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PREVIEW | Chesterfield v Yeovil Town
Glovers looking to pick up first points on the road
The Glovers head to Derbyshire looking to get off the mark away from home.
Having come away from their first four trips on the road empty handed, Town are looking to collect their first away league points of the campaign.
Darren Way's side comfortably beat Exeter City 3-1 at St James Park in the Checkatrade Trophy in August, so will be looking to correlate that performance into Sky Bet League Two on Tuesday night.
Having faced lowly Port Vale on Saturday and shared the spoils, Yeovil will take on a Chesterfield side who currently sit 23rd in the table.
A 2-1 defeat at home to Accrington Stanley two weekends ago saw manager Gary Caldwell sacked, seeing Guy Branston take caretaker charge at the Proact Stadium.
The switch didn't see an immediate response, as the Spireties lost 1-0 to promotion chasing Luton Town on Saturday.
Striker Kristian Dennis, plucked from non-league last summer, is the club's top scorer with four goals, while experienced strike partner Chris O'Grady has netted just once so far.
Chesterfield boast just one former Glover in striker Gozie Ugwu, who has spent time at Huish Park across two spells.
The Glovers are undefeated in their last four trips to the Proact Stadium.
Playing out a 0-0 draw in the last meeting between the two sides in 2014, Town's one victory in Derbyshire came in 2006, with an Arron Davies hat-trick confirming a 3-0 win.
Yeovil's last defeat at Chesterfield came 67 years ago, in a 3-1 FA Cup Third Round loss.
Tuesday's meeting will be the first match between the two sides since April 2015.
David Coote will be the man in the middle at Chesterfield.
It will the first time Mr. Coote has officiated a match involving the Glovers since October 2012, when he oversaw a 3-1 Town win at Shrewsbury.
Taking charge of 39 matches in the 2016/17 season, Mr. Coote awarded 127 yellow and seven red cards.
On Tuesday, Mr. Coote will be assisted by Nick Hopton and Adam Matthews, with Karl Evans acting as fourth official.
If you're unable to attend the game, live audio commentary is available via the iFollow Glovers service, with the monthly and season subscriptions offering full-match replays from Sunday.
A full match report will follow on YTFC.net at full-time with post-match reaction from the manager and a member of the playing staff following soon after.
Fans can still buy tickets in advance in person at the ticket office or by phone on 01935 847888. Tickets are also available on the day of the game. Prices can be found here.
Chesterfield vs Yeovil Town on 26 Sep 17


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Safeway moves to cut fraud with chip card system
Safeway is poised to become the first British retailer to roll out a "chip and pin" payment card system in its stores.
Mike Simons
Published: 25 Sep 2002 1:00
The supermarket chain will implement the new system at 8,000 tills in its 500 UK stores by the end of the year to reduce fraud and cut costs.
The Association for Payment Clearing Services (Apacs) estimated that fraud with the existing magnetic strip and signature cards hit £411m last year with fraud rates rising at 30% a year.
In a move to cut these levels of fraud, the banks, Apacs and the British Retail Consortium agreed a 2005 deadline for all in-store credit and debit card transactions to be authorised by a customer keying in a personal identification number. The technology has been available elsewhere in Europe for several years.
Colin Grannell, managing director of Visa UK, said: "Visa member banks [in the UK] have already issued more than 20 million chip cards, and we estimate that at least 80% of payment cards will be both chip and PIN-based by mid-2004."
Safeway will work with IBM Global Services to implement EMV (Europay, Mastercard, Visa) chip card technology, which is already widely used across Europe.
"Safeway recognised that there was a solution that would work and saw the many advantages of implementing it sooner rather than later," said Ric Francis, chief information officer at the supermarket chain.
In addition to reducing fraud, the system will create savings by reducing the amount of administration needed at the point of sale by removing the need for store signed copies of receipts.
The increased level of security that smart cards bring also means that the potential exists for retailers to expand the use of unattended and self-scanning payment terminals.
In a related announcement, IBM Global Services is to offer asset monitoring and security-identity services based on chip cards and "smart chips" that send out radio signals.
The services will help companies remotely monitor the condition of fixed assets, such as pipelines and also track goods in transit.
John Kirby, vice-president of Global Wireless e-Business services at IBM Global Services, said: "Smart chips have been around for some time, but in the past six months demand has ramped up significantly."
Visa blames hardware failure for UK-wide card payment system outage
By: Caroline Donnelly
Visa card payments system goes down across the UK and Ireland
Mastercard calls for global online payments standard
By: Karl Flinders
Visa reports EMV chip cards thwart fraud, but criminals adapting
By: Peter Loshin
Anti-fraud chip and pin trial poised for launch – ComputerWeekly.com
Retailers use trial lessons to prepare for national ... – ComputerWeekly.com
Visa reports EMV chip cards thwart fraud, but ... – SearchSecurity

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Automation and Control Engineering, M.Sc.
Control Engineering and Robotics, M.Sc.
Instrumentation and Control Engineering / PgDip, M.Sc.
Control and Instrumentation Engineering, M.Eng.
Control and Automation Engineering, M.Sc.


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by Casey Carey
Gwyneth's sex therapist Michaela Boehm will see you now
YOU Magazine
Published 08.18.19
Michaela Boehm is the woman famous for putting the va-va-voom into Gwyneth Paltrow's marriage (separate homes works a treat, seemingly). So what's her advice for the rest of us? Martha Hayes books a consultation.
'Can you imagine arguing with your husband in the car, and when you get out to go to Starbucks, you're still pi**ed off with each other?' says Michaela Boehm, intimacy and relationship expert to the stars. 'Now imagine doing that when you're famous and everybody knows your business and is going, "Hahaha, they're breaking up". It's horrible. I'm well suited to this job because I don't leak information. I keep people's s*** private.' This is the wild-haired, mild-mannered Austrian guru's way of reminding me that the sex life of her most high-profile client, Gwyneth Paltrow, is off limits. The actress may have recently outed Michaela as the secret to keeping the spark in her marriage – she and her husband of nearly a year, director Brad Falchuk, live in separate houses – but Michaela, 51, is as discreet as if her livelihood depended on it. Which, in many ways, it does.
'I can't tell you anything specific about anybody, unless they tell you about it,' she explains, pouring coffee and laying out a bowl of fresh peaches picked from the orchard when I arrive at her organic farm in Ojai, California. 'My very first celebrity client was so high profile, I was brought in under a blanket in the back of a chauffeured car.'
For all her discretion, Michaela is brilliant company. Wafting along her garden path like an earth mother with a love of swearing and an infectious cackle, she's as keen to advise me on my own marriage as she is to show me the garden she curated to keep herself 'sane' after wild fires in 2017 nearly destroyed her home. I'm so mesmerised by the kaleidoscope of exotic blooms, echinacea plants and lavender, I don't notice the donkeys at first. 'That's Elio and Luna,' says Michaela, who also keeps chickens, pigs, goats, dogs, a cat and a tortoise. 'I don't have children by choice.'
Her high-profile clients – who include Grammy-winning musicians, film producers and business pioneers – have been coming and going from this farm, which boasts a teaching studio and guest house, for more than a decade. Before settling here in 2008 with her husband of 17 years, Michaela ran a busy practice in West Hollywood. But having clocked up more than 40,000 hours of counselling, she's more selective these days.
She now sees just ten clients, and spends the rest of her time consulting and taking her workshops all over the world. Why do the rich and famous – or, as she describes them, 'high performance' – enlist her help and why does that fascinate the rest of us?
'The interesting thing about fame is that it destroys those who are not able to handle it,' she says. 'If you have the ability to go the distance, you become something of a trailblazer – you have to be on the cutting edge to stay ahead.'
From vaginal steaming to conscious uncoupling, no one could accuse Gwyneth of not living on the cutting edge. 'That people could stay friends after they break up? That was never heard of until Gwyneth,' says Michaela. 'My husband's ex-wife was my maid of honour – why not? They were already divorced when I met him. She always said that her giving him away in his next marriage freed her and she felt as though she could fully move on.'
Did Michaela herself invent the famous – and widely ridiculed – term Gwyneth and her former husband, Coldplay's Chris Martin, used to describe their 2014 separation? 'Conscious uncoupling was a term out of a book,' she clarifies. 'I wasn't working with her then. That wasn't my thing.'
