I wonder how much is to get people do this kinda job?
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
The world's Ugliest Hotels-the top 20!
Telegraph announced this list recently and to my surprise some of them don't seem to be fit in this list-the Ugliest ones! OMG!
And mind you, our country is in the list!! Guess which hotel?
Here is it:
And the rest are:
Yeah, agreed it is total madness to turn this into a hotel!
I will go crazy just by looking at it!
Agree with this too, the country only knows how to grab other's land!
The rest of the 10 can be seen in this original link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/9672211/The-worlds-ugliest-hotels.html?frame=2395833#?frame=2395835
And mind you, our country is in the list!! Guess which hotel?
Here is it:
And the rest are:
The Crane Hotel, The Netherlands Surely the ugliest structure known to man, and someone decided to turn it into a hotel. Madness. |
Hotel Spirit, Bratislava This Slovakian hotel look like it was heaved up by Gaudi's less talented step brother. Pack your sunglasses. |
Maitreya Buddha! |
Isrotel, Tel Aviv This cylindrical tower resembles much of the architecture in Israel's beach resorts - dire. |
The rest of the 10 can be seen in this original link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/9672211/The-worlds-ugliest-hotels.html?frame=2395833#?frame=2395835
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
The Term that I learnt from Scott Forstall's Firing from Apple
At the moment, the big news is how the Hurricane Sandy has brought a record-breaking storm surge to New York City with numerous streets and tunnels flooded in Lower Manhattan till the Stock Exchange was forced to stop trading on Monday. Besides this news, Apple has just fired the long time veteran of iOS- Scott Forstall. He was responsible for overseeing the development of iOS, the software created to power the original iPhone. The success of iOS has catapulted Apple to the top of the mobile world.
Following is the summary from NYT:
*******************************************************************************************
The biggest of the changes involved the departure of Scott Forstall, an Apple veteran who for several years ran software development for Apple’s iPad and iPhone products. Mr. Forstall was an important executive at the company and the one who, in many respects, seemed to most closely embody the technology vision of Steven P. Jobs, the former chief executive of Apple who died a year ago.
But Mr. Forstall was also known as ambitious and divisive, qualities that generated more friction within Apple after the death of Mr. Jobs, who had kept the dueling egos of his senior executives largely in check. Mr. Forstall’s responsibilities will be divided among a few other Apple executives.
While tensions between Mr. Forstall and other executives had been mounting for some time, a recent incident appeared to play a major role in his dismissal. After an outcry among iPhone customers about bugs in the company’s new mobile maps service, Mr. Forstall refused to sign a public apology over the matter, dismissing the problems as exaggerated, according to people with knowledge of the situation who declined to be named discussing confidential matters.
Instead, Timothy D. Cook, Apple’s chief executive, in September signed the apology letter to Apple customers over maps.
Apple said in a news release on Monday that the management changes would “encourage even more collaboration” at the company. But people briefed on Apple’s moves, who declined to be identified talking about confidential decisions at the company, said Mr. Forstall and John Browett were fired...........................
*******************************************************************************************
blah...blah....blah : see the complete report link: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/apples-mobile-software-and-retail-chiefs-to-depart/
What interests me from the news report is:
Mr. Forstall was a staunch believer in a type of user interface, skeuomorphic design, which tries to imitate artifacts and textures in real life. Most of Apple’s built-in applications for iOS use skeuomorphic design, including imitating thread of a leather binder in the Game Center application and a wooden bookshelf feel in the newsstand application.
What the hell is this skeuomorphic design? I was wondering and thus googled more on this term and this article from the Forbes gave me a fairly good insight into the real problem with iOS (according to this author):
*******************************************************************************************
No, I’d never heard of it before either but it means something like archaisms in designs. And when it’s explained one can see what they mean with reference to that upcoming Windows 8 and iOS.
There is, at times of transition, a rather large value to such archaisms. Take the motor car for example: we still measure engine power in horsepower. Less so outside the US but it’s still common enough. When engine powered vehicles first started out it made some sort of sense to compare their output to something that people generally knew: the output of a horse. “8 hp” had a real connection for a farmer considering a tractor, or truck: he knew how much a horse could pull or plough and so the comparison made near instinctive sense to him.
Nowadays the closest most of us get to a horse is the Budweiser ads during the SuperBowl. Our being told that we’ve got 250 hp or 400 under the hood doesn’t really connect with anything therefore. It’s an archaism that made sense at one time but increasingly less as time goes on.
This is what designers are complaining/commenting about in iOS and comparing unfavourably with Windows 8. This skeuomorphism, this continued survival of what might have been useful archaisms but which, possibly, are becoming actually harmful rather than just charming reminders of the past.
One that’s mentioned is the idea that contact databases are based on the Rolodex idea or design. That may well have made sense twenty years ago, when most in the world of work were familiar with the physical world example. It’s quite possibly less so now when a goodly chunk of the labour force have never even seen one. And the perpetuation of this organisational form might be limiting innovation in more modern ones.
