Every entrepreneur with a Big Idea has some trepidation about leaving the security of a salaried income. Starbucks' Howard Schultz took a huge pay cut to get his "feet wet" initially as Starbucks' head of marketing. But, he really stepped out of his comfort zone in launching his own company, betting that Americans would enjoy espresso served right in stores, as he had during his trip to Italy. He knew that making the decision was a milestone event - one that would affect the rest of his life, and that of his young family. He also knew that he had to try. The fear of regret is a powerful motivator for moving beyond any qualms...and taking action. Those with an entrepreneurial spirit don't want to look back on their lives and regret not stepping out of their comfort zones, missing the opportunities that could have changed the course of their lives for the better.
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Independence Day
The Fourth of July commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by delegates from the 13 colonies in 1776. This most important American national holiday is traditionally observed with parades, band concerts, picnics, and fireworks. Writing in July 1776 from Philadelphia, John Adams related to his wife, Abigail: "Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater, perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony 'that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be free and independent States, and as such, they have, and of Right ought to have full Power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all the other Acts and Things, which other States might rightfully do...' This . . . Day . . . will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. . . . It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."
Text from The Declaration of Independence
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Canada Day
Canada Day commemorates the creation of the Dominion of Canada. On July 1, 1867, the British North America Act established "one Dominion under the name of Canada" out of the colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, dividing it into four provinces named Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.. Canada Day was so named by Parliament in 1982; previous names were First of July, July the First, Confederation Day, and Dominion Day.
Should I Feel Guilt After Doing Something God Doesn't Like?
---by Billy Graham
Posted via email from Religion
USB 3.0: Great Technology, But Hard to Find
USB 3.0 offers data transfer speeds that are five times faster than USB 2.0, so why hasn't it caught on?
Over the last few years, the Universal Serial Bus (USB) has become the universal interface. Starting in 1995, when USB 1.0 could only transfer 12 Mbps (Megabits per second), the standard started up slowly. But when USB 2.0 came along in 2000, with its 480 Mbps, the days were numbered for PS/2, serial, parallel, and even the FireWire interface. So, why hasn't USB 3.0, also known as SuperSpeed USB, with its 5 Gigabits per second (Gbps), become the interface of choice since its introduction in 2008? Well, there are several reasons.
Why you want USB 3.0
This is pretty simple. It's fast. It's even faster than eSATA (External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment). When I tested USB 3.0 against eSATA last year, I found that in practice neither was quite as fast as their specifications suggests -- on reads my USB drive averaged 90 MBps, while the eSATA drive came in at 75 MBps. But, when it came to writing to the disk eSATA still processed data at 75 MBps while the USB drive dropped to 62 Mbps.
USB 3.0, like the other USB standards before it, also has the advantage though of being able to supply power to its devices. An eSATA device requires a separate power supply.
The USB 3.0 standard also uses interrupts instead of "polling" when a device is plugged in. With polling, when a USB device is plugged into the port, the computer keeps checking on it to see if needs anything. This keeps the computer from going into low power states and can quickly drain a battery. That's bad news on a laptop. By using interrupts, USB 3.0 doesn't waste time or energy on an idle device, this in turn saves battery life.
When a device does need power though. USB 3.0 supplies 50% more power draw. That means instead of just thumb drives you can power up external drives.
In addition, even if your PC doesn't have a USB 3.0 port, you can buy a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) card with two ports for about $25. There are already multiple USB 3.0 compatible external hard drives and case enclosures from vendors such as Buffalo Technologies; Seagate and Western Digital.
So, put it all together and you can see why USB 3.0 should be popular.
But it's not. It's still a fair amount of trouble to find computers with USB 3.0 built in. Today, HP, Sony, and Dell offer only a handful of PC withs USB 3.0.
Why USB 3.0 hasn't caught on
USB 1.0 and 2.0 ports and devices were interchangeable. Of course, any such combination would only go as fast as 1.0's 12Mbps. But with USB 3.0, even though the plug and PC connection look the same at a casual glance, they're not really compatible with the older models.