Michaela instead promotes the polarity principle: creating erotic tension by deliberately separating yourself from your partner, instead of the unsexy reality of living in each other's pockets until you almost become the same person. But her idea that couples should take as much space as they need for their lives to be both functional and their relationship exciting invites cynicism – after all, who can afford two houses? 'This is the thing everyone is clamouring about, "Gwyneth and Brad are living in separate houses. How bizarre." Er… no, they are not normal people; they can afford to live separately. Also they have children from other marriages. For most people, not spending every free moment together has the same result.
'In the UK, in particular, there is a whole culture around men going away with men, women going on vacation with women, and having separate interests. Living apart is an extreme example of a very simple remedy. You don't even have to sleep in separate rooms; try having one room where all the stuff that you like is in and another for your partner.'
Michaela's own 'she shed', pride of place in the garden in psychedelic shades of pink and purple, is impossible to miss. 'I'm a crazy colour lady; [my husband] likes things that are zen and white.' The couple live in separate properties on the farm and Michaela estimates that she's on the road eight months of the year, so she certainly practises what she preaches.
'I found I got more irritated and short-fused when we spent too much time together,' she explains. 'Then I would go away, and it was like, "Oh." Looking at the principles of polarity, we just figured, "Let's try separate rooms", then we'd say, "Hey, my room or yours?" It was so cool.'
Michaela left Austria for the US when she was 27 and on the rebound from a failed relationship. Long story short: 'This was the beginning of raves and ecstasy and my clean-cut soon-to-be husband became a raging drug addict. I had the wherewithal to go, "this is bad news" and I pulled the plug.'
Where did she get the courage to do that? 'I was definitely brought up well. I'm probably one of the few psychologists who wasn't f***** up by their parents,' she laughs. 'Mine have been married for 53 years and still have a spark; I learned a lot of the things I'm now teaching people from them. My father had a very stressful job and he would come home from work, greet us then go into his bedroom for an hour to himself so he could transition from work to family. There was no breaking that rule unless it was an emergency.'
In theory, Michaela's teachings – outlined in her book The Wild Woman's Way: Unlock Your Full Potential for Pleasure, Power and Fulfilment – pull apart the modern relationship model as we know it. 'When two people get together, opposites attract so it's sexy and exciting. When they move in together, commonality builds. The more you have in common, the less sexually exciting it is,' she explains. 'The problem is, people think waning sexual attraction is a relationship issue. It's not; it's a physics issue. It's not a death sentence, but it's also not inevitable. It is laziness on one side and lack of education on the other.'
I tell her that last night my husband (of less than three years) and I were in our 'comfy clothes' by 8pm, curled up in front of the telly with a bowl of pasta. That's what's meant by 'Netflix and chill' in our house. 'Sometimes, there's nothing wrong with that,' she reassures me. 'It becomes a problem if that's the norm, and you no longer have something to say to each other. At that moment, remember what worked when you dated and didn't spend all your time together.'
I think I'm not alone in wondering how much sex is 'enough'. Should we be tallying up each week? 'I don't think there is a fixed number, it's how both people feel. If you've just had a child or you're highly stressed, you're probably not going to want sex at all. The amount varies widely within a long-term relationship. It's the qualitative aspect of how excited you are to engage with your partner.'
So if the waning of sexual attraction in a healthy relationship is preventable, how do we tackle a loss of libido in later years and is there a future-proof method? 'A lack of libido is to do with there being so much noise in your system that you can't hear the subtler sounds – like being at a rock concert – and pleasure is only a whisper,' she says. 'They say the "turn-on" happens in the brain – nah, not really. You have to be able to feel your body.'
In order to do that, we must differentiate between our 'go' mode (which we use at work) and 'flow' mode (what we need for sexual pleasure). 'When you've had eight hours of "go", "flow" isn't going to happen naturally. But all you need to do is some hip circles. Ten minutes of wiggling about will get you back in the body. You could sit in your office chair to do that.'
And she's not a huge fan of sex toys. 'A vibrator is no substitute for getting to know your body. When you're constantly using other stimuli, you are desensitising the body, so the subtle pleasure that is always there isn't available. Say zero is feeling nothing and 100 is an orgasm. You come home from work, and now you're supposed to have an orgasm? We need to be warmed up. Music helps, as does smell, so have a hand cream in the car for your commute. That way you're starting at 50.
'Then, let's say you decide, "I'm not going to put the pyjamas on tonight." Go in the bathroom, have a shower, put on some oil and play some music; now you're at 80. From there, it doesn't feel so horrendously un-doable, does it?'
No, it doesn't. And with that, she packs me off with a copy of her book and a wiggle in my step. Now, where's that hand cream?
Michaela's secrets for keeping the passion alive
1. Spend time apart
If two people are together all the time, they depolarise and there's no longer friction. You need to exist in opposite spaces for there to be friction, which is good. You can re-create this by spending enough time apart so that when you come back together there's a freshness.
TIP: When you come home from work, spend 15 minutes apart. Try having a shower, watching TV or taking the dog for a walk so you reset, before coming back together in a romantic sense.
2. Be disciplined
People make an effort to have a date night and get dressed up – then look at their phone during dinner and suddenly it's, 'Did you remember to buy milk?' That's an in-front-of-the-TV conversation.
TIP: Introduce boundaries, such as 'no phones in the bedroom'. Have regular meetings to sort out trivial, logistical stuff so that when you have a date night you can talk about other things.
3. Have your own interests
You need to have interests outside the relationship. The easiest way to do that is by reading and trying new things so that when you come home it sparks conversation. Doing things that are out of the ordinary is the best thing for keeping sex alive.
TIP: Usually sit on the sofa? Take a blanket out into the garden. Routine is the killer of excitement, so all you need to do is mix things up.
4. Don't touch
If you touch each other all the time, subconsciously it will no longer be exciting when your partner actively touches you, because you're so used to it.
TIP: If you're a bit bored sexually, one of the easiest ways to get excited again is to not touch or kiss for a couple of days before a date night. In a short period of time that will make your body go 'woooo!'


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Most Canadians Have Favourable View of UK, Split on USA
January 10, 2020 January 7, 2020 By Mario Canseco
Fewer than one-in-five Canadians have a positive opinion of Saudi Arabia, Iran and North Korea.
Vancouver, BC [January 10, 2020] – More than four-in-five Canadians hold a favourable opinion of the United Kingdom, but just under half feel the same way about the United States, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample, 83% of Canadians have a positive view of the United Kingdom.
At least seven-in-ten Canadians hold positive opinions on four other nations: Germany (73%), Italy (72%), Japan (also 72%) and France (70%). More than half of Canadians (52%) have a positive view of South Korea.
Canadians are split when assessing the United States, with 47% saying they have a positive opinion of the country and 48% stating they have a negative one.
Canadian men are more likely to have a positive opinion of the United States than Canadian women (50% to 42%). Canadians aged 18-to-34 are also more likely to hold favourable views on the United States (53%) than their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (43%) and 55 and over (45%).
"A majority of Canadians who voted for the Conservative Party in last year's federal election (64%) have a positive opinion of the United States," says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. "The numbers are decidedly lower among Canadians who voted for the Liberals (42%) or the New Democrats (31%) last year."
Just under half of Canadians (46%) have a positive view of Mexico, while more than a third (36%) have a positive opinion of India and three-in-ten (30%) have a favourable view of Venezuela.
Just over one-in-four Canadians have a positive opinion of China (27%) and Russia (26%), while more than three-in-five (61%) have a negative view of each country.
In the specific case of China, the proportion of positive opinions varies greatly around the country: 29% in Atlantic Canada, Ontario and Quebec, 28% in Alberta, 22% in British Columbia and 17% in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Fewer than one-in-five Canadians have a positive view of Saudi Arabia (17%), Iran (14%) and North Korea (11%).
Results are based on an online study conducted from December 18 to December 20, 2019, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Find our full data set here and download the press release here.
For more information on this poll, please contact:
Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
[c] 778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca
Lifestyle, Politics, Public Policy Canada
Ontarians and Albertans Dismayed by Their Current Premiers
January 8, 2020 January 7, 2020 By Mario Canseco
More than half of residents of each province say they would be "better off" with a different person in charge.