Others are more trivial, iCal’s faux-leather stitching (or is that faux-stitched leather?) just consumes graphics power rather than limits anything more important being done.
When one of the iconic designers of our time is complaining about such archaisms in design it might be a good time to sit up and take notice.
At heart the debate is about transition. One of the great phrases about design is that “form follows function”. And in the early years of a new method of doing something it can be helpful to mimic the forms of the previous ways of performing that function. But at some point perhaps the transition should occur and we should base the current form on the current, rather than archaic, methods of performing that function. This is what the designers are saying about Windows 8, that it’s making this transition in a manner that iOS isn’t.
Which I find a fascinating point for someone to make: that one of the great and famous designs of our times is in fact out of date.
*******************************************************************************************
wow, the last statement is really eye-opening to me as Apple always boasts that iOS is the most advanced OS used in mobile smartphones!!
This also justified my reason of still hesitating to use iphone till now, not because of the hardware deisgn but simply the iOS. I find that email feature itself not user friendly and the other inflexibilities, compared to Android.
So understand what skeuomorphic design is? Here are the few of them which def familiar to the iOS users..
Which one you like more?
Following is the summary from NYT:
*******************************************************************************************
In Shake-Up, Apple’s Mobile Software and Retail Chiefs to Depart
Apple fired the executives in charge of the company’s mobile software efforts and retail stores, in a management shake-up aimed at making the company’s divisions work more harmoniously together.
The biggest of the changes involved the departure of Scott Forstall, an Apple veteran who for several years ran software development for Apple’s iPad and iPhone products. Mr. Forstall was an important executive at the company and the one who, in many respects, seemed to most closely embody the technology vision of Steven P. Jobs, the former chief executive of Apple who died a year ago.
But Mr. Forstall was also known as ambitious and divisive, qualities that generated more friction within Apple after the death of Mr. Jobs, who had kept the dueling egos of his senior executives largely in check. Mr. Forstall’s responsibilities will be divided among a few other Apple executives.
While tensions between Mr. Forstall and other executives had been mounting for some time, a recent incident appeared to play a major role in his dismissal. After an outcry among iPhone customers about bugs in the company’s new mobile maps service, Mr. Forstall refused to sign a public apology over the matter, dismissing the problems as exaggerated, according to people with knowledge of the situation who declined to be named discussing confidential matters.
Instead, Timothy D. Cook, Apple’s chief executive, in September signed the apology letter to Apple customers over maps.
Apple said in a news release on Monday that the management changes would “encourage even more collaboration” at the company. But people briefed on Apple’s moves, who declined to be identified talking about confidential decisions at the company, said Mr. Forstall and John Browett were fired...........................
*******************************************************************************************
blah...blah....blah : see the complete report link: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/apples-mobile-software-and-retail-chiefs-to-depart/
What interests me from the news report is:
Mr. Forstall was a staunch believer in a type of user interface, skeuomorphic design, which tries to imitate artifacts and textures in real life. Most of Apple’s built-in applications for iOS use skeuomorphic design, including imitating thread of a leather binder in the Game Center application and a wooden bookshelf feel in the newsstand application.
What the hell is this skeuomorphic design? I was wondering and thus googled more on this term and this article from the Forbes gave me a fairly good insight into the real problem with iOS (according to this author):
*******************************************************************************************
The Real Problem With Apple: Skeuomorphism In iOS
Of course the big story today is going to be whatever it is that Apple announces we will all shortly be able to buy. But there’s also time to have a think about deeper structural issues rather than just concentrating on the latest generation of products. And there’s a number of designers who feel that Microsoft has got some important things right in Windows 8 in a manner that Apple has not in iOS. That little problem being skeuomorphism.No, I’d never heard of it before either but it means something like archaisms in designs. And when it’s explained one can see what they mean with reference to that upcoming Windows 8 and iOS.
There is, at times of transition, a rather large value to such archaisms. Take the motor car for example: we still measure engine power in horsepower. Less so outside the US but it’s still common enough. When engine powered vehicles first started out it made some sort of sense to compare their output to something that people generally knew: the output of a horse. “8 hp” had a real connection for a farmer considering a tractor, or truck: he knew how much a horse could pull or plough and so the comparison made near instinctive sense to him.
Nowadays the closest most of us get to a horse is the Budweiser ads during the SuperBowl. Our being told that we’ve got 250 hp or 400 under the hood doesn’t really connect with anything therefore. It’s an archaism that made sense at one time but increasingly less as time goes on.
This is what designers are complaining/commenting about in iOS and comparing unfavourably with Windows 8. This skeuomorphism, this continued survival of what might have been useful archaisms but which, possibly, are becoming actually harmful rather than just charming reminders of the past.
