Event will be part of OMG Standards for Mission Critical Systems Workshop; May 24-26, 2010, Washington, D.C., USA
NEEDHAM, Mass., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- OMG(TM) today issued a Call for Participation for the Eleventh Annual Real-time, Embedded and Enterprise-Scale Time-Critical Systems Workshop, to be held on May 24-26, 2010 in Arlington, VA, USA. The Workshop is part of the OMG Standards for Mission Critical Systems Workshop, alongside parallel events on Complex Event Processing and Cyber Security, which Real-time and Embedded Workshop participants are also invited to attend. For more information or to respond to the Call for Participation, please visit http://www.omg.org/rt2010. The submission deadline is February 1, 2010.
For more click the link below:
Call for Participation: OMG's Real-time, Embedded and Enterprise-Scale Time-Critical
2009/12/25
2009/12/17
THE GREAT STABILISATION
Dec 17th 2009
The recession was less calamitous than many feared. Its aftermath will
be more dangerous than many expect
IT HAS become known as the "Great Recession", the year in which the
global economy suffered its deepest slump since the second world war.
But an equally apt name would be the "Great Stabilisation". For 2009
was extraordinary not just for how output fell, but for how a
catastrophe was averted.
Twelve months ago, the panic sown by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers
had pushed financial markets close to collapse. Global economic
activity, from industrial production to foreign trade, was falling
faster than in the early 1930s. This time, though, the decline was
stemmed within months. Big emerging economies accelerated first and
fastest. China's output, which stalled but never fell, was growing by
an annualised rate of some 17% in the second quarter. By mid-year the
world's big, rich economies (with the exception of Britain and Spain)
had started to expand again. Only a few laggards, such as Latvia and
Ireland, are now likely still to be in recession.
There has been a lot of collateral damage. Average unemployment across
the OECD is almost 9%. In America, where the recession began much
earlier, the jobless rate has doubled to 10%. In some places years of
progress in poverty reduction have been undone as the poorest have been
hit by the double whammy of weak economies and still-high food prices.
But thanks to the resilience of big, populous economies such as China,
India and Indonesia, the emerging world overall fared no worse in this
downturn than in the 1991 recession. For many people on the planet, the
Great Recession was not all that great.
That outcome was not inevitable. It was the result of the biggest,
broadest and fastest government response in history. Teetering banks
were wrapped in a multi-trillion-dollar cocoon of public cash and
guarantees. Central banks slashed interest rates; the big ones
dramatically expanded their balance-sheets. Governments worldwide
embraced fiscal stimulus with gusto. This extraordinary activism helped
to stem panic, prop up the financial system and counter the collapse in
private demand. Despite claims to the contrary, the Great Recession
could have been a Depression without it.
STABLE BUT FRAIL
So much for the good news. The bad news is that today's stability,
however welcome, is worryingly fragile, both because global demand is
still dependent on government support and because public largesse has
papered over old problems while creating new sources of volatility.
Property prices are still falling in more places than they are rising,
and, as this week's nationalisation of Austria's Hypo Group shows,
banking stresses still persist. Apparent signs of success, such as
American megabanks repaying public capital early (see article[1]), make
it easy to forget that the recovery still depends on government
support. Strip out the temporary effects of firms' restocking, and much
of the rebound in global demand is thanks to the public purse, from the
officially induced investment surge in China to stimulus-prompted
spending in America. That is revving recovery in big emerging
economies, while only staving off a relapse into recession in much of
the rich world.
This divergence will persist. Demand in the rich world will remain
weak, especially in countries with over-indebted households and broken
banking systems. For all the talk of deleveraging, American households'
debt, relative to their income, is only slightly below its peak and
some 30% above its level a decade ago. British and Spanish households
have adjusted even less, so the odds of prolonged weakness in private
spending are even greater. And as their public-debt burden rises,
rich-world governments will find it increasingly difficult to borrow
still more to compensate. The contrast with better-run emerging
economies will sharpen. Investors are already worried about Greece
defaulting (see article[2]), but other members of the euro zone are
also at risk. Even Britain and America could face sharply higher
borrowing costs.
Big emerging economies face the opposite problem: the spectre of asset
bubbles and other distortions as governments choose, or are forced, to
keep financial conditions too loose for too long. China is a worry,
thanks to the scale and composition of its stimulus. Liquidity is
alarmingly abundant and the government's refusal to allow the yuan to
appreciate is hampering the economy's shift towards consumption (see
article[3]). But loose monetary policy in the rich world makes it hard
for emerging economies to tighten even if they want to, since that
would suck in even more speculative foreign capital.
WALKING A FINE LINE
Whether the world economy moves smoothly from the Great Stabilisation
to a sustainable recovery depends on how well these divergent
challenges are met. Some of the remedies are obvious. A stronger yuan
would accelerate the rebalancing of China's economy while reducing the
pressure on other emerging markets. Credible plans for medium-term
fiscal cuts would reduce the risk of rising long-term interest rates in
the rich world. But there are genuine trade-offs. Fiscal tightening now
could kill the rich world's recovery. And the monetary stance that
makes sense for America's domestic economy will add to the problems
facing the emerging world.
That is why policymakers face huge technical difficulties in getting
the exit strategies right. Worse, they must do so against a darkening
political backdrop. As Britain's tax on bank bonuses shows, fiscal
policy in the rich world risks being driven by rising public fury at
bankers and bail-outs. In America the independence of the Federal
Reserve is under threat from Congress. And the politics of high
unemployment means trade spats are becoming a bigger risk, especially
with China.
Add all this up, and what do you get? Pessimists expect all kinds of
shocks in 2010, from sovereign-debt crises (a Greek default?) to
reckless protectionism (American tariffs against China's "unfair"
currency, say). More likely is a plethora of lesser problems, from
sudden surges in bond yields (Britain before the election), to
short-sighted fiscal decisions (a financial-transactions tax) to
strikes over pay cuts (British Airways is a portent, see article[4]).
Small beer compared with the cataclysm of a year ago--but enough to
temper the holiday cheer.
-----
[1] http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_ID=15127534
[2] http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_ID=15127235
[3] http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_ID=15127500
[4] http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_ID=15130582
See this article with graphics and related items at http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15127608
Go to http://www.economist.com for more global news, views and analysis from the Economist Group.
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Economist.com is the online version of The Economist newspaper, an independent weekly international news and business publication offering clear reporting, commentary and analysis on world politics, business, finance, science & technology, culture, society and the arts.
Economist.com also offers exclusive content online, including additional articles throughout the week.
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VAT no: GB 340 436 876
Registered office: 25 St James's Street, London, SW1A 1HG
The recession was less calamitous than many feared. Its aftermath will
be more dangerous than many expect
IT HAS become known as the "Great Recession", the year in which the
global economy suffered its deepest slump since the second world war.
But an equally apt name would be the "Great Stabilisation". For 2009
was extraordinary not just for how output fell, but for how a
catastrophe was averted.
Twelve months ago, the panic sown by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers
had pushed financial markets close to collapse. Global economic
activity, from industrial production to foreign trade, was falling
faster than in the early 1930s. This time, though, the decline was
stemmed within months. Big emerging economies accelerated first and
fastest. China's output, which stalled but never fell, was growing by
an annualised rate of some 17% in the second quarter. By mid-year the
world's big, rich economies (with the exception of Britain and Spain)
had started to expand again. Only a few laggards, such as Latvia and
Ireland, are now likely still to be in recession.
There has been a lot of collateral damage. Average unemployment across
the OECD is almost 9%. In America, where the recession began much
earlier, the jobless rate has doubled to 10%. In some places years of
progress in poverty reduction have been undone as the poorest have been
hit by the double whammy of weak economies and still-high food prices.
But thanks to the resilience of big, populous economies such as China,
India and Indonesia, the emerging world overall fared no worse in this
downturn than in the 1991 recession. For many people on the planet, the
Great Recession was not all that great.
That outcome was not inevitable. It was the result of the biggest,
broadest and fastest government response in history. Teetering banks
were wrapped in a multi-trillion-dollar cocoon of public cash and
guarantees. Central banks slashed interest rates; the big ones
dramatically expanded their balance-sheets. Governments worldwide
embraced fiscal stimulus with gusto. This extraordinary activism helped
to stem panic, prop up the financial system and counter the collapse in
private demand. Despite claims to the contrary, the Great Recession
could have been a Depression without it.
STABLE BUT FRAIL
So much for the good news. The bad news is that today's stability,
however welcome, is worryingly fragile, both because global demand is
still dependent on government support and because public largesse has
papered over old problems while creating new sources of volatility.
Property prices are still falling in more places than they are rising,
and, as this week's nationalisation of Austria's Hypo Group shows,
banking stresses still persist. Apparent signs of success, such as
American megabanks repaying public capital early (see article[1]), make
it easy to forget that the recovery still depends on government
support. Strip out the temporary effects of firms' restocking, and much
of the rebound in global demand is thanks to the public purse, from the
officially induced investment surge in China to stimulus-prompted
spending in America. That is revving recovery in big emerging
economies, while only staving off a relapse into recession in much of
the rich world.
This divergence will persist. Demand in the rich world will remain
weak, especially in countries with over-indebted households and broken
banking systems. For all the talk of deleveraging, American households'
debt, relative to their income, is only slightly below its peak and
some 30% above its level a decade ago. British and Spanish households
have adjusted even less, so the odds of prolonged weakness in private
spending are even greater. And as their public-debt burden rises,
rich-world governments will find it increasingly difficult to borrow
still more to compensate. The contrast with better-run emerging
economies will sharpen. Investors are already worried about Greece
defaulting (see article[2]), but other members of the euro zone are
also at risk. Even Britain and America could face sharply higher
borrowing costs.
Big emerging economies face the opposite problem: the spectre of asset
bubbles and other distortions as governments choose, or are forced, to
keep financial conditions too loose for too long. China is a worry,
thanks to the scale and composition of its stimulus. Liquidity is
alarmingly abundant and the government's refusal to allow the yuan to
appreciate is hampering the economy's shift towards consumption (see
article[3]). But loose monetary policy in the rich world makes it hard
for emerging economies to tighten even if they want to, since that
would suck in even more speculative foreign capital.
WALKING A FINE LINE
Whether the world economy moves smoothly from the Great Stabilisation
to a sustainable recovery depends on how well these divergent
challenges are met. Some of the remedies are obvious. A stronger yuan
would accelerate the rebalancing of China's economy while reducing the
pressure on other emerging markets. Credible plans for medium-term
fiscal cuts would reduce the risk of rising long-term interest rates in
the rich world. But there are genuine trade-offs. Fiscal tightening now
could kill the rich world's recovery. And the monetary stance that
makes sense for America's domestic economy will add to the problems
facing the emerging world.
That is why policymakers face huge technical difficulties in getting
the exit strategies right. Worse, they must do so against a darkening
political backdrop. As Britain's tax on bank bonuses shows, fiscal
policy in the rich world risks being driven by rising public fury at
bankers and bail-outs. In America the independence of the Federal
Reserve is under threat from Congress. And the politics of high
unemployment means trade spats are becoming a bigger risk, especially
with China.
Add all this up, and what do you get? Pessimists expect all kinds of
shocks in 2010, from sovereign-debt crises (a Greek default?) to
reckless protectionism (American tariffs against China's "unfair"
currency, say). More likely is a plethora of lesser problems, from
sudden surges in bond yields (Britain before the election), to
short-sighted fiscal decisions (a financial-transactions tax) to
strikes over pay cuts (British Airways is a portent, see article[4]).
Small beer compared with the cataclysm of a year ago--but enough to
temper the holiday cheer.
-----
[1] http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_ID=15127534
[2] http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_ID=15127235
[3] http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_ID=15127500
[4] http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_ID=15130582
See this article with graphics and related items at http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15127608
Go to http://www.economist.com for more global news, views and analysis from the Economist Group.
- ABOUT ECONOMIST.COM -
Economist.com is the online version of The Economist newspaper, an independent weekly international news and business publication offering clear reporting, commentary and analysis on world politics, business, finance, science & technology, culture, society and the arts.
Economist.com also offers exclusive content online, including additional articles throughout the week.
- SUBSCRIBE NOW AND SAVE 25% -
Click here: http://www.economist.com/subscriptions/offer.cfm?campaign=168-XLMT
Subscribe now with 25% off and receive full access to:
* all the articles published in The Economist newspaper
* the online archive - allowing you to search and retrieve over 33,000 articles published in The Economist since 1997
* The World in - The Economist's outlook on the year
* Business encyclopedia - allows you to find a definition and explanation for any business term
- ABOUT THIS E-MAIL -
This e-mail was sent to you by the person at the e-mail address listed
above through a link found on Economist.com. We will not send you any
future messages as a result of your being the recipient of this e-mail.
- COPYRIGHT -
This e-mail message and Economist articles linked from it are copyright
(c) 2009 The Economist Newspaper Group Limited. All rights reserved.
http://www.economist.com/help/copy_general.cfm
Economist.com privacy policy: http://www.economist.com/about/privacy.cfm
The Economist, Economist.com and CFO Europe are trading names of:
The Economist Newspaper Limited
Registered in England and Wales. No.236383
VAT no: GB 340 436 876
Registered office: 25 St James's Street, London, SW1A 1HG
Apple iPhone could reboot education
Brian X. Chen (wired.com) reports that Abilene Christian University has just finished the first year of a pilot program in which 1,000 freshman students each received a free iPhone or iPod touch to explore how the always-connected devices ”might revolutionize the classroom experience with a dash of digital interactivity.” Says Bill Rankin, a professor who helped plan the initiative: “I think this is the next platform for education.”
Read more…
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/12/iphone-university-abilene/
Read more…
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/12/iphone-university-abilene/
2009/12/10
IDC plans to create sustainability index for IT
IDC - Press Release
IDC Plans ICT Sustainability Index to Guide Nations Towards Their CO2 Emissions Targets
05 Aug 2009
FRAMINGHAM, Mass., August 5, 2009 – IDC today announced plans to create an index that scores a country's ability to use information and communications technologies (ICT) to effectively reduce its CO2 emissions. Results of the first IDC ICT Sustainability IndexTM will be released prior to the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held December 7-18, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The ICT Sustainability Index utilizes a variety of inputs to determine a country's ability to use ICT to reduce its CO2 emissions. In addition to population and GDP data, the Index correlates a country's current energy profile with its ICT investment and spending patterns to help make climate change targets attainable. By using additional ICT-related input factors to this base line, the Index score also effectively measures a country's readiness to leverage ICT to lower its carbon emissions. The Index scores will allow IDC to rank nations fairly and transparently as they tackle the long-term challenge of environmental and economic sustainability. The Index will be accompanied by a special study offering qualitative recommendations to policy makers on where ICT investments can contribute to achieving climate change goals.
IDC Plans ICT Sustainability Index to Guide Nations Towards Their CO2 Emissions Targets
05 Aug 2009
FRAMINGHAM, Mass., August 5, 2009 – IDC today announced plans to create an index that scores a country's ability to use information and communications technologies (ICT) to effectively reduce its CO2 emissions. Results of the first IDC ICT Sustainability IndexTM will be released prior to the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held December 7-18, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The ICT Sustainability Index utilizes a variety of inputs to determine a country's ability to use ICT to reduce its CO2 emissions. In addition to population and GDP data, the Index correlates a country's current energy profile with its ICT investment and spending patterns to help make climate change targets attainable. By using additional ICT-related input factors to this base line, the Index score also effectively measures a country's readiness to leverage ICT to lower its carbon emissions. The Index scores will allow IDC to rank nations fairly and transparently as they tackle the long-term challenge of environmental and economic sustainability. The Index will be accompanied by a special study offering qualitative recommendations to policy makers on where ICT investments can contribute to achieving climate change goals.
German association ZVEI presented forecast: Microelectronics-trends till 2013
Vorweihnachtszeit ist Rückschauzeit. Ob Gottschalk, Jauch oder Kerner, alle blicken zurück auf das Jahr 2009. Da ist der ZVEI innovativer: Er schielt nach vorn und zwar mit der »Mikroelektronik - Trendanalyse bis 2013«, die einem ausgewählten Journalistenkreis diese Woche vorgestellt wurde. Durchforstet man die gut 50-seitige Studie, fällt auf, wie schnell sich die Mikroelektronikindustrie von der Krise erholt hat. Fast so schnell wie die großen Banken - von einigen Landesbanken mal abgesehen. Nach 2001 hatte es gut drei Jahre gedauert, bis man wieder auf dem alten Umsatzniveau war. Dieses Mal scheint der Spuk bereits nach etwas mehr als einem Jahr vorbei zu sein. Das sind doch gute Aussichten! Und noch etwas: Nicht nur wir werden älter, sondern auch die Mikroelektronik. Laut Trendanalyse hat sie sich von einer reifenden zu einer reifen Industrie gewandelt. Bis zur Rente dürfte es allerdings noch sehr lange dauern - wie im richtigen Leben.
2009/12/08
Increasing lead times: Here are The Facts From ACAL
In November ACAL Technology (partner to IMU Group Swiss) surveyed nearly 400 contacts from its franchised supply base of over 300 worldwide suppliers. The responses to the survey have been analysed and summarized for the benefit of our customers.
• 75% of responders are currently experiencing fluctuating lead-times
• 38% already have product allocation issues for areas of their portfolio
• In the next 6 months 43% expect lead-times to continue to extend by a minimum of 8 weeks
Due to the current global economy many component manufacturers are slower in increasing production capacity due to continued uncertainty in the market. These factors are expected to force prices to climb and further lead-time extensions.
Over the last three months global pricing has increased in some product areas of the components market by nearly 24%. During the last quarter average prices have increased by 1.6% as shown in New Electronics November issue of ‘Marketwatch’ which showed 82% of the products tracked had experienced price increases when compared to prior month.
ACAL Technology continues it’s commitment to inventory and will continue to invest, in addition ACAL is also working with many of its partners to provide services reducing lead-times in the inventory cycle.
With all of the conditions that we are currently prevailing ACAL is recomending it's customers to secure inventory to ensure production is not affected by changes in the market.
For further information on how ACAL can support you in the current market
please complete the form below.