Vancouver, BC [January 8, 2020] – As a debate over national unity continues in Canada, a large proportion of Albertans and Ontarians are dissatisfied with their current provincial heads of government, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample, 52% of Canadians believe their province would be better off with a different premier in charge.
The proportion of residents who are unhappy with their provincial head of government is highest in Ontario (60%), Alberta (57%), Atlantic Canada (52%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (also 52%). Fewer than half of residents of Quebec (44%) and British Columbia (42%) feel the same way.
In addition, 50% of Canadians believe their province would be better off with a different Prime Minister in Ottawa.
Majorities of residents of Alberta (65%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (59%), British Columbia (53%) and Ontario (51%) believe their province would be better off with someone other than Justin Trudeau in charge of the federal government. Fewer than half of those living in Atlantic Canada (48%) and Quebec (38%) concur.
One-in-four Canadians (25%) believe their province would be better off as its own country, including 40% of residents of both Alberta and Quebec.
Separatist sentiment in Alberta has increased by 10 points since a Research Co. survey conducted in July 2019 and by six points in Quebec since a Research Co. survey conducted in October 2018.
Finally, 16% of Canadians say their province would be better off joining the U.S. and becoming an American state—a feeling that is more pronounced in Alberta (22%) and Quebec (20%).
"The level of disagreement with the notion of a province joining the United States is highest among Canadians aged 55 and over at 87%," says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. "The numbers also amount to a majority among Canadians aged 35-to-54 (71%) and Canadians aged 18-to-34 (66%)."
Politics Canada
More Than Seven-in-Ten British Columbians Endorse Housing Taxes
Almost half of residents think these actions will be effective in making housing more affordable in the province.
Vancouver, BC [January 3, 2020] – The "speculation tax" introduced by the Government of British Columbia is still backed by a sizeable proportion of the province's residents, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 76% of British Columbians agree with the implementation of the "speculation tax" in specific urban areas targeting foreign and domestic homeowners who pay little or no income tax in BC, and those who own second properties that aren't long-term rentals.
The survey outlines an eight-point increase in agreement with the "speculation tax" since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in March 2019.
"Agreement with this particular tax is strong among voters of all three major political parties in the province," says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. "It encompasses 86% for those who voted for the BC New Democratic Party (NDP) in 2017, as well as 75% of those who cast ballots for candidates from the BC Liberals and the BC Green Party."
More than three-in-four British Columbians agree with two other policies: Increasing the foreign buyers tax from 15% to 20% (77%, -3) and expanding the foreign buyers tax to areas located outside of Metro Vanncouver (also 77%, +2).
Agreement is also strong with two other measures: increasing the property transfer tax from 3% to 5% for homes valued at more than $3 million. The 5% portion only applies to the value greater than $3 million (72%, +8) and introducing a tax of 0.2% on the value of homes between $3 million and $4 million, and a tax rate of 0.4% on the portion of a home's value that exceeds $4 million (also 72%, +6).
Across the province, 49% of residents think the actions of the provincial government will be "effective", in making housing more affordable in British Columbia, while 39% consider they will be "ineffective."
There is a pronounced regional divide on this question. While majorities of residents of Northern BC (56%) and Metro Vancouver (52%) think the provincial government's actions will help make housing more affordable, the proportion is lower in the Fraser Valley (45%), Vancouver Island (44%) and Southern BC (40%).
Results are based on an online study conducted from December 12 to December 16, 2019, among 800 adults in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Housing, Politics, Public Policy British Columbia
Two Thirds of British Columbians Unaffected by Carbon Tax
November 6, 2019 November 5, 2019 By Mario Canseco
Residents are divided on whether the goal of making people more mindful of their carbon consumption has been achieved.
Vancouver, BC [November 6, 2019] – Most British Columbians believe the provincial carbon tax—originally implemented on July 1, 2008—has not been detrimental to their domestic assets, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 66% of British Columbians believe that the provincial carbon tax has not negatively affected the finances of their household, while one-in-five (21%) think it has.
Men (28%) are more likely to believe that the carbon tax has negatively affected their household finances than women (15%). Residents aged 18-to-34 are also more likely to have an adverse opinion on this issue (26%) than those aged 35-to-54 (20%) and those aged 55 and over (15%).
When asked if they think the introduction of the carbon tax in British Columbia has led people to be more mindful of their carbon consumption, residents of the province are deeply divided.
While 45% of British Columbians believe the carbon tax has led people to change their behaviour, 44% disagree and 13% are undecided.
"Residents of Northern BC (63%) are more likely to believe that the carbon tax has made residents more mindful," says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. "The numbers are significantly lower in the Fraser Valley (45%), Southern BC (44%), Metro Vancouver (43%) and Vancouver Island (42%)."
Results are based on an online study conducted from October 25 to October 28, 2019, among 800 adult British Columbians. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia. The margin of error — which measures sample variability — is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Environment, Politics, Public Policy British Columbia
Half of Canadian Voters Are Open to Proportional Representation
November 1, 2019 October 29, 2019 By Mario Canseco
Two-in-five would welcome implementing the mixed member system for the next election to the House of Commons.
Vancouver, BC [November 1, 2019] – A significant proportion of Canadian voters would be open to conducting the next federal ballot under a different electoral system, a new Research Co. "exit poll" has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample of Canadians who cast a ballot in this year's federal election, 51% of respondents would agree to elect all members of the House of Commons through party-list proportional representation.
Under this system, parties make lists of candidates to be elected, and seats get allocated to each party in accordance with the number of total votes the party receives.
Majorities of voters in Quebec and Alberta (58% in each province) would be open to electing their Members of Parliament this way. Party-list proportional representation would also be endorsed by 59% of voters aged 18-to-34.
Views on the mixed member proportional representation system are more nuanced, with 39% of Canadian voters agreeing with its implementation for elections to the House of Commons. Just under three-in-ten (28%) disagree and a 33% are undecided.
Under this system, a hybrid method is utilized with the first-past-the-post system for a portion of the legislature, and party-list proportional representation for a another.
Respondents were also asked how they would have voted if the most recent Canadian election had been held under each one of these systems.
In an election held with party-list proportional representation, the Conservative Party would have finished in first place with the support of 33% of decided voters, followed by the Liberal Party with 32%, the New Democratic Party (NDP) with 18%, the Green Party and the Bloc Québécois each with 6%, and the People's Party with 4%.
"While the level of support does not change dramatically for the five parties that will be represented in the incoming House of Commons under the party-list proportional representation system, there are some differences," says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. "Support for the Liberals is slightly higher in British Columbia than it was on Election Day, and in Ontario, the Conservatives would fare significantly better."
When asked who would get their party vote under a mixed member proportional representation system, a third of decided voters (34%) would support the Liberal list, followed by the Conservatives with 31%, the New Democrats with 17%, the Greens with 7%, the Bloc with 6% and the People's Party with 3%.
In a mixed member election, Liberals and Conservatives would retain practically nine-in-ten of their voters under the first-past-the-post system for the other portion of the legislature.
Results are based on an online study conducted from October 20 to October 21, 2019, among 803 adults in Canada who voted in the federal election. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Elections, Politics, Public Policy Canada
Alberta (5) British Columbia (62) Canada (65) Manitoba (2) Metro Vancouver (27) Ontario (3) Quebec (5) United States (6)


I am experimenting with the Google JSON API by writing a back end service. My intent is to re-use the available client libraries to communicate with my service. I need to test my implementation, and the mechanics of it all to understand how it works. I used an existing simple Google service to see how the client would interact with it.
I wanted to mock the Google service quickly, so I started with Sinatra. I implemented HTTPS support just because – not strictly necessary for this experiment. I had to hack up the Google service document schema to redirect all URIs from www.googleapis.com to localhost, and I made a few edits to the Google ruby client to override the default port.
Sinatra is configured to response with Hello World! when issuing an HTTP GET request to http://localhost:4567/. All other HTTP GET requests simply respond with URI requested. HTTP POST requests echo the data back to the client in the payload.
I pieced this script together by crawling StackOverflow posts, and reading documentation.


When I initially wrote this overview, I wrote based mostly on other folks opinions, because did not had the change to get the game totally free obtain and make it working. Let's set the scene: Virginia and I are making ready to move in together in actual life, so I assumed it could be enjoyable to duplicate that have in The Sims 4. I created our likenesses, bought us a home, and received us jobs—writer for me (of course), legal for her.
