year. (To be completely fair, not everyone loved the costume; my mother threatened, if I remember correctly, to make me sleep in the garage that night because I had cut up the only pair of jeans I owned that didn't have holes in the knees.)

The point I'm trying to make is that you don't need to pay a lot to get great results. This issue of the SAS Training Report features a prime example: our Best Value Certification packages. These bundles provide everything you need to prepare for a SAS9 certification credential at up to 50% off the retail price. By combining classroom courses, e-learning options, a certification practice exam and an exam voucher at a discount, we're providing you with a comprehensive, cost-effective way to keep your SAS superpowers sharp. If you ever thought about becoming a SAS Certified Professional, this is the way to go.

And, if you take one of your classes in our training centers, we'll even give you candy – those famous SAS M&M's – no costume required!

Larry LaRusso
Editor, SAS Training Report