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A Pearl for the Poor

2010
01.29

Our society today is caught in the reality where only about 10 percent of the population can afford to buy everything.
Some 20 percent can afford many somethings; and the remaining 80 percent can afford just a little something. And many times, this 80 percent is unable to afford sustained medication or daily food or basic shelter

But the 21st Century offers us a breakthrough thinking towards the deconstruction of this economic pyramid.

One such thinking has been slowly advanced by Prof. Pralahad of ‘Wharton’s School of Economics. Pralahad’s continuing research suggests, among other ideas, that if those who have, extend a hand of partnership (or assistance) to those who have less, something short of a miracle can happen.

Those at the bottom of the economic pyramid–when given a chance to be partners in an economic activity, like being able to buy what the haves enjoy–participate with dignity, greater motivation, and with desired results both for self and society.

For example, shampoo is a commodity which used to be affordable only for those who have. But when it was repacked into small affordable sachets, those who have less are now able to afford it, too.

This kind of participation in the use of shampoo both by those who have and those who have less is the kind of partnering MMO Card Corporation would want to celebrate. This sharing” lifts the have-less out of the bondage of continued deprivation.

MMO Card celebrates this hand of partnership. By extending the credit card system to those who have less is no ordinary thinking It is not even extraordinary; rather, it is breakthrough thinking. It breaks the barriers of stereotype in all sectors–the capitalists and the consumers.

This sharing creates a space of equal opportunities for the rich and the poor It allows for both sides of the divide to take their options and grow themselves towards a desired state of personhood and global citizenship.

Category general, society |

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Tiger Woods momentum

2010
01.07

Tiger Wood exploded on t0 the national stage in 1997, when, as a 21-year old, he won golf’s most prestigious event, the Masters. Not only did Tiger win the tournament, he shattered records along the way making the world’s best golfers look like amateurs. Within a year of becoming a professional golfer, Tiger had attained the sports number one ranking.

Consistent winning builds momentum

Early in 2001, Tiger captured his second Masters title to comp lete an unprecedented feat:winning all four of golf’s major championships consecutively Golf’s popularity soared as its youthful star dominated event after event. People who had never before been interested in golf tuned in to see Tiger.

Inspired by him, kids dragged their parents to the local golf course so that they could learn the game. Recreational golfers around the world patterned their swing after Tiger’s while practicing on the driving range.

Advertisers flocked to Tiger’s side to take advantage of his gathering momentum. He inked multimillion dollar deals to wear the Nike logo, hit Titlelist golf balls, and endorse everything from General Motors to American Express.
Forbes described Tiger as “a marketer’s dream.” Virtually every product he pitched seemed to turn into gold Tharilcs to his sizeable sponsorship deals, in Sept. 2009, Fortune estimated that Tiger had become sports first billionaire athlete.

Character defects halt momentum

Tiger-mania came crashing to a halt in Dec. 2009 after Woods had a bizarre traffic accident in his driveway The incident initiated a cascade of rumors about Tiger’s marital infidelity which he later admitted. As news coverage intensified, more incriminating tidbits surfaced, and the scandal gained steam.

As this article is being written, a shamed Tiger remains in seclusion. By all accounts, his marriage is in shambles. Accen
ture and AT&T have already cut ties with him, while other advertisers such as Gillette and Tag Heuer have distanced themselves from Tiger by pulling his ads.

As for golf, Woods has taken an indefinite leave of absence, and it remains to be seen if he will recover his on-the-course greatness.

Lessons learned from Tiger’s tumble

1) Momentum can be a leader’s best friend or a leader’s worst enemy.

In his early days as a professional, Tiger Woods’ hard work and talent earned him a flood of victories. As the wins mounted, Tiger’s momentum took off. His confidence intimidated opponents, his personality attracted business deals, and every move he made seemed to draw the praise of an enraptured media.

Revelations of Tiger’s sordid behavior have generated a mountain of negative momentum, which will be difficult for him to overcome. The tide of public opinion is now squarely against him. Whereas people used to cheer Tiger on to success, many will now root for him to fail. The influence he once had has been dealt a serious blo and it will be an uphill struggle for him to regain it.

2) Momentum can reverse direction in an instant. Momentum can be a fickle friend, changing sides at any moment. One day, Tiger was being crowned as the athlete of the decade by the Associated Press. Then, seemingly overnight, his name was being dragged through the mud on every conceivable news outlet.

3) Winning generates momentum but character sustains it.

Tiger’s story is a cautionary tale about character. All of the momentum you build through decades of hard work and dedication can be erased if you do not craft the character to support it. Character is forged daily through the decisions we make. It comes from within and cannot be purchased.

