Grumpy old man. Bitter old hag. These are images familiar to anybody that was once young. But, as we age and find ourselves coming closer to the twilight years, hitting the better side of 40, 50, 60, and so on, it is important to step back and do a double check. Just how far are we from being described in just those terms?
While some people have a higher propensity for being happy, others have a greater tendency toward seeing the down side of things. However, modern research indicates a direct correlation between a person's ability to be happy and their longevity. So, staying happy is not just a personal choice. It is an obligation that we have to ourselves, those we care about, and society as a whole.
The key to becoming and staying happy as we age is in understanding that the mind and body work together in a delicate balance. Neither can be trusted to function properly if the other is not cared for. Taking care of the most basic of physical needs is just as important to being happy as being surrounded by those we love and being permitted to do what we enjoy.
Sleep, Food, and Wine
A lack of sleep has significant implications on mood. In the long term, a lack of sufficient hours in a rested state saps the body's ability to replenish itself. It is pushed to limits it was not meant to endure. When the body is concentrating so hard on basic functions such as walking and blinking it cannot be expected to have much of a sense of humor.
Likewise, a lack of proper nutrition starves the mind's ability to appreciate the beauty of life and find joy in it. Certain foods have the ability to sap the mind and body of life while others have anti-oxidant properties. Indulging in foods, on a regular basis, that harm the mind's and body's ability to stay healthy.
On the other hand, life really is too short to live in a constant state of denial. Stringently depriving yourself of that which brings pleasure just leads to depravity. An occasional glass of red wine is not the only medically approved indulgence. A little bit of chocolate and anything else that makes you smile is well worth it.
Physically Fit, It Takes Strength To Smile
Regular exercise of any kind is still physical activity. Hanky-panky is just as valid as a brisk walk with the dog. The point is that when the body is not in shape it is far easier to fall into depression. Receding hairlines and sagging body parts don't need additional help in chipping away at self-confidence. None of us look like we did the day we caught a view in the reflection of a store window as we rushed off to a mid-term exam. Physical activity releases positive endorphins, making it impossible not to feel good.
Be Selfish
Living for others is admirable but, only really worth it if driven by some perceived personal gain. It's true what they say, no good deed goes unpunished. If living for others is all that it is cut out to be then, there must obviously be two classes of people: Them for who we live and us who only give. Sometimes, receiving is better than giving. Take what is yours and enjoy it. Life only has so many sun rises.
At the end of the day, happiness really is a choice. Viewing life through rose colored glasses has its perks. Being a realist certainly has its place but, must be tempered. Is every battle worth waging or just the ones that threaten your ability to be happy? My vote is for the latter.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
When It Comes To Kids, You Can't Be Too Safe Online
Children are ideal victims for online crime. Since most criminals do not want to be caught, they seek out those who are unlikely to do what it takes to defend themselves and will be slow to catch on when something isn't as it should be.
There are two major areas of opportunity for the criminal mind when it comes to kids: First, although many kids have an online presence, they are unlikely to carry any significant debt or own any high ticket items. They are pretty much a clean slate and in many cases may not find out that their identity had been stolen until they try to apply for a student loan, get an apartment, or apply for a car loan. Since this could mean a gap of over ten or twenty years (yes, even babies can get their identity stolen), there is an awful lot of damage that can be inflicted before anybody is the wiser.
Second, since kids are often immature enough to fully appreciate the full implications of not adequately guarding their privacy, they are more likely to divulge too many personal details to unseen strangers. This makes them easy targets. There is far less work to be done in order to defraud them.
Its Never Too Early To Talk To Your Kids
Considering that even preschoolers and junior kindergartners are now going online, it is never too early to start the safe surfing discussion. If kids can learn the basics of not speaking with strangers, they can be taught the extended principle of not speaking with strangers online.
Many of their favorite television shows and channels have correlating websites. Each site asks for your child's name, age, address, and a slew of personal like and dislike questions. They track their online habits, and if you are lucky, all they do with that information is determine the best advertising, marketing and program structure to present to them. Remember that you are never obligated to provide accurate or true information and are free to enter pseudonyms and false details.
Watch Those Social Networks
Too many parents are a little too giving with the sharing of photos and details about their newborns on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Information gets around far faster and wider than many people may be aware. A newborn baby is an ideal target. It isn't all that difficult to intercept an envelope containing their social security number or SIN card. Thanks to modern child labor laws, they aren't likely to be put to work all that soon and in the mean time some illegal immigrant can be happily avoiding paying income tax on their tab.
When it comes to key pieces of identification, parents should be very careful about how they store them and whom they divulge this information to. Often times, institutions ask for very personal data just to provide quotations on things like RESPs. Also, many companies use web based forms to collect personal information. You can never be too safe and should always insist on providing only the minimum and not over the Internet.
Also, many companies like to collect details about their target markets. They will send out surveys asking how many children you have, and what their ages and genders are. Remember that you are not obligated to anybody to share this information and that every small bit of detail that you let slip about your family is like a piece of a puzzle floating around in cyberspace. It is easier than you may think to collect all the fragmented information you may have let slip and piece together a pretty accurate picture of your entire family.
Guard Access To Photos
One of the biggest gaps when it comes to protecting personal information is online photo and video sharing. This is especially true on sites like Facebook and YouTube. While it is natural to want to let the world see home movies and cute photos of your precious darlings, keep in mind that you are letting the whole world see home movies and cute photos of your precious darlings. Once something has been posted, online caching makes it virtually impossible to fully control who sees it even after you may decide to delete it.
Forget About Your Child's Right To Privacy
Many parents are overly concerned with ensuring that their kids feel like they are trusted and need to have some degree of privacy. When it comes to the Internet, this is a very wrong premise. The fact of the matter is that allowing your child to feel that nobody is watching what they do over their shoulder only lets them feel like they can do anything they want. As a result, the only person that will be giving your child their privacy is you. The rest of the world can see exactly what they are doing. How much sense does that make?
As parents, at some point we all need to pull back and let our kids make their own mistakes. However, the scale and magnitude of the mistakes that they can make by not doing enough to protect themselves online is not worth the learning experience. Some mistakes are too costly to be permitted and the steps taken to protect them are the same steps that would be taken for a person of any age.
There are two major areas of opportunity for the criminal mind when it comes to kids: First, although many kids have an online presence, they are unlikely to carry any significant debt or own any high ticket items. They are pretty much a clean slate and in many cases may not find out that their identity had been stolen until they try to apply for a student loan, get an apartment, or apply for a car loan. Since this could mean a gap of over ten or twenty years (yes, even babies can get their identity stolen), there is an awful lot of damage that can be inflicted before anybody is the wiser.
Second, since kids are often immature enough to fully appreciate the full implications of not adequately guarding their privacy, they are more likely to divulge too many personal details to unseen strangers. This makes them easy targets. There is far less work to be done in order to defraud them.
Its Never Too Early To Talk To Your Kids
Considering that even preschoolers and junior kindergartners are now going online, it is never too early to start the safe surfing discussion. If kids can learn the basics of not speaking with strangers, they can be taught the extended principle of not speaking with strangers online.
Many of their favorite television shows and channels have correlating websites. Each site asks for your child's name, age, address, and a slew of personal like and dislike questions. They track their online habits, and if you are lucky, all they do with that information is determine the best advertising, marketing and program structure to present to them. Remember that you are never obligated to provide accurate or true information and are free to enter pseudonyms and false details.
Watch Those Social Networks
Too many parents are a little too giving with the sharing of photos and details about their newborns on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Information gets around far faster and wider than many people may be aware. A newborn baby is an ideal target. It isn't all that difficult to intercept an envelope containing their social security number or SIN card. Thanks to modern child labor laws, they aren't likely to be put to work all that soon and in the mean time some illegal immigrant can be happily avoiding paying income tax on their tab.
When it comes to key pieces of identification, parents should be very careful about how they store them and whom they divulge this information to. Often times, institutions ask for very personal data just to provide quotations on things like RESPs. Also, many companies use web based forms to collect personal information. You can never be too safe and should always insist on providing only the minimum and not over the Internet.
Also, many companies like to collect details about their target markets. They will send out surveys asking how many children you have, and what their ages and genders are. Remember that you are not obligated to anybody to share this information and that every small bit of detail that you let slip about your family is like a piece of a puzzle floating around in cyberspace. It is easier than you may think to collect all the fragmented information you may have let slip and piece together a pretty accurate picture of your entire family.
Guard Access To Photos
One of the biggest gaps when it comes to protecting personal information is online photo and video sharing. This is especially true on sites like Facebook and YouTube. While it is natural to want to let the world see home movies and cute photos of your precious darlings, keep in mind that you are letting the whole world see home movies and cute photos of your precious darlings. Once something has been posted, online caching makes it virtually impossible to fully control who sees it even after you may decide to delete it.
Forget About Your Child's Right To Privacy
Many parents are overly concerned with ensuring that their kids feel like they are trusted and need to have some degree of privacy. When it comes to the Internet, this is a very wrong premise. The fact of the matter is that allowing your child to feel that nobody is watching what they do over their shoulder only lets them feel like they can do anything they want. As a result, the only person that will be giving your child their privacy is you. The rest of the world can see exactly what they are doing. How much sense does that make?
As parents, at some point we all need to pull back and let our kids make their own mistakes. However, the scale and magnitude of the mistakes that they can make by not doing enough to protect themselves online is not worth the learning experience. Some mistakes are too costly to be permitted and the steps taken to protect them are the same steps that would be taken for a person of any age.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
With so many social networking sites already on the Internet, why do we need twitter?
Twitter has cashed in on the essence what draws people to the internet. So few other networks have even begun to try to grasp what they have pretty much perfected. Twitter provides the ability to connect and share without getting sucked in. It acts as a peripheral, a side view.
You can pretty much keep doing anything from drive your car to take a shower and still keep on top of what is happening in the world and let the world know what you are up to. Because of the huge amount of traffic on the site, there is even a certain amount of anonymity to individual posts. Sure, people can opt to follow specific Tweeters but, they can also decide to block anybody they don't want reading their posts.
Technology, as a whole, has become all absorbing. All engulfing. It is all too easy to sit down for a few seconds to check email and end up spending far too long in front of the screen. Other tasks and obligations fall by the wayside as widgets and posts vie for our time. With Twitter, the information comes in bursts. Short, random bursts. It gives us back autonomy over our own lives.
Social networking sites work on the premise of creating networks of friends. With security and privacy on top of everybody's mind, the information shared is becoming ever more cloistered to the allowed few. How Twitter differs is it permits the thoughts to cross the shelter and safety of the friends people have made. It is, therefore, much better suited to spread messages to individuals and groups we hope to reach but, do not have access to.
There is a place for social networking, just as there is a place for websites and blogs. There is also a niche for Twitter. Perhaps the only drawback is its inability to stay on top of capacity demand. One year ago there was a post on their website:
"As reflected in the sidebar of this blog, we’re seeing a lot of over capacity errors and long load times. We’re working on this problem.
Update: We’re still investigating this issue. We are temporarily reducing the API rate limit to 20 requests per hour in order to help address the latency issues we’re seeing. "
So far, there is little competition but, with the introduction of Google Wave, Twitter better stay on the tip of its claws. Due to the open platform architecture and its open source approach, coupled with its heavy involvement with Cloud Computing, Google is well poised to address where Twitter falls apart. Then again, maybe Google will just buy Twitter and see what they can make of it. In case you haven't seen the rumors, this is not such a far fetched notion.
You can pretty much keep doing anything from drive your car to take a shower and still keep on top of what is happening in the world and let the world know what you are up to. Because of the huge amount of traffic on the site, there is even a certain amount of anonymity to individual posts. Sure, people can opt to follow specific Tweeters but, they can also decide to block anybody they don't want reading their posts.
Technology, as a whole, has become all absorbing. All engulfing. It is all too easy to sit down for a few seconds to check email and end up spending far too long in front of the screen. Other tasks and obligations fall by the wayside as widgets and posts vie for our time. With Twitter, the information comes in bursts. Short, random bursts. It gives us back autonomy over our own lives.
Social networking sites work on the premise of creating networks of friends. With security and privacy on top of everybody's mind, the information shared is becoming ever more cloistered to the allowed few. How Twitter differs is it permits the thoughts to cross the shelter and safety of the friends people have made. It is, therefore, much better suited to spread messages to individuals and groups we hope to reach but, do not have access to.
There is a place for social networking, just as there is a place for websites and blogs. There is also a niche for Twitter. Perhaps the only drawback is its inability to stay on top of capacity demand. One year ago there was a post on their website:
"As reflected in the sidebar of this blog, we’re seeing a lot of over capacity errors and long load times. We’re working on this problem.
Update: We’re still investigating this issue. We are temporarily reducing the API rate limit to 20 requests per hour in order to help address the latency issues we’re seeing. "
So far, there is little competition but, with the introduction of Google Wave, Twitter better stay on the tip of its claws. Due to the open platform architecture and its open source approach, coupled with its heavy involvement with Cloud Computing, Google is well poised to address where Twitter falls apart. Then again, maybe Google will just buy Twitter and see what they can make of it. In case you haven't seen the rumors, this is not such a far fetched notion.