• 75% of responders are currently experiencing fluctuating lead-times
• 38% already have product allocation issues for areas of their portfolio
• In the next 6 months 43% expect lead-times to continue to extend by a minimum of 8 weeks
Due to the current global economy many component manufacturers are slower in increasing production capacity due to continued uncertainty in the market. These factors are expected to force prices to climb and further lead-time extensions.
Over the last three months global pricing has increased in some product areas of the components market by nearly 24%. During the last quarter average prices have increased by 1.6% as shown in New Electronics November issue of ‘Marketwatch’ which showed 82% of the products tracked had experienced price increases when compared to prior month.
ACAL Technology continues it’s commitment to inventory and will continue to invest, in addition ACAL is also working with many of its partners to provide services reducing lead-times in the inventory cycle.
With all of the conditions that we are currently prevailing ACAL is recomending it's customers to secure inventory to ensure production is not affected by changes in the market.
For further information on how ACAL can support you in the current market
please complete the form below.
Industrialisation of Hacking Will Dominate The Next Decade
Imperva delineates five key security trends Organisations will face during the next ten years
London, 08 December 2009: As we approach the dawn of a new decade, battle lines are firmly drawn with Organisation’s squaring up to Cyber Criminals. Imperva, the Data Security leader, predicts five key security trends to watch for over the next ten years:
The industrialisation of hacking - Clear definitions of roles are developing within the hacking community forming a supply chain that starkly resembles that of drug cartels. The weapons of choice will be automated tools applied through botnets. Imperva recently tracked and analysed a compromise that affected hundreds of servers. The scale of this attack, and others like it, is enormous and would not be achievable without total automation.
A move from application to data security as cyber-criminals look for new ways to bypass existing security measures and focus on obtaining valuable information.
Increasing attacks through social network sites where vulnerable and less technically savvy populations are susceptible to phishing attacks and malware infection.
An increase in credential theft/grabbing attacks. As the face value of individual credit card records and personal identity records decreases (due to massive data breaches) attackers look at more profitable targets. Obtaining application credentials presents an up sell opportunity as they provide a greater immediate value to stolen data consumers up the food chain.
A move from reactive to proactive security as organisations move from sitting back and waiting to be breached, to actively seeking holes and plugging them as well as trying to anticipate attacks before they come to realization.
London, 08 December 2009: As we approach the dawn of a new decade, battle lines are firmly drawn with Organisation’s squaring up to Cyber Criminals. Imperva, the Data Security leader, predicts five key security trends to watch for over the next ten years:
The industrialisation of hacking - Clear definitions of roles are developing within the hacking community forming a supply chain that starkly resembles that of drug cartels. The weapons of choice will be automated tools applied through botnets. Imperva recently tracked and analysed a compromise that affected hundreds of servers. The scale of this attack, and others like it, is enormous and would not be achievable without total automation.
A move from application to data security as cyber-criminals look for new ways to bypass existing security measures and focus on obtaining valuable information.
Increasing attacks through social network sites where vulnerable and less technically savvy populations are susceptible to phishing attacks and malware infection.
An increase in credential theft/grabbing attacks. As the face value of individual credit card records and personal identity records decreases (due to massive data breaches) attackers look at more profitable targets. Obtaining application credentials presents an up sell opportunity as they provide a greater immediate value to stolen data consumers up the food chain.
A move from reactive to proactive security as organisations move from sitting back and waiting to be breached, to actively seeking holes and plugging them as well as trying to anticipate attacks before they come to realization.
2009/12/06
What is the Gap?
What is the Gap?
There is often a stark contrast in the perception of sales effectiveness and sales productivity between the business owner and the sales manager or sales team. We call this contrast “The Gap”.
Case Study:
During a recent meeting with a Business Owner and his sales director, we gave each of them a blank piece of paper and asked them, independently of one another, to rate the overall effectiveness (ability to sell) of their sales team on a scale of 1-10. The President wrote down a 3, and the sales manager wrote down a 9! In other words, the business owner thought the sales team was doing very poorly while the sales manager thought it was functioning at almost optimal levels. With this sales manager’s mind set, what do you think that company’s potential for growth was? With this mind set do you think this sales manager has any incentive to raise the bar?
This gap in perception of sales effectiveness goes to the root cause of sales and sales management failure. Change will not occur until a business or individual comes to the conclusion that status quo is more financially detrimental than change itself. Although the company cited here had spent time and money on boot camps, one-day seminars and short-term motivational programs, the sales manager did not see any reason to change and as such made little effort to reinforce the training (change) provided, as such the business owner had wasted money training his sales team. The sales manager also had no “incentive” to change when he felt things were about as good as they could get. Remember you cannot change results until you change routines and you cannot change a routine until you first change the person’s mind.
For details on enhancing sales performance: http://www.ceosalesolution.com/webinar.html
The First Step in overcoming Sales Ineffectiveness:
The Gap is present in a great number of sales organizations today. Change does not take place until the one with the most to gain and the most to lose (The Business Owner or President) concludes that things are not good enough. Some take back control by implementing and enforcing change. Others merely rely on hope. They hope that everything they have no control over may change, such as the economy or the sales superstar who has eluded them may come knocking! Stop relying on hope and make a decision to take back control over the engine of your organization: the sales department!
Please visit http://www.ceosalesolution.com/webinar.html for details on enhancing your sales performance results.
There is often a stark contrast in the perception of sales effectiveness and sales productivity between the business owner and the sales manager or sales team. We call this contrast “The Gap”.
Case Study:
During a recent meeting with a Business Owner and his sales director, we gave each of them a blank piece of paper and asked them, independently of one another, to rate the overall effectiveness (ability to sell) of their sales team on a scale of 1-10. The President wrote down a 3, and the sales manager wrote down a 9! In other words, the business owner thought the sales team was doing very poorly while the sales manager thought it was functioning at almost optimal levels. With this sales manager’s mind set, what do you think that company’s potential for growth was? With this mind set do you think this sales manager has any incentive to raise the bar?
This gap in perception of sales effectiveness goes to the root cause of sales and sales management failure. Change will not occur until a business or individual comes to the conclusion that status quo is more financially detrimental than change itself. Although the company cited here had spent time and money on boot camps, one-day seminars and short-term motivational programs, the sales manager did not see any reason to change and as such made little effort to reinforce the training (change) provided, as such the business owner had wasted money training his sales team. The sales manager also had no “incentive” to change when he felt things were about as good as they could get. Remember you cannot change results until you change routines and you cannot change a routine until you first change the person’s mind.
For details on enhancing sales performance: http://www.ceosalesolution.com/webinar.html
The First Step in overcoming Sales Ineffectiveness:
The Gap is present in a great number of sales organizations today. Change does not take place until the one with the most to gain and the most to lose (The Business Owner or President) concludes that things are not good enough. Some take back control by implementing and enforcing change. Others merely rely on hope. They hope that everything they have no control over may change, such as the economy or the sales superstar who has eluded them may come knocking! Stop relying on hope and make a decision to take back control over the engine of your organization: the sales department!
Please visit http://www.ceosalesolution.com/webinar.html for details on enhancing your sales performance results.
2009/12/01
Soyuz Lands Safely in Kazakhstan
By Marc Boucher on December 1, 2009 2:20 AM No Comments
Soyuz Leaves International Space Station and Lands Safely in Kazakhstan, SpaceRef Canada (With Video)
"Canadian Space Agency Flight Engineer Robert Thirsk, Expedition 21 Flight Engineer and Soyuz Commander Roman Romanenko and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Frank De Winne undocked their Soyuz spacecraft from the station at 10:56 p.m. EST Monday and landed in Kazakhstan at 2:15 a.m. Tuesday, 1:15 p.m. local Kazakhstan time. The Soyuz spacecraft landed upright which helped the search and recovery teams extract the astronauts."
For a full details please click at the link below:
http://nasawatch.com/archives/2009/12/soyuz-lands-saf.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nasawatch%2FAekt+%28NASA+Watch%29&utm_content=Twitter
Soyuz Leaves International Space Station and Lands Safely in Kazakhstan, SpaceRef Canada (With Video)
"Canadian Space Agency Flight Engineer Robert Thirsk, Expedition 21 Flight Engineer and Soyuz Commander Roman Romanenko and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Frank De Winne undocked their Soyuz spacecraft from the station at 10:56 p.m. EST Monday and landed in Kazakhstan at 2:15 a.m. Tuesday, 1:15 p.m. local Kazakhstan time. The Soyuz spacecraft landed upright which helped the search and recovery teams extract the astronauts."
For a full details please click at the link below:
http://nasawatch.com/archives/2009/12/soyuz-lands-saf.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nasawatch%2FAekt+%28NASA+Watch%29&utm_content=Twitter
2009/11/30
There are no too many form factors...
Luckily for the writer, his views, being on the state of embedded systems industry or on embedded technology get published and the word gets around.
Good people publish it and again good people read it. They process published opinions, forming their own. And that is how it is supposed to be.
A very well respected and read quarterly, published by established publisher in Moscow, Russia www.mka.ru "The World of Computer Controls". Its history runs for close to 20 years and is printed in Cyrillic and partly in English. It has large follow up in the country and distribution outside Russia. Millions of people read it in Russian language and the reach is wide and deep.
Reading one of recent issues (No. 3-2009) I see an article by Mr. N. Kolsky who is calling me to dispute the need for another standard looking for an application. He meant to be a microTCA, I suppose. The said standard is still, after years, looking for its big break, a project everyone seems to be talking about.
This technology, with its origins in telecommunications, where hot swap advantage, and resources management are of paramount importance. It was developed at the time where Telecoms were flushed with revenues and everyone was looking for upgrades to satisfy the need for bandwidth of the Dot Com Bubble. After its bust on 2000, everything changed and a very nice technology began looking for another life in industry and in automation. Its derivative microTCA, was even a candidate into military applications for a while until it has decided on VPX instead.
The resources management is complex to begin with. Making smallish projects uneconomical or too complex. Larger projects involving large development teams use the resources management to their advantages, but overall costs are high making the supply chain pathologically crippled. Distributors are being pushed out of the project, as there is no margin for them. For a vendor each project becomes a Key Account.
In the same issue my dear friend is quoted in another article, titled "The invasion of the form factor" which exactly enhances my sentiment. Ray Alderman is explaining why every vendor tries to lock his End User into a closed technology.
The question Mr. Kolsky should be asking is not "are there too many form factors or not enough"? No one can decide how many standards are coming to the market. Simply it is always up to a market forces that take any standard to test them to a simple equation: "Is it cheaper to use it or is it easier to use it?" Any standard that passes the test is being used luckily for hopefully a long time. Such standards are numerous, VME, cPCI and some are in use for many years and bring fortunes to its inventors.
As to the microTCA standard it got recently a xTCA denomination, that unfortunately adds precious little to reduce its cost of ownership. The future will show and soon.
We shall see
Good people publish it and again good people read it. They process published opinions, forming their own. And that is how it is supposed to be.
A very well respected and read quarterly, published by established publisher in Moscow, Russia www.mka.ru "The World of Computer Controls". Its history runs for close to 20 years and is printed in Cyrillic and partly in English. It has large follow up in the country and distribution outside Russia. Millions of people read it in Russian language and the reach is wide and deep.
Reading one of recent issues (No. 3-2009) I see an article by Mr. N. Kolsky who is calling me to dispute the need for another standard looking for an application. He meant to be a microTCA, I suppose. The said standard is still, after years, looking for its big break, a project everyone seems to be talking about.
This technology, with its origins in telecommunications, where hot swap advantage, and resources management are of paramount importance. It was developed at the time where Telecoms were flushed with revenues and everyone was looking for upgrades to satisfy the need for bandwidth of the Dot Com Bubble. After its bust on 2000, everything changed and a very nice technology began looking for another life in industry and in automation. Its derivative microTCA, was even a candidate into military applications for a while until it has decided on VPX instead.
The resources management is complex to begin with. Making smallish projects uneconomical or too complex. Larger projects involving large development teams use the resources management to their advantages, but overall costs are high making the supply chain pathologically crippled. Distributors are being pushed out of the project, as there is no margin for them. For a vendor each project becomes a Key Account.
In the same issue my dear friend is quoted in another article, titled "The invasion of the form factor" which exactly enhances my sentiment. Ray Alderman is explaining why every vendor tries to lock his End User into a closed technology.
The question Mr. Kolsky should be asking is not "are there too many form factors or not enough"? No one can decide how many standards are coming to the market. Simply it is always up to a market forces that take any standard to test them to a simple equation: "Is it cheaper to use it or is it easier to use it?" Any standard that passes the test is being used luckily for hopefully a long time. Such standards are numerous, VME, cPCI and some are in use for many years and bring fortunes to its inventors.
As to the microTCA standard it got recently a xTCA denomination, that unfortunately adds precious little to reduce its cost of ownership. The future will show and soon.
We shall see
2009/11/23
are you reading the stock market all wrong?
Are you one of the many investors waiting for the one of the following?
- The global economic recovery to be more certain
- There to be one more (at least) almighty crash
At either of these points, you'll then jump back into the market.... right?
But, what if neither of these events occur? What if the market doesn't crash and the recovery remains weak long term and the market just kind of keeps drifting up? What if this is, in fact, the new "normal"?
What if growth doesn't return to previous levels for years or even decades? Do you invest in something else? Like what, property or cash? They won't do you any good either in a low growth environment. Do you keep sitting on the sidelines while your cash is worn down by inflation and taxation? Sitting in cash is the worst possible solution - it's negative thinking. Oh, sure, it's safe, but so is staying in bed or not going outside. You won't get hit by a bus if you stay inside. Safe options are always good short term, but bad long term.
While the current stock market has had a great run since March, many investors who have been waiting for the two events I mentioned above are wondering what to do now. They probably feel they have missed the boat... and to a great extent they have. They completely misread the situation, but all is not lost.
There is still a huge amount of money to be made in this market. While my Trident Confidential Portfolio has made close to 110% this year so far, I honestly can't see why I won't keep up my long term average of around 90%pa in 2010. I know that's a bold statement, but negative thinking and nice safe options will never make you any money.
If, as I suspect, we are entering in to a new "normal" of lower and slower growth, due to the days of "debt fueled growth" being over (for the time being), then our old approach to the stock market no longer applies. We have to think differently. Buying stocks "blindly" on the basis "they used to be good" is not an "investment strategy", it's an "investment habit".
Click here for full text: http://www.tridentconfidential.com/page.php?id=9
- The global economic recovery to be more certain
- There to be one more (at least) almighty crash
At either of these points, you'll then jump back into the market.... right?
But, what if neither of these events occur? What if the market doesn't crash and the recovery remains weak long term and the market just kind of keeps drifting up? What if this is, in fact, the new "normal"?
What if growth doesn't return to previous levels for years or even decades? Do you invest in something else? Like what, property or cash? They won't do you any good either in a low growth environment. Do you keep sitting on the sidelines while your cash is worn down by inflation and taxation? Sitting in cash is the worst possible solution - it's negative thinking. Oh, sure, it's safe, but so is staying in bed or not going outside. You won't get hit by a bus if you stay inside. Safe options are always good short term, but bad long term.
While the current stock market has had a great run since March, many investors who have been waiting for the two events I mentioned above are wondering what to do now. They probably feel they have missed the boat... and to a great extent they have. They completely misread the situation, but all is not lost.
There is still a huge amount of money to be made in this market. While my Trident Confidential Portfolio has made close to 110% this year so far, I honestly can't see why I won't keep up my long term average of around 90%pa in 2010. I know that's a bold statement, but negative thinking and nice safe options will never make you any money.
If, as I suspect, we are entering in to a new "normal" of lower and slower growth, due to the days of "debt fueled growth" being over (for the time being), then our old approach to the stock market no longer applies. We have to think differently. Buying stocks "blindly" on the basis "they used to be good" is not an "investment strategy", it's an "investment habit".
Click here for full text: http://www.tridentconfidential.com/page.php?id=9
2009/11/21
CERN back in business with its Large Hadron Collider
Geneva, 20 November 2009. Particle beams are once again circulating in the world’s most powerful particle accelerator, CERN*’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC). This news comes after the machine was handed over for operation on Wednesday morning. A clockwise circulating beam was established at ten o'clock this evening. This is an important milestone on the road towards first physics at the LHC, expected in 2010.
For more click link below:
http://press.web.cern.ch/press/lhc-first-physics/
For more click link below:
http://press.web.cern.ch/press/lhc-first-physics/
2009/10/24
Is the recovery real?
Click to view this email in a browser
http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/230163/49615c0aae/513000276/77647ad340/
Dear Reader,
The stock market has come along way since the dark and dismal days of
March this year when most investors were of the opinion we were headed
for a very deep recession, some even thinking “depression”….. Not a
lot of fun.
Since then we have seen not only the market come good (to a certain
extent) but we have also seen great improvement economically, even
though some dark clouds linger. Dark clouds in the form of weak
employment and retail sales.
The stock market, as you may or may not know is a “leading indicator”
of the economy. The market guesses where the economy will head and
this has always been the case, and probably always will be. In effect,
it’s a bunch of people betting which way the economy and individual
sectors within the economy are heading, that’s the theory anyway.
The only way of proving the efficacy of this theory is at earnings
time. This is when the true direction is known. If profits and
revenues of companies are up, then it’s a pretty safe bet that the
economy is following behind.
Well, it’s truth time in the United States at the moment and most
companies have to report their quarterly earnings (both American and
international companies, if they are listed in New York). So, how’s it
going? Are we really on track for a economic recovery?
The answer is 100% yes!
So far, 79% of companies that have reported have reported better than
expected earnings and 65% have reported better than expected sales –
Top line growth is back, despite unemployment. Technology is booming,
as are several other industries.
The recent lift in the markets will attract the attention of the
general public, who haven’t really participated in this rally. In
addition, fund managers who have been skeptical or even short the
market all year will be forced to buy into the rally as their clients
will be doing year-end comparisons at the end of this current quarter.
That means that there could be a lot of big money chasing returns for
the next couple of months, resulting in higher prices.