Be diligent about working on your character so that you become a person worth following and someone worthy of harnessing the momentum of success.

mentum,

Category athlete, people, sports |

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Microsoft issues patch for Explorer security hole

2009
12.16

Microsoft Corp. took the unusual step of issuing an unscheduled fix Thursday for security holes in its Internet Explorer browser that played a role in the recent computer attacks that led Google to threaten to leave China.

The updates are for all supported versions of Internet Explorer, from IE 5.01 up through the newest IE 8.

People who have their computers set to install security updates automatically will get the bx. PC users who don’t automatically get updates should go to http:// www.microsoft.com/security to download the patch.

Microsoft said it learned of the problems last fall and was already planning to release the fixes in February. Last week, it confirmed that the attacks described by Google Inc. took advantage of the same flaw.

Hackers can lure people to Web pages containing malicious code, then exploit the browscrflawto take over their computers. Attackers in China may have used the flaw to break into e-mail accounts of human rights activists who oppose the Chinese government. Hackers m’ also he used this flaw, among others, to break into Google’s own networks and those of other large companies such as Yahoo Inc. and Juniper Networks Inc.

Microsoft seldom releases security patches outside its regular, once-a-month update cycle, but has been known to rush out patches for so-called “zero-day” exploits in which hackers attack a software hole before the company has a chance to find a fix. The last time Microsoft broke from its security update schedule was in July 2009.

In Germany, the makers of the Firefox browser said there was a significant surge – in downloads after the German government recommended people switch to browsers that compete with Internet Explorer because of the latest security flaw in Microsoft’s browser.

Category company, computer, internet, technology |

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Are you ready to rock?

2009
11.23

Not for the faint of heart.

JBL has come up with a speaker system that delivers on their Pro Sound Comes Home” design philosophy. Incorporating the newly developed Mylar dome (with bi-radial horn) ultrahigh-frequency super tweeter, which
provides extended frequency response to 40 kHz, the Studio L series’ high notes are complemented by a 1-inch titanium dome tweeter. Another innovation is the PolyPlas polymer-coated—cellulose-fiber cone material for the midrange and woofer drivers, The Studio L series also features significantly improved cabinets with thicker walls and baffle boards made from 1-inch thick MDF as well as gold plated bi-wirable binding posts.

TheJBL Studio L has that typical American sound: big, dynamic, and with lots of power. Drum and guitar samples from Chesky really come alive as if one were present in the recording studio, The series is basicallybalanced although the highs are a little on the bright side.

In two-channel audio listening, the speakers are forward-sounding with good soundstage and imaging. It matches better with tube amps than solid state receivers, probably because the brightness of the speakers compensates for the warmness of the tubes,

In home theater, the Studio L series excels. The speakers give as much as it receives, and with gusto at that. One feels the emotion in the solo violin act injosh Groban’s Live at the Greek concert DVD.

TheJBL Studio L is decently priced and is a good match for those who demand a lot from their speakers.

Category advertisement, business, entertainment |

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Beautiful bulk

2009
10.28

Power in every ounce. Power in every inch.

If you’ve never had a digicam, and you finally decide to begin your relationship with the newest model, say with a Canon Powershot A630, this might be your reaction: “Mahgawd, what a smart camera!”

With over2l shooting modes,the A63O even includes the fascinating ‘stitch” feature that allows you to shoot and build panoramic shots. And to think this is just a model from Canon’s continually evolving budget line.

The A630 looks dated, and it isn’t exactly the most convenient thing to stash away in yourbackpack orsling bag, but its 2.5-inch LCD, which opens to a full 180 degrees, should be enough to earn your “wow.” A simple flip up or down, and you can shoot at angles you never thought possible.

On manual mode, the A630 boasts of analyzing the shot for the correct lighting and aperture settings. Contraryto what you might expect, this does not slow rhis shooter down. With its smart focus, it can capture the subject without denying the movement—the life — in which the subject was taken in: artistic golden light streaks, faded background and all. Everything’s captured, with the subject looking crisp as off-the-pan chicharon. And this is just in the non-creative modes.

It can get a wee bit confusing because not all 21 scene modes are accessible from the mode wheel. You’ll have access to the others with the joystick button.

If the mightyA63fl proves to be a wee bit confusing and high tech, that really isn’t its fault. In this day and age of digital this and digital that, the A630 is one of the simplest cameras that Canon has. Simple, of course, is having tungsten and underground options for lighting and 8 megapixels of resolution. Indeed, this is a smart one.

Category camera, gadget, technology |