text:
Tearing up the Box
Edited by Deloitte | Updated: Wednesday, 6 April 2016, 5:10 AMTearing up the Box
By late 1969, I was amassing an arsenal of old machinery and electronic equipment in an effort to build my own rocket to the moon, because if NASA would not take me I was determined to go on my own. I did not go to the moon, but I did destroy a lot of equipment. Also, I never really added value to anything except my own perspective, realizing in my childlike way that the axiom of "if it isn't broken, don't fix it" is an archaic and restrictive mindset. Innovation often occurs when one determines that even if it isn't broken, he/she will fix it anyway. This requires the ability to get beyond the aging strategic metaphor of "thinking outside the box."
The paradigm of "thinking outside the box" is constrictive and can undermine innovation rather than promote it. After all, when leaders metaphorically think outside the box, two problems potentially arise. First, most are only "thinking" instead of using knowledge to generate real and sustained action and second, when challenges arise, most "out of the box" thinkers run back to the safety of their conventional ideas, thereby eroding any chance that significant innovation will occur.
"Doing away with "the box" can help government, business, and organizational leaders understand both the magnitude of what needs to be done, as well as a potential strategy for doing it."
This "retreat to the box" usually ends in disappointment. A new paradigm for strategic thinking is to "tear up the box" – embracing significant innovation to transform public institutions, energize companies and empower individuals. As reinforced by international competitiveness and prosperity indices developed by the World Economic Forum and the Legatum Prosperity Index, innovation and entrepreneurship provide direct linkages to productivity, competitiveness and ultimately prosperity.1 But for this type of innovation to occur consistently requires a radical change in mindset. Doing away with "the box" can help government, business, and organizational leaders understand both the magnitude of what needs to be done, as well as a potential strategy for doing it.
From an emerging market perspective, the real value of innovation is its ability to create prosperity. Prosperity transcends economic growth to establish social stability, educational attainment and increased quality of life, which can be crucial elements in the development of emerging markets. It also helps create a kind of virtuous cycle, creating a foothold for further economic development. While many governments in emerging markets have been slow to embrace innovative methodologies that may lead to prosperity, businesses within these markets are beginning to emerge as innovation leaders.
From a policy standpoint, many countries continue to focus on privatization, liberalization, deregulation and modernization as growth strategies. Unfortunately, according to Jean-Eric Aubert of the World Bank Institute, these policies typically do not yield the expected fruits due to their lack of sustainability, because they often fail to take into account emerging opportunities.2 For instance, the privatization of aging factories does little to enhance economic growth, especially if the sector in which that factory operates yields few opportunities for growth. At the same time, liberalization, deregulation and modernization only make sense if they focus on industries that actually have potential to grow the economy. This is often not the case, as governments in emerging markets typically use these strategies to either attempt to breathe life into uncompetitive industries or to embrace macroeconomic reforms that do little to identify specific economic opportunities.3 While it may be tempting to look to the leading companies of developed nations for a template, the innovation models that have buoyed the economy of developed nations around the world typically have not been directly applicable to emerging markets due to the fact that they are perceived as expensive, long-term solutions for countries that have pressing, short-term challenges. Because of this, customized and practical approaches are needed in emerging markets to spur innovation thought and action that provide near-term opportunities while laying a strategic foundation for the future.
"As a small company in a country not known for innovation, Rubicon created momentum in the market by taking on small projects, building a portfolio and eventually using this experience to land large contracts."
It is time to rethink innovation in emerging markets by building on existing resources and talent to create practical actions that achieve significant and lasting results. Before outlining an approach to spur this innovation, however, it is important to explore specific constraints on innovation in countries that struggle with poverty, poor governance and cultural barriers. Metaphorically, these limiting factors can create a box in which both government and companies within emerging markets have been trapped for decades. Outside of this box there is a world of innovative opportunities that can lead to enhanced prosperity, but public and private sector leaders often miss them because of the challenges that constrict thinking and hamper innovation.