Instead of four wires, the USB 3.0 cable has eight wires. One is power, one is for the ground, two for USB 2.0 data ), and four wires for SuperSpeed data. If you take a closer look at a USB 3.0 cable you'll see that one edge of the plug is colored blue. The end that plugs into your USB 3.0 drive, scanner, printer, or camera, however, is not the compatible with a USB 2.0 device. So, while you can plug a USB 2.0 device with a USB 2.0 cable into a USB 3.0 port or a USB 3.0 device with a USB 3.0 cable into a USB 2.0 port, you can't use a USB 3.0 cable to connect a USB 2.0 device. Got that?
In short, you can't switch out USB cables willy-nilly if you're using USB 3.0. Since, at a quick glance you may mistake a USB 2.0 cable for a USB 3.0 one, it's a small, but vexing, problem.
By itself, that's not a big deal. Far more important is that Windows 7, even with SP1, still doesn't natively support USB 3.0. You can use USB 3.0 ports and devices of course, with the right device drivers, but in 2011, what Windows user worries about device driver compatibility? Mac users have the same problem. Even Snow Leopard doesn't have built-in USB 3.0 support. It's another annoying hitch. Ironically enough, Linux, which is always getting grief for not supporting this or the other device, is the only operating system with USB 3.0 support baked in.
On top of that, even though Intel was a member of the USB working group that helped create the USB 3.0 specification, it was only at Computex in Taiwan on May 31st 2011 that Intel finally committed to supporting USB 3.0 on an actual product line. Intel will ship the "new" USB on its Ivy Bridge chipset.
Don't get too excited yet though. Ivy Bridge, the successor to Sandy Bridge, has just had its release date moved back to March 2012. If you want a motherboard with USB 3.0 already built in sooner than next year, you can look to AMD. The other CPU chip giant has announced that its A75 and A70M Fusion chipsets will include USB 3.0. These chipsets are already shipping.
Thunderbolt is a fiber optic wire connection. It uses the same size connector as USB but even thinner wires. Unlike USB 3.0, which in theory can reach out to three meters with Gbps speeds but in practice goes to about two meters, Thunderbolt can transmit data up to 50 meters.
Thunderbolt can also be used with PCI Express and DisplayPort. Thus, it can be used both for devices and for display high-definition video. Intel also promises that you'll be able to power devices through it.
On top of that, Thunderbolt, although it's not here yet except in labs, can transmit 10Gb of data per second bidirectionally, twice that of USB 3.0. Need I add that it too is going to be included on the Ivy Bridge chipsets?
Unlike USB 3.0, though, which is an industry wide standard, Thunderbolt is Intel specific. So, while in many ways Thunderbolt does sound like it will better than USB 3.0, you'll only be able to use it with Intel equipment and with hardware that's been manufactured by vendors under an Intel license. Historically, proprietary inputs and outputs don't do well in the mass-market. You'll recall that, FireWire, Apple's take on the IEEE 1394 High Speed Serial Bus, never really took off even though it was far faster than its competitors.
So what's a user to do? Well, even though USB 3.0 has not taken off as quickly as many of us thought it would, I believe in the long run it will win out and become the next universal PC input/output (I/O) system. While Apple, Intel, and Microsoft have all failed to support it properly, it's still the most flexible, high-speed and open I/O out there and I foresee trouble ahead for Thunderbolt getting the kind of universal support that earlier versions of USB have gotten.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Music As A Diary To A-Mei's Life .... Taiwan's Mando-Pop queen A-Mei shares her secret to music longevity
By...... Eric de Fontenay (Founder & Publisher)
Sometimes we forget, there is great music talent in all countries of the world.
For those of us in the West who might not have heard of the Madonna of Taiwan, A-Mei is one of the most successful musicians in Mandarin-speaking Asia. Over her 15-year career (and still going strong), she has accumulated numerous awards and legions of dedicated fans as I would find out throughout my month-long trip.
What immediately connected us was our shared aboriginal roots (mine being Native American course), which has provided the inspiration to her music. While not professionally trained, she'd grown up surrounded by music her entire life. "I have never learnt to sing or dance, they are just ever-present parts of my native tribe, the Ami (from whence she derived her stage name)". Music is thus innate to her, not just a profession or career. "Singing is a way for me to express my feelings and emotions. Music is a critical part of my life."