However, with all the good news coming out regarding earnings, there
are still “experts” trying to scare you with talk of massive
collapses, banks going broke, currency crashes etc. Before you take
this stuff on board, think about what’s in it for them to say this
negative stuff. Are they promoting a book, selling a seminar or trying
to garner interest for their particular investment strategy? I think
you’ll find they have something to sell, so my advice – ignore them
and just follow the market. Our stop loss strategies will protect us
and our “aggressively conservative” stock picks will ensure we
outperform the market, pretty much all the time.
Let me tell you about a well respected “perma-bear”, not my old mate
Nouriel Roubini, I won’t pick on him today. No, this guy actually
makes a lot of money being negative – but there’s a sting in this
story – his investors lose money in real terms – He’s rich, they’re
not. Doesn’t surprise you does it. And no it’s not Bernie Madoff
(pronounced “made off” as in "made off with your money").
Seriously, David Tice manages the Federated Prudent Bear Fund and he
said this week that the Dow will bottom when it gets to book value,
which is about 3,100. The reporter interviewing him thought he was
mucking around, but he was serious. “Our long-term target, which we
expect to reach in 2012, is Dow 3,800, and that is no joke..” You know
if the Dow goes to 3800 we’ll be almost living caves. Well, you can
guess what I think about those opinions – but why would he have such
an opinion? What does he know that we don’t? The answer is nothing.
The man gets rich by scaring the daylights out of you and getting you
to invest in his “Bear Fund”. He’s made a lot of money taking a
management fee, based on the funds he has managed, not the profits he
makes (obviously). But what about his investors?
In the last 14 years since he started the fund he has returned 0.04%pa
(that’s less than 1%, then take off inflation, tax etc – not much
left, eh?), but in the last 5 years he has done quite well in
returning 5.18%pa thanks mainly to the events of 2008 (but only 5%?, I
made 23% in 2008, and I’m an optimist and “bullish”). He has over $1
billion under his management – that’s a lot of pessimistic investors!
So, my lesson for today is that being pessimistic and bearish will not
make you $1 over the long term. To make money you have to be
optimistic – seek opportunity – act when the opportunity lands in your
lap and keep looking forward, not back – find solutions, don’t stumble
over problems. This applies to all aspects of your life, not just the
market.
As most of you well know, even during the worst of the GFC from
September 2008 to March 2009 I have remain positive (sometimes
annoyingly, I know) but it has resulted in a return this year of over
105% for Trident Confidential subscribers. Optimistic = Wealth (in all
things, not just money).
So, next time a “dark cloud” person wants to “bend your ear” – just
ignore them. You know, if there had been a few less people telling us
the world was coming to end, the crisis would not been anywhere near
as bad. Consumer sentiment has a lot to do with recessions.
**********************************************************************
Opportunities are Still Out There
**********************************************************************
As stock prices have moved up strongly in recent months, you may be
wondering whether you wait for a correction or pullback or leap in a
buy a few shares now?
A good question. My answer to a potential investor would be to choose
the stock you invest in very carefully and buy it now if the valuation
is good. You could be waiting for a correction that may never comes or
when it does, it could still leve you paying a higher price for your
selected stock than you could pay today.
Many stocks, the bigger blue chips especially are getting close to
fair value in my opinion. However, it is now the time to seek out
smaller or medium sized companies that have been overlooked to a great
extent by the rally. I'm constantly digging up companies with great
businesses that have had their stock price decimated, but their
business is close to record earnings and sales. Yes, stocks that have
an historical valuation based on their current earnings, 2,3 or even 4
times higher than it is now. That means in time, their stock prices
will return to their historial "mean valuation" and provide investors
with great profits - even now.
This week's little Australian health related stock is a perfect
example. In my opinion, it's valuation is three times higher than it's
stock price. In my Hidden Gems portfolio (micro caps), I find even
greater extremes of undervaluation.
So, if you are seeking out opportunities of your own, think small and
micro cap stocks at the moment - the rally has missed many of them.
In time, the market will catch on - it always does and by then your
stock will be much higher.
**********************************************************************
To Join Trident Confidential and Read our Latest Stock Tips, The
Hidden Gems Portfolio, Receive all Lance's Books on CD and Have Access
to our Full Archive - Click Here
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?TridentPress/49615c0aae/77647ad340/5410c7aed4/id=34
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
Click here to read the opinions of our current Trident Confidential
subscribers
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?TridentPress/49615c0aae/77647ad340/2113d0bd47/id=9
**********************************************************************
Until next time.
Kind Regards
Lance Spicer
Editor, Trident Confidential - Still...The World's Highest Returning
Newsletter since 2005.
Lance Spicer is qualified and licensed to provide investment advice on
Managed Investments, Equities and Derivatives.
Trident Investment Management Pty Ltd is an authorised representative
(No 339798) of The International Securities and Derivatives Group Pty
Limited (ABN 22 103 552 683) holder of Australian Financial Services
License (AFSL 227544)
______________________________________________________________________
If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply to this
message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line or simply click on the
following link:
http://cts.vresp.com/u?49615c0aae/77647ad340/mlpftw
______________________________________________________________________
This message was sent by Trident Press using VerticalResponse
http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/230163/49615c0aae/513000276/77647ad340/
Dear Reader,
The stock market has come along way since the dark and dismal days of
March this year when most investors were of the opinion we were headed
for a very deep recession, some even thinking “depression”….. Not a
lot of fun.
Since then we have seen not only the market come good (to a certain
extent) but we have also seen great improvement economically, even
though some dark clouds linger. Dark clouds in the form of weak
employment and retail sales.
The stock market, as you may or may not know is a “leading indicator”
of the economy. The market guesses where the economy will head and
this has always been the case, and probably always will be. In effect,
it’s a bunch of people betting which way the economy and individual
sectors within the economy are heading, that’s the theory anyway.
The only way of proving the efficacy of this theory is at earnings
time. This is when the true direction is known. If profits and
revenues of companies are up, then it’s a pretty safe bet that the
economy is following behind.
Well, it’s truth time in the United States at the moment and most
companies have to report their quarterly earnings (both American and
international companies, if they are listed in New York). So, how’s it
going? Are we really on track for a economic recovery?
The answer is 100% yes!
So far, 79% of companies that have reported have reported better than
expected earnings and 65% have reported better than expected sales –
Top line growth is back, despite unemployment. Technology is booming,
as are several other industries.
The recent lift in the markets will attract the attention of the
general public, who haven’t really participated in this rally. In
addition, fund managers who have been skeptical or even short the
market all year will be forced to buy into the rally as their clients
will be doing year-end comparisons at the end of this current quarter.
That means that there could be a lot of big money chasing returns for
the next couple of months, resulting in higher prices.
However, with all the good news coming out regarding earnings, there
are still “experts” trying to scare you with talk of massive
collapses, banks going broke, currency crashes etc. Before you take
this stuff on board, think about what’s in it for them to say this
negative stuff. Are they promoting a book, selling a seminar or trying
to garner interest for their particular investment strategy? I think
you’ll find they have something to sell, so my advice – ignore them
and just follow the market. Our stop loss strategies will protect us
and our “aggressively conservative” stock picks will ensure we
outperform the market, pretty much all the time.
Let me tell you about a well respected “perma-bear”, not my old mate
Nouriel Roubini, I won’t pick on him today. No, this guy actually
makes a lot of money being negative – but there’s a sting in this
story – his investors lose money in real terms – He’s rich, they’re
not. Doesn’t surprise you does it. And no it’s not Bernie Madoff
(pronounced “made off” as in "made off with your money").
Seriously, David Tice manages the Federated Prudent Bear Fund and he
said this week that the Dow will bottom when it gets to book value,
which is about 3,100. The reporter interviewing him thought he was
mucking around, but he was serious. “Our long-term target, which we
expect to reach in 2012, is Dow 3,800, and that is no joke..” You know
if the Dow goes to 3800 we’ll be almost living caves. Well, you can
guess what I think about those opinions – but why would he have such
an opinion? What does he know that we don’t? The answer is nothing.
The man gets rich by scaring the daylights out of you and getting you
to invest in his “Bear Fund”. He’s made a lot of money taking a
management fee, based on the funds he has managed, not the profits he
makes (obviously). But what about his investors?
In the last 14 years since he started the fund he has returned 0.04%pa
(that’s less than 1%, then take off inflation, tax etc – not much
left, eh?), but in the last 5 years he has done quite well in
returning 5.18%pa thanks mainly to the events of 2008 (but only 5%?, I
made 23% in 2008, and I’m an optimist and “bullish”). He has over $1
billion under his management – that’s a lot of pessimistic investors!
So, my lesson for today is that being pessimistic and bearish will not
make you $1 over the long term. To make money you have to be
optimistic – seek opportunity – act when the opportunity lands in your
lap and keep looking forward, not back – find solutions, don’t stumble
over problems. This applies to all aspects of your life, not just the
market.
As most of you well know, even during the worst of the GFC from
September 2008 to March 2009 I have remain positive (sometimes
annoyingly, I know) but it has resulted in a return this year of over
105% for Trident Confidential subscribers. Optimistic = Wealth (in all
things, not just money).
So, next time a “dark cloud” person wants to “bend your ear” – just
ignore them. You know, if there had been a few less people telling us
the world was coming to end, the crisis would not been anywhere near
as bad. Consumer sentiment has a lot to do with recessions.
**********************************************************************
Opportunities are Still Out There
**********************************************************************
As stock prices have moved up strongly in recent months, you may be
wondering whether you wait for a correction or pullback or leap in a
buy a few shares now?
A good question. My answer to a potential investor would be to choose
the stock you invest in very carefully and buy it now if the valuation
is good. You could be waiting for a correction that may never comes or
when it does, it could still leve you paying a higher price for your
selected stock than you could pay today.
Many stocks, the bigger blue chips especially are getting close to
fair value in my opinion. However, it is now the time to seek out
smaller or medium sized companies that have been overlooked to a great
extent by the rally. I'm constantly digging up companies with great
businesses that have had their stock price decimated, but their
business is close to record earnings and sales. Yes, stocks that have
an historical valuation based on their current earnings, 2,3 or even 4
times higher than it is now. That means in time, their stock prices
will return to their historial "mean valuation" and provide investors
with great profits - even now.
This week's little Australian health related stock is a perfect
example. In my opinion, it's valuation is three times higher than it's
stock price. In my Hidden Gems portfolio (micro caps), I find even
greater extremes of undervaluation.
So, if you are seeking out opportunities of your own, think small and
micro cap stocks at the moment - the rally has missed many of them.
In time, the market will catch on - it always does and by then your
stock will be much higher.
**********************************************************************
To Join Trident Confidential and Read our Latest Stock Tips, The
Hidden Gems Portfolio, Receive all Lance's Books on CD and Have Access
to our Full Archive - Click Here
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?TridentPress/49615c0aae/77647ad340/5410c7aed4/id=34
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
Click here to read the opinions of our current Trident Confidential
subscribers
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?TridentPress/49615c0aae/77647ad340/2113d0bd47/id=9
**********************************************************************
Until next time.
Kind Regards
Lance Spicer
Editor, Trident Confidential - Still...The World's Highest Returning
Newsletter since 2005.
Lance Spicer is qualified and licensed to provide investment advice on
Managed Investments, Equities and Derivatives.
Trident Investment Management Pty Ltd is an authorised representative
(No 339798) of The International Securities and Derivatives Group Pty
Limited (ABN 22 103 552 683) holder of Australian Financial Services
License (AFSL 227544)
______________________________________________________________________
If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply to this
message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line or simply click on the
following link:
http://cts.vresp.com/u?49615c0aae/77647ad340/mlpftw
______________________________________________________________________
This message was sent by Trident Press using VerticalResponse
2009/10/13
Advanced vetronics hit the ground running...
SPECIAL REPORT
Advanced vetronics hit the ground running...
:: Advanced vetronics hit the ground running
By Courtney E. Howard
Industry heeds the warfighter’s call for innovative, responsive, and reliable electronics in combat vehicles on the ground. Today’s warfighters require an ever-increasing amount of electronics systems to meet various mission objectives. At the same time, military ground vehicles, the warfighters who operate them, and the onboard vehicle electronics are required to perform missions in demanding, sometimes hostile environments. Ground combat vehicles integrate myriad complex electronic components, which deliver command, control, and communications; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and defensive and offensive weapons systems, as well as operate the vehicles themselves.
Advanced vetronics hit the ground running...
:: Advanced vetronics hit the ground running
By Courtney E. Howard
Industry heeds the warfighter’s call for innovative, responsive, and reliable electronics in combat vehicles on the ground. Today’s warfighters require an ever-increasing amount of electronics systems to meet various mission objectives. At the same time, military ground vehicles, the warfighters who operate them, and the onboard vehicle electronics are required to perform missions in demanding, sometimes hostile environments. Ground combat vehicles integrate myriad complex electronic components, which deliver command, control, and communications; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and defensive and offensive weapons systems, as well as operate the vehicles themselves.
2009/10/02
Is this recovery real or Imagined?
Pick up any newspaper or read any report and you'll read that the stock market has run too hard and is ahead of the real economy. Is this correct? Yes, it is! But is it any surprise? Seriously?
The stock market is always ahead of the real economy... always!
What's wrong with these people? Haven't they been around long enough to know that the stock market always looks 6 to 12 months into the future. You never buy a stock based on todays' earnings.. always the future earnings. These "economists" really surprise me. No wonder so many fund managers have completely missed this rally with such pessimistic views in abundance.
Look, the reality is the smart money is looking at earnings and economic growth in late 2010 and 2011. You should buy stocks that have real earnings growth potential next year and the year after not get bogged down with what's happening now.
At the moment this recovery seems to be based on two factors:
1) A business driven recovery.
Businesses have trimmed down and become leaner and meaner and are now looking ahead (as investors should) and restocking inventories. When the "revenue increase" kicks in, we are going to see the best managed businesses provide very good earnings and widening operating margins. Unemployment will start to come down once business really is straining to keep up with demand, and not before.
2) A China driven recovery
China is booming again and not off the back of the US consumers (who are currently "hibernating"). China is probably growing at 8-9%pa currently and it's doing it off the back of internal Chinese economic demand. This is great news for Australia, as long as we don't keep annoying them with not allowing them to invest capital in our companies. It's also great news for US companies who are selling the "brands" and products the Chinese middle class want. There are approximately 350 million middle class Chinese that want all the things we westerners have, the other billion are determined to join them. As an investor, I'm tracking down the best Chinese opportunities for the next few years and as Trident Confidential Subscribers know, we have discovered some "pearlers", but I know there are more out there and I'm going to find them - well-managed companies going cheap but with revenue and earnings growth set to soar - that's what I'm after and you should be too.
While everyone is waiting for a correction in the stock market, and it may or may not come, smart investors are tracking down "tomorrow's" winners today and investing in them before the "crowd" finds out. That's the best way to make money in the stock market - beat the crowd.
As an example, last week I wrote to my subscribers and told them of a great little Australian company that has one of the simplest but best medical products in the world today. Fully patented, it currently has no competitors that come close to matching it's innovative product. What's more a global company who is the biggest user of these products has just handed over tens of millions of dollars just for the "right" to use the product.
This company is in such a powerful position that companies are paying for the "opportunity" to buy the product!
A dear friend of mine, we have been exchanging news for the past 20 years, even if under different companies. I thing he has alsways something good to say:
It's been a while since I saw an Australian company and invention with such a massive future. Like so many companies of recent times they are going to announce a capital raising so they can immediately go into full scale global production and in the next few days you'll have an opportunity to buy this stock, before it reaches my 2011/12 earnings based valuation of around $4.00, which is around 210% return from where it is now. However, this could increase, if as I suspect, they announce more deals.
In the weeks and months ahead, you'll be hearing of a relatively new and very exciting Australian medical company becoming a dominant global player. When you see a company like this, you don't pass up the opportunity. As I was saying you invest in the future - not the past - economists and analysts please note.
Trident Press: Press@mail.vresp.com
The stock market is always ahead of the real economy... always!
What's wrong with these people? Haven't they been around long enough to know that the stock market always looks 6 to 12 months into the future. You never buy a stock based on todays' earnings.. always the future earnings. These "economists" really surprise me. No wonder so many fund managers have completely missed this rally with such pessimistic views in abundance.
Look, the reality is the smart money is looking at earnings and economic growth in late 2010 and 2011. You should buy stocks that have real earnings growth potential next year and the year after not get bogged down with what's happening now.
At the moment this recovery seems to be based on two factors:
1) A business driven recovery.
Businesses have trimmed down and become leaner and meaner and are now looking ahead (as investors should) and restocking inventories. When the "revenue increase" kicks in, we are going to see the best managed businesses provide very good earnings and widening operating margins. Unemployment will start to come down once business really is straining to keep up with demand, and not before.
2) A China driven recovery
China is booming again and not off the back of the US consumers (who are currently "hibernating"). China is probably growing at 8-9%pa currently and it's doing it off the back of internal Chinese economic demand. This is great news for Australia, as long as we don't keep annoying them with not allowing them to invest capital in our companies. It's also great news for US companies who are selling the "brands" and products the Chinese middle class want. There are approximately 350 million middle class Chinese that want all the things we westerners have, the other billion are determined to join them. As an investor, I'm tracking down the best Chinese opportunities for the next few years and as Trident Confidential Subscribers know, we have discovered some "pearlers", but I know there are more out there and I'm going to find them - well-managed companies going cheap but with revenue and earnings growth set to soar - that's what I'm after and you should be too.
While everyone is waiting for a correction in the stock market, and it may or may not come, smart investors are tracking down "tomorrow's" winners today and investing in them before the "crowd" finds out. That's the best way to make money in the stock market - beat the crowd.
As an example, last week I wrote to my subscribers and told them of a great little Australian company that has one of the simplest but best medical products in the world today. Fully patented, it currently has no competitors that come close to matching it's innovative product. What's more a global company who is the biggest user of these products has just handed over tens of millions of dollars just for the "right" to use the product.
This company is in such a powerful position that companies are paying for the "opportunity" to buy the product!
A dear friend of mine, we have been exchanging news for the past 20 years, even if under different companies. I thing he has alsways something good to say:
It's been a while since I saw an Australian company and invention with such a massive future. Like so many companies of recent times they are going to announce a capital raising so they can immediately go into full scale global production and in the next few days you'll have an opportunity to buy this stock, before it reaches my 2011/12 earnings based valuation of around $4.00, which is around 210% return from where it is now. However, this could increase, if as I suspect, they announce more deals.