One that’s mentioned is the idea that contact databases are based on the Rolodex idea or design. That may well have made sense twenty years ago, when most in the world of work were familiar with the physical world example. It’s quite possibly less so now when a goodly chunk of the labour force have never even seen one. And the perpetuation of this organisational form might be limiting innovation in more modern ones.
Others are more trivial, iCal’s faux-leather stitching (or is that faux-stitched leather?) just consumes graphics power rather than limits anything more important being done.
When one of the iconic designers of our time is complaining about such archaisms in design it might be a good time to sit up and take notice.
At heart the debate is about transition. One of the great phrases about design is that “form follows function”. And in the early years of a new method of doing something it can be helpful to mimic the forms of the previous ways of performing that function. But at some point perhaps the transition should occur and we should base the current form on the current, rather than archaic, methods of performing that function. This is what the designers are saying about Windows 8, that it’s making this transition in a manner that iOS isn’t.
Which I find a fascinating point for someone to make: that one of the great and famous designs of our times is in fact out of date.
*******************************************************************************************
wow, the last statement is really eye-opening to me as Apple always boasts that iOS is the most advanced OS used in mobile smartphones!!
This also justified my reason of still hesitating to use iphone till now, not because of the hardware deisgn but simply the iOS. I find that email feature itself not user friendly and the other inflexibilities, compared to Android.
So understand what skeuomorphic design is? Here are the few of them which def familiar to the iOS users..
Compared to Win8 design:
Which one you like more?
LohZhong finds skeuomorphic design is actually ok,just that despise the inflexibilities in many functions of iOS especially the inflexible attachment functionality in email, for example.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
The 2 Ways to End the Euro Crisis!
I am tired of reading the Euro crisis never ending until now. What is so difficult? Though I am not an expert in this financial thing. But then there are so many Economics Professors out there...Come On People, do your part now.....
at least this guy has spoken out loud and clear.............though I am not sure if that's gonna work out!
For those who are short of time to read the full article, just scroll down to the highlighted solutions proposed by Soros!.
Thank you all for coming. My purpose in coming to Berlin is to put before you a lasting solution to the seemingly intractable problems connected with the euro. That sounds like mission impossible. After all, the problems have been with us for a number of years and they have been growing worse rather than getting resolved. We have been drifting from crisis to crisis and both the economic and the political situation keeps deteriorating. It has been a thoroughly debilitating process accompanied by a lot human suffering, not here in Germany, but in the so-called “periphery” countries, and generating a lot of hostility and resentment both at the core and in the periphery. We reached a point where the survival of the euro could no longer be taken for granted and there is a real danger that the euro will destroy the European Union itself exactly because of its division into a core and periphery. The euro crisis has turned into a veritable nightmare.
But nightmares can be escaped. You can wake up and realize that all the seemingly insoluble problems were creatures of your own imagination. That is the message I have come to deliver.
Let me say a few words about myself. You may know me as a successful hedgefund manager, now retired, who knows a thing or two about financial markets. But I am also a fervent believer of the European Union as an embodiment of the ideal of an open society and I don’t want the euro to destroy it. I have a network of open society foundations which are active in various parts of the world and I can testify from personal experience that the world needs a strong and prosperous Europe devoted to the principles of open society.
The traumatic experience of my life was the German occupation of Hungary in 1944. I survived it because my father taught me at a early age that it’s better to confront harsh reality than to passively submit to it. I realize that in my analysis I’m quite critical of German policies, but please don’t take it amiss. I am equally critical of others, including the financial markets. As an erstwhile disciple of Karl Popper I have developed a philosophy based on the recognition that our understanding of the world in which we live is inherently imperfect and our misconceptions play an important role in shaping the course of history. It just happens that as the largest and most successful creditor country, Germany is in the driver’s seat and whether you like it or not, your policies largely determine the outcome of the current crisis.
The policy of fiscal retrenchment in the midst of rising unemployment is pro-cyclical and pushing Europe into a deeper and longer depression. That is no longer a forecast; it is an observation. The German public doesn’t yet feel it and doesn’t quite believe it. But it is all too real in the periphery and it will reach Germany in the next six months or so. My message is that the looming depression is largely self inflicted and the nightmare can be escaped. It won’t be easy. The euro crisis is extremely complex and complex problems don’t have easy solutions.
I won’t repeat my analysis because you can read it at Spiegel online. I’ll just highlight the key points and then I will bring my argument up to date in light of the impending decision by the constitutional court.
The European Union was meant to be the embodiment of an open society – a voluntary association of equal states that surrendered part of their sovereignty for the common good. The euro crisis is now turning the European Union into something fundamentally different. The member countries are divided into two classes – creditors and debtors – with the creditors in charge. As the strongest creditor country, Germany is emerging as the hegemon. Debtor countries have to pay substantial risk premiums for financing their government debt and this is reflected in their cost of money throughout the economy. To make matters worse they are pushed into countercyclical policies by Germany.