Those Taiwanese aboriginal roots have also given A-Mei a truly unique and open approach to her singing and music, which is influenced by the people and experiences that have touched her. "If I was moved by something, I would choose to write a song about it. I like to observe life and learn from it. It is a constantly occurring inspiration." As such, her music is a recording of her own personal life, which draws power and energy from those close to her. "I frequently find inspiration from the people surrounding me, such as my family and friends. Their experiences always reflect distinct kinds of lives."
Over my month-long trip through Taiwan-China-Singapore, I was able to witness first-hand that special connection A-Mei has with her fans that is drawn from the sincerity and raw emotions of her songs. To a large extent, it reminds me of the relationship between Lady Gag and her 'little monsters.' "I think the reason my fans have supported me over the years is that I've never changed my attitude towards music. I want to dedicate my life to my music. For me, what I love and what I want are all pursued through music. I keep growing and transforming through every stage of my life, which I wish to share with my fans. I've insisted on mainting my own music style for so long that I can't be easily manipulated by the latest trends or commercial interests."
While sharing these intimate emotions of pain, sorrow and happiness with her audience, she still manages to maintain a semblance of privacy. "There exists a limitation how much of my emotions I can share. I want to share all my emotions through my music, but sometimes I have to learn to hold them back. My experiences and people are changing with the lapse of time; I would like to share these changes with all."
Being greater China's Mando-Pop Queen for more than 15 years, A-Mei has the three-words to her longevity in music: passion, love and happiness. She doesn't care about being compared to others; it's more important for her to just keep doing music in her own way.
When I ask her if she feels that she's inspired other musicians, she remarks that her music and those of younger musicians' have actually influenced each other. She recalls the Taiwanese indie bands 'Luan Tan' that has been an inspiration for her. A-Mei's advice to young people who want to aspire to success in music is to have real passion and work their heart out. But they also need to know how to balance their dreams with reality. "I think that if you find your true passion in music, you should keep walking on that path. But along the journey, you should also be prepared for failure. Not everyone who works hard will succeed and it may take years with several setbacks. You therefore really need to learn to face that fact."
In the end, A-Mei reminds her fans to love life. Her philosophy is that it's the tiny moments in our daily life that are precious and inspirational. And she's not only happy to grow with her fans, she's honored to do so. "Although I haven't met many of the fans who have supported me for over the years, I can feel the resonance between us, which I cherish a lot."
For my part, the interview with A-Mei was a high point of the trip. Her sincerity and honesty were simply disarming and I felt a true connection to the person behind the Mando-Pop Queen. I look forward to taking up her invitation to sing and dance with her tribe into the night.
Easy Peach Cobbler
This is by far the best peach cobbler recipe I've found. It tastes more like the peach cobblers my mother and grandmother made. The recipe is simple to make and all the ingredients are readily available. If friends or family are coming by, I can prepare this dessert, pop it in the oven and wait for the oohs and aahs as my guests are welcomed to our home by the warm aroma of fresh-baked peach cobbler.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar, divided
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup milk
- 4 cups fresh peach slices
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Ground cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)
Preparation
- Melt butter in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
- Combine flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt; add milk, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Pour batter over butter (do not stir).
- Bring remaining 1 cup sugar, peach slices, and lemon juice to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly; pour over batter (do not stir). Sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired.
- Bake at 375° for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve cobbler warm or cool.
Posted via email from WellCare
Slushy Watermelon Mojitos
So cool, tasty, and refreshing...Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 5 cups cubed seeded watermelon
- 1 cup sparkling water, chilled
- 3/4 cup white rum
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
- 1 (6-ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate, undiluted
- Mint sprigs (optional)
- Lime slices (optional)
Preparation
- Arrange watermelon in a single layer on a baking sheet; freeze 2 hours or until completely frozen.
- Combine frozen watermelon, sparkling water, rum, mint, and limeade in a blender; process until smooth. Garnish with mint sprigs and lime slices, if desired. Serve immediately.