Risky Business: Weighing the Costs of Innovation in Emerging Markets
Aerican author Martha Grimes wrote, "We don't know who we are until we see what we can do,"4 which highlights the need to break with convention and take risks. In many emerging markets, risk has long been equated with negative cultural stereotypes and even personal peril. This has led to a rise in conventional thinking in which it is better to plan than to implement. After all, planning is a safer activity, in that less risk is involved by putting strategy on paper. Implementation, however, is fraught with risk of failure, which in many emerging markets is a stigma that individuals may carry for the rest of their lives. Entrepreneurship in many areas of the world is often seen as too great a risk, given the familial, cultural and legal implications of failure. In many countries, penalties for failure in business and unpayment of debts can be substantial and may include jail time as well as loss of civil liberties.5
Not surprisingly, this can create a mentality that stifles rather than promotes entrepreneurship and the innovation that often flows from it. Michael Raynor calls this mentality "the strategy paradox," meaning that "the same strategies that have the highest probability of extreme success also have the highest probability of extreme failure."6 The consequence of this is that the strategies that get tried are typically those perceived to be "safe" – meaning incremental and fundamentally similar to existing strategies. In emerging markets, this concept is almost overwhelming and, without a change in cultural and mental paradigms, can make countries, and the companies that operate within them, pervasively risk averse. With little or no support network for innovation and entrepreneurship, and a strategy that does not equate innovation to prosperity, it is simply easier for countries and companies alike to gravitate toward convention. This can insulate them from the most salient kinds of business risk but can also diminish the potential rewards.
One needs only to review the statistical data in major competitiveness and prosperity reports to determine one of the major reasons why emerging markets embrace conventional thinking.7 Leaders in emerging markets are typically desperate for the legitimacy these reports can provide, and thus they often put into place policies that may increase the likelihood of a rise in ranking instead of those that may create long-lasting economic, social and educational change. These actions lack a strategic framework and are typically initiated solely for appearance purposes. It amounts to a sort of "convention on steroids" situation, one which is very difficult to overcome.
As prevalent as conventional thinking is among public sector officials within emerging markets, it is just as real to the owners and managers of companies. Several years ago while working in Afghanistan, I asked one of the most prolific carpet designers in the country why so many Afghan carpets were sold to Pakistani dealers who would then finish them and sell them for high prices as Pakistani carpets. His answer exemplifies the conservative business mindset in many emerging markets.
"The Afghan merchants can sell the carpets to counterparts in Pakistan and make immediate cash," he said as we sipped tea in Andkhoy, the traditional heart of Afghanistan's carpet industry. "If they finished them and sold them, they might make more money, but then they would have to access markets, develop a sales strategy, market their carpets and deal with distribution. This way, they get all their money in one day, so they can go home and have tea."
Even so, there are dozens of emerging markets around the world in various stages of embracing innovation strategies that may generate real and lasting prosperity if they are sustained. In many of these countries, innovation is being led by private sector companies that are breaking with convention by adopting disruptive innovation. Among other characteristics, disruptive innovation overcomes convention by creating new products and markets that create niches for companies, in contrast to sustaining innovation in which they try to compete more effectively in existing markets – either those of competitors or their own. Sustaining innovation—carving out territory in the established companies' turf—is difficult for any small company, but in emerging markets it is especially difficult due to economic, cultural and political realities. An existing company may be viewed as an institution that is working well enough, so the rationale for rocking the boat is often called into question.
Even with these difficulties, disruptive innovation can occur in emerging markets, and this innovation can lead not only to the creation of successful companies, but can also serve as a model for public officials to create synergetic and effective innovation strategies. The following are three such companies, which are radically different as to their industries and approach. However they share the common strategy of disruptive innovation, which is not only benefiting their organizations as a whole, but also the perspective of their national leaders.
Rewriting the Rules: Innovation in Emerging Markets
It is tempting to stereotype Silicon Valley as the comfortable, affluent template for an environment conducive to innovation – the sort of innovation profitably exported around the world. Yet innovation can and does occur in emerging markets with remarkable effectiveness when buoyed by sound strategy and leadership. As impressive as the following companies are singularly, the backstory is their impact on their country's view of innovation as a pathway to prosperity. The role that
companies play in promoting innovation is clear and is highlighted by examples from around the world. What tend to go unnoticed are companies within emerging markets that find ways to innovate without the benefit of government support, access to highly skilled labor or ready availability of financing. These companies' stories suggest that when conventional thinking is no longer an option, the results can be either cataclysmic or, in the cases that follow, profound – rewriting the rules of the game for competitors and investors alike.