This is not the result of some evil plot but a lack of coherent policy making. The Bundesbank remains committed to an outmoded monetary doctrine that is deeply rooted in Germany’s traumatic experience with inflation. The Bundesbank recognizes only inflation as a threat to stability and ignores deflation, which is the real threat today. Therefore, Germany insists on imposing austerity on debtor countries. This can easily become counterproductive because a reduction in GDP automatically increases the debt ratio and that can outweigh the benefits of structural reforms.
This point has not been understood in Germany until now. Structural reforms worked for Germany a few years ago, why shouldn’t it work for Europe now? The answer is that it was countercyclical when the rest of Europe enjoyed a real estate and consumption boom, so that Germany could enjoy an export led recovery. But it is pro-cyclical now so that Europe is pushed into a depression.
The division of Europe into creditor and debtor countries has brought some unintended and unexpected benefits for creditors. They enjoy a competitive advantage and they fare better than the debtors. This creates a real danger that the two-tier Europe will become permanent. Both human and financial resources are attracted to the center and the periphery will become permanently depressed. Germany will even enjoy some relief from its demographic problems by the immigration of well educated people from the Iberian Peninsula and Italy instead of less qualified “Gastarbeiter” from Turkey or Ukraine.
Although this was unintended some German politicians have started to figure out the advantages it has conferred on Germany and this has begun to influence their policy decisions. As time passes, there will be increasing grounds for blaming Germany for the policies it is imposing on Europe, while the German public will feel unjustly blamed. This is truly a tragedy of historic significance. As in ancient Greek tragedies, misconceptions and the sheer lack of understanding have unintended but fateful consequences. In the long run a eurozone permanently divided between debtors and creditors is politically unacceptable. The debtors are bound to revolt sooner or later. If and when the euro breaks up in disarray it will also destroy the common market and the European Union. Europe will be worse off than it was when the effort to unite it began, because of a legacy of mutual mistrust and hostility. The later it happens, the worse the ultimate outcome. That is such a dismal prospect that it must be prevented if at all possible. It is time to consider alternatives that would have been inconceivable until recently. The euro must not be allowed to destroy the European Union.
That puts Germany before a difficult choice: either lead the eurozone out of the looming depression towards a political union with genuine burden sharing or leave the euro to the debtor countries. They would find it surprisingly easy to grow their way out of their over indebtedness if Germany did not stand in the way.
Since all the accumulated debt is denominated in euro it makes all the difference who remains in charge of the euro[i].If Germany left, the euro would depreciate. The debtor countries would regain their competitiveness; their debt would diminish in real terms and, with the ECB in their control, the threat of default would evaporate. The creditor countries, by contrast, would encounter stiff competition in their home markets from the euro area and incur losses on their claims and investments denominated in euro. The extent of their losses would depend on the extent of the depreciation; therefore creditor countries would have an interest in keeping the depreciation within bounds. After the initial dislocation and shock the eventual outcome would fulfill John Maynard Keynes’ dream of an international currency system in which both creditors and debtors share responsibility for maintaining stability. And Europe would escape from the looming depression.
The same result could be achieved, with far less cost to Germany, if Germany chose to behave as a benevolent hegemon. I am happy to note that the political debate in Germany has shifted in favor of saving the euro. Both the decision of the June summit to create a banking union and the bond buying program announced by the ECB on September 6th were major steps in the right direction. Both were made possible by the support of Chancellor Angela Merkel. Only two other steps would be needed to achieve a lasting solution to the euro crisis. First, activate the Debt Reduction Fund recommended by the Chancellor’s Council of Economic Advisors and endorsed by the Social Democrats and the Greens. That would help create a level playing field. Second, stop imposing pro-cyclical austerity measures for the duration of the recession. That would save Europe from depression. We are tantalizingly close to a lasting solution.
It is up to Germany now to decide which alternative it chooses. If the German public were willing to accept the additional liabilities that the remaining two steps would entail it would be by far the best for all concerned if Germany stayed in the euro. If not, it would be best if Germany and other like-mined creditor countries withdrew from the euro in a negotiated separation.
The impending decision of the constitutional court may well prohibit Germany from taking on the additional obligations and delegations of power that remaining two steps would involve. In that case, Germany would have to hold a referendum to decide whether to lead or leave.
Either decision would be better than to allow the euro to destroy the European Union. Those who claim that the bond buying program of the ECB has solved the problem are giving the public a sleeping pill and ensure the continuation of the nightmare.
at least this guy has spoken out loud and clear.............though I am not sure if that's gonna work out!
For those who are short of time to read the full article, just scroll down to the highlighted solutions proposed by Soros!.
George Soros Remarks
10 September 2012
10 September 2012
But nightmares can be escaped. You can wake up and realize that all the seemingly insoluble problems were creatures of your own imagination. That is the message I have come to deliver.