Posted via email from WellCare
Music Distributor 88tc88 Sells Music On All Of China's Mobile Carriers....Indies Welcome
Website: http://www.88tc88.com Digital music distributor 88tc88 (88tc88.com) announced the addition of China Unicom to the list of mobile outlets it services in China. With the agreement, 88tc88 now delivers independent music to all of China's 950+ million mobile subscribers. The company also announced the first statements from China Mobile and China Telekom, providing its customers accurate and transparent figures for ringtone, caller ringback tone, mastertone and full track sales, individually and bundled as a subscription. "Our agreement with China Unicom enables us to not only provide our customers full coverage of China's mobile carriers, but importantly, China's growing iPhone subscriber base, now estimated at over 4 million," noted 88tc88 co-founder Thomas Reemer. "Being able to add China to the global digital distribution map is an achievement we at 88 are very proud of accomplishing." China Unicom is the only carrier in China offering the iPhone with a service contract. Based on initial sales statements from China Mobile and China Telekom, 88tc88 reported an average 15 sales per track per month in the various mobile formats offered, from ringback tones to subscription packages. The figure illustrates the potential for western artists and labels to significantly expand their market and revenues as the world's largest mobile market continues to grow and awareness of international music increases. "Delivering timely and accurate reporting to our customers in China has been a key goal for 88tc88 as the more trust there is in this market, the more revenue will be made by our customers to support their careers," remarked co-founder Christoph Martius. "Our sales figures clearly demonstrate that China is a viable market that every artist should be accessing." 88tc88 has delivered a wide range of western music to China's mobile carriers, including from organizations such as the Western Australia Music Industry Association, well-known artists like Sean Lennon and Nouvelle Vague as well as new projects by producers such as Kim Fowley and David Carr. Record label signings include Alligator Records, Bar/None and Virtual Records, also a digital distributor of such renowned labels as R.O.I.R. and Cumbancha. 88tc88 is a web based service that helps bands, artists, labels and digital distributors to translate, approve, sell and promote their music in Greater China. 88 offers to arrange official approval by the Chinese authorities for the material to be released. 88tc88 offers access to 950+ million subscribers on China Mobile, China Telekom and China Unicom for digital and mobile release. Online prices range from $49.99; (one album, one year), to $399.99; (5 albums for 3 years.) Join the Chinese Cultural Evolution, get your music understood (lyric translations), heard, appreciated, (and bought) by over a billion people hungry for international music. Contact Info:
Eric de Fontenay
chinasounds@musicdish.com
+1-718-278-0662
skype: musicdish
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Are you ready for the second wave of social media?
By Jesse Stanchak
When people ask what the next big thing in social media will be, they’re usually looking for an ascendant platform that will supplant Facebook the way Facebook supplanted MySpace or they’re expecting a feature set, such as geo-location or group messaging. But what if it’s not a network or a tool? What if it’s an application?
“Internal social media is the second wave … the future of work is in communities,” said Cisco’s Andrew Warden at this week’s Corporate Social Media Summit.
Warden gave the crowd four reasons to start looking at internal social tools:
- The next wave of employees will expect it. The current workforce has members of every generation who love social tools, as well as those who loathe them. But the next generation of workers will have no such divide, Warden argued. These workers will have grown up with these tools and will expect to use them as part of their internal work communications, because that’s how they’ve always communicated. Failing to have an internal social media system in place would alienate these workers and keep them from fully contributing to the company, Warden said.
- The workforce is increasingly global. Global deals, branch offices and telework are going to become more common for companies of every stripe and if you want remote teams to work together and stay engaged with their mission, you need to give them tools to work collaboratively, just as if they were all in the office together, Warden noted. Social tools also make 24-hour operations and complex global deals easier on employees, by allowing work to pass easily between time zones, thus empowering work/life balance without a loss of continuity.
- It can make management easier. By watching internal social communications between employees, managers can figure out where their workers are spending the most time, where their pain points are and what resources are needed to enhance performance, Warden noted.
- A strong corporate culture may depend on it. The focus of social media so far as been on external branding — communicating your vision and values to your customers. But what about your employees? Do they understand the company’s vision? Do they share it? Feel like they’re a part of it? Live it out everyday in their work? Warden notes that internal branding allows your company strategy to permeate the corporate culture, instead of working against it.
Of course, embracing internal social media will bring me fresh challenges, he notes. The technology is still evolving — Cisco decided to build their own internal tools rather than go with an outside vendor. Training is key, particularly since broad guidelines such as “don’t do anything stupid” can mean radically different things to workers of different generations. And not every department will embrace such tools with the same vigor, possibly creating the need for incentive programs, he noted. All the more reason to get started now — before the next generation of workers shows up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)