In the weeks and months ahead, you'll be hearing of a relatively new and very exciting Australian medical company becoming a dominant global player. When you see a company like this, you don't pass up the opportunity. As I was saying you invest in the future - not the past - economists and analysts please note.
Trident Press: Press@mail.vresp.com
2009/09/24
Spies in the sky
Warfare
Spies in the sky
Mar 25th 2009
From Economist.com
Blimps equipped with remote-sensing electronics are cheaper than drones
Aerostar International
SPYING is supposed to be a sophisticated operation. But that can make it expensive. Gathering military intelligence using unmanned aircraft can be prohibitively so. Predator and Global Hawk, two types of American drone frequently flown in Afghanistan and Iraq, cost, respectively, about $5,000 and $26,500 an hour to operate. The aircraft themselves each come in at between $4.5m and $35m, and the remote-sensing equipment they carry can more than double the price. Which is why less elegant but far cheaper balloons are now being used instead.
Such blimps can keep surveillance and ordnance-guiding equipment aloft for a few hundred dollars an hour. They cost hundreds of thousands, not millions, of dollars. And they can stay aloft for more than a week, whereas most drones fly for no more than 30 hours at a time. They are also easy to deploy. No airfield is needed. A blimp can be stored in the back of a jeep, driven to a suitable location, launched in a couple hours and winched down even faster.
Unlike other aircraft, blimps do not need to form a precise aerodynamic shape. This means they can lift improbable objects into the sky, such as a dozen metres of dangling radar equipment. At altitudes of just a few hundred metres, a blimp carrying 20kg of remote-sensing electronics (including radar and infrared thermal-imaging cameras) can seek out, track and provide images of combatants dozens of kilometres away—day or night. It can also help commanders to aim the lasers that guide their missiles.
Blimps often operate beyond the range of machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Even if they are hit, though, they do not explode because the helium that keeps them lighter-than-air is not inflammable. (Engineers abandoned the use of hydrogen in 1937 after the Hindenburg, a German airship, was consumed by flames in less than a minute.) Moreover, they usually stay aloft even when punctured: the pressure of the helium inside a blimp is about the same as that of the air outside it, so the gas does not rush out. Indeed, towards the end of 2004, when a blimp broke its tether north of Baghdad and started to drift towards Iran, the American air force had some difficulty in shooting it down.
At least 20 countries use blimps—both global military powers, such as America, Britain and France, and smaller regional ones, including Ireland, Pakistan, Poland and the United Arab Emirates. Many are employed in Iraq. In November 2008 Aerostar International of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, began filling a $1.8m order for 36 blimps to be deployed by American forces in Iraq. But Afghanistan may prove a bigger market. That is because it is difficult to pick satellite signals up directly in the valleys of that mountainous country.
Spies in the sky
Mar 25th 2009
From Economist.com
Blimps equipped with remote-sensing electronics are cheaper than drones
Aerostar International
SPYING is supposed to be a sophisticated operation. But that can make it expensive. Gathering military intelligence using unmanned aircraft can be prohibitively so. Predator and Global Hawk, two types of American drone frequently flown in Afghanistan and Iraq, cost, respectively, about $5,000 and $26,500 an hour to operate. The aircraft themselves each come in at between $4.5m and $35m, and the remote-sensing equipment they carry can more than double the price. Which is why less elegant but far cheaper balloons are now being used instead.
Such blimps can keep surveillance and ordnance-guiding equipment aloft for a few hundred dollars an hour. They cost hundreds of thousands, not millions, of dollars. And they can stay aloft for more than a week, whereas most drones fly for no more than 30 hours at a time. They are also easy to deploy. No airfield is needed. A blimp can be stored in the back of a jeep, driven to a suitable location, launched in a couple hours and winched down even faster.
Unlike other aircraft, blimps do not need to form a precise aerodynamic shape. This means they can lift improbable objects into the sky, such as a dozen metres of dangling radar equipment. At altitudes of just a few hundred metres, a blimp carrying 20kg of remote-sensing electronics (including radar and infrared thermal-imaging cameras) can seek out, track and provide images of combatants dozens of kilometres away—day or night. It can also help commanders to aim the lasers that guide their missiles.
Blimps often operate beyond the range of machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Even if they are hit, though, they do not explode because the helium that keeps them lighter-than-air is not inflammable. (Engineers abandoned the use of hydrogen in 1937 after the Hindenburg, a German airship, was consumed by flames in less than a minute.) Moreover, they usually stay aloft even when punctured: the pressure of the helium inside a blimp is about the same as that of the air outside it, so the gas does not rush out. Indeed, towards the end of 2004, when a blimp broke its tether north of Baghdad and started to drift towards Iran, the American air force had some difficulty in shooting it down.
At least 20 countries use blimps—both global military powers, such as America, Britain and France, and smaller regional ones, including Ireland, Pakistan, Poland and the United Arab Emirates. Many are employed in Iraq. In November 2008 Aerostar International of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, began filling a $1.8m order for 36 blimps to be deployed by American forces in Iraq. But Afghanistan may prove a bigger market. That is because it is difficult to pick satellite signals up directly in the valleys of that mountainous country.
This message will self-destruct, part 2
I have been writing some time ago on this very subject, but it is very intriguing, thus I dare to follow on. A new way of keeping private correspondence private
AP (the Economist) WHEN Barack Obama became American president, one of his first tussles with White House lawyers was over whether he could keep his beloved BlackBerry. (Yes, he did.) The reason why the lawyers were wary was that e-mail cannot be destroyed. People do not know where the information they are sending is being stored and when, if ever, it is deleted. Such unknowns make it possible for seemingly long-gone data to turn up in a court under the order of a subpoena, or worse, in the hands of a hacker. On August 13th, though, a team of computer scientists led by Roxana Geambasu of the University of Washington, Seattle will unveil to the 18th USENIX Security Symposium in Montreal an e-communications system that destroys messages soon after they have been sent.
http://www.economist.com/sciencetechnology/tm/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14162535
AP (the Economist) WHEN Barack Obama became American president, one of his first tussles with White House lawyers was over whether he could keep his beloved BlackBerry. (Yes, he did.) The reason why the lawyers were wary was that e-mail cannot be destroyed. People do not know where the information they are sending is being stored and when, if ever, it is deleted. Such unknowns make it possible for seemingly long-gone data to turn up in a court under the order of a subpoena, or worse, in the hands of a hacker. On August 13th, though, a team of computer scientists led by Roxana Geambasu of the University of Washington, Seattle will unveil to the 18th USENIX Security Symposium in Montreal an e-communications system that destroys messages soon after they have been sent.
http://www.economist.com/sciencetechnology/tm/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14162535
Mercedes introduces its new safety idea the Braking Bag
At the International Show in Stuttgart, Mercedes presented its ESF2009 model featuring vast improvements in car safety. One of the novel ways to do that is so called Braking Bag. Once a car decelerates just before crash the Bag located between front wheels is released and raises front end and by the same time increases its friction with road surface increasing car deceleration by up to 20m/s2. Action increases tension on safety belts reducing potential for injuries. The systems works already from min. speed of 50km/h it is not known when Mercedes is going to introduce this technology into series models.
2009/09/17
Embedded Systems at Defense Shows in London and in Kielce
Executives from Acromag EMEA, lead by its Managing Director, Dr. Stefan Baginski have visited two defense conferences this month. The biggest was taking place in London last week, and it is the biggest in the industry. The DSEi 2009is the premier defense show, with over 1300 companies exhibiting on +32,000 m² with expected 26,000 visitors. The news were several and interesting to Embedded Systems: VOIP Radio Transceiver, Combined Navigation and C2, Fast Marine Target Drone and several UAV`s in various applications. For more please click here>>
Another show, smaller but with many major players (like US companies) present and flying afterwards directly to London was in Poland. The host country was for a number of years and the leading buyer of US made equipment, and even now made it to the biggest 5 countries upgrading its technology and capabilities from Washington.
The show featured some 400 exhibitors and Defender Prizes were given to PIT, for IFF solutions, WB Electronics for its mobile PC solution for polish tanks T-72 and TP-91 by Bumar (another Polish contractor known on markets from Brazil to Indonesia) . This solution was spotted promptly by US based Harris, who bought license and world-wide distribution rights for it. For more click here>>
The DSEi was presenting united upbeat posture, expecting more visitors than last year. There was a however a talk among industry insiders about “Cocooning” another word for mothballing the company to survive till better times.
Company Sunlux a leading embedded system vendor has introduced its newest Protocol Converters. Protocon is a protocol translator or converter that enables communication between devices supporting dissimilar communication protocols. A typical situation is when a Modbus TCP based SCADA System must communicate with a device supporting Modbus RTU.
This product marketed by IMU Group Swiss a company specializing in business development in EMEA and in North America, with offices in Germany, France, Italy, Canada and the US. For information please contact Mrs. Jenny Ann below:
This newsletter is included in the S. Baginski Embedded Europe b log, and can be twitted accordingly. Dr. Baginski can be reached at s.baginski@bluewin.ch
Jenny Ann
Marketing Manager
IMU Group Swiss
+41 62 758 3222
+41 62 758 3223 fax
www.imugroup.eu
jenny.ann@bluewin.ch
http://www.sunlux-india.com/_borders/sunlux-logo-small.jpg
http://www.acromag.com/Graphics/1a.jpg
http://www.imugroup.eu/assets/images/imuswiss230709_35_cropped02.jpg
http://www.sunlux-india.com/ProtocolConverters.htm
Another show, smaller but with many major players (like US companies) present and flying afterwards directly to London was in Poland. The host country was for a number of years and the leading buyer of US made equipment, and even now made it to the biggest 5 countries upgrading its technology and capabilities from Washington.
The show featured some 400 exhibitors and Defender Prizes were given to PIT, for IFF solutions, WB Electronics for its mobile PC solution for polish tanks T-72 and TP-91 by Bumar (another Polish contractor known on markets from Brazil to Indonesia) . This solution was spotted promptly by US based Harris, who bought license and world-wide distribution rights for it. For more click here>>
The DSEi was presenting united upbeat posture, expecting more visitors than last year. There was a however a talk among industry insiders about “Cocooning” another word for mothballing the company to survive till better times.
Company Sunlux a leading embedded system vendor has introduced its newest Protocol Converters. Protocon is a protocol translator or converter that enables communication between devices supporting dissimilar communication protocols. A typical situation is when a Modbus TCP based SCADA System must communicate with a device supporting Modbus RTU.
This product marketed by IMU Group Swiss a company specializing in business development in EMEA and in North America, with offices in Germany, France, Italy, Canada and the US. For information please contact Mrs. Jenny Ann below:
This newsletter is included in the S. Baginski Embedded Europe b log, and can be twitted accordingly. Dr. Baginski can be reached at s.baginski@bluewin.ch
Jenny Ann
Marketing Manager
IMU Group Swiss
+41 62 758 3222
+41 62 758 3223 fax
www.imugroup.eu
jenny.ann@bluewin.ch
http://www.sunlux-india.com/_borders/sunlux-logo-small.jpg
http://www.acromag.com/Graphics/1a.jpg
http://www.imugroup.eu/assets/images/imuswiss230709_35_cropped02.jpg
http://www.sunlux-india.com/ProtocolConverters.htm
2009/08/26
Jim gives us next part of his power blogging secrets
In part 1 of this series, I discussed the many ways to add value to your blog and cement your brand to your readers — essentially your customers and prospects. In part 2, I get a bit personal, offering some tips I’ve used to build my personal direct marketing blog and others.
As a direct marketing consultant, blogging has been a powerful tool for me as part of my overall networking strategy. While I do plenty of in-person networking, I much prefer the newfangled way of using my blog and social media to drive lead generation and ultimately customers my way.
So here, follow these steps. And shhh, don’t tell anybody about this, OK?
1. Figure LinkedIn prominently in your strategy. Link your blog to your LinkedIn profile page. This is very easy to do via the blog publishing platform WordPress and LinkedIn’s Blog Link application.
2. Join as many LinkedIn groups as you can. Try joining groups that complement your skills. I belong to many direct marketing groups. But graphic design agencies can recommend my services as well, so I belong to some graphic design groups, too. Get the picture? Once you join the groups, use LinkedIn’s news feature to add your blog posts. The maximum number of groups an individual can join is 50, according to LinkedIn.
3. Use the LinkedIn discussions feature. This feature, which enables you to comment on other posts in the LinkedIn groups to which you belong, adds value to your groups. When posting a comment, always add your blog’s URL. Make sure your answers are relevant and not spammy.
4. Use LinkedIn’s Q&A feature. When I started my blog, I used the Q&A function to ask people to check out my blog and tell me what they thought. You’d be surprised how many people did. Ask people to do the same for your blog, as well as critique it and offer advice on design, content and marketing. Also, answer questions that you have a good feel for, always add your blog URL and be relevant.
5. Add the appropriate links to your LinkedIn profile page. You can add up to three links, according to LinkedIn. I have links to my blog, Twitter feed and (eM+C sister publication) All About ROI magazine column.
6. Make sure your blog has RSS, and it’s in a prominent position on all pages. People will subscribe to your blog.
7. Use Twitter to tweet your blog posts. I also use FriendFeed, Biznik and Plaxo to do this. These social networking services allow you to join groups and use similar tactics to LinkedIn.
8. Use LinkedIn’s status feature. This enables you to update people on your blog posts.
9. Send your blog posts to your Facebook connections. Join Facebook groups, and push out there, too.
10. Use feeds such as Technorati and Delicious. This blog search engine (Technorati) and social bookmarking web service (Delicious) will help you distribute your blog to the masses.
Wow, I gave away the farm here. A final thought: Blogging and promoting your blog is a “give-to-get” experience. The more you give, the more you get back.
Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Blogging Primer – WHAT to blog for success
Bruce Almighty (and the Deep Dark Secret)
I am relatively new to blogging, just recent enough to have read some of th…
THE POWER ELITE AND THE SECRET NAZI PLAN PARTS 1-4
Filed under: direct marketing | Tagged: blog tips, blogging, business communications, catalog marketing, direct mail, direct marketing, direct marketing management, e-commerce marketing, Gilbert Direct Marketing, Jim Gilbert, linkedin, mail order management, multichannel marketing, Social media, web 2.0
« Want to learn more about direct marketing? Are you already a quality focused direct marketing pro? 5 Pointers for Out-of-Work Direct Marketers (or ones who just want to hedge their bets) »
4 Responses
Lori Boyce, on August 24th, 2009 at 5:14 pm Said:
great advice, Jim. Thanks for the great tips.
00Rate This
Reply
madrozie, on August 24th, 2009 at 8:32 pm Said:
Pretty cool post. I just came by your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your posts.
Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon!
00Rate This
Reply
Eric Peterson, on August 25th, 2009 at 7:38 am Said:
Thanks Jim. Not only is it nice to see these valuable tips summarized in one post, but it’s also nice to know they are actually working for you. Our company blog has been neglected and we’re about to perform resuscitation. Parts 1 and 2 are excellent references.
As a direct marketing consultant, blogging has been a powerful tool for me as part of my overall networking strategy. While I do plenty of in-person networking, I much prefer the newfangled way of using my blog and social media to drive lead generation and ultimately customers my way.
So here, follow these steps. And shhh, don’t tell anybody about this, OK?
1. Figure LinkedIn prominently in your strategy. Link your blog to your LinkedIn profile page. This is very easy to do via the blog publishing platform WordPress and LinkedIn’s Blog Link application.
2. Join as many LinkedIn groups as you can. Try joining groups that complement your skills. I belong to many direct marketing groups. But graphic design agencies can recommend my services as well, so I belong to some graphic design groups, too. Get the picture? Once you join the groups, use LinkedIn’s news feature to add your blog posts. The maximum number of groups an individual can join is 50, according to LinkedIn.
3. Use the LinkedIn discussions feature. This feature, which enables you to comment on other posts in the LinkedIn groups to which you belong, adds value to your groups. When posting a comment, always add your blog’s URL. Make sure your answers are relevant and not spammy.
4. Use LinkedIn’s Q&A feature. When I started my blog, I used the Q&A function to ask people to check out my blog and tell me what they thought. You’d be surprised how many people did. Ask people to do the same for your blog, as well as critique it and offer advice on design, content and marketing. Also, answer questions that you have a good feel for, always add your blog URL and be relevant.
5. Add the appropriate links to your LinkedIn profile page. You can add up to three links, according to LinkedIn. I have links to my blog, Twitter feed and (eM+C sister publication) All About ROI magazine column.
6. Make sure your blog has RSS, and it’s in a prominent position on all pages. People will subscribe to your blog.
7. Use Twitter to tweet your blog posts. I also use FriendFeed, Biznik and Plaxo to do this. These social networking services allow you to join groups and use similar tactics to LinkedIn.
8. Use LinkedIn’s status feature. This enables you to update people on your blog posts.
9. Send your blog posts to your Facebook connections. Join Facebook groups, and push out there, too.
10. Use feeds such as Technorati and Delicious. This blog search engine (Technorati) and social bookmarking web service (Delicious) will help you distribute your blog to the masses.
Wow, I gave away the farm here. A final thought: Blogging and promoting your blog is a “give-to-get” experience. The more you give, the more you get back.
Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Blogging Primer – WHAT to blog for success
Bruce Almighty (and the Deep Dark Secret)
I am relatively new to blogging, just recent enough to have read some of th…
THE POWER ELITE AND THE SECRET NAZI PLAN PARTS 1-4
Filed under: direct marketing | Tagged: blog tips, blogging, business communications, catalog marketing, direct mail, direct marketing, direct marketing management, e-commerce marketing, Gilbert Direct Marketing, Jim Gilbert, linkedin, mail order management, multichannel marketing, Social media, web 2.0
« Want to learn more about direct marketing? Are you already a quality focused direct marketing pro? 5 Pointers for Out-of-Work Direct Marketers (or ones who just want to hedge their bets) »
4 Responses
Lori Boyce, on August 24th, 2009 at 5:14 pm Said:
great advice, Jim. Thanks for the great tips.
00Rate This
Reply
madrozie, on August 24th, 2009 at 8:32 pm Said:
Pretty cool post. I just came by your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your posts.
Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon!
00Rate This
Reply
Eric Peterson, on August 25th, 2009 at 7:38 am Said:
Thanks Jim. Not only is it nice to see these valuable tips summarized in one post, but it’s also nice to know they are actually working for you. Our company blog has been neglected and we’re about to perform resuscitation. Parts 1 and 2 are excellent references.
2009/08/21
Clean Energy Industry Feasting on Stimulus Pie: Pending Legislation Ultra-Critical
As the U.S. is muddled down in the healthcare debate, the bills in Congress dealing with revolutionary energy policy hang in the balance and hesitancy resides in the renewable energy industry over the ultimate future market size for cleantech. Even though the Recovery Act and subsequent stimulus funding has initiated future clean energy plans, the cleantech community is curiously awaiting a decision on key legislation such as the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) or Cap-and-Trade bill and a national renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS), which will both be the game-changing bills, which will set the future course of how the country utilizes energy.
Stimulus grants are designed to offer an approximate maximum five years of funding, while the cap-and-trade and RPS policies would essentially be permanent. Furthermore, many states are also awaiting the decision on a national RPS, not to over-commit themselves to a higher clean energy target or state RPS than what may be required nationwide. However, it is possible that some states may lose out on the opportunity to attract relevant supply chains and green job growth in-state and be required to purchase geothermal power, for instance, from a neighboring state’s utility provider or other resource, until they are able to develop more renewable resources.
Nonetheless, the Recovery Act is helping lessen the blow of an industry-wide solar cell supply glut and creating new agreements that are leading to new orders by customers. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced a Stimulus program to award $2.3 billion in tax credits, which are available for two years or until the funds have been exhausted, for manufacturers of advanced clean energy equipment. This Clean Energy Industry Feasting on Stimulus Pie: Pending Legislation Ultra-Critical August 20, 2009 program applies to but is not limited to wind, solar, biomass, geothermal , electric vehicle,
advanced power grid systems, energy conservation, and greenhouse gas emissions
technology companies. The Recovery Act has enabled a new tax credit program by
authorizing the Treasury Department to offer developers with an investment tax credit of 30% for facilities that manufacture energy equipment of this nature. Companies whom receive grants are expected to receive payments within 180 days of filing for the credit. For more information on the program and application, an Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit site has been posted.
Similarly, the Treasury and DOE announced in July the availability of a payment in lieu of tax credits for facilities that produce renewable energy- a program that is hoped will result in more than $3 billion of stimulus for energy development in rural and urban communities.
In the state of Arizona, a related solar process equipment tax incentive bill denoted as SB 1403 was passed this summer, but the state lacks a significant driving force for the conversion to clean energy sources or energy efficiency, since it possesses one of the least aggressive RPS of only 15% by 2025 from both a percentage and time frame perspective, as observed at this DOE reference site. Currently, Arizona, having one of the highest solar power potentials nationwide, derives nearly half of its power from coal.
The state of North Carolina is taking its state-mandated RPS seriously and getting ahead of the curve in preparation for a potential more aggressive national RPS. At this time, the state requires the utilities to satisfy 12.5% of its customers’ power needs with renewables or energy efficiency by 2021. Moreover, the law requires incremental increases in the amount of solar energy implemented, starting at 0.02% of the electricity sold by 2010 and rising to 0.2% by 2018. This policy has prompted Charlotte, N.C- based Duke Energy, one of the largest power companies in the U.S., serving about 4 million customers, to take matters into their own hands
and develop a large-scale solar portfolio.
Clean Energy Industry Feasting on Stimulus Pie: Pending Legislation Ultra-Critical
August 20, 2009 Similarly, more than 800 megawatts (MW) of solar power plants announced across the country in 2009, according to GTM analyst Daniel Englander, emphasizes the increasing trend of power utility providers to own and operate their own solar assets. These companies are deciding to own and operate the projects due to the financial uncertainty surrounding many solar companies during the inventory glut and because they can obtain better finance offers, due to their more consistent revenue streams, allowing them to reduce their cost of capital.
In the case of Duke Energy, the utility received approval in May from the North Carolina Utilities Commission to move forward with a $50 million agreement to install 10MW worth of solar energy systems in the state, which is equivalent to the power target for approximately 1,300 homes. These solar systems will be installed starting later this year on the roofs and grounds of homes, schools, business parks, shopping malls, and even industrial plants. It is expected that the installations will range from about 2.5 kilowatts on residential rooftops to more than 1MW on open land or attached to industrial facilities. The power will be fed into the electrical grid and participants will be paid for use of their roofs or land, according to the size of
the installation and amount of power generated at the site. It is definitely an interesting business model compared to feed-in tariffs, which are prevalent in Europe.
The typical model of sporadic solar residential installations across the U.S., where surplus power created is returned for a credit, does not generate a significant strain on the current power grid system. However, high concentrations in one area could lead to imbalances on a circuit. By analyzing the data from the 10MW project, Duke Energy is poised to gauge the limits of its electricity network and avoid potential disruptions in the case of larger scale endeavors. The strategic placement
of solar installations closer to the demand or customer actually contrasts with the agenda elsewhere of constructing massive solar farms for harnessing electricity and taking advantage of economies of scale that way. Perhaps, this is a way of simplifying grid dynamics and reducing complications with adjusting power levels as needed at solar or wind farms based on
the less consistent stream of power from renewable energy sources. Furthermore, this model of meeting a RPS will receive serious consideration in the development of
smart grid technology.
Duke Energy has ruled out using concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) plants, which are becoming the preferred option for solar farms. The company is considering both silicon and thin-film solar modules and is still determining options for various installations. Thus, any localized solar power source initiative will have deleterious effects on companies such as Phoenix- based Stirling Energy Systems or Abengoa Solar, who are building plants in Arizona. In addition, many companies such as Oerlikon Solar and Applied Materials are counting on an increased
Clean Energy Industry Feasting on Stimulus Pie: Pending Legislation Ultra-Critical
August 20, 2009 trend toward solar farms and have designed their business model around offering turn-key solar power plants including all the necessary process equipment.
In comparison to historical data across the industry, Navigant Consulting released its annual report Analysis of Worldwide PV Markets and Five-Year Application Forecast 2008-2009. This report noted that grid-connected solar applications, as opposed to stand-alone signs on roads, etc. are the largest and fastest growing of all of the solar market segments, with an 80% share of global volume in 2004, an 82% share in 2005, an 86% share of total volume in 2006, and a 94% share of total volume in 2008. Furthermore, the fastest growing sub-set was the commercial sector of primarily investor-owned (>1MW) operations on fields and roof-tops.
The coupling of government legislation, maturation of industry trends, and the urgency of demand will determine the face of the solar power and overall clean energy industry in the U.S. and other countries, as they pursue a green revolution.
In order to receive email alerts on future Green technology and business articles, please subscribe on my homepage and/or follow me on Twitter.
Representative image of Stimulus pie (media.point2.com).
Source reprinted from solarfeeds.com
Stimulus grants are designed to offer an approximate maximum five years of funding, while the cap-and-trade and RPS policies would essentially be permanent. Furthermore, many states are also awaiting the decision on a national RPS, not to over-commit themselves to a higher clean energy target or state RPS than what may be required nationwide. However, it is possible that some states may lose out on the opportunity to attract relevant supply chains and green job growth in-state and be required to purchase geothermal power, for instance, from a neighboring state’s utility provider or other resource, until they are able to develop more renewable resources.
Nonetheless, the Recovery Act is helping lessen the blow of an industry-wide solar cell supply glut and creating new agreements that are leading to new orders by customers. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced a Stimulus program to award $2.3 billion in tax credits, which are available for two years or until the funds have been exhausted, for manufacturers of advanced clean energy equipment. This Clean Energy Industry Feasting on Stimulus Pie: Pending Legislation Ultra-Critical August 20, 2009 program applies to but is not limited to wind, solar, biomass, geothermal , electric vehicle,
advanced power grid systems, energy conservation, and greenhouse gas emissions
technology companies. The Recovery Act has enabled a new tax credit program by
authorizing the Treasury Department to offer developers with an investment tax credit of 30% for facilities that manufacture energy equipment of this nature. Companies whom receive grants are expected to receive payments within 180 days of filing for the credit. For more information on the program and application, an Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit site has been posted.
Similarly, the Treasury and DOE announced in July the availability of a payment in lieu of tax credits for facilities that produce renewable energy- a program that is hoped will result in more than $3 billion of stimulus for energy development in rural and urban communities.
In the state of Arizona, a related solar process equipment tax incentive bill denoted as SB 1403 was passed this summer, but the state lacks a significant driving force for the conversion to clean energy sources or energy efficiency, since it possesses one of the least aggressive RPS of only 15% by 2025 from both a percentage and time frame perspective, as observed at this DOE reference site. Currently, Arizona, having one of the highest solar power potentials nationwide, derives nearly half of its power from coal.
The state of North Carolina is taking its state-mandated RPS seriously and getting ahead of the curve in preparation for a potential more aggressive national RPS. At this time, the state requires the utilities to satisfy 12.5% of its customers’ power needs with renewables or energy efficiency by 2021. Moreover, the law requires incremental increases in the amount of solar energy implemented, starting at 0.02% of the electricity sold by 2010 and rising to 0.2% by 2018. This policy has prompted Charlotte, N.C- based Duke Energy, one of the largest power companies in the U.S., serving about 4 million customers, to take matters into their own hands
and develop a large-scale solar portfolio.
Clean Energy Industry Feasting on Stimulus Pie: Pending Legislation Ultra-Critical
August 20, 2009 Similarly, more than 800 megawatts (MW) of solar power plants announced across the country in 2009, according to GTM analyst Daniel Englander, emphasizes the increasing trend of power utility providers to own and operate their own solar assets. These companies are deciding to own and operate the projects due to the financial uncertainty surrounding many solar companies during the inventory glut and because they can obtain better finance offers, due to their more consistent revenue streams, allowing them to reduce their cost of capital.
In the case of Duke Energy, the utility received approval in May from the North Carolina Utilities Commission to move forward with a $50 million agreement to install 10MW worth of solar energy systems in the state, which is equivalent to the power target for approximately 1,300 homes. These solar systems will be installed starting later this year on the roofs and grounds of homes, schools, business parks, shopping malls, and even industrial plants. It is expected that the installations will range from about 2.5 kilowatts on residential rooftops to more than 1MW on open land or attached to industrial facilities. The power will be fed into the electrical grid and participants will be paid for use of their roofs or land, according to the size of
the installation and amount of power generated at the site. It is definitely an interesting business model compared to feed-in tariffs, which are prevalent in Europe.
The typical model of sporadic solar residential installations across the U.S., where surplus power created is returned for a credit, does not generate a significant strain on the current power grid system. However, high concentrations in one area could lead to imbalances on a circuit. By analyzing the data from the 10MW project, Duke Energy is poised to gauge the limits of its electricity network and avoid potential disruptions in the case of larger scale endeavors. The strategic placement
of solar installations closer to the demand or customer actually contrasts with the agenda elsewhere of constructing massive solar farms for harnessing electricity and taking advantage of economies of scale that way. Perhaps, this is a way of simplifying grid dynamics and reducing complications with adjusting power levels as needed at solar or wind farms based on
the less consistent stream of power from renewable energy sources. Furthermore, this model of meeting a RPS will receive serious consideration in the development of
smart grid technology.
Duke Energy has ruled out using concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) plants, which are becoming the preferred option for solar farms. The company is considering both silicon and thin-film solar modules and is still determining options for various installations. Thus, any localized solar power source initiative will have deleterious effects on companies such as Phoenix- based Stirling Energy Systems or Abengoa Solar, who are building plants in Arizona. In addition, many companies such as Oerlikon Solar and Applied Materials are counting on an increased
Clean Energy Industry Feasting on Stimulus Pie: Pending Legislation Ultra-Critical
August 20, 2009 trend toward solar farms and have designed their business model around offering turn-key solar power plants including all the necessary process equipment.
In comparison to historical data across the industry, Navigant Consulting released its annual report Analysis of Worldwide PV Markets and Five-Year Application Forecast 2008-2009. This report noted that grid-connected solar applications, as opposed to stand-alone signs on roads, etc. are the largest and fastest growing of all of the solar market segments, with an 80% share of global volume in 2004, an 82% share in 2005, an 86% share of total volume in 2006, and a 94% share of total volume in 2008. Furthermore, the fastest growing sub-set was the commercial sector of primarily investor-owned (>1MW) operations on fields and roof-tops.
The coupling of government legislation, maturation of industry trends, and the urgency of demand will determine the face of the solar power and overall clean energy industry in the U.S. and other countries, as they pursue a green revolution.
In order to receive email alerts on future Green technology and business articles, please subscribe on my homepage and/or follow me on Twitter.
Representative image of Stimulus pie (media.point2.com).
Source reprinted from solarfeeds.com
Mighty Scope a little tool to inspect PCB`s
http://www.schmartboard.com/index.asp?page=mighty_scope
Have you ever wanted to get a closeup look at a PCB, solder joint, or anything else? Magnifying glasses may work...but not always. Have you ever needed to photograph a circuit to send to a coullege. We have the solution for you. We loved this so much and found so much value internally that we decided to make it available to our customers. I am talking about the Aven Digital Mighty Scope. This is a 10X to 200X digital scope that allows you to take snapshots or video in a 1280 x 1024 resolution. It is a very nice product for only $199.99
Posted by Neal Greenberg
Have you ever wanted to get a closeup look at a PCB, solder joint, or anything else? Magnifying glasses may work...but not always. Have you ever needed to photograph a circuit to send to a coullege. We have the solution for you. We loved this so much and found so much value internally that we decided to make it available to our customers. I am talking about the Aven Digital Mighty Scope. This is a 10X to 200X digital scope that allows you to take snapshots or video in a 1280 x 1024 resolution. It is a very nice product for only $199.99
Posted by Neal Greenberg
2009/08/18
Future of Organic and Printed Electronics
3rd edition of OE-A Brochure "Organic and Printed Electronics" published
The 3rd edition of the OE-A Brochure "Organic and Printed Electronics" including functional giveaway demonstrators was published at LOPE-C 2009. The brochure will give you an overview about the OE-A Roadmap, the demonstrator project and a lot of information about OE-A members and the VDMA.
The inlay, included in the printed version of the brochure, shows various examples of organic electronics and demonstrates impressively the potential of this emerging technology. The new OE-A Roadmap gives answers to questions about the applications that will be launched in the next several years, about production processes and materials needed and about hurdels to be overcome.
Contents of the 3rd edition:
Welcome to the Organic Electronics Association
OE-A Roadmap for Organic and Printed Electronics
Organic and Printed Electronics: OE-A Demonstrators Illustrate the Potential
VDMA Productronics - Rich Diversity in Lively Markets
Get into the Flat Panel Display Business with DFF
Company Profiles
Competence Matrix
Members of the Organic Electronics Association
An electronic version can be downloaded here. For a free print version please contact karen.strauch@vdma.org.
The 3rd edition of the OE-A Brochure "Organic and Printed Electronics" including functional giveaway demonstrators was published at LOPE-C 2009. The brochure will give you an overview about the OE-A Roadmap, the demonstrator project and a lot of information about OE-A members and the VDMA.
The inlay, included in the printed version of the brochure, shows various examples of organic electronics and demonstrates impressively the potential of this emerging technology. The new OE-A Roadmap gives answers to questions about the applications that will be launched in the next several years, about production processes and materials needed and about hurdels to be overcome.
Contents of the 3rd edition:
Welcome to the Organic Electronics Association
OE-A Roadmap for Organic and Printed Electronics
Organic and Printed Electronics: OE-A Demonstrators Illustrate the Potential
VDMA Productronics - Rich Diversity in Lively Markets
Get into the Flat Panel Display Business with DFF
Company Profiles
Competence Matrix
Members of the Organic Electronics Association
An electronic version can be downloaded here. For a free print version please contact karen.strauch@vdma.org.
2009/08/06
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Aug 4th 2009
From Economist.com
A new way of keeping private correspondence private
AP
WHEN Barack Obama became American president, one of his first tussles with White House lawyers was over whether he could keep his beloved BlackBerry. (Yes, he did.) The reason why the lawyers were wary was that e-mail cannot be destroyed. People do not know where the information they are sending is being stored and when, if ever, it is deleted. Such unknowns make it possible for seemingly long-gone data to turn up in a court under the order of a subpoena, or worse, in the hands of a hacker. On August 13th, though, a team of computer scientists led by Roxana Geambasu of the University of Washington, Seattle will unveil to the 18th USENIX Security Symposium in Montreal an e-communications system that destroys messages soon after they have been sent.
The technique devised by Ms Geambasu and her colleagues uses one of the least secure areas of the web to store encryption keys that self-destruct after a certain period. Peer-to-peer networks, or P2Ps, originated in the late 1990s with the rise of music-sharing networks such as Napster and KaZaA. Individual users would log on and allow other people to download music from their computers while simultaneously downloading music for themselves. In recent years P2Ps have become vast file-sharing networks for information in all its forms. Dr Geambasu and her colleagues realised that because computers logged on and off P2Ps at a fairly steady rate, they could use these networks as places to store encryption keys temporarily.
The researchers developed a piece of software called “Vanish”, which encrypts information before it is sent, breaks the encryption key into pieces and then sends the bits out to randomly selected “nodes” created by computers that are logged on to the P2P network. Once sitting on a node, the pieces of the key wait for another copy of the Vanish software to access them in order to read the encrypted message. However, the pieces of key do not remain on the P2P in perpetuity. When a computer is disconnected from the network, the node it formed ceases to exist and any encryption-key data stored there are lost.
This means that, in the first few hours following the dissemination of a key, the number of pieces required to make a sent message readable can easily be gathered. However, as time goes by and more computers on the P2P are disconnected, the encryption can no longer be cracked and the message in effect self-destructs. At the moment, the message lasts for about eight hours before vanishing but Dr Geambasu suggests that this duration could be extended or diminished by adjusting the number of pieces of key sent out.
Past systems designed to encrypt e-mails all relied on ways of storing their keys safely. Government agencies, however, have found ways of making computer companies hand over those keys. The new software leaves nothing to hand over, so it looks as if it will be able to make old messages completely unreadable. Perhaps the ultimate measure of how secure the system really is will be whether Mr Obama himself ends up using it.