Let me say a few words about myself. You may know me as a successful hedgefund manager, now retired, who knows a thing or two about financial markets. But I am also a fervent believer of the European Union as an embodiment of the ideal of an open society and I don’t want the euro to destroy it. I have a network of open society foundations which are active in various parts of the world and I can testify from personal experience that the world needs a strong and prosperous Europe devoted to the principles of open society.
The traumatic experience of my life was the German occupation of Hungary in 1944. I survived it because my father taught me at a early age that it’s better to confront harsh reality than to passively submit to it. I realize that in my analysis I’m quite critical of German policies, but please don’t take it amiss. I am equally critical of others, including the financial markets. As an erstwhile disciple of Karl Popper I have developed a philosophy based on the recognition that our understanding of the world in which we live is inherently imperfect and our misconceptions play an important role in shaping the course of history. It just happens that as the largest and most successful creditor country, Germany is in the driver’s seat and whether you like it or not, your policies largely determine the outcome of the current crisis.
The policy of fiscal retrenchment in the midst of rising unemployment is pro-cyclical and pushing Europe into a deeper and longer depression. That is no longer a forecast; it is an observation. The German public doesn’t yet feel it and doesn’t quite believe it. But it is all too real in the periphery and it will reach Germany in the next six months or so. My message is that the looming depression is largely self inflicted and the nightmare can be escaped. It won’t be easy. The euro crisis is extremely complex and complex problems don’t have easy solutions.
I won’t repeat my analysis because you can read it at Spiegel online. I’ll just highlight the key points and then I will bring my argument up to date in light of the impending decision by the constitutional court.
The European Union was meant to be the embodiment of an open society – a voluntary association of equal states that surrendered part of their sovereignty for the common good. The euro crisis is now turning the European Union into something fundamentally different. The member countries are divided into two classes – creditors and debtors – with the creditors in charge. As the strongest creditor country, Germany is emerging as the hegemon. Debtor countries have to pay substantial risk premiums for financing their government debt and this is reflected in their cost of money throughout the economy. To make matters worse they are pushed into countercyclical policies by Germany.
This is not the result of some evil plot but a lack of coherent policy making. The Bundesbank remains committed to an outmoded monetary doctrine that is deeply rooted in Germany’s traumatic experience with inflation. The Bundesbank recognizes only inflation as a threat to stability and ignores deflation, which is the real threat today. Therefore, Germany insists on imposing austerity on debtor countries. This can easily become counterproductive because a reduction in GDP automatically increases the debt ratio and that can outweigh the benefits of structural reforms.
This point has not been understood in Germany until now. Structural reforms worked for Germany a few years ago, why shouldn’t it work for Europe now? The answer is that it was countercyclical when the rest of Europe enjoyed a real estate and consumption boom, so that Germany could enjoy an export led recovery. But it is pro-cyclical now so that Europe is pushed into a depression.
The division of Europe into creditor and debtor countries has brought some unintended and unexpected benefits for creditors. They enjoy a competitive advantage and they fare better than the debtors. This creates a real danger that the two-tier Europe will become permanent. Both human and financial resources are attracted to the center and the periphery will become permanently depressed. Germany will even enjoy some relief from its demographic problems by the immigration of well educated people from the Iberian Peninsula and Italy instead of less qualified “Gastarbeiter” from Turkey or Ukraine.
Although this was unintended some German politicians have started to figure out the advantages it has conferred on Germany and this has begun to influence their policy decisions. As time passes, there will be increasing grounds for blaming Germany for the policies it is imposing on Europe, while the German public will feel unjustly blamed. This is truly a tragedy of historic significance. As in ancient Greek tragedies, misconceptions and the sheer lack of understanding have unintended but fateful consequences. In the long run a eurozone permanently divided between debtors and creditors is politically unacceptable. The debtors are bound to revolt sooner or later. If and when the euro breaks up in disarray it will also destroy the common market and the European Union. Europe will be worse off than it was when the effort to unite it began, because of a legacy of mutual mistrust and hostility. The later it happens, the worse the ultimate outcome. That is such a dismal prospect that it must be prevented if at all possible. It is time to consider alternatives that would have been inconceivable until recently. The euro must not be allowed to destroy the European Union.
That puts Germany before a difficult choice: either lead the eurozone out of the looming depression towards a political union with genuine burden sharing or leave the euro to the debtor countries. They would find it surprisingly easy to grow their way out of their over indebtedness if Germany did not stand in the way.
Since all the accumulated debt is denominated in euro it makes all the difference who remains in charge of the euro[i].If Germany left, the euro would depreciate. The debtor countries would regain their competitiveness; their debt would diminish in real terms and, with the ECB in their control, the threat of default would evaporate. The creditor countries, by contrast, would encounter stiff competition in their home markets from the euro area and incur losses on their claims and investments denominated in euro. The extent of their losses would depend on the extent of the depreciation; therefore creditor countries would have an interest in keeping the depreciation within bounds. After the initial dislocation and shock the eventual outcome would fulfill John Maynard Keynes’ dream of an international currency system in which both creditors and debtors share responsibility for maintaining stability. And Europe would escape from the looming depression.