How the SME can gain competitive advantage through technology
Imagine yourself in possession of a computing device that is powered by air and able to use elastics to provide real-time meaningful insight into every aspect of your business. What if this device could ensure that the products and services you deliver surpass those of your competition? How much is that worth?
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that over 98% of all businesses in America have receipts of under $5 million per year, with three quarters of those companies being self-employed individuals. According to Statistics Canada, 58% of employer firms are considered to be small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), with one to four employees. This means that a significant portion of the diverse and dynamic North American economy is comprised of companies with very limited resources.
Unless a company is able to boast an imbedded customer base, things like service, quality, and location are often overshadowed by the need to be price competitive. However, competing on price alone is not good for anybody. In lean times, these are the first companies to go under, dragging down the entire economy with them. In boom times, it stifles innovation and advancements. Still, while there are many ways for companies to differentiate themselves from their competition, they can only do what is within their means.
The idea that effective use of available and emerging technologies can turn the tables on their competition is a bit of a pie in the sky for most SMEs. Many regard tools like fully integrated equipment resource planning software (ERP), that can be accessed securely and remotely, to be unattainable and something that only large companies with deep pockets can do. Until recently, this was very true since it required access to round-the-clock, dedicated and often expensive expert skill sets, and costly computer hardware and software. This is no longer the case.
The concept of ERP has been around for over 40 years. It was initially developed to improve inventory control and management at manufacturing firms. As its popularity grew, so did its scope. About 20 years ago, other business sectors began to notice the benefits associated with implementing one of these systems. Companies from various industries started coming to the conclusion that a company would be most productive if it was able to achieve organizational efficiency. This could only be done by linking all of its internal business processes into a single interrelated and synchronized organism. The resulting connection between front and back office operations enabled companies to be more proactive, enabling them to better identify areas of concern and address them before they escalated.
Modern ERP systems incorporate best practices, typically from a company’s quality manual, with software and hardware to automate mission critical back office operations. The systems are made up of a series of modules which all feed information into a common relational database. Unique information, such as a product code or a client name is entered only once and then used by various departments. This way, any information related to that product or that customer is always easily located, up to date, and linked throughout the database to all modules that may be affected by it.
In addition to reducing the possibility of human error and redundant data entry, the system enables departments that previously tended to act as silos, such as Accounting, Human Resources, Operations, and Shipping, to adapt a more collaborative approach. Coordination of departmental priorities and their alignment with the organization as a whole enhances all aspects of key operations. It effectively forces everybody to speak the same language.
The reduction of redundant activities, enforcement of standardized methodologies and elimination of data silos improves not only the speed with which information is gathered but, also its quality and accuracy. Thus, strategic planning can be based much more on empirical data rather than the SWAG approach. The information output from an ERP takes the focus away from the onerous task of gathering and assessing outcomes and allows management to focus on quantifying goals and determining how to realize them.
Because an ERP is modular in nature, it is scaleable. This means that any company of any size can benefit from a system which summarizes all of its operational areas and allows them to have a real-time bird’s eye view of any one aspect, at any given time. Reporting generated through the system will easily identify and highlight any gaps that may have been easily otherwise overlooked.
The systems typically incorporate user-level security settings so that while every department is able to input information that other departments need to use, individual employees are only able to see what is within their scope of work. Most ERPs on the market include modules related to quality, sales, manufacturing, and supply chain management.
The Quality system contains any quality standards to which the company has committed itself as well as organizational charts and process flow charts. Sales modules typically include order entry, tracking and client details. The Manufacturing module contains things like scheduling, production job specifications, material requirements, inventory control and job tracking. Supply Chain Management will usually contain information related to not only tracking current orders but, also provide management with an opportunity to monitor supplier performance.
For the past three decades people viewed the Internet and the personal computer as two separate entities that sometimes needed to connect to each other. They knew exactly who owned what files and exactly where there were stored. Often, a company’s ability to provide certain products, services, or quality guarantees was hampered by their inability to afford the supporting software and training. The concept of Cloud Computing, formerly known as Web 2.0, is rapidly changing all that.
The forces behind the latest incarnation of the web are pushing the notion that end-users should embrace outsourcing all the complicated and costly aspects of getting it done and only focus on firmly identifying their requirements and deliverables. The technical stuff should be outsourced for minimal pay-per-use expense. By taking advantage of hosted and managed services organizations would be able to focus on what they know best and leave the rest to the experts.
The impact of this on the SME’s bottom line can be significant. If a company hires an IS/IT department, purchases software licenses, and installs hardware they have to deal with all the costs associated with financing, installation, training, management, service interruptions, malfunctions, and support. They will pay for these things when they will use them, and they will pay for them when they will not be using them. In addition to providing access to limitless resources, Cloud Computing acts as a virtual time-sharing program. During peak times clients are able to instantly access infinite computer and software resources. When the requirement is met, they are released back into the Cloud. It’s as simple as flicking a switch and takes place seamlessly and instantly.
The idea is not all that different from the model used by utility companies. For instance, when there is high demand on the electricity grid the utility company feeds more power into the grid. When demand is low they scale back the amount provided. If demand surpasses available supply they outsource what is needed.
Similarly, billing is based on consumption. Businesses pay for what they actually use, which is just a fraction of the overall capacity. Effectively, they are buying milk whenever they are thirsty instead of the whole cow, the farm it lives on, and all the farmhands that make sure it is properly taken care of. Amazon calls this concept the Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) where customers buy computer time so that they can load and run their own applications. Users are able to set up server instances in insulated zones to allow for backup and server redundancy, minimizing any downtime.
By taking advantage of the scalability offered by elastic networking, companies could stop worrying about losing market share because they were unable to keep up with the demand placed on their servers. Server crashes and lack of storage space have become non-issues because of the virtually unlimited ability to get more whenever it is necessary and not be burdened with anything that is not actively being utilized. For an SME, the ability to scale its technological requirements up or down, on demand, allows for cost allocation where it is needed most and a drastic reduction in overhead expenses.
In addition to hosting services such as the company website, and managed services such as email, on-the-cloud-computing allows companies to lease software instead of purchasing costly software licenses. This is known as software as a service (SaaS). Early adopters of SaaS were companies within industries for whom personal computing developments meant not just the decline of their industries but, a steady free-fall into the depths of oblivion. One such example is the professional photofinishing industry. Digital cameras and the ability to manipulate and cherry pick which images to print posed a serious risk to their business.
So, the industry migrated to the web, successfully convincing millions of people to let them handle all of the issues related to storing and managing their photo archives and providing software solutions that enabled users to customize their prints for optimal output on almost limitless media, from paper to blankets. The services were fully integrated with file uploading, storage, archival, retrieval, production, and distribution systems. The only thing the customer cared about was the ability to get a 12 or 18-month calendar customized with their family’s most favorite moments and special dates, delivered either to any store of their choosing or right to their home.
There are two types of SaaS and both have to do with who manages the end-user’s data. Social networking sites upload members’ information and store it in the Clouds to populate SaaS applications. For an SME, relinquishing control of their company’s proprietary information can be a deal breaker. This is where the Clouds start to float on AIR. Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) is a cross-platform runtime environment for building rich Internet applications. In plain English this translates to not having to purchase and install software. Instead, it is possible to lease the software on a pay-per-use basis. The software resides on a Cloud server while the data remains with the end-user.
Large Fortune 500 companies routinely utilize ERP software as a significant competitive advantage over the little guys. A robust ERP application is the most effective way for an enterprise to grasp its total cost of ownership (TCO) by delivering a 360-degree view of all of its attributes including its customers, products, and operations. This information fosters the right environment for effective strategic planning and development activities. It promotes best practice implementation for management and quality processes. The net results are lowered costs that can be passed along to the customer, and an improved ability to deliver superior service and quality.
The use of on-the-cloud tools levels the playing field by substantially reducing capital expenditures while providing a gateway to leading-edge technology. A SaaS ERP application offers even the smallest of SMEs the ability to offer their clients the exact same deliverables as their largest competitor. Since no two companies are exactly the same, the Cloud enables SMEs to multiply their ability to identify not only a strong competitive advantage but, also a sustainable one.
The list of organizations championing Cloud technology is impressive. Some interested parties include: Cisco, Intel, Thomson Reuters, orange, Sun Microsystems, enomaly, Adaptivity, Appistry, SOASTA Testing in the Cloud, Zero Nines, CloudCamp, SIMtone Corporation, IBM, RSA, Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft. With so much invested in its success the biggest question is: “Who Owns Cloud Computing?” The answer is that nobody knows. It isn’t even certain who owns an end user’s meta-data. The technology is so exciting and emerging at such a rapid pace that the logistics have yet to be ironed out. What is certain is that this is the single most significant technological advancement since the advent of the Internet and is not going to go away.
The Cloud Computing Interoperability Forum is hoping to ensure that the communication between interested parties is open and that all are working toward a common goal. According to their disclaimer, it “is a group of industry stakeholders that are active in cloud computing. The groups’ goal is to define an organization that would enable interoperable enterprise-class cloud computing platforms through application integration and stakeholder cooperation.” Setting and implementing compliance standards will be a large task with a long road ahead of it.
The other major stumbling block is concerns over security. Even after the issue will be addressed it will still be a fantastic chore to convince the average SME stakeholder that risks involved are being adequately mitigated. Many are still holding on to physical filing cabinets because they are weary of the rapid and volatile nature of software development and the related backward compatibility issues. The smaller the enterprise, the more it is averse to risk. Asking them to surrender their critical data to a consortium of unknown providers in the sky may be a bit of a tough sell.
The most interesting factor is that the choice may not be up to the user. In one way or another anybody who is using the Internet is already taking advantage of somebody else’s decision to utilize hosted and managed services. If you access the Internet for email, banking, education or library resources, use an online service for photo developing, shop, view streamed episodes of your favorite shows, and any number of other things you have already taken advantage of Cloud computing in some way.
Smart mobile devices such as the iPhone, Blackberry, or a connected GPS are all examples of popularly adopted computing hardware that work with Cloud Computing to deliver their cornucopia of digital delights. Using smart mobile devices loaded with a SaaS ERP application can provide an organization with anywhere, anytime access to any data that has been defined by the user as critical.
For an SME, where just about everybody wears many hats, the right tools can make all the difference. The ability to be notified and respond in a timely manner to urgent developments enable the provision of the highest quality of service and response to customer requirements, ensuring elevated customer satisfaction and service levels that significantly exceed those of their competitors.
Sources:
http://www.sme-fdi.gc.ca/eic/site/sme_fdi-prf_pme.nsf/eng/00647.html
http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/smallbus.html
http://www.business-software.com/top-10-erp-software-vendors-confirmation.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=6PNuQHUiV3Q#t=20
http://www.cloudcamp.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/cloudforum
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that over 98% of all businesses in America have receipts of under $5 million per year, with three quarters of those companies being self-employed individuals. According to Statistics Canada, 58% of employer firms are considered to be small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), with one to four employees. This means that a significant portion of the diverse and dynamic North American economy is comprised of companies with very limited resources.
Unless a company is able to boast an imbedded customer base, things like service, quality, and location are often overshadowed by the need to be price competitive. However, competing on price alone is not good for anybody. In lean times, these are the first companies to go under, dragging down the entire economy with them. In boom times, it stifles innovation and advancements. Still, while there are many ways for companies to differentiate themselves from their competition, they can only do what is within their means.
The idea that effective use of available and emerging technologies can turn the tables on their competition is a bit of a pie in the sky for most SMEs. Many regard tools like fully integrated equipment resource planning software (ERP), that can be accessed securely and remotely, to be unattainable and something that only large companies with deep pockets can do. Until recently, this was very true since it required access to round-the-clock, dedicated and often expensive expert skill sets, and costly computer hardware and software. This is no longer the case.
The concept of ERP has been around for over 40 years. It was initially developed to improve inventory control and management at manufacturing firms. As its popularity grew, so did its scope. About 20 years ago, other business sectors began to notice the benefits associated with implementing one of these systems. Companies from various industries started coming to the conclusion that a company would be most productive if it was able to achieve organizational efficiency. This could only be done by linking all of its internal business processes into a single interrelated and synchronized organism. The resulting connection between front and back office operations enabled companies to be more proactive, enabling them to better identify areas of concern and address them before they escalated.
Modern ERP systems incorporate best practices, typically from a company’s quality manual, with software and hardware to automate mission critical back office operations. The systems are made up of a series of modules which all feed information into a common relational database. Unique information, such as a product code or a client name is entered only once and then used by various departments. This way, any information related to that product or that customer is always easily located, up to date, and linked throughout the database to all modules that may be affected by it.
In addition to reducing the possibility of human error and redundant data entry, the system enables departments that previously tended to act as silos, such as Accounting, Human Resources, Operations, and Shipping, to adapt a more collaborative approach. Coordination of departmental priorities and their alignment with the organization as a whole enhances all aspects of key operations. It effectively forces everybody to speak the same language.
The reduction of redundant activities, enforcement of standardized methodologies and elimination of data silos improves not only the speed with which information is gathered but, also its quality and accuracy. Thus, strategic planning can be based much more on empirical data rather than the SWAG approach. The information output from an ERP takes the focus away from the onerous task of gathering and assessing outcomes and allows management to focus on quantifying goals and determining how to realize them.