In a pleasant contact, while you're creating your Sim you'll be able to assign feminine traits to masculine characters and vice versa, as well as mixing and matching clothing and cosmetic choices. I believe that Simmers will love this pack as you get a variety of things to do and particularly the brand new world itself is superb!
The Sims 4 seems barren of content and options by comparison, particularly with regard to the severely restricted scope of the world and frequent (however a lot shorter) loading screens and noticeable absence of toddlers, pools, and automobiles.
I do love the brand new art model and like how the sport runs extra easily than three did and I believe the emotions system is a cool concept in idea, however I feel lots of issues are truthfully too simple for me in four. The feelings are straightforward to control so they do not feel as genuine and I can get relationships up fairly shortly and marry somebody just about in a day or two if I really need and it feels like it used to take more work before.
It is an effective way to reward the participant for the time put into The Sims 4 and feeds that itch for completed development. Create new Sims with intelligence and emotion. It has been a very long time coming, but The Sims is finally available on console. Equally, if a Sim takes a steamy bathe, they are going to come out feeling all flirty, opening up some exclusive options to seduce the Sim of their selection.
This model new function is a great tool for The Sims 4 because it incorporates the Trade from The Sims three into the game itself. The sound division can also be pretty weak, with the near nonexistent soundtrack being the weakest of all core Sims video games.
The only situation is that the movement and buttons make building take at least double the time it might normally tackle the PC. I legit made the same house at half the time on LAPTOP than I did on the console. Throughout these events an NPC called Jasmine Holiday visits your city with challenges that, when accomplished, award special items or grant a particular stat enhance on your Sims.
Within the earlier titles, the extra publish-release content material was a approach for The Sims to play with outrageous themes and ideas that couldn't, for no matter reason, be included with the bottom game. Except for the very first The Sims recreation from manner back within the day, I have not performed one in a really long time.
I might like to see their tackle life sims. Many gamers will inform you it is time for EA to return out with a brand new Sims game, but I disagree. PlayStation 4 or Xbox One isn't perfectly suited to how the sport capabilities, nevertheless. Flat out, just how fun the game is to play.
The UI hasn't been altered an excessive amount of from the LAPTOP model, but it surely's clear that Maxis have put in the effort to make it possible for the sport stays as accessible as attainable, regardless of being tethered to a controller. This time around, there is a a lot heavier emphasis on the emotional standing of Sims.
Despite all of the core recreation engine updates, the sport's ultimate flaw is that it seems like there's not a lot content material to actually use it with. Whilst the console version does rival its LAPTOP counterpart in some ways, there is one thing that it is sorely lacking: user-created content material.
Whereas the console version, as it currently stands, has so many small bugs, irritations, glitches and nothing new that you end up with an experience that's much more frustrating than it is fun. I mean, I know you will get some replay value out of what is there, but after I did a aspect-by-aspect comparison with Sims 3 to get some thought about options, I nearly fell off my seat.
The first time I seriously performed a Sims sport was simply four weeks in the past, when EA invited me to the campus so I might spend the day playing the Beta model of the fourth in the series. Providing the roles of architect, carpenter and engineer all at the identical time, The Sims four has a splendidly properly-designed interface for house and store construction.
You too can specify other particulars like how feminine or masculine your character will likely be, their walk, how they work together with other Sims by means of personality kind and traits, as well as their aspirations in life. Permits Sims to create Vampires with completely different powers and weaknesses.


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All Guadagnini articles
Premium ❘ Feature
In focus: a 1929 violin by Paolo Guadagnini
Richard Ward examines an instrument by the last member of the Guadagnini dynasty
Premium ❘ Gallery
From the Archive: a violin by J.B. Guadagnini
This illustration of a violin by J.B. Guadagnini was published in The Strad, September 1937. The following text is extracted from the article accompanying the photographs
One of two by the maker owned by Adolph Brodsky, it has a good claim to being the one on which he premiered the Tchaikovsky concerto, writes Stewart Pollens
New record set for G.B. Guadagnini at London auction
The 'Sinzheimer' violin pushes past $2m mark in Tarisio auction, breaking previous record for maker set in 2016
Anastasia Kobekina plays prelude from Bach Cello Suite no.6
Russian cellist Anastasia Kobekina performs the prelude from Bach's sixth cello suite. Kobekina is a Moscow Conservatory and Kronberg Academy graduate and currently studies with Jens Peter Maintz at the Berlin University of the Arts. Kobekina plays a 1743 G. B. Guadagnini cello, which is on loan to her ...
From the archive: double basses by Montagnana, Rocca, Guadagnini and Panormo
These photos were published in the February 1991 issue of The Strad in a focus on the double bass, including a interviews with Barry Guy, and Samuel Barry Kolstein, a profile of the Ouchard bass bow making workshop, and a tribute to Towry Piper whose 1911 articles for ...
Clare Howick on finding inspiration in the personalities of the 'Maurin' Stradivarius and 'DeLay' Guadagnini
Like many violinists I have had the occasional opportunity to play on some lovely violins. For example, for my recently released recital disc, British Music for Violin and Piano, I was fortunate to play on the 'Dorothy DeLay' Guadagnini (1778), and for my forthcoming world premiere recording ...
From the archive: A violin by G. B. Guadagnini, 1743, in the context of booming auction results
This photo was published in the January 1989 issue of The Strad as part of a round-up of London auction sales the previous November – Robert Lewin, a contributor to the Strad for over 40 years, diagnosed 'violin fever'
Eivind Holtsmark Ringstad plays Vieuxtemps' Élégie
Norwegian violist Eivind Holtsmark Ringstad is a current BBC New Generation Artist and a former winner of the Eurovision Young Musician competition (2012). Here he plays Vieuxtemps' Élégie op.30 with pianist David Meier. Holtsmark Ringstad plays a 1768 Guadagnini viola on loan from Dextra Musica, the musical ...
Violinist Dmitri Kogan dead at 38
Scion of Russian musical dynasty with international touring career dies of lymphatic cancer
Jeff Bradetich's instruments: a 250-year-old Guadagnini and a modern bass made of old wood
The American double bass soloist talks about how each instrument fulfils different needs. Interview by Maggie Williams
From the archive: a 1748 Guadagnini cello
These photos were published in the November 1988 issue of The Strad along with an interview with the cello's owner, Gilberto Munguía
Ellinor D'Melon plays Mozart Violin Concerto no.5, 3rd movement
In this video, 15-year-old Ellinor D'Melon plays the Mozart's Violin Concerto no.5 (3rd movement) with Freixenet Symphony Orchestra of the Queen Sofía College of Music in Madrid under conductor Zubin Mehta. D'Melon was born in Kingston, Jamaica, beginning violin lessons at the age of two and a half. She ...
The Strad September 2017 issue
is out now
Celebrated American violin tutor Dorothy DeLay remembered by former students, including Itzhak Perlman and Philippe Quint
Guadagnini back in action in the hands of Daniel Auner
Young Viennese violinist has been loaned 1752 Milan-period instrument by National Bank of Austria collection
There is a tiger inside this instrument': Sol Gabetta talks about her newly acquired cello
The Strad's August 2016 cover star speaks about adjusting to playing a c.1725 Gofriller, after twelve years with her beloved Guadagnini
Was Maud Powell's famous Guadagnini violin actually a modern instrument?
Joseph Curtin examines the evidence – and the violin itself – to discover whether the American luthier George Gemünder was its actual maker
Ex-Havemeyer' Guadagnini cello sells for record breaking $1.5m
The instrument was sold through Tarisio Auctions in New York on 12 May
From the Archive: a violin by J.B. Guadagnini, Turin, 1780, the 'Louis Spohr'
This illustration of the 'Louis Spohr' Guadagnini was published in The Strad, March 1962. The following text is extracted from the article accompanying the photographs: The J.B. Guadagnini illustrated is one of the finest specimens of this maker's Turin works in existence. Like the best Guadagnini violins of the Turin ...
From the Archive: a violin by Carlo Guadagnini, Turin, 1806
An illustration of a violin by Carlo Guadagnini published in The Strad, September 1961


The Kuman Thong or Divine Golden Boy represents the spirit of an unborn child. Traditional Thai Animists believe the small statue will bring good luck and fortune to the owner if properly revered and cared for.