The same result could be achieved, with far less cost to Germany, if Germany chose to behave as a benevolent hegemon. I am happy to note that the political debate in Germany has shifted in favor of saving the euro. Both the decision of the June summit to create a banking union and the bond buying program announced by the ECB on September 6th were major steps in the right direction. Both were made possible by the support of Chancellor Angela Merkel. Only two other steps would be needed to achieve a lasting solution to the euro crisis. First, activate the Debt Reduction Fund recommended by the Chancellor’s Council of Economic Advisors and endorsed by the Social Democrats and the Greens. That would help create a level playing field. Second, stop imposing pro-cyclical austerity measures for the duration of the recession. That would save Europe from depression. We are tantalizingly close to a lasting solution.
It is up to Germany now to decide which alternative it chooses. If the German public were willing to accept the additional liabilities that the remaining two steps would entail it would be by far the best for all concerned if Germany stayed in the euro. If not, it would be best if Germany and other like-mined creditor countries withdrew from the euro in a negotiated separation.
The impending decision of the constitutional court may well prohibit Germany from taking on the additional obligations and delegations of power that remaining two steps would involve. In that case, Germany would have to hold a referendum to decide whether to lead or leave.
Either decision would be better than to allow the euro to destroy the European Union. Those who claim that the bond buying program of the ECB has solved the problem are giving the public a sleeping pill and ensure the continuation of the nightmare.
-The End-
LohZhong is particularly worried when Soros said this:
In the long run a eurozone permanently divided between debtors and creditors is politically unacceptable. The debtors are bound to revolt sooner or later. If and when the euro breaks up in disarray it will also destroy the common market and the European Union. Europe will be worse off than it was when the effort to unite it began, because of a legacy of mutual mistrust and hostility. The later it happens, the worse the ultimate outcome.
Folks, World War 3 could be possible............
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The Yoga Video that Attracted Millions Viewers!
The latest viral yoga video to hit YouTube isn’t a hilarious spoof about the practice—it’s of someone demonstrating awe-inspiring asanas in a beautiful room set to beautiful music. In fact, there seems to be only one thing that sets this video apart from thousands of other videos posted to YouTube—the yogini in this video is wearing her underwear!!!
If case you haven’t contributed to the million page views the video has received since it was posted earlier this month, go ahead and take a look.
If case you haven’t contributed to the million page views the video has received since it was posted earlier this month, go ahead and take a look.
Like it ? Critics have taken aim at yoga teacher/model Briohny Kate Smyth and fitness chain Equinox, who created the video, saying that the sexualized message the video sends isn’t what yoga is all about. Last week Smyth responded to the criticism in an interview with Kathryn Budig, who has herself been the center of a similar controversy for her racy images in ToeSox ads :
The intention was to emphasize Smyth’s physique, but it was also to inspire others to practice yoga. “Equinox is not afraid to be sexy, as you can see in our ad campaigns,” said Miersch. “We like to be provocative, but provocative with a purpose–she’s not just walking around in her underwear in the video, but she’s showing her amazing, strong, yoga body.”explained Equinox’s Editorial Manager Liz Miersch.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Why Need Headphone for MRI Scanning?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of organs and structures inside the body. It is used to find problems such as tumors, bleeding, injury, blood vessel diseases, or infection.
For an MRI test, the area of the body being studied is placed inside a special machine that contains a strong magnet. Here is a video showing how MRI scanning is conducted:
For an MRI test, the area of the body being studied is placed inside a special machine that contains a strong magnet. Here is a video showing how MRI scanning is conducted:
During the test, patient is required to wear on headphone because of the loud noise generated. What creates the loud noise? Do you know or bother to ask?
Check out this video for the answer:
Scary & Eye Opening? Definitely YES to LohZhong!
Saturday, September 1, 2012
The Real KungFu Panda!
I beg most of you haven't seen how Panda pees, here it is:
Impressed with the way it pee? I wondered why can't it raise its leg and just pee, just like the dog? why must it raise itself up on the tree only then urine hard?
no wonder animal is still animal, never use its brain to think!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
I wish I can Own one by 40!
FOR 130 years, the name Seiko has been synonymous with passion and perfection in the world of watchmaking. It all began in 1881, when Kintaro Hattori established his company in Kyobashi, Tokyo.
Last Year I wasn't able to visit the Seiko 130th Anniversary Roadshow at Mid Valley Megamall but luckily this year there was something similar held in Mid Valley again recently.