Because an ERP is modular in nature, it is scaleable. This means that any company of any size can benefit from a system which summarizes all of its operational areas and allows them to have a real-time bird’s eye view of any one aspect, at any given time. Reporting generated through the system will easily identify and highlight any gaps that may have been easily otherwise overlooked.
The systems typically incorporate user-level security settings so that while every department is able to input information that other departments need to use, individual employees are only able to see what is within their scope of work. Most ERPs on the market include modules related to quality, sales, manufacturing, and supply chain management.
The Quality system contains any quality standards to which the company has committed itself as well as organizational charts and process flow charts. Sales modules typically include order entry, tracking and client details. The Manufacturing module contains things like scheduling, production job specifications, material requirements, inventory control and job tracking. Supply Chain Management will usually contain information related to not only tracking current orders but, also provide management with an opportunity to monitor supplier performance.
For the past three decades people viewed the Internet and the personal computer as two separate entities that sometimes needed to connect to each other. They knew exactly who owned what files and exactly where there were stored. Often, a company’s ability to provide certain products, services, or quality guarantees was hampered by their inability to afford the supporting software and training. The concept of Cloud Computing, formerly known as Web 2.0, is rapidly changing all that.
The forces behind the latest incarnation of the web are pushing the notion that end-users should embrace outsourcing all the complicated and costly aspects of getting it done and only focus on firmly identifying their requirements and deliverables. The technical stuff should be outsourced for minimal pay-per-use expense. By taking advantage of hosted and managed services organizations would be able to focus on what they know best and leave the rest to the experts.
The impact of this on the SME’s bottom line can be significant. If a company hires an IS/IT department, purchases software licenses, and installs hardware they have to deal with all the costs associated with financing, installation, training, management, service interruptions, malfunctions, and support. They will pay for these things when they will use them, and they will pay for them when they will not be using them. In addition to providing access to limitless resources, Cloud Computing acts as a virtual time-sharing program. During peak times clients are able to instantly access infinite computer and software resources. When the requirement is met, they are released back into the Cloud. It’s as simple as flicking a switch and takes place seamlessly and instantly.
The idea is not all that different from the model used by utility companies. For instance, when there is high demand on the electricity grid the utility company feeds more power into the grid. When demand is low they scale back the amount provided. If demand surpasses available supply they outsource what is needed.
Similarly, billing is based on consumption. Businesses pay for what they actually use, which is just a fraction of the overall capacity. Effectively, they are buying milk whenever they are thirsty instead of the whole cow, the farm it lives on, and all the farmhands that make sure it is properly taken care of. Amazon calls this concept the Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) where customers buy computer time so that they can load and run their own applications. Users are able to set up server instances in insulated zones to allow for backup and server redundancy, minimizing any downtime.
By taking advantage of the scalability offered by elastic networking, companies could stop worrying about losing market share because they were unable to keep up with the demand placed on their servers. Server crashes and lack of storage space have become non-issues because of the virtually unlimited ability to get more whenever it is necessary and not be burdened with anything that is not actively being utilized. For an SME, the ability to scale its technological requirements up or down, on demand, allows for cost allocation where it is needed most and a drastic reduction in overhead expenses.
In addition to hosting services such as the company website, and managed services such as email, on-the-cloud-computing allows companies to lease software instead of purchasing costly software licenses. This is known as software as a service (SaaS). Early adopters of SaaS were companies within industries for whom personal computing developments meant not just the decline of their industries but, a steady free-fall into the depths of oblivion. One such example is the professional photofinishing industry. Digital cameras and the ability to manipulate and cherry pick which images to print posed a serious risk to their business.
So, the industry migrated to the web, successfully convincing millions of people to let them handle all of the issues related to storing and managing their photo archives and providing software solutions that enabled users to customize their prints for optimal output on almost limitless media, from paper to blankets. The services were fully integrated with file uploading, storage, archival, retrieval, production, and distribution systems. The only thing the customer cared about was the ability to get a 12 or 18-month calendar customized with their family’s most favorite moments and special dates, delivered either to any store of their choosing or right to their home.
There are two types of SaaS and both have to do with who manages the end-user’s data. Social networking sites upload members’ information and store it in the Clouds to populate SaaS applications. For an SME, relinquishing control of their company’s proprietary information can be a deal breaker. This is where the Clouds start to float on AIR. Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) is a cross-platform runtime environment for building rich Internet applications. In plain English this translates to not having to purchase and install software. Instead, it is possible to lease the software on a pay-per-use basis. The software resides on a Cloud server while the data remains with the end-user.
Large Fortune 500 companies routinely utilize ERP software as a significant competitive advantage over the little guys. A robust ERP application is the most effective way for an enterprise to grasp its total cost of ownership (TCO) by delivering a 360-degree view of all of its attributes including its customers, products, and operations. This information fosters the right environment for effective strategic planning and development activities. It promotes best practice implementation for management and quality processes. The net results are lowered costs that can be passed along to the customer, and an improved ability to deliver superior service and quality.
The use of on-the-cloud tools levels the playing field by substantially reducing capital expenditures while providing a gateway to leading-edge technology. A SaaS ERP application offers even the smallest of SMEs the ability to offer their clients the exact same deliverables as their largest competitor. Since no two companies are exactly the same, the Cloud enables SMEs to multiply their ability to identify not only a strong competitive advantage but, also a sustainable one.
The list of organizations championing Cloud technology is impressive. Some interested parties include: Cisco, Intel, Thomson Reuters, orange, Sun Microsystems, enomaly, Adaptivity, Appistry, SOASTA Testing in the Cloud, Zero Nines, CloudCamp, SIMtone Corporation, IBM, RSA, Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft. With so much invested in its success the biggest question is: “Who Owns Cloud Computing?” The answer is that nobody knows. It isn’t even certain who owns an end user’s meta-data. The technology is so exciting and emerging at such a rapid pace that the logistics have yet to be ironed out. What is certain is that this is the single most significant technological advancement since the advent of the Internet and is not going to go away.
The Cloud Computing Interoperability Forum is hoping to ensure that the communication between interested parties is open and that all are working toward a common goal. According to their disclaimer, it “is a group of industry stakeholders that are active in cloud computing. The groups’ goal is to define an organization that would enable interoperable enterprise-class cloud computing platforms through application integration and stakeholder cooperation.” Setting and implementing compliance standards will be a large task with a long road ahead of it.
The other major stumbling block is concerns over security. Even after the issue will be addressed it will still be a fantastic chore to convince the average SME stakeholder that risks involved are being adequately mitigated. Many are still holding on to physical filing cabinets because they are weary of the rapid and volatile nature of software development and the related backward compatibility issues. The smaller the enterprise, the more it is averse to risk. Asking them to surrender their critical data to a consortium of unknown providers in the sky may be a bit of a tough sell.
The most interesting factor is that the choice may not be up to the user. In one way or another anybody who is using the Internet is already taking advantage of somebody else’s decision to utilize hosted and managed services. If you access the Internet for email, banking, education or library resources, use an online service for photo developing, shop, view streamed episodes of your favorite shows, and any number of other things you have already taken advantage of Cloud computing in some way.
Smart mobile devices such as the iPhone, Blackberry, or a connected GPS are all examples of popularly adopted computing hardware that work with Cloud Computing to deliver their cornucopia of digital delights. Using smart mobile devices loaded with a SaaS ERP application can provide an organization with anywhere, anytime access to any data that has been defined by the user as critical.
For an SME, where just about everybody wears many hats, the right tools can make all the difference. The ability to be notified and respond in a timely manner to urgent developments enable the provision of the highest quality of service and response to customer requirements, ensuring elevated customer satisfaction and service levels that significantly exceed those of their competitors.
Sources:
http://www.sme-fdi.gc.ca/eic/site/sme_fdi-prf_pme.nsf/eng/00647.html
http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/smallbus.html
http://www.business-software.com/top-10-erp-software-vendors-confirmation.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=6PNuQHUiV3Q#t=20
http://www.cloudcamp.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/cloudforum
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Balloon Boys and Silver UFOs
Let's face it. Falcon Heene's little slip up about dear mommy and daddy telling him to stay hidden while the entire continent was having a collective heart attack looking for him was a cry for help. Pure and simple.
Children, despite their parents, often have an innate self preservation mechanism. Perhaps after all this stuff that their parents have allowed them to experience this was the straw that broke him down. Perhaps, even at six years old little Falcon must have realize that maybe his parents needed somebody to reign them in.
Children need structure and discipline. They need stability. They need to be taught that there are limits and which lines not to cross. They need to know what would happen if the wrong buttons are pushed, too hard.
Falcon had a long time to sit up in the attic of his folks' garage and think. But, perhaps it didn't come from the front of his mind. Most likely it was something within him that snapped. At six, he should have known better and realized how serious this was.
Well, even if he didn't know it. It doesn't matter. The point is that this was a serious prank. In these tough economic times it was a huge waste of tax payers' money. These people still think they are playing in a sandbox and somebody will come and sweep up when they are done. Well, the clean-up crew has arrived and it probably isn't exactly what the Heene's had banked on.
Children, despite their parents, often have an innate self preservation mechanism. Perhaps after all this stuff that their parents have allowed them to experience this was the straw that broke him down. Perhaps, even at six years old little Falcon must have realize that maybe his parents needed somebody to reign them in.
Children need structure and discipline. They need stability. They need to be taught that there are limits and which lines not to cross. They need to know what would happen if the wrong buttons are pushed, too hard.
Falcon had a long time to sit up in the attic of his folks' garage and think. But, perhaps it didn't come from the front of his mind. Most likely it was something within him that snapped. At six, he should have known better and realized how serious this was.
Well, even if he didn't know it. It doesn't matter. The point is that this was a serious prank. In these tough economic times it was a huge waste of tax payers' money. These people still think they are playing in a sandbox and somebody will come and sweep up when they are done. Well, the clean-up crew has arrived and it probably isn't exactly what the Heene's had banked on.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Stephen Harper - The Pheonix Has Risen
The really scary part about Michael Ignatieff is that he doesn't get the difference between stuff that looks good on paper and real life. Now that the economy is on the mend it looks like most Canadians have come to their senses and see the danger posed by having an academic for a Prime Minister.
The latest polls show that he stands to do worse than Stephan Dion. Just goes to show you that idealism is still better than a lack of street smarts.
What most people have stopped talking about is that Canada was not in as bad shape as many other countries that succumbed to the global economic crisis. There were many measures put in place to ensure that this was the case. Really, Harper didn't have to do anything but wait, and he might have if he'd had a majority.
For the most part, this was a good thing. That's the beauty of living in a multi-party democracy. Every once in a while Harper's right wing notions do have to be reigned in. For a while there, he was running scared. He prostituted himself at every turn. At one point he even tried to talk to Layton.
But, his crimes of treason against his own ideals are nothing compared to Jack and Bob. Thank goodness that Bob Rae didn't get the chance to do to the country what he did to Ontario and God help us if Layton ever actually figured out just how much greed kills and learned to reign himself in. He got so close to power last December that he could taste the blood on his lips. It is no secret that he was the one pulling the strings of the Coalition.
Layton's rise to power was truly impressive. His biggest personal problem is that he started off truly believing that he could do some good and then realized that he'd love to be the top dog in Parliament. It isn't even clear just how much he still believes in his party's position. The more he loses focus, the louder he bangs the NDP drum. You know what they say about absolute power.
The most frightening, and as seen in recent history, not unrealistic potential is that Layton will try to walk across the floor and take over from Ignatieff. There is no honor in politics and no matter what he has said in the past he might just do it. If that were to happen, there are not too many people that would be strong enough to beat him out. Not bad for an ex-Ryerson professor.
Well, he hasn't properly set the ground work just yet. If he tried to do it before the next election he'd basically spell the end of his own carrier. He would need time to prepare to transpose his credibility to a more tempered approach. He has gone too far down the the Union path to be able to survive and elastic lurch toward the center.
In the mean time Harper is finally within site of a majority. Under his leadership Canada did not come anywhere close to the devastation experienced in the United States. So, the proof is in the pudding. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he can do justice to a Beetles classic.
The past year must have taught Harper quite a bit. He has come a long way from sending his son off to school with a firm handshake. His calm nature and do-what-it-takes-to-ride-out-the-storm approach has worked and now the country is ready for the very thing that just a week or two ago he was the first to say was against popular inclination.
The latest polls show that he stands to do worse than Stephan Dion. Just goes to show you that idealism is still better than a lack of street smarts.
What most people have stopped talking about is that Canada was not in as bad shape as many other countries that succumbed to the global economic crisis. There were many measures put in place to ensure that this was the case. Really, Harper didn't have to do anything but wait, and he might have if he'd had a majority.
For the most part, this was a good thing. That's the beauty of living in a multi-party democracy. Every once in a while Harper's right wing notions do have to be reigned in. For a while there, he was running scared. He prostituted himself at every turn. At one point he even tried to talk to Layton.
But, his crimes of treason against his own ideals are nothing compared to Jack and Bob. Thank goodness that Bob Rae didn't get the chance to do to the country what he did to Ontario and God help us if Layton ever actually figured out just how much greed kills and learned to reign himself in. He got so close to power last December that he could taste the blood on his lips. It is no secret that he was the one pulling the strings of the Coalition.