Kuman in ancient Pali language means "young boy" and Thong means "golden", hence the term Divine Golden Boy.


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Ir al contenido principal About MACBA Support for the Museum Tickets Become a Friend Subscribe to newsletter
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This solo exhibition of Jaume Plensa at MACBA offers a broad overview of the work of one of the Catalan sculptors with the widest international profile. Awarded the National Visual Arts Prize of the Generalitat (1997), the Velazquez Prize for Visual Arts of the Ministry of Education and Culture (2013) and the City of Barcelona Prize (2015), among others, he is recognised worldwide for his public works in cities such as Chicago, London, Montreal, Nice, Tokyo, Toronto and Vancouver.
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Q: Graffiti CMS: Search Custom Fields I am trying to figure out a way to search through posts' custom fields. Basically, what I need is to find a post where post.CustomField1 == "some value"
I've searched and searched and been digging through the Graffiti CMS source code (graffiticms.codeplex.com) and can't figure out how I would do this.

A: As EJB said, the solution varies with where you want to implement the search.
If you want to find a post with a particular custom field value, searching on just the posts displayed on the current page (such as index.view or a category view) you could do it with Chalk in a template like this:
#foreach($post in $posts)
  #if($post.Custom("CustomField1") == "some value")
    display or do something with $post
  #end
#end

You could also use the API to iterate through ALL posts and check for the custom value. Unfortunately Graffiti CMS doesn't have a built-in method to query the database for posts based on a specific custom field value.
However you could use the built-in Lucene-based search engine. If you want to enable searching for a particular custom field value using search, you'd need to make a couple tweaks to the source code in the Graffiti.Core.SearchIndex class. In the CreateDocument method add the custom field value to the indexed Document like this:
doc.Add(Field.Text("CustomField1", t.Custom("CustomField1") ?? string.Empty));

Then in the GetQueryParser method add that key to the list of fields to search on:
return new MultiFieldQueryParser(new string[] { "body", "title", "CustomField1" }, a);

With the two changes above, you'd be able to do a search for "some value" and have it return any posts with CustomField1 value of that.
Hope that helps!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Apple Strategy Management
by Essay Examples December 18, 2021, 5:07 am 2k Views
Formerly called Apple Computer system, Apple Inc. has effectively became an efficient company in a competitive consumer electronic units trade. The firm managed to outsell others by being innovative and separating its merchandise via superior service requirements and high quality products. To ensure requirements are met, Apple outsourced its manufacturing to a trusted third celebration digital units producing enterprise, Foxconn Innovation. Over the earlier few years, the smart gadget market is transferring towards commoditization. This resulted in intense competition the place continuous innovation is required to endure its enterprise marketability.
Apple's strategic capabilities corresponding to having personalized hardware/software systems has truly made it potential for the company to position itself in regard to worth, rarity, inimitability and non-substitution. Nevertheless, to proceed acquiring its market share as the very best cell phone, the corporation could require to examine its company viability, so as to maintain its market leadership in the market. This strategic evaluation and assessment report will therefore examine Apple's efficiency and sustainability by way of using organisation degree strategies prior to strategic recommendations are chosen.
In order for Apple to continually preserve its market position, the corporation may have to consider its firm suitability similar to its tactical direction. Through market advancement, the company can enhance its presence in new market sections. There is a requirement to examine out its R&D (Research Study & & Advancement), in order that brand-new products with distinctive capabilities can progressively developed. Table of Contents
Intro (300words) 372
Apple Inc. is a technological enterprise that had really achieved excellent success in creating, producing and selling its massive range of merchandise classes including Mac, IPad, IPod and IPhone, which brings innovations in computer methods, media pill, Portable music gamers and sensible phones respectively.
In addition, Apple additionally offers a variety of associated software program, purposes, companies, networking options, peripherals and third-party digital material which represent a revolutionary interval for development and differentiation of Apple. (reuters).. Although touch screens in mobile gadgets aren't new, Apple managed to be the first to attain mass market adoption for that
technology by creating and launching the primary IPhone collection in January 2007. The IPhone was a lot ahead of its time that it just about created a brand new class in the market leaving everybody else taking part in catch up (Elliot, 2012). The Apple's goal market contains teenagers, school and college college students, business people, younger youngsters and youngsters and adults. As of September 29, 2012, it had 412 retail stores in 14 nations all over the world. (Financial Report 2012) At the same time, Apple had an intensive seventy two,800 regular employees and an extra 3,300 short-term workers or contractors worldwide (Apple three yr PnL). Financial Performance
According to the monetary report, the corporate recorded complete net revenue of $156,508 million during the fiscal yr 2012, which exhibits a rise of 63% over fiscal 12 months 2011. In which web profit accounted for $41,733 million, a 61% increase over fiscal 12 months 2011 (Apple 3 year PnL). As observed from the report, Apple's gross revenue margin had rise from 40.5% to 43.9% in the past 2 years. This is mainly the result of efficient implementation of cost-leadership and differentiation strategy through the years. (Find source).
The firm's pervious CEO, Steve Job (from 1997 – 2011) had created a tradition by which imaginative and prescient are understood and is reside by their staff. He believes that communicating the imaginative and prescient to the employee is almost as necessary as popping out with new merchandise (Elliot. Jay, 2012). This tradition was stored alive even when Tim Cook took over as CEO (from 2011 – current) which primarily saved all Apple's employees on the identical page and enact the vision with true ardour (Elliot. Jay, 2012) which is essential to strategic management (Find that book)
Macro Environment Analysis (700words) 803
PESTEL Analysis
PESTEL evaluation shall be used to know Apple's exterior surroundings and acquire an insight of Apple's future business potential, market state of affairs and operations directions. There are six parts in the PESTEL analysis; Political, Economical, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal (Find
source). Considering developments, tendencies, indicative incidents at the global levels, we determine that Social, Technological and Legal element of the PESTEL analysis pose a a lot vital impression on Apple's cell phone SBU as compared to the remainder.
Apple's social surroundings is considered one of key contributor for its success at present and can proceed to steer it into larger peak in future (wei kang, 2013). It's 'think different' slogan is the unique mixture of simplicity, creativity and luxury picture into the product that displays the user's individual identity and the need to be different (Schneiders, 2011). Apple's pervious CEO Steve Job all the time had a way of what consumer really wanted and adjusted the company's products line to fulfill their wants. In other phrases he tells them what they should love (VERGANTI, 2010). This is a phenomenon often known as the cult advertising during which people do not know their desires until cult entrepreneurs present it to them (RAGAS & BUENO, 2005). In easy terms, Cult advertising is definitely a tool used in strategy to strengthen customer loyalty (Schneiders, 2011). This component has important positive influence as it allows Apple to have the strongest buyer loyalty in the world and obtain the very best repurchase price within the electronic subject (MacNN, 2006). This impact can be seem worldwide whenever Apple launch their new product, Apple's fans would camp for days in entrance of the store only to get one of its latest innovation. This reveals that Apple's users actually love Apple not like most others (NUSSBAUM, 2005). In addition, due to the know-how improvement, Apple's Products such as the IPhone are no longer being viewed as luxuries but real necessities items (source). To reach the long term, Apple ought to observe and abide to its tenet; 'don't comply with your clients; Lead them' which suggests that consumer have to be shown a superior alternative which Apple distinguishes itself and supply these alternatives (MacVarish, 2009).
The market for cell phone and other electronic merchandise that Apple offers places them in a hyper competition environment driven by the quick tempo of technological changes. Companies like Apple which manufacture such products
should continually invest substantial amount of cash on research and improvement (R&D) to produce better performance, new function and higher design products to counter the quick life cycle and frequent introduction of recent products in the market (source). According to MacVarish, considered one of Apple's guideline for his or her innovation strategy was 'Be your own hardest Critic'. In which, Apple aims to supply new product strains that replaces older products making their them out of date and thus stopping competitor from doing so. With this precept to beat itself, Apple managed to beat its competitors too (MacVarish, 2009). Ultimately this enable Apple to lead the market because it did in the launching of the totally different era of IPhone particularly IPhone 5 which turn into the world's best-selling Smartphone worldwide in the course of the 4th quarter of 2012 (Maisto, 2013). As a end result, Apple's R&D expense will increase exponentially from $1.782 billion in 2010 to $3.381 billion in 2012 (Apple 3 12 months PnL). Due to their research intensive nature to keep innovation forward of competitors, Apple turns into less cost-effective in saturated markets and is uncovered to higher risk if it's R&D does not come by way of (source).