Aug 4th 2009
From Economist.com
A new way of keeping private correspondence private
AP
WHEN Barack Obama became American president, one of his first tussles with White House lawyers was over whether he could keep his beloved BlackBerry. (Yes, he did.) The reason why the lawyers were wary was that e-mail cannot be destroyed. People do not know where the information they are sending is being stored and when, if ever, it is deleted. Such unknowns make it possible for seemingly long-gone data to turn up in a court under the order of a subpoena, or worse, in the hands of a hacker. On August 13th, though, a team of computer scientists led by Roxana Geambasu of the University of Washington, Seattle will unveil to the 18th USENIX Security Symposium in Montreal an e-communications system that destroys messages soon after they have been sent.
The technique devised by Ms Geambasu and her colleagues uses one of the least secure areas of the web to store encryption keys that self-destruct after a certain period. Peer-to-peer networks, or P2Ps, originated in the late 1990s with the rise of music-sharing networks such as Napster and KaZaA. Individual users would log on and allow other people to download music from their computers while simultaneously downloading music for themselves. In recent years P2Ps have become vast file-sharing networks for information in all its forms. Dr Geambasu and her colleagues realised that because computers logged on and off P2Ps at a fairly steady rate, they could use these networks as places to store encryption keys temporarily.
The researchers developed a piece of software called “Vanish”, which encrypts information before it is sent, breaks the encryption key into pieces and then sends the bits out to randomly selected “nodes” created by computers that are logged on to the P2P network. Once sitting on a node, the pieces of the key wait for another copy of the Vanish software to access them in order to read the encrypted message. However, the pieces of key do not remain on the P2P in perpetuity. When a computer is disconnected from the network, the node it formed ceases to exist and any encryption-key data stored there are lost.
This means that, in the first few hours following the dissemination of a key, the number of pieces required to make a sent message readable can easily be gathered. However, as time goes by and more computers on the P2P are disconnected, the encryption can no longer be cracked and the message in effect self-destructs. At the moment, the message lasts for about eight hours before vanishing but Dr Geambasu suggests that this duration could be extended or diminished by adjusting the number of pieces of key sent out.
Past systems designed to encrypt e-mails all relied on ways of storing their keys safely. Government agencies, however, have found ways of making computer companies hand over those keys. The new software leaves nothing to hand over, so it looks as if it will be able to make old messages completely unreadable. Perhaps the ultimate measure of how secure the system really is will be whether Mr Obama himself ends up using it.
2009/07/28
Cartoon Network Opens Door For Wave of New Business Opportunities
A popular cartoon channel has unwittingly become the catalyst for a new wave of disruptive businesses. Recently the Supreme Court declined to consider overturning Cartoon Networks v CSC which informally is known as the "Cablevision" case. It was a legal battle between video and music companies and a cable operator who wanted to provide a DVR (digital video recorder) service with the equipment in their central offices instead of in each subscriber's home. Normally DVRs are expensive to deploy and limited in expandability. By centralizing the equipment, Cablevision could quickly and cost effectively deploy the service to their customers plus easily upgrade at any time. Media companies alleged recording and playing back material from Cablevision headquarters instead of on a local setup box was a copyright infringement. The courts eventually concluded that it was legally permiss ible, because the customers were making the recording and Cablevision was acting as a store proprietor with a "photocopier on the premises". Cablevision has said they will take advantage of this ruling and soon offer a cost effective DVR service to their customers.
This favorable ruling on behalf of Cablevision also opens the door to a wide range of potential new features and services which can smartly record media. The following are a few product ideas I came up with that could be launched under the protection of Cablevision:
Primetime Recording - Capture all shows from the major networks, or your favorite channels every night from 8-11pm. How often do you find yourself at work listening to others talk about a great show or episode that you missed. Imagine a "Primetime Recording" option which would capture all shows during the 8-11pm hours on the major networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, etc). This service would save those shows for 2-3 weeks and then automatically delete them if no action was taken.
Multi-channel Recording - Simultaneously record 5-10 channels. Newer set top boxes can record 2 shows at once, but if there is a sporting event (for example) airing during your favorite primetime shows, multiple recording options would be a plus. Having the recording done at a central location means you're not constrained by your set top box, thereby making it possible to record 5 or more shows at the same time.
Smart Recording- Your DVR knows your viewing habits and captures shows automatically. Today, DVR systems are largely manual with the user having to specify each show they wish to record. Sometimes you can pick a keyword, but ideally a DVR should examine your behavior and automatically take action. By the 4th episode of the Dog Whisperer, your DVR should know to record all future episodes even if the show switches networks, i.e., from Discovery to the National Geographic Channel.
My Own Channel - Automatically assemble a channel of personal favorites. Instead of requiring hopscotching between channels, your DVR tracks the shows you watch and creates your own personalized channel . For example, my "MR" playlist would be my favorite shows identified by what I had previously recorded or viewed. There could even be multiple channels like the "MR sports channel" (local sports programming, cycling, NBA, but NO soccer or golf), drama (realistic crime shows), mindless, silly reality shows, comedy specials, etc. This would provide more value from the voluminous 600 channels my cable company currently pumps to my house.
Music Recording - Record hours of music for on demand listening. Most cable and satellite systems offer radio channels such as MusicChoice or XM, but if you don't like the particular song that's playing, there's nothing you can do about it. Using a DVR, you could keep a buffer of 20-40 hours of your favorite music programming on hand so that it's available whenever you want to play it. Since your music will be recorded, you can fast forward songs you don't like, or listen to songs you like over and over again. Similarly, there are hundreds of online webcasting stations which could be recorded for users, creating an expansive music listening experience. Previous efforts have been hampered by legal uncertainty, but the Cablevision case clears that up considerably.
Auto-recording Players - Any media player I use (RealPlayer, Quicktime, radio in my car, etc.) should automatically collect media I encounter and add it to my personal collection where it would be available anywhere.
Anywhere Access - Listen or watch on multiple TVs, PCs or mobile phone. Today when I use my DVR, I can only watch the recorded shows in my house on the TV that recorded the program. However, if the recorded material is located at a large data center instead of my living room, I can watch my programs anywhere. I can view them from any TV in my house and since it's easy to connect to the Internet I can view them from my PC at work, my laptop when I travel, or even on my mobile phone. Since my cable bill is $160/month it seems reasonable to expect my programming to be accessible from wherever I am, on whatever screen I might have in front of me.
Social TV Experience - Use friends to get more value from your media. Since your friends typically have similar interests, useful information could be gleaned by looking over their shoulder at what they're recording and watching. Once recording happens on the network then the data collected can easily be shared with others. This could guide you to interesting material, help you find new friends, or even make suggestions as to what programs to avoid.
I'm often asked my opinion on new business opportunities and feel that it makes sense to look at these new services that are now legally permissible due to the Cablevision ruling. AT&T's Uverse TV service is already capitalizing on this opportunity by moving more functionality to it's main office so all TVs can view recorded programming. They also permit (as does DirecTV) recording from any web browser. For my company, MP3tunes, Cablevision is a great precedent that confirms our vision of "your music everywhere." There's an additional legal challenge to watch from a net based video service in Singapore. RecordTV lets Singaporeans record programming from 5 hidef video channels broadcast across this island nation. As with Cablevision, media companies say it's an infringement, while RecordTV says consumers are doing the recording. Let's hope Singapore courts agree with US courts.
--MR
michael@michaelrobertson.com
This favorable ruling on behalf of Cablevision also opens the door to a wide range of potential new features and services which can smartly record media. The following are a few product ideas I came up with that could be launched under the protection of Cablevision:
Primetime Recording - Capture all shows from the major networks, or your favorite channels every night from 8-11pm. How often do you find yourself at work listening to others talk about a great show or episode that you missed. Imagine a "Primetime Recording" option which would capture all shows during the 8-11pm hours on the major networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, etc). This service would save those shows for 2-3 weeks and then automatically delete them if no action was taken.
Multi-channel Recording - Simultaneously record 5-10 channels. Newer set top boxes can record 2 shows at once, but if there is a sporting event (for example) airing during your favorite primetime shows, multiple recording options would be a plus. Having the recording done at a central location means you're not constrained by your set top box, thereby making it possible to record 5 or more shows at the same time.
Smart Recording- Your DVR knows your viewing habits and captures shows automatically. Today, DVR systems are largely manual with the user having to specify each show they wish to record. Sometimes you can pick a keyword, but ideally a DVR should examine your behavior and automatically take action. By the 4th episode of the Dog Whisperer, your DVR should know to record all future episodes even if the show switches networks, i.e., from Discovery to the National Geographic Channel.
My Own Channel - Automatically assemble a channel of personal favorites. Instead of requiring hopscotching between channels, your DVR tracks the shows you watch and creates your own personalized channel . For example, my "MR" playlist would be my favorite shows identified by what I had previously recorded or viewed. There could even be multiple channels like the "MR sports channel" (local sports programming, cycling, NBA, but NO soccer or golf), drama (realistic crime shows), mindless, silly reality shows, comedy specials, etc. This would provide more value from the voluminous 600 channels my cable company currently pumps to my house.
Music Recording - Record hours of music for on demand listening. Most cable and satellite systems offer radio channels such as MusicChoice or XM, but if you don't like the particular song that's playing, there's nothing you can do about it. Using a DVR, you could keep a buffer of 20-40 hours of your favorite music programming on hand so that it's available whenever you want to play it. Since your music will be recorded, you can fast forward songs you don't like, or listen to songs you like over and over again. Similarly, there are hundreds of online webcasting stations which could be recorded for users, creating an expansive music listening experience. Previous efforts have been hampered by legal uncertainty, but the Cablevision case clears that up considerably.
Auto-recording Players - Any media player I use (RealPlayer, Quicktime, radio in my car, etc.) should automatically collect media I encounter and add it to my personal collection where it would be available anywhere.
Anywhere Access - Listen or watch on multiple TVs, PCs or mobile phone. Today when I use my DVR, I can only watch the recorded shows in my house on the TV that recorded the program. However, if the recorded material is located at a large data center instead of my living room, I can watch my programs anywhere. I can view them from any TV in my house and since it's easy to connect to the Internet I can view them from my PC at work, my laptop when I travel, or even on my mobile phone. Since my cable bill is $160/month it seems reasonable to expect my programming to be accessible from wherever I am, on whatever screen I might have in front of me.
Social TV Experience - Use friends to get more value from your media. Since your friends typically have similar interests, useful information could be gleaned by looking over their shoulder at what they're recording and watching. Once recording happens on the network then the data collected can easily be shared with others. This could guide you to interesting material, help you find new friends, or even make suggestions as to what programs to avoid.
I'm often asked my opinion on new business opportunities and feel that it makes sense to look at these new services that are now legally permissible due to the Cablevision ruling. AT&T's Uverse TV service is already capitalizing on this opportunity by moving more functionality to it's main office so all TVs can view recorded programming. They also permit (as does DirecTV) recording from any web browser. For my company, MP3tunes, Cablevision is a great precedent that confirms our vision of "your music everywhere." There's an additional legal challenge to watch from a net based video service in Singapore. RecordTV lets Singaporeans record programming from 5 hidef video channels broadcast across this island nation. As with Cablevision, media companies say it's an infringement, while RecordTV says consumers are doing the recording. Let's hope Singapore courts agree with US courts.
--MR
michael@michaelrobertson.com
2009/07/23
EARTHQUAKE PROTECTION
Researchers at the University of Liverpool, UK, have developed an
`invisibility cloak' that protects buildings from earthquakes. The
seismic waves produced by earthquakes include body waves which travel
through the earth, and surface waves which travel across it. The new
technology controls the path of surface waves, which are the most
damaging and responsible for much of the destruction which follows
earthquakes.
The technology involves the use of concentric rings of plastic which
could be fitted to the Earth's surface to divert surface waves. By
controlling the stiffness and elasticity of the rings, waves traveling
through the 'cloak' pass smoothly into the material and are compressed
into small fluctuations in pressure and density. The path of the
surface waves can be made into an arc that directs the waves outside
the protective cloak. The technique could be applied to buildings by
installing the rings into foundations.
Sebastien Guenneau, from the University's Department of Mathematics,
helped develop the technology. "This work has enormous potential in
offering protection for densely populated areas of the world at risk
from earthquakes. The challenge now is to turn our theories into real
applications that can save lives - small-scale experiments are
underway," said Guenneau.
Read more here: http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20090723A2
`invisibility cloak' that protects buildings from earthquakes. The
seismic waves produced by earthquakes include body waves which travel
through the earth, and surface waves which travel across it. The new
technology controls the path of surface waves, which are the most
damaging and responsible for much of the destruction which follows
earthquakes.
The technology involves the use of concentric rings of plastic which
could be fitted to the Earth's surface to divert surface waves. By
controlling the stiffness and elasticity of the rings, waves traveling
through the 'cloak' pass smoothly into the material and are compressed
into small fluctuations in pressure and density. The path of the
surface waves can be made into an arc that directs the waves outside
the protective cloak. The technique could be applied to buildings by
installing the rings into foundations.
Sebastien Guenneau, from the University's Department of Mathematics,
helped develop the technology. "This work has enormous potential in
offering protection for densely populated areas of the world at risk
from earthquakes. The challenge now is to turn our theories into real
applications that can save lives - small-scale experiments are
underway," said Guenneau.
Read more here: http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20090723A2
2009/07/09
Writing Email Marketing Copy That Sells
A Vertical Response Blog:
Writing your email marketing campaigns can make anyone want to pull their hair out, especially if you're trying to sell a product/service, or ask for a donation, either as part of your newsletter or the sole purpose of your email. You want to make sure you hit all of the highlights and make sure people SEE your offer.
I've put together some ideas you can think about and put to work when writing copy that sells in your campaigns.
Benefits - I've written about this before, but I can't stress how important it is for you to answer your recipient's question, "What's it going to do for me?" "How is it going to make my life easier?" They don't necessarily care about all of the nifty features you'll offer without getting to the heart of why they need it first. Many businesses get caught up in focusing on themselves rather than their recipients. Recipients should always be the focus of the copy.
Use Subheads - Getting the attention of your readers using subheads is always a great idea. It breaks up your thoughts and gets to the heart of what you're selling quickly while letting them do the skimming.
Write in Small Chunks - You need to get to your point fast in small succinct paragraphs. When was the last time you read an entire press release in an email? It's difficult to do, no one has the time, they need you to tell your story briefly. If they want more detailed information, link off to a page where they can find it.
Use Bullets - Bullets break up points or benefits so that your readers can get your information quickly by scanning. This is a very popular copywriting tactic for email and the web in general.
Get Customer Testimonials - Nothing sells your product better than your customers, but getting the testimonial right is essential. "I love this product!" is not good enough. You need to get to the heart of why they love your product or your cause. "I love this product because it saved me $500 in fees per year!" tells a much better story. Make sure you put your customer's real name and city or company they come from. It adds credibility to the quote.
Get the Subject Line Right - Make sure you think about the subject line first, it's the most important item in your email. In just 40-50 characters get across what they'll get for opening your email.
Write Like You Speak - If you're talking to a prospect or customer you don't speak in long boring sentences. You are probably concise and conversational. So should your email marketing copy be.
Ask For The Order - I've spent a lot of time on calls-to-action lately and it's because they're important. Your call-to-action is your "Buy Now" link or your "Call 1-800.." copy. It's essentially what you want your recipients to do. You should definitely display your call-to-action above the fold so that your recipients don't have to scroll down to find your offer links. Don't be afraid to get in your recipient's face either. If that's what you told them you'd be sending them, they expect it and probably want it. Use expiration dates and bold colors, and make sure to link from everywhere you can in your email to get your recipients to act now!
I hope you find this helpful, if you've got any great copywriting tactics to get more sales, comment!
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Writing your email marketing campaigns can make anyone want to pull their hair out, especially if you're trying to sell a product/service, or ask for a donation, either as part of your newsletter or the sole purpose of your email. You want to make sure you hit all of the highlights and make sure people SEE your offer.
I've put together some ideas you can think about and put to work when writing copy that sells in your campaigns.
Benefits - I've written about this before, but I can't stress how important it is for you to answer your recipient's question, "What's it going to do for me?" "How is it going to make my life easier?" They don't necessarily care about all of the nifty features you'll offer without getting to the heart of why they need it first. Many businesses get caught up in focusing on themselves rather than their recipients. Recipients should always be the focus of the copy.
Use Subheads - Getting the attention of your readers using subheads is always a great idea. It breaks up your thoughts and gets to the heart of what you're selling quickly while letting them do the skimming.
Write in Small Chunks - You need to get to your point fast in small succinct paragraphs. When was the last time you read an entire press release in an email? It's difficult to do, no one has the time, they need you to tell your story briefly. If they want more detailed information, link off to a page where they can find it.
Use Bullets - Bullets break up points or benefits so that your readers can get your information quickly by scanning. This is a very popular copywriting tactic for email and the web in general.
Get Customer Testimonials - Nothing sells your product better than your customers, but getting the testimonial right is essential. "I love this product!" is not good enough. You need to get to the heart of why they love your product or your cause. "I love this product because it saved me $500 in fees per year!" tells a much better story. Make sure you put your customer's real name and city or company they come from. It adds credibility to the quote.
Get the Subject Line Right - Make sure you think about the subject line first, it's the most important item in your email. In just 40-50 characters get across what they'll get for opening your email.
Write Like You Speak - If you're talking to a prospect or customer you don't speak in long boring sentences. You are probably concise and conversational. So should your email marketing copy be.
Ask For The Order - I've spent a lot of time on calls-to-action lately and it's because they're important. Your call-to-action is your "Buy Now" link or your "Call 1-800.." copy. It's essentially what you want your recipients to do. You should definitely display your call-to-action above the fold so that your recipients don't have to scroll down to find your offer links. Don't be afraid to get in your recipient's face either. If that's what you told them you'd be sending them, they expect it and probably want it. Use expiration dates and bold colors, and make sure to link from everywhere you can in your email to get your recipients to act now!
I hope you find this helpful, if you've got any great copywriting tactics to get more sales, comment!