Layton's rise to power was truly impressive. His biggest personal problem is that he started off truly believing that he could do some good and then realized that he'd love to be the top dog in Parliament. It isn't even clear just how much he still believes in his party's position. The more he loses focus, the louder he bangs the NDP drum. You know what they say about absolute power.
The most frightening, and as seen in recent history, not unrealistic potential is that Layton will try to walk across the floor and take over from Ignatieff. There is no honor in politics and no matter what he has said in the past he might just do it. If that were to happen, there are not too many people that would be strong enough to beat him out. Not bad for an ex-Ryerson professor.
Well, he hasn't properly set the ground work just yet. If he tried to do it before the next election he'd basically spell the end of his own carrier. He would need time to prepare to transpose his credibility to a more tempered approach. He has gone too far down the the Union path to be able to survive and elastic lurch toward the center.
In the mean time Harper is finally within site of a majority. Under his leadership Canada did not come anywhere close to the devastation experienced in the United States. So, the proof is in the pudding. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he can do justice to a Beetles classic.
The past year must have taught Harper quite a bit. He has come a long way from sending his son off to school with a firm handshake. His calm nature and do-what-it-takes-to-ride-out-the-storm approach has worked and now the country is ready for the very thing that just a week or two ago he was the first to say was against popular inclination.
Should drug companies be allowed to advertise?
How wonderful it would be to go to a doctor and feel that they take the Hippocratic Oath seriously. That they're first priority is the health of their patients. That they have no allegiances to drug companies. How idyllic it would be to think that the prescriptions they write are for drugs that are most suitable to the condition rather than a SWAG as to the chances that it is likely to do the trick.
Drug companies are businesses such as any other and some very beneficial drugs would never be made available to the people that would benefit from them most if they were to be unable to advertise. However, the medium and means by which drugs are advertised should really be debated. Further, whom is it appropriate to advertise to?
Since when are patients knowledgeable enough about drugs to be hassling their doctors to prescribe specific drugs? Many doctors face extreme pressure at the hands of overly zealous early adopters and feel unable to deny their pleadings for drugs which many not be all that beneficial.
The other areas of concern revolve around product samples provided to doctor's offices, as well as commission payments offered to doctors for their products' prescriptions. In effect, rather than trying to focus on the business of healing, or at least doing no harm, doctors are trying to meet sales quotas.
The natural greed and competitive nature of individuals who obviously had to be good enough to get into and succeed at medical school must be tempered. How can we trust that the drugs being prescribed are best able to address our needs and that they will not contradict with anything else being taken if the doctor is more concerned with his personal payoff rather than the contents of the medical chart they are holding?
So, should drug companies be banned from advertising their products? No. It is a necessary evil. Should it be banned from the public? Maybe. The trouble is that most people do not do enough due diligence. They trust the opinion of experts just a little bit too much. They rely on advertising as being truthful. Not enough people are willing to actually research and seek second and third opinions. When it comes to serious illness, the right drugs can make the difference between the ability to recover and the inability to do so.
At the end of the day, a company cannot be limited in its ability to attempt to attain profitability, providing that it has met requirements set out by government and other regulatory bodies. The onus must be on the patient to not take their doctor's words as gospel. It is possible that their opinion is not entirely driven by altruism and that they overlooked some key element in your care.
Drug companies are businesses such as any other and some very beneficial drugs would never be made available to the people that would benefit from them most if they were to be unable to advertise. However, the medium and means by which drugs are advertised should really be debated. Further, whom is it appropriate to advertise to?
Since when are patients knowledgeable enough about drugs to be hassling their doctors to prescribe specific drugs? Many doctors face extreme pressure at the hands of overly zealous early adopters and feel unable to deny their pleadings for drugs which many not be all that beneficial.
The other areas of concern revolve around product samples provided to doctor's offices, as well as commission payments offered to doctors for their products' prescriptions. In effect, rather than trying to focus on the business of healing, or at least doing no harm, doctors are trying to meet sales quotas.
The natural greed and competitive nature of individuals who obviously had to be good enough to get into and succeed at medical school must be tempered. How can we trust that the drugs being prescribed are best able to address our needs and that they will not contradict with anything else being taken if the doctor is more concerned with his personal payoff rather than the contents of the medical chart they are holding?
So, should drug companies be banned from advertising their products? No. It is a necessary evil. Should it be banned from the public? Maybe. The trouble is that most people do not do enough due diligence. They trust the opinion of experts just a little bit too much. They rely on advertising as being truthful. Not enough people are willing to actually research and seek second and third opinions. When it comes to serious illness, the right drugs can make the difference between the ability to recover and the inability to do so.
At the end of the day, a company cannot be limited in its ability to attempt to attain profitability, providing that it has met requirements set out by government and other regulatory bodies. The onus must be on the patient to not take their doctor's words as gospel. It is possible that their opinion is not entirely driven by altruism and that they overlooked some key element in your care.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Something Smells in Colorado
This afternoon my face flushed as I drove to pick up my child from school. The thought of a six year old boy potentially plummeting from a wildly out of control quickly rising balloon made my blood run cold. Well, the best of all possible outcomes was exactly how it all ended.
The thing is, Mr. Heene dost protest too much. He appeared deeply outrage at being accused of orchestrating the entire incident for some sort of publicity. Well, what would you expect him to say? Yup, it's been a while since anybody paid any attention to us and check out this cool floating shroom I just built.
Evidence of this guys excellent parenting skills is all over the internet. It didn't take long to come up with some golden nuggets. All they said this afternoon is that Mr. Heene has a passion for chasing weather. Perhaps he's more of a glory hound than a storm chaser.
I have often wondered what sort of people would actually agree to doing the "Wife Swap" experiment. It's an interesting notion but, what sort of people would be that open to not only letting the world watch the inner workings of their particular brand of dysfunction but, also encourage their spouse to live with somebody else.
These are not exactly the type of people that sit down and fully think things through. For them consequences are defined by regrets of things undone. Nothing seems to be off-limits.
Well, fortunately for all the people who's hearts collectively stopped this afternoon, I don't believe that this incident will just blow over. There are guidelines and regulations that he would have been bound by so an investigation will follow.
Richard, if you read this, I really am glad that Falcon was found safe and sound. But, it's really tough to believe the story about him hiding in a box in the attic for such a long time considering that from what I can see on the Web he doesn't strike me as the type to run and hide just because you yelled at him.
The thing is, Mr. Heene dost protest too much. He appeared deeply outrage at being accused of orchestrating the entire incident for some sort of publicity. Well, what would you expect him to say? Yup, it's been a while since anybody paid any attention to us and check out this cool floating shroom I just built.
Evidence of this guys excellent parenting skills is all over the internet. It didn't take long to come up with some golden nuggets. All they said this afternoon is that Mr. Heene has a passion for chasing weather. Perhaps he's more of a glory hound than a storm chaser.
I have often wondered what sort of people would actually agree to doing the "Wife Swap" experiment. It's an interesting notion but, what sort of people would be that open to not only letting the world watch the inner workings of their particular brand of dysfunction but, also encourage their spouse to live with somebody else.
These are not exactly the type of people that sit down and fully think things through. For them consequences are defined by regrets of things undone. Nothing seems to be off-limits.
Well, fortunately for all the people who's hearts collectively stopped this afternoon, I don't believe that this incident will just blow over. There are guidelines and regulations that he would have been bound by so an investigation will follow.
Richard, if you read this, I really am glad that Falcon was found safe and sound. But, it's really tough to believe the story about him hiding in a box in the attic for such a long time considering that from what I can see on the Web he doesn't strike me as the type to run and hide just because you yelled at him.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Some guy on a farm
I sit here and type
Hope to be read
Say something at night
While the kids are in bed
Some guy on a farm
Plowing his field
Sits on a tractor
PDA in hand
He's taking a break
From a hard morning's work
Checks the latest blurbs
From blogs around the world
That's where he finds me
Reads my two cents
Thank you dear farmer
For reading my work
If you have a comment
Let it be heard
Hope to be read
Say something at night
While the kids are in bed
Some guy on a farm
Plowing his field
Sits on a tractor
PDA in hand
He's taking a break
From a hard morning's work
Checks the latest blurbs
From blogs around the world
That's where he finds me
Reads my two cents
Thank you dear farmer
For reading my work
If you have a comment
Let it be heard
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
How to protect against online identity theft
The Internet is a wonderful thing. At the touch of a button you can find anything you need to know or buy. You can communicate with just about anybody. It keeps people in touch and saves oodles of time. You don't have to stand in line at the bank or go to the library to find out if the book you want is available. In fact, you don't have to go to the library, at all. You don't even have to fly over to Siberia to talk to your cousin. You can just Skype them. But, now we know that the price for all this convenience is a risk of identity theft.
Although surfing on-line may seem innocent enough, there are tools and applications that allow just about anybody to know a little too much about you, based on a site might have visited even by accident. You might have read a cool blog entry and moved on but, the owner of that blog is now able to see the roof of your house by using something like StatCounter. With ever emerging technology, it's only a hop skip and a jump until they can link that information to a picture of your face and your favorite flavor of ice cream, and this is before we even start thinking about phishing and on-line hackers.
Fortunately, there are some things that can be done to protect ourselves from identity theft. Luckily, they are not difficult or expensive. Well, unless you don't do them. Then, they become very expensive.
Choose Passwords Wisely
If you have done any amount of surfing on-line you will know that just about everybody wants you to create a login and password, even if you only ever plan on visiting the site once and don't need to buy anything. Many people enter something memorable for themselves. This makes it pretty easy to crack. A much better option is selecting a random phrase and throwing in a number or two to make it interesting. It will make it next to impossible to guess.
Protect Passwords
It doesn't matter who is asking, don't share passwords. Identity theft is accomplished by stringing together clues related to who you and your electronic footprint. If they watch your activities long enough they can find the right gap to step through. All it takes is one vendor that is not diligent enough at verifying consumer identity and then go from there.
If you did find yourself in an unavoidable situation and had to provide somebody with your password, be sure to change it at the first opportunity. Also, avoid using the same password multiple times. This adds a layer of complexity for them to muddle through. Even if they access one site they will not be able to access anything else. It is also highly recommended to modify passwords every few months.
Get Rid of Baggage
Sites love to leave cookies on your computer. Tracking cookies do just that. They track your activity and send the information back whomever is monitoring it. Depending on which browser you are using there are slightly different ways to clear browser history, or cache. Figure out how to do it, and get in the habit of doing it after every session. That way even if somebody is tracking your activities, you are limiting how much information they are able to get. However, cleaning the history through the browser will only do so much. There will still be some residual data and any email traffic will not have been affected. To clean up loose ends a software like Privacy Control by Pareto Logic is a good bet.
Protect Against Spyware
There is a difference between viruses and spyware. Spyware is not necessarily bad but, it does spy on you. Viruses actually do something harmful. Having an anti-virus software is not enough. If you notice your computer start dragging after visiting a particular site run a spyware scan. You will likely discover a file or two that needs to be removed. The key to remember is that spyware is developed by programmers and programmers are fallible and not all knowing. In other words, it is a good idea to run more than one just to make that in case the first scan missed something the backup one will catch the threat.
Encrypt Your Keystrokes
Perhaps the biggest gap when it comes to identity theft is that the hackers don't have to rely on guessing passwords. Instead, they are perfectly happy to sit back and remotely capture all your keystrokes. There will not be one single thing that can be typed without them figuring out exactly which keys were pressed and in which sequence.
Most malware, or harmful software, evolves faster than antivirus software is able to keep up with. "A recent report from the organization for economic co-operation and development (OECD) claims that 59 million (one in four) personal computers in the US are already infected with malware. According to this report, malware has evolved from occasional 'exploits' to global multi-million-dollar criminal industry." [1]
The best way to deal with this is to encrypt anything and everything you type in such a way that even if the keystrokes are captured it would be impossible to decrypt because the code would be partially stored locally and partially elsewhere. Many financial institutions have partnered with a company called Trusteer who provide a software solution called Raport. The beauty of Raport is that once installed on your machine it allows you to select particular websites to protect. As with anything, Rapport does not support every browser but, they are looking to expand to include others.
Credit Reports
At the end of the day, the best way to ensure that your identity has not been stolen is to request annual credit reports. These are mandated to be free by the government because nobody should have to pay to see their own information. In the U.S. this can be done through http://www.ftc.gov/freereports. In Canada, there are three companies who collect credit information (Equifax Canada, Trans Union Canada and Experian Canada)[3]. It is important to contact all three because where one can show nothing the other will not be so clean. If all depends on whom a company may have contacted.
Staying on top of not only who may be able to see your private information, as well as ensuring that your identity is still safely yours, can be time consuming and cumbersome. But, it is nothing compared to what is involved in clearing your good name. Taking the proper preventative measures can make surfing a much better and safer experience.
Although surfing on-line may seem innocent enough, there are tools and applications that allow just about anybody to know a little too much about you, based on a site might have visited even by accident. You might have read a cool blog entry and moved on but, the owner of that blog is now able to see the roof of your house by using something like StatCounter. With ever emerging technology, it's only a hop skip and a jump until they can link that information to a picture of your face and your favorite flavor of ice cream, and this is before we even start thinking about phishing and on-line hackers.