The mental property war has long being used as device in know-how and administration technique by corporations similar to Apple to achieve strategic benefit against their competitors. Apple alone has filled as many as 250,000 patents for the IPhone and other Smartphone masking the design and performance of those products (Cusumano, 2008). Apple had lawsuits all around the world with its opponents corresponding to Samsung, Motorola and Nokia each suing and being sued over violation of each other's patents (source). One such case is the lawsuit in the U.S between the Apple and considered one of its prime smart cellphone competitor; Samsung by which the jury awarded Apple $1.05 billion in injury and ordered a few of Samsung's Smartphone products off shelf in elements of the US (source). This verdict allows the IPhone to gain distinctive advantage in the US market and on the identical time helped Apple in promoting and broadcast IPhone originality. In addition the quantity of damage awarded to Apple might be counted as revenue which eventually increases the profit margin considerably for of Apple that quarter. In conclusion, while most lawsuits Apple filed comes with little success, any court docket choices that verdict in
favor of Apple's patents will probably enable IPhone to remain distinctive out there (Cusumano, 2008).
Industry (Competitive) Analysis 815
Michael Porter's 5-forces model
Apple's aggressive position and its attractiveness within the smart-phone market may be explained in analyzing the Porter's 5-Forces framework (Porter, 1980). Using the aggressive forces, it would establish the competitiveness and its ability to position itself with diversification. It will show its sustainability and profitability of its iPhone series. Threat of Potential Entry/Barriers to entry – LOW
The smart-phone industry is saturated and poses sturdy barriers to potential entrants who are eager to enter the market. Presently, there are a quantity of well-established opponents which have a large market share and economies of scale which limits new entrants from entering. Its robust model presence and consumer loyalty is a hindrance to potential entrants (Bostic, 2013). New entrants require a considerable quantity of capital funding, so as to compete towards the market leaders. Due to large economies of scale, it's almost inconceivable for this new entrants to enter and gain substantial market share. Sometimes, there's a want for new entrant to innovate corresponding to creating distinctive options or software to compete. But this normally caused by lack of sources as investing in ample assets doesn't come cheap. Legal phrases such as patents and trademarks serves as a barrier to new entrants. New entrants also face limitations corresponding to legal terms. These are normally patents or logos that the dominants gamers have. This market leaders similar to Apple Inc have patents on its designs of iPhones including software such as iTunes. This prevents any infringements from new entrants to copy similar ideas. After all, Apple is still a dominant player within the smart-phone market and competing against Apple actually requires a brand new entrant high start-up costs. Reference:
Bostic, K, (2013), "Study finds 20% of Apple iPhone customers switched away from Android in previous year", Apple Insider Porter, M, (1980), "Competitive Strategy: Techniques for analyzing industries and competitors", Free Press,
Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group Rivalry between opponents – HIGH
The smart-phone market may be very well-developed and there may be a high degree of focus. It is managed by a number of large opponents that are Apple's robust rivalry. This are dominant smart-phone gamers corresponding to Samsung, LG and HTC Mobile which has high capital investments. Smart-phones have turn into a commodities item that any person would require. As such, dominant gamers have been putting an emphasis on aggressive pricing. This will enable them to realize an edge over opponents. These competitors are usually of comparable dimension with Apple in its operations. Due to stiff rivalry, Apple will differentiate itself in phrases of design features and functionalities. Its competitors have also aggressively seek a management place within the smart-phone market by continually innovating and in search of new changes. The result of know-how advancement has also brought on an increased competitors to seek change within the industry. This in turn leads to rivalry among smart-phone gamers to streamline its merchandise and continuously refreshed its gadgets to satisfy the demand, in order to remain in competitors. (Apple Inc Report, 2009). References:
Apple Inc. SEC 2009 Form 10-K Filing Page sixteen ??
Threat of substitutes – MODERATE
It could appears that Apple has a variety of substitutes out there, however the nature of Apple's merchandise units itself other than competitors. Although it may seem that Apple has an intensive array of substitutes in the market, however its proprietary nature of merchandise sets itself other than competitors. Presently, its risk of substitutes of its smart-phones (e.g: iPhone5) are nonetheless moderate. But competitors are already riding on its successes by constantly innovating and substitutes it with a similar product in the market. In common, Apple sources its elements from numerous suppliers, thus preserving itself distinctive in the smart-phone market. As such, Apple still need to constantly keep revolutionary and price acutely aware in order to effectively positioned itself against other opponents with a robust branding and following. As such, its differentiation technique can successfully diversified itself from others.
Bargaining Power (buyers) – LOW
There are many smart-phone brands in the market that could be a substitute to Apple's iPhones, but the bargaining energy by consumers stay low. The major truth is that Apple's focuses on differentiating its merchandise from its competitors. Its unique designs, features and cult marketing are testament to its loyalty by buyers. Its area of interest market in the smart-phone trade also makes consumers much less sensitive on product pricing. Customers or loyal followers of Apple are nonetheless prepared to pay whatever the price. Although main retailers or companies have some relative energy to bargaining as a end result of its bulk quantity, particular person consumers nonetheless haven't any control particularly on their product pricing. Apple's lack of third party choices additionally signifies that patrons have less choices for different product. Bargaining Power (Suppliers) – LOW
Apple relies on quite so much of suppliers in its manufacture for smartphones. Usually, it isn't restricted to only one single provider for varied components within the assembly of its smartphones. As such, this leaves Apple's suppliers with less bargaining power over prices. This permits Apple to efficiently create a aggressive advantage over its opponents in the market (Apple Annual Report, 2012). Due to its bulk quantities of components, Apple Inc can have a leverage over suppliers by way of negotiating better phrases and pricing. This permits Apple to have a lower value structure and ensures a better revenue margin as in comparison with its opponents.
Apple's Strategic Capabilities 684
Apple's built-in system of hardware and software has enabled the agency to efficiently market and develop to be their most precious strategic resources (Dhaliwal, 2009). It was their former CEO, Steve Jobs that pulled Apple's again to the expansion stage. Apple's gifted group of software engineers, programmers and designers are the firm's key resources in innovating. This allows Apple to make the most of their knowledge to successfully create a tailor-made hardware and software program system which serve as its key capabilities. Its integration in its key capabilities has allowed Apple to
create a competitive benefit and sustainability in the market ("Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition," 2009).
Resource/Capability| Value| Rare| Imitate| Non-substitution| Relationships with OEMs| √| | √| |
Retail locations| √| √| √| |
Tailored Hardware/Software Systems| √| √| √| √| Figure 1: VRIN Table
Applying VRIN,
The VRIN mannequin, a four key standards resource-based view, examines if Apple Inc. makes use of its strategic sources to create a aggressive benefit. Relationships with OEMs
Apple holds good relations with its OEM business companions in China. It includes firms such as Foxconn and Hon Hai Precision Industry. This close relationships that the firm maintains with its companions assures that the outputs produced are superior and of top of the range. This permits Apple to be forward of different smart-phone producers who prefers not to outsource production.
Value: Its strong relationships maintained with its business companions allow Apple to benefit from alternatives by Foxconn, corresponding to low-cost manufacturing prices. This ensures that the firm can present a sustained worth in its merchandise and thus reducing any threats (Barney, 1991). Inimitability: Competitors can nonetheless imitate by following Apple's strategy of finding an OEM associate. But what units Apple other than the remainder, is its ability to take care of its development of software program, which others has problems imitating regardless of having an OEM companion. The intention of Apple Inc. is to combine a number of features into developing an Apple product. This will guarantee Apple's customers get probably the most value once they buy the final product. Apple Inc. capacity of combining all 5 features of key strategic resources/capabilities into one, allows the firm to be forward of competitors as a result of its sustained worth and its success in taking opportunities and decreasing threats. (Barney, 1991). Retail Locations
The introduction of Apple's retail shops present the company with a bodily presence and comfort to its customers. It permits Apple to
create a store image by providing a gorgeous store entrance and superior customer support. This key useful resource serves as an essential value to Apple which is a relative rarity within the business. Value: Its strategic places of its retail shops worldwide present customers with the flexibility to succeed in its products simply. This gives Apple a aggressive advantage towards opponents. Rarity: Apple's strategy in positioning its retailer and differentiating its merchandise ensures that the firm is in a leadership place. Its distinctive factors of its strategic retail location are a rarity to the group. Talented software growth teams
Apple has a capable staff of software developers. This are often fastidiously chosen by the company and serves as Apple's most talented programmers. They help Apple with introducing necessary products. But usually developers of this caliber usually are not uncommon in the IT trade, neither are they tough to mimic. Hence other smart-phone producers such as Samsung Mobile also can practice or rent robust caliber of developers too. Industrial Design Capability
Industrial design capability is considered one of Apple Inc. strategic resource that serves as a perform of its innovation capacity. Its functionality of its revolutionary design teams are useful to the corporation. Its innovative design teams also have sturdy teamwork which types one of Apple Inc. strategic useful resource too. This permits Apple to certainly be very valuable, uncommon among its competitors and in addition its problem in imitation.