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2009/07/08
first Free-On-line Computer
This headline and an accompanying article is written in German. We hope your browser is able to translate with decent accuracy.
Best regards
Stefan Baginski (IMU Group Swiss, www.imugroup.eu)
Published: 2009-07-03 07:36:00 CEST
Xcerion - Pressemitteilung
icloud, der weltweit erste Gratis-Online-Computer, kündigt mit seinem sicheren und privaten
icloud, der weltweit erste Gratis-Online-Computer, kündigt mit seinem sicheren
und privaten Filesharing-Netzwerk Fortschritt in Richtung Webfreiheit an
Die Idee hinter dem icloud-Filesharing ist denkbar einfach: Personen und
Gruppen brauchen eine Lösung für privates und sicheres Filesharing,
Datenspeicherung und Back-up.
Bei icloud können Sie Ihre Musik, Videos und Fotos hochladen, haben Zugriff auf
diese und können sie mit Leuten teilen, denen Sie vertrauen.
LINKOPING, Schweden, 3. Juli 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - icloud, der
Online-Computer, der Ihnen die Freiheit gibt, über den Zugriff von Freunden auf
Daten und über Ihr digitales Leben von jedem beliebigen Computer aus zu
entscheiden, kündigte gerade verbesserte Filesharing-Möglichkeiten, schnelleren
und weltweiten Zugriff auf seinen Online-Desktop und seine Online-Community an.
Jeder kann nun einen „Always-On“-Internet-Computer für das Sharing seines
digitalen Lebens bekommen. Dieser repräsentiert eine digitale Persönlichkeit.
Ob im Büro, zu Hause oder bei Ihren Freunden - Sie können auf alle Ihre Dateien
und Ordner zugreifen und diese mit nur einem Mausklick mit anderen teilen.
Binden Sie Ihr icloud-„On Demand“-Laufwerk als lokale Festplatte ein und
transferieren Sie Dateien und Ordner per Drag and Drop auf Ihre „cloud“, die
Sie dann sofort teilen und benutzen können.
Momentan ist icloud in 21 Sprachen erhältlich: Chinesisch, Dänisch,
Holländisch, Englisch, Filipino, Französisch, Deutsch, Griechisch, Indonesisch,
Italienisch, Litauisch, Norwegisch, Polnisch, Portugiesisch, Rumänisch,
Russisch, Spanisch, Schwedisch, Türkisch sowie Vietnamesisch.
Mit icloud ist Ihr Computer „always-on“, „On-Demand“(auf Abruf) verfügbar, um
Ihnen, Ihren Freunden und Ihrer Familie mit allen Informationen zur Verfügung
zu stehen. Das ist leichtes „On-Demand“-Computing für die breite Masse.
* 3 GB freier Speicher für sicheres Speichern und Back-up Ihrer
Dokumente,Fotos und Musik online
* 50 kostenlose Anwendungen und Widgets wie beispielsweise Office,
E-Mail, Musik, Video, Instant Messaging, Spiele, Entwickler-Tools
sowie zur Zusammenarbeit
* Öffentliches Profil, http://my.icloud.com/benutzername
* Kostenlose E-Mail-Adresse @icloud.com
* Filesharing und WebDAV-Unterstützung, Einbindung als Netzwerk-
Laufwerk
* Keine Installation, icloud läuft im Internet Explorer oder in
Firefox
icloud ist ein kostenloser Dienst, für den man sich jetzt anmelden kann.
Weitere Informationen über icloud finden Sie auf www.icloud.com.
Über icloud
Xcerion wurde 2001 von Daniel Arthursson gegründet und bietet mit icloud.com
das weltweit führende „Cloud OS" an, das 22 Mal zum Patent angemeldet ist und
sich seit 8 Jahren in der Entwicklung befindet. icloud wurde 2008 zu einem „Red
Herring Global 100“-Gewinner gewählt. icloud ist sicher, steht für privaten
Austausch und ist jederzeit von jedem beliebigen Computer aus zugänglich.
Das icloud-Logo befindet sich auf
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4742
Xcerion AB ist eine im Privatbesitz befindliche Gesellschaft mit Sitz in
Linkoping, Schweden, die von Northzone Ventures finanziert wird. Zu den
privaten Investoren gehören Lou Perazzoli, ursprünglicher Architect von Windows
NT und früherer Manager der Microsoft Core OS-Gruppe, und John Connors,
früherer CFO von Microsoft.
Best regards
Stefan Baginski (IMU Group Swiss, www.imugroup.eu)
Published: 2009-07-03 07:36:00 CEST
Xcerion - Pressemitteilung
icloud, der weltweit erste Gratis-Online-Computer, kündigt mit seinem sicheren und privaten
icloud, der weltweit erste Gratis-Online-Computer, kündigt mit seinem sicheren
und privaten Filesharing-Netzwerk Fortschritt in Richtung Webfreiheit an
Die Idee hinter dem icloud-Filesharing ist denkbar einfach: Personen und
Gruppen brauchen eine Lösung für privates und sicheres Filesharing,
Datenspeicherung und Back-up.
Bei icloud können Sie Ihre Musik, Videos und Fotos hochladen, haben Zugriff auf
diese und können sie mit Leuten teilen, denen Sie vertrauen.
LINKOPING, Schweden, 3. Juli 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - icloud, der
Online-Computer, der Ihnen die Freiheit gibt, über den Zugriff von Freunden auf
Daten und über Ihr digitales Leben von jedem beliebigen Computer aus zu
entscheiden, kündigte gerade verbesserte Filesharing-Möglichkeiten, schnelleren
und weltweiten Zugriff auf seinen Online-Desktop und seine Online-Community an.
Jeder kann nun einen „Always-On“-Internet-Computer für das Sharing seines
digitalen Lebens bekommen. Dieser repräsentiert eine digitale Persönlichkeit.
Ob im Büro, zu Hause oder bei Ihren Freunden - Sie können auf alle Ihre Dateien
und Ordner zugreifen und diese mit nur einem Mausklick mit anderen teilen.
Binden Sie Ihr icloud-„On Demand“-Laufwerk als lokale Festplatte ein und
transferieren Sie Dateien und Ordner per Drag and Drop auf Ihre „cloud“, die
Sie dann sofort teilen und benutzen können.
Momentan ist icloud in 21 Sprachen erhältlich: Chinesisch, Dänisch,
Holländisch, Englisch, Filipino, Französisch, Deutsch, Griechisch, Indonesisch,
Italienisch, Litauisch, Norwegisch, Polnisch, Portugiesisch, Rumänisch,
Russisch, Spanisch, Schwedisch, Türkisch sowie Vietnamesisch.
Mit icloud ist Ihr Computer „always-on“, „On-Demand“(auf Abruf) verfügbar, um
Ihnen, Ihren Freunden und Ihrer Familie mit allen Informationen zur Verfügung
zu stehen. Das ist leichtes „On-Demand“-Computing für die breite Masse.
* 3 GB freier Speicher für sicheres Speichern und Back-up Ihrer
Dokumente,Fotos und Musik online
* 50 kostenlose Anwendungen und Widgets wie beispielsweise Office,
E-Mail, Musik, Video, Instant Messaging, Spiele, Entwickler-Tools
sowie zur Zusammenarbeit
* Öffentliches Profil, http://my.icloud.com/benutzername
* Kostenlose E-Mail-Adresse @icloud.com
* Filesharing und WebDAV-Unterstützung, Einbindung als Netzwerk-
Laufwerk
* Keine Installation, icloud läuft im Internet Explorer oder in
Firefox
icloud ist ein kostenloser Dienst, für den man sich jetzt anmelden kann.
Weitere Informationen über icloud finden Sie auf www.icloud.com.
Über icloud
Xcerion wurde 2001 von Daniel Arthursson gegründet und bietet mit icloud.com
das weltweit führende „Cloud OS" an, das 22 Mal zum Patent angemeldet ist und
sich seit 8 Jahren in der Entwicklung befindet. icloud wurde 2008 zu einem „Red
Herring Global 100“-Gewinner gewählt. icloud ist sicher, steht für privaten
Austausch und ist jederzeit von jedem beliebigen Computer aus zugänglich.
Das icloud-Logo befindet sich auf
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4742
Xcerion AB ist eine im Privatbesitz befindliche Gesellschaft mit Sitz in
Linkoping, Schweden, die von Northzone Ventures finanziert wird. Zu den
privaten Investoren gehören Lou Perazzoli, ursprünglicher Architect von Windows
NT und früherer Manager der Microsoft Core OS-Gruppe, und John Connors,
früherer CFO von Microsoft.
2009/06/14
Air France Flight 447 assisted with use of FPGA technology
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI – U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue (SAR) experts based in the Portsmouth Virginia Rescue Coordination Center assisted officials at the Rescue Coordination Center in Gris Nez, France, with the search for Air France Flight 447 by providing information and advanced technology to help locate the plane's fuselage as well as recover passengers and crew who were lost in the crash.
The Coast Guard assisted the French authorities by applying their new, advanced SAR software system called the Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System (SAROPS) that generates optimized search area predictions for objects missing at sea. Recovery of bodies and debris is significant not only for families, but for crash investigators, said Mary Schiavo, a former inspector general for the U.S. Department of Transportation.
SAROPS includes a "reverse drift" capability, which predicts a search area based on the location where floating wreckage is found. This enables search planners to develop optimal search patterns, maximizing the probability of successfully locating search objects. By tracking information on when and where debris is found, the SAROPS system works backward using the weather, wind and sea conditions over a specified period of time to estimate a probable location of the plane. Based on this position, search efforts can be focused to find the plane's flight data recorders.
SAROPS provides rapid and optimized search and rescue predictions by incorporating the latest real-time and forecast environmental data such as wind and currents. The SAROPS system was developed for the U.S. Coast Guard (deployed in 2007), collaboratively by Applied Science Associates (ASA), Northrup Grumman, and Metron, Inc.
ASA delivers the crucial EDS: Environmental Data Server™ component of SAROPS, which quickly aggregates and feeds meteorological and hydrodynamic conditions to the SAROPS system. In search and rescue and recovery operations at sea, the faster responders can get accurate model predictions of search areas, the greater the likelihood is of locating persons in the water and floating wreckage.
“The software is designed to minimize data entry and the potential for error, resulting in more efficient recovery than ever before,” explains Eoin Howlett, ASA’s CEO and lead for the continuing development of the SAROPS system. “The ability to access a variety of data from satellite, in-situ observations, radar, and models allows the search and rescue controller to quickly evaluate possible scenarios.”
The exact location of the crash has not yet been determined. The flight data and cockpit voice recorders also remain missing, and may lay on the ocean floor. The area of ocean where the debris and bodies have been found ranges between 19,685 and 26,247 feet (6,000 and 8,000 meters) deep. The search area covers 77,220 square miles (200,000 square km), an area nearly as big as the state of Nebraska, but so far 29 bodies as well as pieces of the jet and luggage have been recovered.
# # #
Contact Lee Dooley by e-mail ldooley@asascience.com or by phone +1 401-789-6224 for more information or for high resolution images of ASA environmental software system interfaces.
For more information about ASA visit http://www.asascience.com.
For more information about the U.S. Coast Guard visit http://www.uscg.mil.
About FPGA Technology: Acromag Inc. of Wixom, Michigan is a known supplier of FPGA based on mezzanine format range of products. All products are available in Extended and Conductive Cooling systems and are geared for mil. applications.
About Applied Science Associates (ASA):
ASA is a global science and technology solutions company. Through consulting, environmental modeling, and application development, ASA helps a diverse range of clients in government, industry, and academia investigate their issues of concern and obtain functional answers.
ASA’s solutions are based on applied science and advanced research. Our services and products, along with our staff’s diverse technical backgrounds, are specialized in the analysis of marine, freshwater, air, and land resources; computer modeling of physical, chemical, and biological processes; geographic information systems (GIS); operational research; and data management.
Headquartered in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, ASA also has offices in Seattle, Australia, and Brazil. The company’s website, www.asascience.com, provides numerous scientific reports written by its staff and extensive information about its products and services.
If you would rather not receive future email messages from Applied Science Associates, Inc., let us know by clicking here.
Applied Science Associates, Inc., 55 Village Square Drive, South Kingstown, RI 02879 United States
The Coast Guard assisted the French authorities by applying their new, advanced SAR software system called the Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System (SAROPS) that generates optimized search area predictions for objects missing at sea. Recovery of bodies and debris is significant not only for families, but for crash investigators, said Mary Schiavo, a former inspector general for the U.S. Department of Transportation.
SAROPS includes a "reverse drift" capability, which predicts a search area based on the location where floating wreckage is found. This enables search planners to develop optimal search patterns, maximizing the probability of successfully locating search objects. By tracking information on when and where debris is found, the SAROPS system works backward using the weather, wind and sea conditions over a specified period of time to estimate a probable location of the plane. Based on this position, search efforts can be focused to find the plane's flight data recorders.
SAROPS provides rapid and optimized search and rescue predictions by incorporating the latest real-time and forecast environmental data such as wind and currents. The SAROPS system was developed for the U.S. Coast Guard (deployed in 2007), collaboratively by Applied Science Associates (ASA), Northrup Grumman, and Metron, Inc.
ASA delivers the crucial EDS: Environmental Data Server™ component of SAROPS, which quickly aggregates and feeds meteorological and hydrodynamic conditions to the SAROPS system. In search and rescue and recovery operations at sea, the faster responders can get accurate model predictions of search areas, the greater the likelihood is of locating persons in the water and floating wreckage.
“The software is designed to minimize data entry and the potential for error, resulting in more efficient recovery than ever before,” explains Eoin Howlett, ASA’s CEO and lead for the continuing development of the SAROPS system. “The ability to access a variety of data from satellite, in-situ observations, radar, and models allows the search and rescue controller to quickly evaluate possible scenarios.”
The exact location of the crash has not yet been determined. The flight data and cockpit voice recorders also remain missing, and may lay on the ocean floor. The area of ocean where the debris and bodies have been found ranges between 19,685 and 26,247 feet (6,000 and 8,000 meters) deep. The search area covers 77,220 square miles (200,000 square km), an area nearly as big as the state of Nebraska, but so far 29 bodies as well as pieces of the jet and luggage have been recovered.
# # #
Contact Lee Dooley by e-mail ldooley@asascience.com or by phone +1 401-789-6224 for more information or for high resolution images of ASA environmental software system interfaces.
For more information about ASA visit http://www.asascience.com.
For more information about the U.S. Coast Guard visit http://www.uscg.mil.
About FPGA Technology: Acromag Inc. of Wixom, Michigan is a known supplier of FPGA based on mezzanine format range of products. All products are available in Extended and Conductive Cooling systems and are geared for mil. applications.
About Applied Science Associates (ASA):
ASA is a global science and technology solutions company. Through consulting, environmental modeling, and application development, ASA helps a diverse range of clients in government, industry, and academia investigate their issues of concern and obtain functional answers.
ASA’s solutions are based on applied science and advanced research. Our services and products, along with our staff’s diverse technical backgrounds, are specialized in the analysis of marine, freshwater, air, and land resources; computer modeling of physical, chemical, and biological processes; geographic information systems (GIS); operational research; and data management.
Headquartered in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, ASA also has offices in Seattle, Australia, and Brazil. The company’s website, www.asascience.com, provides numerous scientific reports written by its staff and extensive information about its products and services.
If you would rather not receive future email messages from Applied Science Associates, Inc., let us know by clicking here.
Applied Science Associates, Inc., 55 Village Square Drive, South Kingstown, RI 02879 United States
2009/05/27
Headlines can make or break your presence on Twitter
An interesting point and suggestion on Social Marketing, useful in any Industry marketing.
April 27, 2009
Catchy and well written headlines go a long way in creating the right impression about your company on Twitter. You want to say many things about your company but with Twitter you have to restrict yourself to just 140 characters. Yes, just 140 characters and you can create a viral buzz if you get them right!
Headlines can often make or break your attempt to garner attention towards what you want to say or share. If you get your headline right, you can create an instant impact among your readers and followers and build traffic towards your website or generate interest in your products/services.
It is now a proven and tested fact that quality content can make a huge difference in promoting your products online, in website branding and attracting new business opportunities. But to achieve all this, your content must be first viewed by the readers for any further action. How you can make kindle interest in readers and make them read the content posted by you on your Twitter account?
A good headline can give you a solid beginning in good content development and attention building. On average, 8 out of 10 people first read a headline and if it attracts them they read the whole content. On Twitter, the importance of a headline is as much as in a newspaper. Viewers or readers don’t have much time to read everything that comes in their way. They have their own needs and interests on the basis of which they view, share, read and follow on the net. If you can place a finger on the pulse of your target audience with your engaging content development, their enthusiasm and response will carry you far.
And on Twitter as the competition is really high, you need to smartly grab the attention of your targeted audience within a very limited time and space. Which brings us back to our moot point – headline, headline, headline!
Before writing a headline, remember that it should have any of these ideas:
• Some useful information for the reader.
• Make the reader belief that there can be no better offer than yours.
• The main USP of the product or service is highlighted.
• The headline must be as short as possible due to characters constraints.
Keep these points in mind during content development and see how your headline gets spread on Twitter with more and more followers joining you, which in turn will help you loads in website branding as well.
Filed under Social Media Marketing, Content Development, Web 2.0, Web Marketing, Social Media Optimization by Nita Zaveri
April 27, 2009
Catchy and well written headlines go a long way in creating the right impression about your company on Twitter. You want to say many things about your company but with Twitter you have to restrict yourself to just 140 characters. Yes, just 140 characters and you can create a viral buzz if you get them right!
Headlines can often make or break your attempt to garner attention towards what you want to say or share. If you get your headline right, you can create an instant impact among your readers and followers and build traffic towards your website or generate interest in your products/services.
It is now a proven and tested fact that quality content can make a huge difference in promoting your products online, in website branding and attracting new business opportunities. But to achieve all this, your content must be first viewed by the readers for any further action. How you can make kindle interest in readers and make them read the content posted by you on your Twitter account?
A good headline can give you a solid beginning in good content development and attention building. On average, 8 out of 10 people first read a headline and if it attracts them they read the whole content. On Twitter, the importance of a headline is as much as in a newspaper. Viewers or readers don’t have much time to read everything that comes in their way. They have their own needs and interests on the basis of which they view, share, read and follow on the net. If you can place a finger on the pulse of your target audience with your engaging content development, their enthusiasm and response will carry you far.