Fortunately, there are some things that can be done to protect ourselves from identity theft. Luckily, they are not difficult or expensive. Well, unless you don't do them. Then, they become very expensive.
Choose Passwords Wisely
If you have done any amount of surfing on-line you will know that just about everybody wants you to create a login and password, even if you only ever plan on visiting the site once and don't need to buy anything. Many people enter something memorable for themselves. This makes it pretty easy to crack. A much better option is selecting a random phrase and throwing in a number or two to make it interesting. It will make it next to impossible to guess.
Protect Passwords
It doesn't matter who is asking, don't share passwords. Identity theft is accomplished by stringing together clues related to who you and your electronic footprint. If they watch your activities long enough they can find the right gap to step through. All it takes is one vendor that is not diligent enough at verifying consumer identity and then go from there.
If you did find yourself in an unavoidable situation and had to provide somebody with your password, be sure to change it at the first opportunity. Also, avoid using the same password multiple times. This adds a layer of complexity for them to muddle through. Even if they access one site they will not be able to access anything else. It is also highly recommended to modify passwords every few months.
Get Rid of Baggage
Sites love to leave cookies on your computer. Tracking cookies do just that. They track your activity and send the information back whomever is monitoring it. Depending on which browser you are using there are slightly different ways to clear browser history, or cache. Figure out how to do it, and get in the habit of doing it after every session. That way even if somebody is tracking your activities, you are limiting how much information they are able to get. However, cleaning the history through the browser will only do so much. There will still be some residual data and any email traffic will not have been affected. To clean up loose ends a software like Privacy Control by Pareto Logic is a good bet.
Protect Against Spyware
There is a difference between viruses and spyware. Spyware is not necessarily bad but, it does spy on you. Viruses actually do something harmful. Having an anti-virus software is not enough. If you notice your computer start dragging after visiting a particular site run a spyware scan. You will likely discover a file or two that needs to be removed. The key to remember is that spyware is developed by programmers and programmers are fallible and not all knowing. In other words, it is a good idea to run more than one just to make that in case the first scan missed something the backup one will catch the threat.
Encrypt Your Keystrokes
Perhaps the biggest gap when it comes to identity theft is that the hackers don't have to rely on guessing passwords. Instead, they are perfectly happy to sit back and remotely capture all your keystrokes. There will not be one single thing that can be typed without them figuring out exactly which keys were pressed and in which sequence.
Most malware, or harmful software, evolves faster than antivirus software is able to keep up with. "A recent report from the organization for economic co-operation and development (OECD) claims that 59 million (one in four) personal computers in the US are already infected with malware. According to this report, malware has evolved from occasional 'exploits' to global multi-million-dollar criminal industry." [1]
The best way to deal with this is to encrypt anything and everything you type in such a way that even if the keystrokes are captured it would be impossible to decrypt because the code would be partially stored locally and partially elsewhere. Many financial institutions have partnered with a company called Trusteer who provide a software solution called Raport. The beauty of Raport is that once installed on your machine it allows you to select particular websites to protect. As with anything, Rapport does not support every browser but, they are looking to expand to include others.
Credit Reports
At the end of the day, the best way to ensure that your identity has not been stolen is to request annual credit reports. These are mandated to be free by the government because nobody should have to pay to see their own information. In the U.S. this can be done through http://www.ftc.gov/freereports. In Canada, there are three companies who collect credit information (Equifax Canada, Trans Union Canada and Experian Canada)[3]. It is important to contact all three because where one can show nothing the other will not be so clean. If all depends on whom a company may have contacted.
Staying on top of not only who may be able to see your private information, as well as ensuring that your identity is still safely yours, can be time consuming and cumbersome. But, it is nothing compared to what is involved in clearing your good name. Taking the proper preventative measures can make surfing a much better and safer experience.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Too scared to let turkeys roam outside
Well, score one more point toward idiotic bureaucracy and over-the-top paranoia. H1N1, formerly known as swine flu is nothing to sneeze about. Sure, you'll find nurses and doctors all over the place trying to assure their patients that the media is creating a mountain out of a mole hill but, the reality is that it is scary.
Still, very few people function well in panic mode and that is what we have here. Full blown panic mode. To be a little more clear on the topic it's panic mode coupled with greed and the fear of not being able to put a turkey on the table for next Thanksgiving. In response to fear of domestic stock being adversely affected by avian flu, "The Turkey Farmers of Ontario – an industry marketing board of 192 Ontario producers who control nearly half of Canada’s annual quota production – introduced a rule last year that forces all quota holders to confine turkeys indoors, under a solid roof." [1]
The crazy thing is that in order to keep these turkey's from getting sick through the means used to prevent them from getting sick (yes, I get dizzy reading that, too) the farmers are forced to feed them all sorts of drugs. It is quickly becoming a little known fact that any living creature is stronger when it is permitted to go outside and get proper exercise. By confining them indoors, they are actually making the birds sick. To offset this, they are shooting them up with antibiotics, which assists the proliferation of drug resistant organisms.
In a nut shell, the more people attempt to control nature, the more we all stand to lose. But, as chair of the board, Ingrid DeVisser, said: "We are doing what we can to protect the industry."[2] Who cares how this will affect humanity as a whole?
You don't have to eat turkey to be affected by it. You just have to live on the same planet as a large group of people that will continue to buy and consume meat infused with antibiotics and growth hormones. Nobody knows why so many people are dying of cancer and early onset of puberty is become so prevalent. But, boy do we all love our turkeys.
As put so eloquently in the Toronto Star, next year it will be easier to purchase crack cocaine on the street than to buy an organic bird. The only way to fight this madness is to make a statement comprised of dollars and cents. If the driving force is to protect their industry, perhaps human revolt against being drugged into drug resistance would be enough of a threat for them to back down from this lunacy.
The trouble is that most people are just too short sighted to see the forest through the trees. For too many people this is not a fight worth waging, and that's too bad. For all of us.
Still, very few people function well in panic mode and that is what we have here. Full blown panic mode. To be a little more clear on the topic it's panic mode coupled with greed and the fear of not being able to put a turkey on the table for next Thanksgiving. In response to fear of domestic stock being adversely affected by avian flu, "The Turkey Farmers of Ontario – an industry marketing board of 192 Ontario producers who control nearly half of Canada’s annual quota production – introduced a rule last year that forces all quota holders to confine turkeys indoors, under a solid roof." [1]
The crazy thing is that in order to keep these turkey's from getting sick through the means used to prevent them from getting sick (yes, I get dizzy reading that, too) the farmers are forced to feed them all sorts of drugs. It is quickly becoming a little known fact that any living creature is stronger when it is permitted to go outside and get proper exercise. By confining them indoors, they are actually making the birds sick. To offset this, they are shooting them up with antibiotics, which assists the proliferation of drug resistant organisms.
In a nut shell, the more people attempt to control nature, the more we all stand to lose. But, as chair of the board, Ingrid DeVisser, said: "We are doing what we can to protect the industry."[2] Who cares how this will affect humanity as a whole?
You don't have to eat turkey to be affected by it. You just have to live on the same planet as a large group of people that will continue to buy and consume meat infused with antibiotics and growth hormones. Nobody knows why so many people are dying of cancer and early onset of puberty is become so prevalent. But, boy do we all love our turkeys.
As put so eloquently in the Toronto Star, next year it will be easier to purchase crack cocaine on the street than to buy an organic bird. The only way to fight this madness is to make a statement comprised of dollars and cents. If the driving force is to protect their industry, perhaps human revolt against being drugged into drug resistance would be enough of a threat for them to back down from this lunacy.
The trouble is that most people are just too short sighted to see the forest through the trees. For too many people this is not a fight worth waging, and that's too bad. For all of us.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
American Standards, Trade Protectionism
Anybody who has had a baby in Canada in the past couple of years, has been given the drill about making sure they only use brand you infant carrier car seats that have been manufactured in Canada. Even if the exact same seat was available in the States, Canadians could only get the ones with the Canadian maple leaf sticker on them.
At the time, expecting parents were told that the Canadian standards are different from the States and the only way to ensure safety was to obey the law. Well, how the tables have turned. Now the Canadian government has finally admitted that the U.S. standard is more stringent and have said that they will be adopting the new standard here.
At the time, expecting parents were told that the Canadian standards are different from the States and the only way to ensure safety was to obey the law. Well, how the tables have turned. Now the Canadian government has finally admitted that the U.S. standard is more stringent and have said that they will be adopting the new standard here.
Cyberpunk: How Technology Drives Humanism
There are some people that are able to see the future. They are not wizards or oracles. They just have great insight into human nature. William Gibson is one of these people. When the Internet was even younger than it is today he foresaw the dangers of becoming too dependent on technology. He foretold both the appeal and the dangers. Over the next thirty years we have come closer and closer to the world he created. Gibson was a pioneer in his view that while machines see things in binary, on and off, black and white, good and evil, right and wrong, the rules by which they do this were created by humans.... humans who despite their best intentions always have an agenda that isn't always in everybody else's favor.
Through cyberpunk we were able to see a window into the future where people and machines merged into single beings, inseparable yet constantly at odds with each other. On the one hand, a tool, on the other having a growing consciousness and desire to exist in its own right. Separate and apart from its human creators.
At its core, the cyberpunk genre was all about the unavoidable need to point the finger at the duality of the human consciousness. It argues that it is foolhardy to ignore that the very humans who are fallible, each having the capacity for both good and evil, are attempting to create "perfect machines". So, the flawed are attempting to create the Gods that will rule us all.
Artificial intelligence (AI) introduces the concept that for the benefit of mankind machines should be given a certain level of autonomy to make common sense decisions. Decisions, in the framework of a computer are necessarily based on a code of yes and no. Yet, who is to define those systems of judgement? The very same creators of the machines. Are these technical wizards then so all knowing and all powerful that their own sense of right and wrong is perfectly balanced and completely neutral?
Back then, when Gibson first introduced Neuromancer, people laughed. Many thought it was pure fiction and fantasy. The workings of a paranoid and overactive imagination. Yet, today nano technology is very real. It is able to detect and destroy cancer cells without harming good cells. Robotic arms are able to repair space ships and perform virtual surgery. Microchips are implanted in pets and prisoners to track their whereabouts. Although, there is much good that can be realized through technology, there is also cyber stalking and identity theft.
Consider that although much of the civilized world understands the risks involved with human cloning and development of nuclear weapons, others are moving full steam ahead. There is little most of us can do to guard against the evil of others. There is virtually nothing that can be done to prevent those people from becoming computer literate enough to pose a serious threat to our way of life.
The advent of Cloud Computing, with its rapid development and many issues around metadata ownership and security, has made Cyberpunk literature all the more relevant. Its exploration of the duality of human consciousness should be mandatory reading not only at the university but, also the high school level. Its lessons should be discussed at legislative assemblies when developing policies for dealing with emerging technologies. Let us return our attention to just how far we are willing to let technology control our lives. Let us once again ask the question about who is really making the decisions that affect us all.
Through cyberpunk we were able to see a window into the future where people and machines merged into single beings, inseparable yet constantly at odds with each other. On the one hand, a tool, on the other having a growing consciousness and desire to exist in its own right. Separate and apart from its human creators.
At its core, the cyberpunk genre was all about the unavoidable need to point the finger at the duality of the human consciousness. It argues that it is foolhardy to ignore that the very humans who are fallible, each having the capacity for both good and evil, are attempting to create "perfect machines". So, the flawed are attempting to create the Gods that will rule us all.
Artificial intelligence (AI) introduces the concept that for the benefit of mankind machines should be given a certain level of autonomy to make common sense decisions. Decisions, in the framework of a computer are necessarily based on a code of yes and no. Yet, who is to define those systems of judgement? The very same creators of the machines. Are these technical wizards then so all knowing and all powerful that their own sense of right and wrong is perfectly balanced and completely neutral?
Back then, when Gibson first introduced Neuromancer, people laughed. Many thought it was pure fiction and fantasy. The workings of a paranoid and overactive imagination. Yet, today nano technology is very real. It is able to detect and destroy cancer cells without harming good cells. Robotic arms are able to repair space ships and perform virtual surgery. Microchips are implanted in pets and prisoners to track their whereabouts. Although, there is much good that can be realized through technology, there is also cyber stalking and identity theft.
Consider that although much of the civilized world understands the risks involved with human cloning and development of nuclear weapons, others are moving full steam ahead. There is little most of us can do to guard against the evil of others. There is virtually nothing that can be done to prevent those people from becoming computer literate enough to pose a serious threat to our way of life.
The advent of Cloud Computing, with its rapid development and many issues around metadata ownership and security, has made Cyberpunk literature all the more relevant. Its exploration of the duality of human consciousness should be mandatory reading not only at the university but, also the high school level. Its lessons should be discussed at legislative assemblies when developing policies for dealing with emerging technologies. Let us return our attention to just how far we are willing to let technology control our lives. Let us once again ask the question about who is really making the decisions that affect us all.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Technology is making us lazy
Technology has the capacity to automate redundant tasks and provide endless hours of entertainment. It negates the need to leave the home, the room, the chair we sit in. Well, let's face it: Unless it's a really comfy chair it's probably a sofa.