Tailored Hardware/Software Systems
Apple Inc. aggressive benefits amongst opponents are having a tailored hardware and software program techniques. It is one of Apple's most essential abilities as it's only particularly designed and built in its integrated products. Its 'closed system' kinds also type its specialty as most competitors relied on third party software. One instance would be Samsung Mobile adopting the Google's Android market. Its functionality of combining its own design, software improvement, hardware programmers ensures its competitive benefit. Value: The advantages of getting its personal hardware and software program ensure that the agency offers worth to its consumers. Rarity: The rarity of
having a dynamic group of gifted employees permits the firm to develop specialised hardware and software program which are distinctive to the company. This are necessary elements which identifies Apple's power in the trade. Inimitability: Apple's inimitability in most of its strategic capabilities permits the firm to be of a aggressive benefit than its competitors. In particular, its tailored software program, iOs app retailer was developed ahead of its competitor, Samsung cell who adopted the Google Play store. Though Apple has a proficient staff of software builders, this is still inimitable as opponents can practice and develop staff. In general, Apple's sturdy strategic capabilities still forestall competitors from intimidating. Non-substitution: In common, Apple's products are substitutable with different merchandise. The reason that units aside from its rivals is its model identification and its tailor-made hardware and software. This development serves as a novel issue which no third-party can substitute. Sustainability as Competitive Advantage
To efficiently maintain Apple's continued performance and competitive benefit, its management could think about looking for unique partnerships or arrangements with its OEM partners to bring costs down and possibly reaching out to more nations with growth of Apple's shops. These strategies will enable Apple to repeatedly lead the market with its dominance and market share.
The intention of Apple Inc. is to integrate a number of features into creating an Apple product. This will guarantee Apple's users get the most worth once they purchase the ultimate product. Apple Inc. capacity of combining all 5 elements of key strategic resources/capabilities into one, allows the firm to be forward of opponents as a outcome of its sustained value and its success in taking alternatives and decreasing threats. (Barney, 1991). Rare
In the smart-phone trade, there are many brands that compete directly with Apple iPhones. But what stands out in opposition to opponents is Apple's capability to position and differentiate its merchandise. Its innovativeness in industrial design, specialized hardware/software and its strategic retail location
allows Apple to realize its uniqueness in the market. This assures Apple Inc. as a profitable organisation due to its brand identification and superior quality.Inimitate Apple's inimitability in most of its strategic capabilities permits the firm to be of a aggressive benefit than its competitors. In particular, its tailor-made software, iOs app store was developed ahead of its competitor, Samsung cell who adopted the Google Play store. Though Apple has a proficient team of software developers, this is still inimitable as rivals can practice and develop staff. In general, Apple's sturdy strategic capabilities nonetheless stop competitors from inimitating. Non-substitution
Generally, Apple's products are substitutable with different merchandise. The solely cause that units other than its rivals are its model identity and talent to keep hold of Apple's followers. Its talented teams of software builders and tailored hardware/software are an uniqueness to Apple and no third-party can be substituted.
Business Strategy 781
Strategy Statement
An analysis shows that there's a technique shift in Apple for its sensible Phone enterprise as the corporate had a change in management since 2012. Apple's current objective is to provide its shopper one of the best product expertise by offering superior high and low-middle end merchandise which would possibly be user friendly, revolutionary in design and have, integrate seamlessly and excellence sales and post-sale help experience for customers (forbes). Generic Competitive Strategy
Apple's is pursuing a hybrid mixture of product differentiation and cost leadership strategy. With the mixture of the 2 technique, Apple managed to achieve excessive profit margin where it produces its smart telephone cheaply and promoting them at a premium value.
Competitive scope (broad target)
Under Tim cook's (CEO of Apple from 2012- current) lead, Apple began to discover new territory by building on the success of its current smart phone
enterprise unit and increasing it into emerging markets. This strategy is seen to be put into action with the announcement of the IPhone 5s and IPhone 5c (a watered-down version of the IPhone series) launch (Apple main website). With the twin launch of the IPhone 5s and IPhone 5c, Apple managed to place its product in each the premium and non-premium class respectively that offers 2 price points. The IPhone 5s will proceed to address their current market whereas the IPhone 5c will catered to more price delicate customer base particularly from the emerging market.
Competitive Advantage (Lower value and Differentiation)
Given that Apple shall be having a twin IPhone launch with almost the identical design, features and operating on the identical operating system (ISO 7), it'll obtain economies of scope the place cost components such as advertising and research and improvement shall be shared. In addition, the two IPhone caters to totally different market segment, permitting Apple to have a bigger addressable market where economies of scales can be achieved by driving supplier's cost down with the promise of increase order quantity. These factors will assist Apple ship value leadership in the smart cellphone industry. However despite the growing effort in analysis and improvement to result in innovation and to distinguish their good telephone, Apple failed to supply enough uniqueness and dimension that's valued by their consumer. In fact, Apple is replicating its previous IPhone mannequin with minimal introduction of 'game-changing' features. The company's reduce pace of innovation may be inferred from its latest launched flagship IPhone, the IPhone 5s which retains the scale and design of its pervious flagship; Phone 5 with little addition to its feature and efficiency (yahoo news).
Apple.inc has been in a place to excellent the chain of activities in innovation. Apple starts from its new ideas of product design through R&D with its strategy functionality and in depth funding. Then producers it and at last markets it wholeheartedly. The course of of transforming inputs into outputs compromises a quantity of major and support activities" (Hill and Jones, 2001, p.133). Each worth is taken into account to be a source of competitive
advantage. Value chain evaluation is a powerful tool for managers to identify the necessary thing activities within the firm which form the value chain for that organisation, and have the potential of a sustainable aggressive benefit for accompany. Therein, competitive benefit of an organisation lies in its ability to carry out crucial actions alongside the worth chain better than its rivals Technology Development
Buying and R&D
Most parts are usually obtainable from multiple sources; a selection of parts are at present obtained from single or limited sources. Hardware products are manufactured by outsourcing associate main in Asia e.g. Foxconn.
Delegate raw supplies acquisition
– Apple works with its OEM companions to delegate the uncooked materials acquisition course of however provides some supervision for quality management function.
Automated receiving systems
– Apple has applied subtle automated receiving techniques to hurry up the receiving process and cut back facility footprint and space for storing requirement
That is a concern for suppliers. Apple's smartphone margins are the highest within the trade. But as those margins come beneath strain, Apple will push suppliers to cut costs. Flat-panel televisions followed an identical pattern, with margins for screens ultimately falling to near break-even levels, says Alberto Moel, an analyst at Bernstein Research.( http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323610704578625540722848194.html)
Apple used variety of direct and oblique distribution channel, corresponding to retail stores,on-line stores and direct gross sales pressure, three Rd
get together cellular community carriers, wholesalers, retailers and worth added resellers.
Apple proceed to expand and enhance its distribution capacities by increasing the number of its personal retail shops worldwide to be able to ensure a prime quality buying experience for its product.
Economical packing – Apple employed teams of design and engineering consultants who develop product packaging that's slim and light-weight yet protective. Efficient packaging design not solely reduces supplies and waste, it additionally helps scale back the emissions produced during transportation.