Seiko mechanical watches are highly prized by collectors—from the Seiko "5" series (the 5 reflects the five essential features of the watch, namely shock resistant, water resistant, automatic, and day and date display), which is the most common, to the highly prized luxury "Credor," "King Seiko," and "Grand Seiko" lines.
The reason for the uniqueness of Grand Seiko and its exorbitant price tag is because of its super precised engineering on the polished edges which naturally reflects the sunlight thus making the watch shines effortlessly, without the need of gemstones that usually used in the European watches! Got it?
By the way, I did notice the exhibition didn't attract very strong crowd as seen in this :
probably they didn't adopt the Good Marketing Practice which is very much followed by the PC Fairs across the country.
compared to........
:-)
Last Year I wasn't able to visit the Seiko 130th Anniversary Roadshow at Mid Valley Megamall but luckily this year there was something similar held in Mid Valley again recently.
As usual, my inclination is to talk about the best of the best only-the Grand Seiko!
Besides Grand Seiko, it is also the first time that Malaysians are given the honor to see the world's first GPS Seiko:
Though sounds very technologically advanced to me but it just simply not elegant enough. I prefer the more subtle and classic type,like this one-the Grand Seiko(s)
which one is nicer? ORIS or GS? |
Nevertheless, my fav piece of GS was not on display unfortunately...
By the way, I did notice the exhibition didn't attract very strong crowd as seen in this :
probably they didn't adopt the Good Marketing Practice which is very much followed by the PC Fairs across the country.
:-)
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Apple: why doesn't it employ more US workers?
I was attracted to an article with title above in the Guardian today, the info is eye-opening to me, if not shocking. I'd think it will be the same to you.
For your conveniences sake, let me summarise the points here:
1. Back in 2011, Barack Obama asked Steve Jobs why Apple products could not be made in the US. The most admired man in Silicon Valley was reportedly blunt: "Those jobs aren't coming back."
2. The wildly popular 4G iPhone assembled in China, the total cost of putting together just one phone was $178.45. Compare that with a sale price (including downloads) of $630 and Apple makes $452 on each phone: a whacking gross margin of 72%.
3. Chinese labour accounts for a tiny proportion of the company's costs: $7.10 for each phone. So what would it cost to make the same iPhone in America? The average wage in the US electronics industry of $21 per hour and calculated that the total production cost would increase to $337.01. That is a big jump – but it still leaves Apple with a gross margin of 46.5% on each iPhone – a level that Apple probably still make it the most profitable phone in the world.
In the case of Apple, outsourcing manufacturing is not about keeping costs to customers down – they are still paying huge prices for the latest handset or tablet computer. Nor is it about the company's survival: it would still do tremendously well were it to bring those factories back home.
So, why do you think Apple doesn't want to do iPhone in her country?
Answer: In the case of Apple, moving jobs offshore has become a way of directing ever more money to those at the top of American society.
Above conclusion is not from one or 2 parties, it is backed up by the Asian Development Bank. In a 2010 study of an earlier model of the iPhone, ADB researchers concluded: "It is the profit maximisation behaviour of Apple rather than competition that pushes Apple to have all iPhones assembled in the PRC."
Proof? Tim Cook, who is now CEO of Apple, announced a few weeks ago that he would begin buying back shares and paying dividends to investors. Among other people who benefited from this arrangement was Cook himself, who was awarded $376.3m in Apple stock when he took over last year. That pile of shares is now valued at around $634m!!!
The article also said this: For all the stylishness and sleekness of its products, the Apple business model is an unattractive and, over the long term, possibly an unsustainable one.
Apple's stock price dropped 10 percent last friday to US$573 from the all-time high of US$644 reached earlier in the month because of fears on its weaker sales for Qtr 2, to be announced on this Wednesday!
So, will Apple rot soon?
LohZhong used to be involved in couple of products/production transfer projects from Germany to China back in 2007-09. For his previous co, it was necessary for the transfer but then the company didn't make stellar earnings still! Could it be Mgmt's fault? He firmly believes so...
For your conveniences sake, let me summarise the points here:
1. Back in 2011, Barack Obama asked Steve Jobs why Apple products could not be made in the US. The most admired man in Silicon Valley was reportedly blunt: "Those jobs aren't coming back."
2. The wildly popular 4G iPhone assembled in China, the total cost of putting together just one phone was $178.45. Compare that with a sale price (including downloads) of $630 and Apple makes $452 on each phone: a whacking gross margin of 72%.
3. Chinese labour accounts for a tiny proportion of the company's costs: $7.10 for each phone. So what would it cost to make the same iPhone in America? The average wage in the US electronics industry of $21 per hour and calculated that the total production cost would increase to $337.01. That is a big jump – but it still leaves Apple with a gross margin of 46.5% on each iPhone – a level that Apple probably still make it the most profitable phone in the world.