Back in the summer of 2003 the entire Eastern sea board went without electricity. People panicked! They had no idea how to exist without something that powered so many of the things now considered essential. Some, did the truly unusual: They gathered everything that could go bad in their fridge and that of their neighbors, went outside, fired up the barbecue, hibachi, and the crank radio and had a picnic. When the power came back on, they rushed back inside and went back to surfing the net and watching TV.
Certainly, there are many perks and positives to having such an unprecedented array of tools that are so readily available for relatively little expense. They are used to save lives, bring clean water to places that have none, allow people to have a voice where they are being suppressed and denied basic human rights. Technology is clearly a great thing.
Nobody is saying that we are now lazy because we do not have to go out to the well for fresh water each day, or stand in line at the market early each morning because there is no such thing as a refrigerator. We can warm up food in seconds using microwaves and stand in the middle of a forest and call for help on a PDA. We can call the police from half a world away because somebody we don't even know is crying out for help in a chat room. Sure, there are benefits.
But, let's be realistic. Most people do not simply use technology for essential needs. They have turned it into life sustaining tools and avoid tasks and chores by flicking a switch or pressing a button. Society has become helpless when unplugged. We used to have to get up and go to the library to research projects for school. Now, libraries are depleted of truly useful volumes. Even librarians point to the web as the place to go instead of aisle EE 647 - 749. Anybody who has ever tried to find information online should be able to attest to how easy it is to get distracted and find far more and far less than what was aimed at. While we are on the topic, the quality of information put out there is not the same. Much of it is unreliable and unverified. Anybody can publish anything and we are all too busy multitasking to dig deep enough to get true insight.
Technology is making us lazy. Flat out. There is no denying it. We cannot ignore the trend toward mediocrity. Too many people are now satisfied with status quo and no longer strive for excellence. There is more value placed on quantity rather than quality. It is a sad state of events and is the reason why bridges fall down and planes fall out of the sky. It is the reason why carbon offset credits are considered an effective way to save the planet. Technology is making us lazy.
Back in the summer of 2003 the entire Eastern sea board went without electricity. People panicked! They had no idea how to exist without something that powered so many of the things now considered essential. Some, did the truly unusual: They gathered everything that could go bad in their fridge and that of their neighbors, went outside, fired up the barbecue, hibachi, and the crank radio and had a picnic. When the power came back on, they rushed back inside and went back to surfing the net and watching TV.
Certainly, there are many perks and positives to having such an unprecedented array of tools that are so readily available for relatively little expense. They are used to save lives, bring clean water to places that have none, allow people to have a voice where they are being suppressed and denied basic human rights. Technology is clearly a great thing.
Nobody is saying that we are now lazy because we do not have to go out to the well for fresh water each day, or stand in line at the market early each morning because there is no such thing as a refrigerator. We can warm up food in seconds using microwaves and stand in the middle of a forest and call for help on a PDA. We can call the police from half a world away because somebody we don't even know is crying out for help in a chat room. Sure, there are benefits.
But, let's be realistic. Most people do not simply use technology for essential needs. They have turned it into life sustaining tools and avoid tasks and chores by flicking a switch or pressing a button. Society has become helpless when unplugged. We used to have to get up and go to the library to research projects for school. Now, libraries are depleted of truly useful volumes. Even librarians point to the web as the place to go instead of aisle EE 647 - 749. Anybody who has ever tried to find information online should be able to attest to how easy it is to get distracted and find far more and far less than what was aimed at. While we are on the topic, the quality of information put out there is not the same. Much of it is unreliable and unverified. Anybody can publish anything and we are all too busy multitasking to dig deep enough to get true insight.
Technology is making us lazy. Flat out. There is no denying it. We cannot ignore the trend toward mediocrity. Too many people are now satisfied with status quo and no longer strive for excellence. There is more value placed on quantity rather than quality. It is a sad state of events and is the reason why bridges fall down and planes fall out of the sky. It is the reason why carbon offset credits are considered an effective way to save the planet. Technology is making us lazy.
Can eBay overtake Craigslist and dominate the free classified ad market?
The Internet was initially created as a cross-platform, free knowledge-sharing tool. It's development was intended to be collaborative and a for the people, by the people type of thing. That changed because big business got involved and saw potential to convert what was free into what costs money. Craigslist was born out of a backlash against this approach to the World Wide Web. For this reason alone, eBay will not succeed.
Put simply, eBay preceded Craigslist. It was all the rage until people realized that it didn't have to be so complicated to connect with people who live near enough to come by and pick up your stuff from you. Craig always cared far less if there is money to be made, and far more about creating local networks to bring humanity back to the web.
Where eBay is a bit of a dehumanizing experience requiring almost a college degree to make the most of it, Craigslist is nothing more than a tool that is more immediate and less costly than placing an ad in the local paper. In order for eBay to truly compete they would have to get rid of a large portion of their overhead and completely rework their entire foundation. The two forums are built based on opposing ideologies and the only way that they might go head to head is in the arena of marketing.
In fact, the two sit on opposite sides of the Internet. It is a bit like comparing the far Right to the far Left. Both are 'isms but, and ultimately both get the job done. But, depending on where you sit on the issue one tool may be more suitable than the other. There are definite benefits associated with eBay. It is not a giant for nothing. But, any attempt they may make to take over Craigslist would be for one reason and one reason only: to shut it down.
The biggest threat to eBay is their eroding customer base. But, it is unlikely that people with stop using eBay. Instead, there will likely form a division of classes. Probably people wanting to reach a wider audience or sell more premium or rare goods will remain on eBay. In truth, eBay has much larger fish to fry. There are a number of copycat services out there such as bing.com, and even things like priceline.com.
There are some very good reasons for why eBay should be paying more attention to online auction sites serving commercial clients instead of worrying about public garage sale sites like Craigslist: There are already a large amount of businesses selling their goods through eBay. For some, this is like an extension of their online store while others use it as a way to get rid of overstock. But, more importantly, the value of the goods is larger and being new, attract more visitors. This alone is worth billions in online ad revenue.
Put simply, eBay preceded Craigslist. It was all the rage until people realized that it didn't have to be so complicated to connect with people who live near enough to come by and pick up your stuff from you. Craig always cared far less if there is money to be made, and far more about creating local networks to bring humanity back to the web.
Where eBay is a bit of a dehumanizing experience requiring almost a college degree to make the most of it, Craigslist is nothing more than a tool that is more immediate and less costly than placing an ad in the local paper. In order for eBay to truly compete they would have to get rid of a large portion of their overhead and completely rework their entire foundation. The two forums are built based on opposing ideologies and the only way that they might go head to head is in the arena of marketing.
In fact, the two sit on opposite sides of the Internet. It is a bit like comparing the far Right to the far Left. Both are 'isms but, and ultimately both get the job done. But, depending on where you sit on the issue one tool may be more suitable than the other. There are definite benefits associated with eBay. It is not a giant for nothing. But, any attempt they may make to take over Craigslist would be for one reason and one reason only: to shut it down.
The biggest threat to eBay is their eroding customer base. But, it is unlikely that people with stop using eBay. Instead, there will likely form a division of classes. Probably people wanting to reach a wider audience or sell more premium or rare goods will remain on eBay. In truth, eBay has much larger fish to fry. There are a number of copycat services out there such as bing.com, and even things like priceline.com.
There are some very good reasons for why eBay should be paying more attention to online auction sites serving commercial clients instead of worrying about public garage sale sites like Craigslist: There are already a large amount of businesses selling their goods through eBay. For some, this is like an extension of their online store while others use it as a way to get rid of overstock. But, more importantly, the value of the goods is larger and being new, attract more visitors. This alone is worth billions in online ad revenue.
Think Twice About What You Give Your Kids
The next time you take your kids for ice cream, or contemplate which offering to pick from the grocery store freezer, consider not only the joy on their face. Think, too, about what exactly they are eating.
It may taste yummy but, are all those toxins and chemicals really worth it? While homemade ice cream is a different story, even premium store brands contain a shocking disregard for the health and well being of the children that will be eating them.
Part of the problem is the need to keep production costs down. Let's face it, quality and healthy eating are a lot more expensive than what is actually being sold. Perhaps the justification is that ice cream is so high in fat and sugar, anyway, that people are already being remiss by allowing their kids to eat it, so all gloves are off.
Aside from the obviously questionable choices such as rum raisin and amaretto triple fudge, let's take a look at bubble gum, cotton candy, and that oldie-but-goody, cookie dough. There are also some fairly new choices such as Superkid, which basically looks like what happens when you take red, blue, yellow, and purple Play Dough and smooth it together, as well as all the cornucopia of candy bar inspired offerings. We can be sure that the old adage about the less ingredients, the healthier it is, is blown way out of the water on any of those options.
Aside from the preservatives, the artificial colors used should give any parent pause. Pay particular attention to the "may contain" line at the end of the long list of undecipherable contents. Sure, there are the obligatory may contain peanuts, milk, egg, but, there are bigger culprits such as tartrazine.
There is a disturbing trend in the overwhelming use of soy and lecithin. Although soy is touted as healthy, it has some serious impacts on hormone development, by simulating the effects of estrogen. There is some buzz about early onset of puberty in today's kids. So, aside from rotting their teeth and their tummies on questionable ingredients, frozen treats should be evaluated for their part in why girls are growing breasts and getting periods earlier than what is considered normal. For the very same reason, boys are not as susceptible. In fact, they are likely to experience delayed puberty. Well, since people expect boys to be less mature than girls nobody has started paying too much attention yet.
It may taste yummy but, are all those toxins and chemicals really worth it? While homemade ice cream is a different story, even premium store brands contain a shocking disregard for the health and well being of the children that will be eating them.
Part of the problem is the need to keep production costs down. Let's face it, quality and healthy eating are a lot more expensive than what is actually being sold. Perhaps the justification is that ice cream is so high in fat and sugar, anyway, that people are already being remiss by allowing their kids to eat it, so all gloves are off.
Aside from the obviously questionable choices such as rum raisin and amaretto triple fudge, let's take a look at bubble gum, cotton candy, and that oldie-but-goody, cookie dough. There are also some fairly new choices such as Superkid, which basically looks like what happens when you take red, blue, yellow, and purple Play Dough and smooth it together, as well as all the cornucopia of candy bar inspired offerings. We can be sure that the old adage about the less ingredients, the healthier it is, is blown way out of the water on any of those options.
Aside from the preservatives, the artificial colors used should give any parent pause. Pay particular attention to the "may contain" line at the end of the long list of undecipherable contents. Sure, there are the obligatory may contain peanuts, milk, egg, but, there are bigger culprits such as tartrazine.
There is a disturbing trend in the overwhelming use of soy and lecithin. Although soy is touted as healthy, it has some serious impacts on hormone development, by simulating the effects of estrogen. There is some buzz about early onset of puberty in today's kids. So, aside from rotting their teeth and their tummies on questionable ingredients, frozen treats should be evaluated for their part in why girls are growing breasts and getting periods earlier than what is considered normal. For the very same reason, boys are not as susceptible. In fact, they are likely to experience delayed puberty. Well, since people expect boys to be less mature than girls nobody has started paying too much attention yet.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
TMZ - You're so much better than that!
This just in: While out with her daughter Lily in L.A. this weekend, Kate Beckinsale dangled her dog more than two feet off the ground from its leash.
Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2009/10/05/kate-beckinsale-hangs-with-her-dog?icid=sphere_tmzcom_inline#ixzz0TB658oNv
Are you kidding me?!?!?!? What is the big deal? That's how bitches carry around their pups anyway. The dog didn't look all that uncomfortable, either. It's in a harness for God's sake! I guess this is what a slow news day at TMZ looks like.
Come on, boys and girls you can do better than that! I think you're just looking for excuses to feature Kate because she's hot and you're tired of talking about the Kardashian clan. Not only is Kate smoking sexy wearing even in a potato sack, it's kind of hard to dig stuff up on her because she's actually a fairly normal person and has a, yes, I'll say it again, sexy accent. What is not to like about Kate?
So, get off her back and leave room for her creep show of a hubby. That guy, you should go after on all fours! Not only does he grab her ass but gives a big grin for the camera.... because, you know he's just saying "guess what I go home to tonight!" Lenny boy, you're a geek.
TMZ, you put yourselves out there as the respectable paparazzi, sitting in an ivory tower and passing judgment on the rest of the bottom feeders. Yet, here you go with some really dumb story. Even Pamela Anderson would have a hard time following this line of thought.
Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2009/10/05/kate-beckinsale-hangs-with-her-dog?icid=sphere_tmzcom_inline#ixzz0TB658oNv
Are you kidding me?!?!?!? What is the big deal? That's how bitches carry around their pups anyway. The dog didn't look all that uncomfortable, either. It's in a harness for God's sake! I guess this is what a slow news day at TMZ looks like.
Come on, boys and girls you can do better than that! I think you're just looking for excuses to feature Kate because she's hot and you're tired of talking about the Kardashian clan. Not only is Kate smoking sexy wearing even in a potato sack, it's kind of hard to dig stuff up on her because she's actually a fairly normal person and has a, yes, I'll say it again, sexy accent. What is not to like about Kate?