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/121102555/Apple-Computer-Value-Chain http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/30/us-honhai-idUSBRE83T08K20120430
References used:
Dhaliwal, A. (2009). "Apple's Q4 outcomes beat analysts? Estimates; quarterly profit rises to $1.sixty seven billion." Top News, retrieved on September 14, 2010 from: http://topnews.us/content/27794-apple-s-q4-results-beat-analysts-estimates-quarterly-profit-rises-167-billion "Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition." (2009). Electronic Industry Code of Conduct. retrieved on September 14, 2010 from: http://www.eicc.info/PDF/EICC%20Code%20of%20Conduct%20English.pdf Barney J, (1991), "Firm sources and sustained competitive advantage", Journal of Management, vol. 17, no1, p99-125 Identifying the strategy
Generic Competitive Strategy
Apple is pursuing a broad differentiation strategy. Apple differentiates by providing high-quality, exceptional design, and personalized service. The scope of their technique is broad targeting clients ranging from
unsophisticated newbie users to specials needs power-users.
1) Cost-leadership
2) Differentiation
Business Suitability
Apple Inc. is concerned with which strategic instructions and methods instructed addressed the issues the corporation confronted (Johnson & Scholes, 2008). It assists in determining the business suitability of strategic selections which relates to the strategic position. To check on Apple's suitability on its proposed business strategies, the Porter's worth chain model is chosen to assume about the internal factors of the group. Strategic Directions
Market Penetration
Presently, Apple's infrastructure may be very well established and developed. But the company ought to nonetheless continue in its infrastructure developments, in order to attain back its high market share within the smartphone trade. Its market penetration business technique relies closely on its primary actions such as inbound logistics, outbound logistics; and gross sales and advertising. To proceed transferring towards the market penetration direction, its support actions do play aside. The technology growth will then be ready to help the support to the proposed strategy.
Apple may have to contemplate a strategic drift to gain a aggressive benefit in its enterprise strategy. The product development technique will get its assistance from help activities corresponding to developing new products to meet buyer calls for. To enhance its agency efficiency and market share, Apple is introducing new options such as finger sensor on its new iPhone5s and likewise colored version of its iPhone5c (Apple.com). This new options or product growth somehow serves a determining factor whether or not Apple will obtain its business technique or affects its company performance.
At current, the firm is adopting the market development strategy. It assists
Apple in venturing into new market segments. Thus, there may be the significance to focus particularly on the primary activities of inbound and outbound logistics, sales and advertising. Apple remains to be in a position to depend on its OEM partners for sources especially in manufacturing, which serves as Apple's key competency. To move ahead, Apple might have to enter or develop new market, similar to in creating markets which it has zero presence. With its robust alliance partner, corresponding to Foxconn, Apple is prepared to make the most of its logistics half and its strong gross sales and advertising to open up new market. Hence, these three suggested enterprise methods are suitable to evaluate the worth chain, and Apple can carry any of those strategies forward. Apple might want to think about which technique will achieve its total enterprise aims to maintain itself in the market.
1) http://in.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?symbol=AAPL.O (reuters) 2) http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/AAPL/2634031917x0x444195/E7A8FE5F-8835-46AB-ACC2-6FA28DFB546D/Three_Yr_Financial_History.pdf (Apple 3 year PnL) 3) Porter. ME, (2008), 'The Five Competitive Forces that Sharpe Strategy', Harvard Business Review, vol. 86, no. 1, pp. 78-93, Business Source Complete, (online) Available at: EBSCOhost database [Accessed:15 sept 2013] (Porter, 2008) 4) MacVarish, B. (2009, August 13). Guiding Principles of Apple Innovation.brucemacvarish.com. Retrieved January 29, 2010, from http://www.brucemacvarish.com/2009/08/guiding-principles-of-innovation-at-apple1-dont-follow-your-customers-lead-themapple-tends-to-place-less-emphasis-on-evide.html (MacVarish, 2009) 5) Cusumano, M 2008, 'Technology Strategy and Management: The Puzzle of Apple', Communications Of The ACM, 51, 9, pp. 22-24, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, considered 16 July 2013. (Cusumano, 2008) 6) http://www.forbes.com/sites/mobiledia/2012/02/19/nuts-apples-ceo-reveals-future-strategy-google-to-expand-into-hardware/ (forbes) 7) (http://sg.information.yahoo.com/photos/apple-unveils-iphone-5s-iphone-5c-slideshow/five-colors-iphone-5c-cases-photo-181338126.html) (yahoo news) 8)
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Today is the first Monday of March – can you smell spring creeping closer? We had a beautiful weekend – cool but sunny. Sorry to my peeps who ended up with more winter weather. The offer still stands to come for a visit to those who are tired of the cold.
Dreaming of warmer weather, our co-host Callie of JAmerican Spice suggested this week's theme as Caribbean Theme Music (Steel drum, carnival, etc). What a great idea! I love the Caribbean – and now I want to take another vacation there. We're overdue for some sandy beach fun.
Let's start off with a fun song that begs you to live your life to the fullest and have a good time while doing it. It's three minutes of relief from the rigors of life – a little musical vacation.
Since Zac Brown Band songs tend to transport you to island vacations, especially when they include Jimmy Buffett, we're going to go with another one of their songs for today's theme. This particular song was released in 2011 and reached #1 in the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for one week in August of the same year.
The song is about laying back and having no worries – some of the lyrics say: "Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair." This song wouldn't be complete, however, without the legendary Jimmy Buffet sharing singing duties on the track. One of the co-writers of the song is a huge Jimmy Buffett fan and a self-proclaimed beach bum, making writing this song very easy.
Next up is an artist who is dynamite on stage, unassuming in person, and who was steadily crafting his career for nearly 15 years before he finally hit it big with an awesome song in 2002 that garnered triple platinum.
Eleven years ago on April 3rd, it was a big day for both this artist and Uncle Kracker as this duet by the two of them soared to the top of the charts. For this artist, it was his seventh return to the No. 1 spot, but for Uncle Kracker, it was the beginning of his enduring relationship with country music fans.
Next up is the artist I always think of when it comes to fun island music. He wrote this song in Key West, after he'd just finished a tour with his group in Texas.
He spent some time drinking Margaritas in a Mexian restaurant with a friend before going back to Key West. When he got there, he sat at the Old Anchor Inn watching gridlock on the roads – and used it as inspiration as he composed the song.
When he asked his producer to work with him on an album of songs about a carefree lifestyle by the water, his producer told him that he needed to be near the water when recording it if he was going to pull it off, so Miami it was.
Last, but definitely not least, is one of my favorite songs – it spent eight weeks at #1 on the Country charts, and won the 2003 Grammy for Best Country Song.
One of the writers of this song was formerly a band teacher in Texas, and one of his fellow teachers would typically say at 3:30, "Let's go grab a beer, it's five o'clock somewhere." Years later, he decided it would be fun to write a song based on that phrase. He had heard the phrase so often before that he was sure that it had already been written, but after they couldn't think of another song that used it, they banged the song out in about an hour and a half.
The timing on the song was so perfect, that the time from when it was written to when it was released to radio was about three months, a rarity in the industry. The song was initially pitched to Kenny Chesney, but his team passed.
Luckily this particular artist was looking for a song that he could cut with his friend Jimmy Buffett, so the rest, as they say, was history.
This entry was posted in Monday's Music Moves Me, Music Monday and tagged Alan Jackson, favorite songs, Fun, fun song, It's Five O'Clock Somewhere, Jimmy Buffett, Jump Right In, Kenny Chesney, Knee Deep, linky, Margaritaville, Monday Music Moves Me, Music, Music Monday, tunes, Uncle Kracker, Vacation, Water, When The Sun Goes Down, Zac Brown Band by StacyUncorked. Bookmark the permalink.
Loved all your selections, but really, really love me some Zac Brown Band – AND Jimmy Buffett!
Loved Jimmie…dang, now I want a margarita.
I thoroughly enjoyed all your tunes! You can rock the house in any language/tunes. You go girl you're on top of the world. You're rocked the house once again! Fabulous choices! Thanks for the dance!
With it snowing here, time on a beach definitely hold much appeal. Love all the songs you picked today!
Jimmy Buffet and Zac Brown on a Monday. Really nice.
Oh yes I want the warmer weather to rock in already! This cold is bothering!
And you rocked this theme right out Stacy!
Shoot, why didn't I think of putting up palm trees!
Have a fun and warm week!