And on Twitter as the competition is really high, you need to smartly grab the attention of your targeted audience within a very limited time and space. Which brings us back to our moot point – headline, headline, headline!
Before writing a headline, remember that it should have any of these ideas:
• Some useful information for the reader.
• Make the reader belief that there can be no better offer than yours.
• The main USP of the product or service is highlighted.
• The headline must be as short as possible due to characters constraints.
Keep these points in mind during content development and see how your headline gets spread on Twitter with more and more followers joining you, which in turn will help you loads in website branding as well.
Filed under Social Media Marketing, Content Development, Web 2.0, Web Marketing, Social Media Optimization by Nita Zaveri
2009/05/11
Pay to Pee
Business travel to visit your customer or supplier is getting costlier every time I book air tickets. For generations many countries in Central Europe charge every at possibility, highway facilities are not cheap, especially on toll-free Autobahn in Germany. Similarly, Michael O'Leary, the boss of Ryan-air, says he is considering charging passengers to use the toilets on his planes. Can he be serious? read more»
2009/04/23
Enterprise Private Equity in Crisis?
Economic pressures from above, the Venture Capitalists press executives for improving Cash Flow, thus all of a sudden, thus far scarce resources like shortage of talent turned out to be a shortage of Capital instead.
Do you see this phenomenon affecting your own business?
Do you see this phenomenon affecting your own business?
The worst thing for the world economy would be to assume the worst is over
A FEW weeks ago, the British government’s chief scientific adviser, John Beddington, made a bloodcurdling speech about the horrors lying in wait for us. By 2030, he said, the world will be facing a perfect storm of food, energy and water shortages caused by population growth and exacerbated by climate change. James Lovelock, the creator of the Gaia theory, receives extensive, largely uncritical, coverage when he predicts that global warming will have wiped out 80% of humankind by the end of the century. In the meantime, we are living through what many people believe (and some hope) to be the final collapse of capitalism, while attempting with only limited success to fight a “global war on terror” against an enemy that threatens to destroy “our way of life”.
There is nothing new in society being gripped by anxiety about the present and pessimism about the future. In his latest book, Richard Overy, a distinguished British historian of the second world war, has turned his attention to the period between the wars when, he argues, the presentiment of impending disaster was even more deeply felt (and perhaps with better reason) than it is today. Indeed, Mr Overy sets out to show that it was a uniquely gloomy and fearful era, a morbid age that saw the future of civilization in terms of disease, decay and death.
In the above fragment The Economist is leading us to compare the Between-the-war Britain experiences with those of present crisis. It also suggests that we have worse.
There is nothing new in society being gripped by anxiety about the present and pessimism about the future. In his latest book, Richard Overy, a distinguished British historian of the second world war, has turned his attention to the period between the wars when, he argues, the presentiment of impending disaster was even more deeply felt (and perhaps with better reason) than it is today. Indeed, Mr Overy sets out to show that it was a uniquely gloomy and fearful era, a morbid age that saw the future of civilization in terms of disease, decay and death.
In the above fragment The Economist is leading us to compare the Between-the-war Britain experiences with those of present crisis. It also suggests that we have worse.
2009/04/18
Not everyone suffers in the same way, as M&T says
Insert to the recent issue of Markt&Technik Quarterly Distribution & Dienstleistung quotes:
-Silica quotes 20% reduction in orders in Q1 2009 as opposing Q1 2008
-MSC Gleichmann was down 30% on the same period
-EMS Industrie was still 35% (networking)20% (telecom) down
-while Zollner recoded only 7% reduction.
One of our Distributors in Netherland has even sent us its newsletter titles "Crisis...?" The question mark is significant as this is the largest distributor in the country.
Acromag has recently introduced it new and strategic product the IO Server and we have already projects involving long term applications across EMEA.
Many distributors talk about time to make changes. Fewer new products perhaps but More focus on those products, more complete solution and services geared to move itself up the supply chain. Only wide open eyes, focus on paying customers and perserverence is the prescription for today and for tomorrow.
-Silica quotes 20% reduction in orders in Q1 2009 as opposing Q1 2008
-MSC Gleichmann was down 30% on the same period
-EMS Industrie was still 35% (networking)20% (telecom) down
-while Zollner recoded only 7% reduction.
One of our Distributors in Netherland has even sent us its newsletter titles "Crisis...?" The question mark is significant as this is the largest distributor in the country.
Acromag has recently introduced it new and strategic product the IO Server and we have already projects involving long term applications across EMEA.
Many distributors talk about time to make changes. Fewer new products perhaps but More focus on those products, more complete solution and services geared to move itself up the supply chain. Only wide open eyes, focus on paying customers and perserverence is the prescription for today and for tomorrow.
DARPA pay for system to see inside concrete building
Recent news from CNET has brought us new and interesting project from DARPA. The national R&D State Purse is funding R&D on novel ways of looking inside the concrete buildings, including basements. Forget about the privacy,the "my house my castle" etc. and such medieval passè notions.
It should allow to detect human and presumably animal presence inside the concrete structure at a resolution of up to 1 yard (approx. 1m). At the same time it should differentiate presence of women and children for those of insurgents. How is it going to do that with above resolution is not clear at this point. At least an effort is being made to lower the collateral damage.
I am very found of other DARPA projects, specifically the driver less car, able to drive around random and moving obstacles. That was fun last year watching even car makers amongst many university and private enterprises. Something is moving in the right direction. GM, Mercedes-Benz and Honda are probably leading this field.
This technology for sure is going to lead to fewer deaths on the road.
This DARPA funded technology could be used also in buses, lorries, trucks and possibly other means of transportation.
It should allow to detect human and presumably animal presence inside the concrete structure at a resolution of up to 1 yard (approx. 1m). At the same time it should differentiate presence of women and children for those of insurgents. How is it going to do that with above resolution is not clear at this point. At least an effort is being made to lower the collateral damage.
I am very found of other DARPA projects, specifically the driver less car, able to drive around random and moving obstacles. That was fun last year watching even car makers amongst many university and private enterprises. Something is moving in the right direction. GM, Mercedes-Benz and Honda are probably leading this field.
This technology for sure is going to lead to fewer deaths on the road.
This DARPA funded technology could be used also in buses, lorries, trucks and possibly other means of transportation.
2009/04/13
Embedded World in Nürnberg-the 2009 Edition
As every year two months into a 2009 some 20 000 people, experts in Embedded Systems gather to attend the show, to visit suppliers, potential vendors, hear what is the newest and most-in in Embedded Systems Industry. Rich conference program, international industry leaders gather to present and discuss especially in this year also industry problems and strengths,
The show is a going success story ever since it was moved from Stuttgart and onto this medieval trading post on cross roads from Moscow to Paris and from Scandinavia to Rome.
Some dry facts may shed the light on its role in Europe: Almost 700 Exhibitors, over 40% from 31 countries makes it truly international. The display area reached this year 16 000 m² (160 000 sq ft).
This year Embedded Award paid tribute to especially innovative products in the categories of hardware, software and tools that are unique and future oriented. Prize-winners:
Category software: Coverity (Bolean Satisfiability: Next Generation of Static Analysis)
Category Tools: Express Logic (Eclipse-based IDE for Embedded Development)
Category Hardware: Texas Instruments (Leadership in Ultra-Low-Power Space MSP430F5xx)
Besides that the conference featured 20 Hands-on Classes and 24 Sessions. On the side and in a nice addition an Electronic Displays Conference took place at the same time.
The writer is participating in each years edition from early 90’s and it is easy to say that the show is getting more and more international. It is a top notch High-End knowledge transfer and exchange place.
Sessions were particularly interesting and considering circumstances well attended. They included, Network and Wireless technologies, Multicore Processing and Memory in Embedded Systems. In addition Cryptography and Embedded Security is pulling small crowd. GUI and System-on-Chip are now a staple fair for developers. Large group was addressing Automotive Applications, still, but we all know how the industry is suffering, and their suppliers must account for delayed or for now cancelled projects. Some positive success is Inova Semiconductors, as Robert Kraus (CEO) is mentioning the new project with APIX his company did for BMW 7range. More cars/models will certainly follow soon.
Interesting announcements and papers presented was on cPCI Plus: Intel was talking about Serial Buses and their role for cPCI+. There were several
EW is comparing positively to both CeBIT (20% attendance drop) and to Hannover Messe which is expected to gather as much visitors as in the year 2007 (according to Mr. Pech). It is true that some big companies, especially from US were missing this year. Some have shared both with local distributor, like GE Fanuc. Fortunately start ups and foreign companies filled halls with own wares.
Joe Primeau, Sales Director at Acromag was very pleased with this year’s outcome. “We work with our partners in EMEA for over 20 years. This year we are showing a new PMC based modules with advanced
customizable Virtex-5 FPGA with PowerPC on it. New solution for off-loading the CPU and saving on power consumption and adding on flexibility in resource usage. Conductive cooling extends greatly the range of suitable applications. We have made the show extremely productive for us and for our partners. We have conducted our International Sales Meeting EMEA in the elegant Grand Hotel Le Meridien with all Channels participating. It is The Show-to-be in EMEA, we are definitely going to be back next year”.
Ulrich Gehrmann, (Chairman) was stressing the importance to Kontron, of the Embedded Server business acquired last year from Intel. The deal stresses close relationship to Intel and positions Kontron on the top of a much selected list of companies with access to the CPU technology.
Olga Sinenko, CEO of RTSoft, in frank conversation said: “We have been at Embedded World almost every year, we see changes and we see progress, even now. Our market position is very good, the crisis, it must be acknowledged is hurting some of customers. Over all we have indentified several new markets we are expending into and are moving in right now, we support our loyal markets and we try to be helpful as much as we can. We see a serious growth in those selected segments of our market now.
Mads Poulsen, CEO of RECAB: “we are here because we meet vendors here, competitors, channels and some of our clients as well. It is a great show for this industry”. Sure RECAB has also shows closer to home that are used to meet customers and draft a common road map for future projects very like the shows here.
This idea of Messe as a means of drawing common future between Vendor and End User has its roots perhaps in medieval time markets in Central Europe. Manne Kreuzer of Markt&Technik, a German language Embedded Weekly makes his case and argues the reason why most successful world trade exhibitions are German based. He claims that Messe (German for show or exhibition) is the place where “common future of similar minds” is that reason for success. According to some the difference is that Messe is really a Fair, where one can place and take orders. Having exhibited for over 20 years in EMEA the writer tends to agree that Messe is something more that Fair, this is why meetings here take much longer than the usual 15 min. calls. Why there are back rooms for private chats with well supplied bars, hot sausages, sandwiches, beer or Sect and much more. There are even boat parties on the Rhein (as in Düssledorf Fair) next to a Fair grounds, with bands and paid entertainers. All geared to cater the customer. Messe is where Vendor reassures End User/ OEM that his Road Maps superimpose on OEM’s needs for years to come. And apparently Germans excel in that as success of their Fairs proves. It must be something in that I would agree. Embedded World in Nuremberg is such a fair in its prime regardless of crisis.
True, some vendors have cut on expenses this year, the red Ferrari has disappeared from my friend’s booth, some beer dispensers, pop corn machines also, less freebees available for take home, only one (British) vendor was giving balsa model planes for free. Every one much watch expenses on this hour, media have been less visible. Some large vendors are missing this year, mostly from States, who used to come each year.
Another obvious thing is coming out while meandering between vendor booths: proliferation of standards. It see every vendor tries to create and peddle his “open standard” to others. Some new standards are feeble solution; many lack the required eco-systems and fail to reach a critical mass to launch successful growth.
Stackable USB is a good example, promoted by a strong vendor, who is seeking to propagate the so far a specification instead of a standard. But miniaturization is the daily subject and part of the future of any standard.
One technology still in search of a market is uTCA. Many vendors present at EW argue that NOW they DO have projects and have found suitable Application. But even those biggest ones have admitted privately they repeat the same claim for 4 years running. I could understand the technology is looking for application first couple of years, but 4 years? It is complex, offering much more that we see in specs from the industry, redundancy, high availability and hot swap it is nice, but it is too much for still sufficient technologies that are either cheaper or easier to implement, without all the Management “Over”-Layer.
All in all, I am looking forward to this year of turbulences, fiascos and successes, and to the next year edition of Embedded World in Nuremberg.
Stefan Baginski
March 2009
The show is a going success story ever since it was moved from Stuttgart and onto this medieval trading post on cross roads from Moscow to Paris and from Scandinavia to Rome.
Some dry facts may shed the light on its role in Europe: Almost 700 Exhibitors, over 40% from 31 countries makes it truly international. The display area reached this year 16 000 m² (160 000 sq ft).
This year Embedded Award paid tribute to especially innovative products in the categories of hardware, software and tools that are unique and future oriented. Prize-winners:
Category software: Coverity (Bolean Satisfiability: Next Generation of Static Analysis)
Category Tools: Express Logic (Eclipse-based IDE for Embedded Development)
Category Hardware: Texas Instruments (Leadership in Ultra-Low-Power Space MSP430F5xx)
Besides that the conference featured 20 Hands-on Classes and 24 Sessions. On the side and in a nice addition an Electronic Displays Conference took place at the same time.
The writer is participating in each years edition from early 90’s and it is easy to say that the show is getting more and more international. It is a top notch High-End knowledge transfer and exchange place.
Sessions were particularly interesting and considering circumstances well attended. They included, Network and Wireless technologies, Multicore Processing and Memory in Embedded Systems. In addition Cryptography and Embedded Security is pulling small crowd. GUI and System-on-Chip are now a staple fair for developers. Large group was addressing Automotive Applications, still, but we all know how the industry is suffering, and their suppliers must account for delayed or for now cancelled projects. Some positive success is Inova Semiconductors, as Robert Kraus (CEO) is mentioning the new project with APIX his company did for BMW 7range. More cars/models will certainly follow soon.
Interesting announcements and papers presented was on cPCI Plus: Intel was talking about Serial Buses and their role for cPCI+. There were several
EW is comparing positively to both CeBIT (20% attendance drop) and to Hannover Messe which is expected to gather as much visitors as in the year 2007 (according to Mr. Pech). It is true that some big companies, especially from US were missing this year. Some have shared both with local distributor, like GE Fanuc. Fortunately start ups and foreign companies filled halls with own wares.
Joe Primeau, Sales Director at Acromag was very pleased with this year’s outcome. “We work with our partners in EMEA for over 20 years. This year we are showing a new PMC based modules with advanced
customizable Virtex-5 FPGA with PowerPC on it. New solution for off-loading the CPU and saving on power consumption and adding on flexibility in resource usage. Conductive cooling extends greatly the range of suitable applications. We have made the show extremely productive for us and for our partners. We have conducted our International Sales Meeting EMEA in the elegant Grand Hotel Le Meridien with all Channels participating. It is The Show-to-be in EMEA, we are definitely going to be back next year”.
Ulrich Gehrmann, (Chairman) was stressing the importance to Kontron, of the Embedded Server business acquired last year from Intel. The deal stresses close relationship to Intel and positions Kontron on the top of a much selected list of companies with access to the CPU technology.
Olga Sinenko, CEO of RTSoft, in frank conversation said: “We have been at Embedded World almost every year, we see changes and we see progress, even now. Our market position is very good, the crisis, it must be acknowledged is hurting some of customers. Over all we have indentified several new markets we are expending into and are moving in right now, we support our loyal markets and we try to be helpful as much as we can. We see a serious growth in those selected segments of our market now.
Mads Poulsen, CEO of RECAB: “we are here because we meet vendors here, competitors, channels and some of our clients as well. It is a great show for this industry”. Sure RECAB has also shows closer to home that are used to meet customers and draft a common road map for future projects very like the shows here.
This idea of Messe as a means of drawing common future between Vendor and End User has its roots perhaps in medieval time markets in Central Europe. Manne Kreuzer of Markt&Technik, a German language Embedded Weekly makes his case and argues the reason why most successful world trade exhibitions are German based. He claims that Messe (German for show or exhibition) is the place where “common future of similar minds” is that reason for success. According to some the difference is that Messe is really a Fair, where one can place and take orders. Having exhibited for over 20 years in EMEA the writer tends to agree that Messe is something more that Fair, this is why meetings here take much longer than the usual 15 min. calls. Why there are back rooms for private chats with well supplied bars, hot sausages, sandwiches, beer or Sect and much more. There are even boat parties on the Rhein (as in Düssledorf Fair) next to a Fair grounds, with bands and paid entertainers. All geared to cater the customer. Messe is where Vendor reassures End User/ OEM that his Road Maps superimpose on OEM’s needs for years to come. And apparently Germans excel in that as success of their Fairs proves. It must be something in that I would agree. Embedded World in Nuremberg is such a fair in its prime regardless of crisis.
True, some vendors have cut on expenses this year, the red Ferrari has disappeared from my friend’s booth, some beer dispensers, pop corn machines also, less freebees available for take home, only one (British) vendor was giving balsa model planes for free. Every one much watch expenses on this hour, media have been less visible. Some large vendors are missing this year, mostly from States, who used to come each year.
Another obvious thing is coming out while meandering between vendor booths: proliferation of standards. It see every vendor tries to create and peddle his “open standard” to others. Some new standards are feeble solution; many lack the required eco-systems and fail to reach a critical mass to launch successful growth.
Stackable USB is a good example, promoted by a strong vendor, who is seeking to propagate the so far a specification instead of a standard. But miniaturization is the daily subject and part of the future of any standard.
One technology still in search of a market is uTCA. Many vendors present at EW argue that NOW they DO have projects and have found suitable Application. But even those biggest ones have admitted privately they repeat the same claim for 4 years running. I could understand the technology is looking for application first couple of years, but 4 years? It is complex, offering much more that we see in specs from the industry, redundancy, high availability and hot swap it is nice, but it is too much for still sufficient technologies that are either cheaper or easier to implement, without all the Management “Over”-Layer.
All in all, I am looking forward to this year of turbulences, fiascos and successes, and to the next year edition of Embedded World in Nuremberg.
Stefan Baginski
March 2009
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