So, get off her back and leave room for her creep show of a hubby. That guy, you should go after on all fours! Not only does he grab her ass but gives a big grin for the camera.... because, you know he's just saying "guess what I go home to tonight!" Lenny boy, you're a geek.
TMZ, you put yourselves out there as the respectable paparazzi, sitting in an ivory tower and passing judgment on the rest of the bottom feeders. Yet, here you go with some really dumb story. Even Pamela Anderson would have a hard time following this line of thought.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Ruby Dhalla - How The Mighty Can Fall
This is a story of a little girl who had a dream and reached great heights because she looked good and spoke well enough. So, she got hand picked. Now, she's getting hand pecked.
Poor Ruby, she's really had a string of bad luck in recent years. First she was the crowning jewel in the Liberal crown. Now, they are looking for opportunities to disown her. To be fair, she's not helping her own cause.
So, here's another conspiracy theory: Dhalla is a lot less interested in getting re-elected and a lot more interested in leaving a legacy. She genuinely wants to give back to the community that has done so much to support her. She wants to be remembered for doing something for the people and really doesn't care about any political fall-out.
Poor Ruby, she's really had a string of bad luck in recent years. First she was the crowning jewel in the Liberal crown. Now, they are looking for opportunities to disown her. To be fair, she's not helping her own cause.
So, here's another conspiracy theory: Dhalla is a lot less interested in getting re-elected and a lot more interested in leaving a legacy. She genuinely wants to give back to the community that has done so much to support her. She wants to be remembered for doing something for the people and really doesn't care about any political fall-out.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Stephen Harper - Just Getting By
Stephen Harper was exactly what Canada needed. He came in as a firm hand. He had a no nonsense, no tolerance approach to dealing with dissension. In a country where the liberal view has gotten so out of hand that we no longer have any means for controlling our own children, who know their rights just a little too well, this has been a tough pill long in coming.
Still, Harper has yet to realize a majority government and the events of recent years have forced him to prostitute himself just to hang on to power. He has gone from a firm believer in his ideals to somebody that just likes being called Mr. Prime Minister.
This election will be his last one. His party has been flirting with the idea for a while now, taking advantage of the fact that nobody really wants to waste any more time and money on one. When it does happen, as eventually it will, even if the Conservatives manage to win against Ignatiev, Harper will have to resign. His own party has started to show cracks in the smooth exterior of the party line.
Now, Stephen is starting to sing sad songs about getting by with a little help from his friends. I'll tell you one thing. Even half dead, the Beetles will still have an easier time of getting by than what Stephen is going to face in the next federal election.
Well, at least nobody can call Mr. Harper boring. Not anymore. Not with his beautiful rendition of what is likely to become his swan song.
Still, Harper has yet to realize a majority government and the events of recent years have forced him to prostitute himself just to hang on to power. He has gone from a firm believer in his ideals to somebody that just likes being called Mr. Prime Minister.
This election will be his last one. His party has been flirting with the idea for a while now, taking advantage of the fact that nobody really wants to waste any more time and money on one. When it does happen, as eventually it will, even if the Conservatives manage to win against Ignatiev, Harper will have to resign. His own party has started to show cracks in the smooth exterior of the party line.
Now, Stephen is starting to sing sad songs about getting by with a little help from his friends. I'll tell you one thing. Even half dead, the Beetles will still have an easier time of getting by than what Stephen is going to face in the next federal election.
Well, at least nobody can call Mr. Harper boring. Not anymore. Not with his beautiful rendition of what is likely to become his swan song.
Alternative treatments for polycystic ovarian disease (PCOS)
The idea that when something doesn't feel right a doctor should be able to diagnose and recommend appropriate treatment is somewhat of a Utopian notion. In reality, patients are often either given the trendy diagnosis or treated as guinea pigs. The guinea pig option is risky yet, preferable, especially when it comes to dealing with fertility issues.
PCOS: The Pet Diagnosis
With infertility on the rise, polycystic ovarian disease (PCOS) has become the pet diagnosis of choice for many doctors. It is virtually impossible to prove or disprove since symptoms can vary greatly from patient to patient and some women are said to not exhibit any symptoms at all. If a woman complains about anything from acne, a lack of menstrual periods, a lack of ovulation, abnormal bleeding patterns, endometrial hyperplasia, cancer, excess hair growth, insulin resistance (problems with blood sugar regulation), very light menstrual cycles, male-pattern hair loss and fat deposition, weight gain, or infertility, they are pretty much automatically diagnosed with PCOS, without any further testing or analysis.
Medical Treatments
Since PCOS has no cure, it serves as an ideal excuse to dismiss difficult to pinpoint fertility issues. Being linked to hormonal imbalance, PCOS medical treatments typically include birth control pills to help manage the disease. Although this may address some of the symptoms it will do nothing to help couples desparately trying to get pregnant.
According to the Connecticut Center for Health, other medical treatments include: Antiandrogens (spironolactone, flutamine, cyproterone), Metformin (Glucophage) to regulate blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity, other medications may be used such as GnRH agonists and induction of ovulation, and surgical treatment including ovarian wedge resection, ovarian laser ablation, or ovarian electrocautery.
Alternative Treatments
Ironically enough, the so-called "alternative" treatments for PCOS include exercise and diet. So, patients that are experiencing issues related to their body acting wonky are advised to make a more concerted effort to treat themselves better. By becoming more active and paying attention to the foods that work well for them, regardless of how they affect their sister, mother, or best friend can be effective treatments for alleviating issues related to poor menstrual cycles, weight gain, and even fertility.
For instance, a woman may find that while eating cheese and yogurt has no adverse effect, drinking milk causes bloating and water retention issues. Conversely, drinking soy milk may help regulate cycles and improve regularity. Learning which foods can impact hormonal activity is an essential first step in learning how to manage PCOS symptoms.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Where Western medicine deals with symptoms, the traditional Chinese and homeopathic approach is to attempt to identify the causes. The Chinese believe that to deal with PCOS it is important to treat deficiencies or excesses in the kidney, liver, and spleen. According to The Accupuncture and Chinese Medicine Clinic of Vancouver, "the most common manifestation of PCOS is dampness and/or phlegm in the body." Typical treatments include weekly acupuncture sessions and concentrated powdered extracts of Chinese herbs.
Again, diet plays a vital role in the recommended treatment. The clinic's website offers a widely and globally accepted list of dos and don'ts:
* Cut out all forms of refined sugar
* Cut out all forms of refined carbohydrates. The body immediately turns these into sugar. This includes white bread, pasta, potatoes, white rice, most breakfast cereals, rice cakes, popcorn, or any starchy, low fiber food.
* Do not adhere to the fertility diets that advocate massive yam consumption. This can actually delay or prevent ovulation if you have PCOS.
* Avoid soda, fruit juice, and any drink which rapidly raises the blood sugar level.
* Consume adequate amounts of protein, either in vegetarian form or in the form of lean meat which has not been treated hormonally.
* Eat as many fresh vegetables as you wish.
* Eat only complex, whole grains.
* Eat fruits like berries which are not too sweet.
* Avoid milk and dairy products which tend to exacerbate the condition of internal dampness.
* Limit alcohol and caffeine.
* Increase your dietary fiber intake.
* Exercise.
PCOS: The Pet Diagnosis
With infertility on the rise, polycystic ovarian disease (PCOS) has become the pet diagnosis of choice for many doctors. It is virtually impossible to prove or disprove since symptoms can vary greatly from patient to patient and some women are said to not exhibit any symptoms at all. If a woman complains about anything from acne, a lack of menstrual periods, a lack of ovulation, abnormal bleeding patterns, endometrial hyperplasia, cancer, excess hair growth, insulin resistance (problems with blood sugar regulation), very light menstrual cycles, male-pattern hair loss and fat deposition, weight gain, or infertility, they are pretty much automatically diagnosed with PCOS, without any further testing or analysis.
Medical Treatments
Since PCOS has no cure, it serves as an ideal excuse to dismiss difficult to pinpoint fertility issues. Being linked to hormonal imbalance, PCOS medical treatments typically include birth control pills to help manage the disease. Although this may address some of the symptoms it will do nothing to help couples desparately trying to get pregnant.
According to the Connecticut Center for Health, other medical treatments include: Antiandrogens (spironolactone, flutamine, cyproterone), Metformin (Glucophage) to regulate blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity, other medications may be used such as GnRH agonists and induction of ovulation, and surgical treatment including ovarian wedge resection, ovarian laser ablation, or ovarian electrocautery.
Alternative Treatments
Ironically enough, the so-called "alternative" treatments for PCOS include exercise and diet. So, patients that are experiencing issues related to their body acting wonky are advised to make a more concerted effort to treat themselves better. By becoming more active and paying attention to the foods that work well for them, regardless of how they affect their sister, mother, or best friend can be effective treatments for alleviating issues related to poor menstrual cycles, weight gain, and even fertility.
For instance, a woman may find that while eating cheese and yogurt has no adverse effect, drinking milk causes bloating and water retention issues. Conversely, drinking soy milk may help regulate cycles and improve regularity. Learning which foods can impact hormonal activity is an essential first step in learning how to manage PCOS symptoms.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Where Western medicine deals with symptoms, the traditional Chinese and homeopathic approach is to attempt to identify the causes. The Chinese believe that to deal with PCOS it is important to treat deficiencies or excesses in the kidney, liver, and spleen. According to The Accupuncture and Chinese Medicine Clinic of Vancouver, "the most common manifestation of PCOS is dampness and/or phlegm in the body." Typical treatments include weekly acupuncture sessions and concentrated powdered extracts of Chinese herbs.
Again, diet plays a vital role in the recommended treatment. The clinic's website offers a widely and globally accepted list of dos and don'ts:
* Cut out all forms of refined sugar
* Cut out all forms of refined carbohydrates. The body immediately turns these into sugar. This includes white bread, pasta, potatoes, white rice, most breakfast cereals, rice cakes, popcorn, or any starchy, low fiber food.
* Do not adhere to the fertility diets that advocate massive yam consumption. This can actually delay or prevent ovulation if you have PCOS.
* Avoid soda, fruit juice, and any drink which rapidly raises the blood sugar level.
* Consume adequate amounts of protein, either in vegetarian form or in the form of lean meat which has not been treated hormonally.
* Eat as many fresh vegetables as you wish.
* Eat only complex, whole grains.
* Eat fruits like berries which are not too sweet.
* Avoid milk and dairy products which tend to exacerbate the condition of internal dampness.
* Limit alcohol and caffeine.
* Increase your dietary fiber intake.
* Exercise.
Jon Gosslin Finally Getting Things Right
There are a lot of things not to like about Jon Gosslin. He may love his kids but, he's always had a lot of growing up to do. Let's face it. The guy is pretty much a frat boy forced into major domestic life.
That's what made TLC's smash hit "Jon And Kate Plus 8" so entertaining. A guy that is completely not prepared for the demands of fatherhood meshed with a wife that expects him to pull his weight.
Kate, on the other hand, sold out her family for the sake of putting bread on the table. Well, there are worse things she could have done. Let's face it: One kid is expensive. Trying to manage with eight kids takes more than a village, especially when you want to raise them in a huge house, on a huge property, and with no other means to support them.
The thing is, that despite the circumstances you can't help but wander at the effect growing up under such a microscope will have on the kids. This is like taking the idea of the child star to even newer heights... well, depths actually. The only chance these kids will have to really see what life is all about is to go through the unfortunate circumstances they are faced with now.
To date, despite growing up on camera they have been living in a bubble. They have been given absolutely everything and more. They are surrounded by body guards and lots of people making sure nothing happens to them.
With all the negativity surrounding Jon, I feel compelled to put it out there that his actions are perfectly understandable. Despite everything he is just a regular guy that got in way over his head. He tried to tough it out but, what normal person wants to live this way? That's one thing nobody can really argue: He's just a normal guy. America is filled with carbon copies of him.
According to an Associated Press report, "It appears that Jon's priority is Jon and his interests," his estranged wife, Kate Gosselin, said in a statement on Thursday. "My priority remains our children and their well being." In her eyes, this is probably true. After all, she now has to actually work for a living instead of whatever it is that she calls what she's been doing. It's tough to feel sorry for somebody who has been able to reap this much benefit from overly successful fertility treatments.
According to the report: Kate Gosselin said, "I'm saddened and confused by Jon's public media statements. Jon has never expressed any concerns to me about our children being involved in the show and, in fact, is on the record as saying he believes the show benefits our children and was taping on Friday with the kids."
On Monday, TLC announced that the weekly series would be renamed "Kate Plus Eight," with a reduced involvement by Jon Gosselin, who remains under "an exclusive contract" with TLC." Well, whatever his reasons, the filming of the children has been shut down due to a cease-and-desist order from their father, Jon Gosselin.
From what we know of Jon, this is a guy who reacts. He's not all that proactive. So, maybe there were mitigating circumstances that forced his hand but, in the end good parenting seems to be returning to the Gosselin home. Slowly. Perhaps both Jon and Kate should take a step back and realize that TLC was great for getting them through a rough patch. But, now they are both well known and can try to earn a living off something other than the exploitation of their children.