In the case of Apple, outsourcing manufacturing is not about keeping costs to customers down – they are still paying huge prices for the latest handset or tablet computer. Nor is it about the company's survival: it would still do tremendously well were it to bring those factories back home.
So, why do you think Apple doesn't want to do iPhone in her country?
Answer: In the case of Apple, moving jobs offshore has become a way of directing ever more money to those at the top of American society.
Above conclusion is not from one or 2 parties, it is backed up by the Asian Development Bank. In a 2010 study of an earlier model of the iPhone, ADB researchers concluded: "It is the profit maximisation behaviour of Apple rather than competition that pushes Apple to have all iPhones assembled in the PRC."
Proof? Tim Cook, who is now CEO of Apple, announced a few weeks ago that he would begin buying back shares and paying dividends to investors. Among other people who benefited from this arrangement was Cook himself, who was awarded $376.3m in Apple stock when he took over last year. That pile of shares is now valued at around $634m!!!
The article also said this: For all the stylishness and sleekness of its products, the Apple business model is an unattractive and, over the long term, possibly an unsustainable one.
Apple's stock price dropped 10 percent last friday to US$573 from the all-time high of US$644 reached earlier in the month because of fears on its weaker sales for Qtr 2, to be announced on this Wednesday!
So, will Apple rot soon?
LohZhong used to be involved in couple of products/production transfer projects from Germany to China back in 2007-09. For his previous co, it was necessary for the transfer but then the company didn't make stellar earnings still! Could it be Mgmt's fault? He firmly believes so...
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
You know who he is?
"At the age of seven, a young boy and his family were forced out of their home. The boy had to work to support his family. At the age of nine, his mother passed away. When he grew up, the young man was keen to go to law school, but had no education.
At 22, he lost his job as a store clerk. At 23, he ran for state legislature and lost. The same year, he went into business. It failed, leaving him with a debt that took him 17 years to repay. At 27, he had a nervous breakdown.
Two years later, he tried for the post of speaker in his state legislature. He lost. At 31, he was defeated in his attempt to become an elector. By 35, he had been defeated twice while running for Congress. Finally, he did manage to secure a brief term in Congress, but at 39 he lost his re-election bid.
At 41, his four-year-old son died. At 42, he was rejected as a prospective land officer. At 45, he ran for the Senate and lost. Two years later, he lost the vice presidential nomination. At 49, he ran for Senate and lost again.
At 51, he was elected the President of the United States of America.
The man in question: Abraham Lincoln
No one likes to encounter failure and we often taught not to give up easily! Question is how many times of failure is considered the end for pursuing an interests?
Any advice?
LohZhong has been buying lottery for past 10 years, never one time he ever hit the jackport! So give up or not?
At 22, he lost his job as a store clerk. At 23, he ran for state legislature and lost. The same year, he went into business. It failed, leaving him with a debt that took him 17 years to repay. At 27, he had a nervous breakdown.
Two years later, he tried for the post of speaker in his state legislature. He lost. At 31, he was defeated in his attempt to become an elector. By 35, he had been defeated twice while running for Congress. Finally, he did manage to secure a brief term in Congress, but at 39 he lost his re-election bid.
At 41, his four-year-old son died. At 42, he was rejected as a prospective land officer. At 45, he ran for the Senate and lost. Two years later, he lost the vice presidential nomination. At 49, he ran for Senate and lost again.
At 51, he was elected the President of the United States of America.
The man in question: Abraham Lincoln
No one likes to encounter failure and we often taught not to give up easily! Question is how many times of failure is considered the end for pursuing an interests?
Any advice?
LohZhong has been buying lottery for past 10 years, never one time he ever hit the jackport! So give up or not?
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Talkkok.com is moving!
After 3 years of being hosted by private hosting co and seeing the pathetic earnings i have from nuffnang, i come to a conclusion on private blog hosting: 算了吧! (it means forget about it in English).
So, i decided to move talkkok.com officially to lohzhong.blogspot.com effective today. It is also sad to inform you guys that the domain talkkok.com will be expiring soon in anohter 30 over days as I wont be paying for the domain anymore!
So, if you got nothing better to do during your free time, just stop by and see what i have to say. Taking a cue from the famous (http://malaysiafinance.blogspot.com), i might adopt some elements of similarity (using non-post related photos) in my posts down the road on lohzhong.blogspot.com!
Yeah, why lohzhong? I learnt that in China people address VIP often as zhong (总) after their surnmae as a way of respect rather Mr. When i paired it with my surname: 羅总, it sounds overwhelming to me! So that gives the talkok.com blog a reborn : LohZhong.blogspot.com!
So, pls get used to this new name!
Last but not least, millions thanks to those who have clicked on the ads on talkkok.com! Kindly continue doing so on lohzhong.blogspot.com yeah!
Yours truly,
Lohzhong (formerly known as Talkkok)
LohZhong is fedup with ipad which can't allow him to update photo in this blog, any idea how to do it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)