That's what made TLC's smash hit "Jon And Kate Plus 8" so entertaining. A guy that is completely not prepared for the demands of fatherhood meshed with a wife that expects him to pull his weight.
Kate, on the other hand, sold out her family for the sake of putting bread on the table. Well, there are worse things she could have done. Let's face it: One kid is expensive. Trying to manage with eight kids takes more than a village, especially when you want to raise them in a huge house, on a huge property, and with no other means to support them.
The thing is, that despite the circumstances you can't help but wander at the effect growing up under such a microscope will have on the kids. This is like taking the idea of the child star to even newer heights... well, depths actually. The only chance these kids will have to really see what life is all about is to go through the unfortunate circumstances they are faced with now.
To date, despite growing up on camera they have been living in a bubble. They have been given absolutely everything and more. They are surrounded by body guards and lots of people making sure nothing happens to them.
With all the negativity surrounding Jon, I feel compelled to put it out there that his actions are perfectly understandable. Despite everything he is just a regular guy that got in way over his head. He tried to tough it out but, what normal person wants to live this way? That's one thing nobody can really argue: He's just a normal guy. America is filled with carbon copies of him.
According to an Associated Press report, "It appears that Jon's priority is Jon and his interests," his estranged wife, Kate Gosselin, said in a statement on Thursday. "My priority remains our children and their well being." In her eyes, this is probably true. After all, she now has to actually work for a living instead of whatever it is that she calls what she's been doing. It's tough to feel sorry for somebody who has been able to reap this much benefit from overly successful fertility treatments.
According to the report: Kate Gosselin said, "I'm saddened and confused by Jon's public media statements. Jon has never expressed any concerns to me about our children being involved in the show and, in fact, is on the record as saying he believes the show benefits our children and was taping on Friday with the kids."
On Monday, TLC announced that the weekly series would be renamed "Kate Plus Eight," with a reduced involvement by Jon Gosselin, who remains under "an exclusive contract" with TLC." Well, whatever his reasons, the filming of the children has been shut down due to a cease-and-desist order from their father, Jon Gosselin.
From what we know of Jon, this is a guy who reacts. He's not all that proactive. So, maybe there were mitigating circumstances that forced his hand but, in the end good parenting seems to be returning to the Gosselin home. Slowly. Perhaps both Jon and Kate should take a step back and realize that TLC was great for getting them through a rough patch. But, now they are both well known and can try to earn a living off something other than the exploitation of their children.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Yes We Créu
Well, even if Americans stopped paying attention to Obama's "Yes, we can!" The Brazilians haven't forgotten it. So, the sexiest President to hit the States has sexified the Brazilian Olympian 2016 bid. Go figure. Like the Brazilians need any help sexifying anything.
Justin Timberlake stole my groove
I guess I should listen to the song that is stealing my thunder. I just can't sit through his stuff. This seems to be a big one though.
Here's but a few that come up:
YouTube - T I Feat Justin Timberlake Dead And Gone Official Music ...
TI Feat Justin Timberlake Dead And Gone Official Music Video HD
Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone lyrics
Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone lyrics. (Feat. TI) Chorus: (Justin Timberlake): Ooooooo I've been travelin On this road too...
Dailymotion - T.I. Feat Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone / NEW ...
TI Feat Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone / NEW. ... T.I. Feat Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone / NEW. Go to Music homepage ». 251180 views | 86 com. ...
Here's but a few that come up:
YouTube - T I Feat Justin Timberlake Dead And Gone Official Music ...
TI Feat Justin Timberlake Dead And Gone Official Music Video HD
Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone lyrics
Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone lyrics. (Feat. TI) Chorus: (Justin Timberlake): Ooooooo I've been travelin On this road too...
Dailymotion - T.I. Feat Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone / NEW ...
TI Feat Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone / NEW. ... T.I. Feat Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone / NEW. Go to Music homepage ». 251180 views | 86 com. ...
The Dead And Gone
Is it really such a popular phrase to use that my very own blog, titled 'The Dead And Gone' is the last to come up? It's been around for years! Still, it is pretty hard to find. Why is that?
Too much competition.
I'll try to change that.
Be more proactive.
I wasn't trying to be fancy when I called this blog 'The Dead And Gone'. It was the best way I could think of to label any thought or written word that has already left my realm of control. If I've put it out there, it isn't mine anymore. It belongs to those that read it. So, it's effectively 'Dead And Gone'.
Too much competition.
I'll try to change that.
Be more proactive.
I wasn't trying to be fancy when I called this blog 'The Dead And Gone'. It was the best way I could think of to label any thought or written word that has already left my realm of control. If I've put it out there, it isn't mine anymore. It belongs to those that read it. So, it's effectively 'Dead And Gone'.
Forget David Letterman, Give Craig Ferguson a better time slot
How is this for a conspiracy theory? Joe Halderman has been charged for blackmailing David Letterman over a sex scandal. Doesn't the timing seem just a bit peculiar, considering that all the buzz is about Letterman's old nemisis Jay Leno?
I mean really, it's been quite a while since anybody really had anything to say about the 62-year old comic. He'd all but faded into the background behind Conan O'Brian and Leno. Especially since the entire prime time world is watching to see if Leno can revolutionize television and save it from the excesses of NCIS, and the like. Leno is attempting to do what Jack Benny did so much better. But, after all the overstimulation of modern years he stands a great chance of succeeding.
So, what is more interesting than an aging man having proof positive of his virility and sex appeal than somebody being willing to blackmail him for a whopping two million dollars? Letterman took the long tough road to get to his middle aged crisis. In fact, I think he took the Ork approach, ageing backwards. Most people have forgotten about all the cocain trauma, so now it's just plain old sex. It wasn't even with a guy and there is no indication of how many women tried to get ahead and how long ago.
Well, I say good luck to you Dave. I always liked you better than Leno or O'Brian anyway. The only thing is that none of you will ever be as funny as Craig Ferguson. This is the guy who can take the same monolog as Leno and actually make it funny.
Why is Ferguson on so late anyway? He made the Drew Carey show funny. It's about time more focus got put on that guy! I say we start a "give Craig Ferguson a better time slot" campaign and forget about all this other nonsense.
I mean really, it's been quite a while since anybody really had anything to say about the 62-year old comic. He'd all but faded into the background behind Conan O'Brian and Leno. Especially since the entire prime time world is watching to see if Leno can revolutionize television and save it from the excesses of NCIS, and the like. Leno is attempting to do what Jack Benny did so much better. But, after all the overstimulation of modern years he stands a great chance of succeeding.
So, what is more interesting than an aging man having proof positive of his virility and sex appeal than somebody being willing to blackmail him for a whopping two million dollars? Letterman took the long tough road to get to his middle aged crisis. In fact, I think he took the Ork approach, ageing backwards. Most people have forgotten about all the cocain trauma, so now it's just plain old sex. It wasn't even with a guy and there is no indication of how many women tried to get ahead and how long ago.
Well, I say good luck to you Dave. I always liked you better than Leno or O'Brian anyway. The only thing is that none of you will ever be as funny as Craig Ferguson. This is the guy who can take the same monolog as Leno and actually make it funny.
Why is Ferguson on so late anyway? He made the Drew Carey show funny. It's about time more focus got put on that guy! I say we start a "give Craig Ferguson a better time slot" campaign and forget about all this other nonsense.
Long line ups at Wal-Mart
Oh, boy. it's time to worry when Wal-mart is having problems. Well, they'll never admit it, will they. But, the reality is that their cashier line-ups are telling enough for them. On average, at least at the one I go to, you get to spend at least 45 minutes watching the two people in front of you patiently wait for their turn to come up.
When the obligatory "how are you today" comes up, I can't help but respond with a comment about the extremely long wait time. To this, the cashiers routinely lament about the fact that they have not had a break in over three hours. They will also likely add something about their carpal tunnel syndrome or that they are new.
The fish really does stink from the head when complaining to management yields a confrontation to the effect that they see it as somehow my problem, not theirs.
When the obligatory "how are you today" comes up, I can't help but respond with a comment about the extremely long wait time. To this, the cashiers routinely lament about the fact that they have not had a break in over three hours. They will also likely add something about their carpal tunnel syndrome or that they are new.
The fish really does stink from the head when complaining to management yields a confrontation to the effect that they see it as somehow my problem, not theirs.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
LOTTO MAX - Somebody was thinking
So, the OLG finally scrapped the Super 7 lottery. This is a great example of where staying in school really pays off.
They must have done the stats and taken a look at peak spending combined with average spend rates during those times. Brilliant really. A fantastic example of a smart marketing department.
Still reeling from the effects of the lottery retailer scandal and the general state of the economy, they knew they had to do something fast. So, instead of panicking cooler heads obviously prevailed.
This was a textbook by-the-numbers approach to strategy implementation and testing. First, they tried out selling at a $20 price point and then settled on the $5 mark.
Now, they are pushing with cross-promotion and a glitzy ad campaign.
According to the OLG website:
1. Shoppers Optimum ® /LOTTO MAX Contest
From September 19 to October 16, 2009, every time you purchase a LOTTO MAX ticket and present your Shoppers Optimum Card ® you will be automatically entered to win 10 Million Shoppers Optimum points ®.
Click here to visit
www.shoppersdrugmart.ca/lottomax and get full contest details.
2. Shoppers Optimum ® /LOTTO MAX Contest
From September 19 to October 16, 2009, every time you purchase a LOTTO MAX ticket and present your Shoppers Optimum Card ® you will be automatically entered to win 10 Million Shoppers Optimum points ®.
Click here to visit www.shoppersdrugmart.ca/lottomax and get full contest details.
3. Win $250 in groceries at metro.ca!
From September 19 to November 6, 2009, customers will have 7 chances to win $250 in groceries when they visit the LOTTO MAX page and enter on-line at metro.ca.
Each week, for seven weeks, one $250 Metro Gift Card is available to be won!
Visit metro.ca for full contest details.
Odds of winning any prize are 1 in 6.6, so not all that bad. Odds of winning the big one though are closer to 1 in 28,633,528, with draws being held each Friday. Still, considering the formula used to arrive at this latest offering for those desperate to get rich for next to nothing, LOTTO MAX is sure to become part of the weekly purchasing routine.
Spending $5 per week equates to about a $250 expenditure per year. Many people buy in threes, so this balloons up to $750 per year. Then, considering that even in today's economy you can still make 3% interest in a tax-free savings account, see the ING Direct Canada current rates as an example. This means that by investing $15 a week in your own TFSA, you'd be up by over $800 at the end of the year.
Sure, you'd be passing up on the chance to come in to some serious cash but, you are more likely to get hit by lightning. Don't think it doesn't happen. Lotteries should not be considered for their income supplement potential. Once in a while, for fun, is great, and if you win, then even better. But, the rest of the time think of all that extra cash at Christmas time. It's enough to make anybody a bit more jolly.
They must have done the stats and taken a look at peak spending combined with average spend rates during those times. Brilliant really. A fantastic example of a smart marketing department.
Still reeling from the effects of the lottery retailer scandal and the general state of the economy, they knew they had to do something fast. So, instead of panicking cooler heads obviously prevailed.
This was a textbook by-the-numbers approach to strategy implementation and testing. First, they tried out selling at a $20 price point and then settled on the $5 mark.
Now, they are pushing with cross-promotion and a glitzy ad campaign.
According to the OLG website:
1. Shoppers Optimum ® /LOTTO MAX Contest
From September 19 to October 16, 2009, every time you purchase a LOTTO MAX ticket and present your Shoppers Optimum Card ® you will be automatically entered to win 10 Million Shoppers Optimum points ®.
Click here to visit
www.shoppersdrugmart.ca/lottomax and get full contest details.
2. Shoppers Optimum ® /LOTTO MAX Contest
From September 19 to October 16, 2009, every time you purchase a LOTTO MAX ticket and present your Shoppers Optimum Card ® you will be automatically entered to win 10 Million Shoppers Optimum points ®.
Click here to visit www.shoppersdrugmart.ca/lottomax and get full contest details.
3. Win $250 in groceries at metro.ca!
From September 19 to November 6, 2009, customers will have 7 chances to win $250 in groceries when they visit the LOTTO MAX page and enter on-line at metro.ca.
Each week, for seven weeks, one $250 Metro Gift Card is available to be won!
Visit metro.ca for full contest details.
Odds of winning any prize are 1 in 6.6, so not all that bad. Odds of winning the big one though are closer to 1 in 28,633,528, with draws being held each Friday. Still, considering the formula used to arrive at this latest offering for those desperate to get rich for next to nothing, LOTTO MAX is sure to become part of the weekly purchasing routine.
Spending $5 per week equates to about a $250 expenditure per year. Many people buy in threes, so this balloons up to $750 per year. Then, considering that even in today's economy you can still make 3% interest in a tax-free savings account, see the ING Direct Canada current rates as an example. This means that by investing $15 a week in your own TFSA, you'd be up by over $800 at the end of the year.
Sure, you'd be passing up on the chance to come in to some serious cash but, you are more likely to get hit by lightning. Don't think it doesn't happen. Lotteries should not be considered for their income supplement potential. Once in a while, for fun, is great, and if you win, then even better. But, the rest of the time think of all that extra cash at Christmas time. It's enough to make anybody a bit more jolly.
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