Taking Care of Business: Softwin Drives a Romanian Information Technology Surge
Since 1989, when sweeping unrest led to the deposing of dictator Nicolai Ceausescu, Romania has struggled to gain its economic footing. Its entrance into the European Union in 2007 provided it with the visibility, credibility and the institutional support it needed to gain momentum, but much of its economic growth was halted by the recent global economic crisis. The World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report ranked Romania 67th out of 139 countries in 2010-2011, while the Legatum Prosperity Index ranked it as 48th out of 104 countries, a ranking that highlights Romania's increasing focus on creating a prosperous environment for its citizens.8 This indicates that even with its difficulties (a relatively mediocre ranking in the Global Competitiveness Report but a higher one in the Legatum Index), Romania has and continues to produce innovative companies that are increasing economic capacity as well as establishing innovation models for the future.
One such company is Softwin, founded by Florin Talpes in 1990. It began as a software development company but expanded into other verticals such as e-content solutions (1993), data security solutions (1997), e-learning solutions (1998), contact centers (2000), help desks (2001), IT consulting (2002) and solution integration (2004). Through continuous innovation and expansion of services, Softwin has become a company with global scope, having offices in six countries. It has also brought a great deal of recognition to Romania, being listed by BusinessWeek in 2005 as one of the most prominent homegrown companies. In 2006, the Financial Times proclaimed Softwin as "one of the world's best regarded software companies this year."9
Softwin's key strength was its CEO, who built a culture of innovation within its organization that prepared it to take advantage of emerging opportunities. Because the enabling environment for innovation was nascent in Romania, the company had to be agile – adapting to changing trends in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector and taking advantage of opportunities. Softwin's ability to do this was enhanced by its talented and well-trained workforce, which continues to set a standard in the Romanian information technology industry.
Companies such as Softwin have powered a growing innovation mentality in Romania, a country where access to highly educated labor is plentiful. Florin Talpes is just one of the entrepreneurs spearheading the country's drive toward prosperity, bringing government officials and international investors on board along the way. Softwin's success has been emulated by other Romanian companies that now form an impressive cluster of ICT expertise.
Virtual Reality: Rubicon Emerges as a Global Power in Jordan
Jordan is known for its visionary leadership under King Abdullah II along with a stable business environment for accessing the lucrative Middle East and North African (MENA) market. In recent years, it has endeavored to embrace innovation as a core component of competitiveness in order to address the growing demand for knowledge-based jobs by its young and educated workforce. A byproduct of Jordan's stable economy and economic development strategy is that a small group of Jordanian entrepreneurs has emerged to embrace disruptive innovation, while at the same time increasing prosperity. Rubicon is one such company.
Rubicon's CEO and founder, Randa Ayoubi, had ample opportunities to give up. Her dream of changing educational paradigms by offering multimedia learning in a stimulating environment could have ended before it started, as she had multiple doors literally and figuratively slammed in her face. In 1994 she raised $100,000 in capital to launch her company, but it was 10 years before she was able to move beyond the nascent stage. Then, finally, in 2004 she raised the remaining capital and took her message directly to major movie studios in the United States. It took two years to convince even one studio to work with her, but eventually Ayoubi's persistence paid off, and MGM partnered with Rubicon to do animation for the iconic Pink Panther cartoon series.11 The company's work on this series won international awards and earned it the credibility it needed to work with other major studios. Rubicon's experience in animation was certainly a catalyst for the venture, but equally important was Ayoubi's tenacity.
"I sometimes think they agreed to partner with us just to get rid of me," she said in jest.
Using animation as a foundation upon which to build the rest of the business, Ayoubi then fulfilled her dream of expanding into other areas of digital content including e-learning, electronic game development and virtual reality technical training. Today, Rubicon focuses on creating high-quality animated programming by controlling the various parts of the production process from concept to finished product.
Rubicon's employees come from different walks of life, representing both religious and cultural diversity. Their common thread, according to Ayoubi, is that "they love what they do, and they do it to the best of their ability." Many ex-Rubicon employees have opened their own companies, and Ayoubi outsources smaller projects to them in an effort to assist in their growth, providing them with mentorship as John Chambers, CEO of Cisco, did for her beginning in 2004. This has contributed significantly to the prosperity of local firms, building a growing cluster of SMEs that are focusing on digital content.
Rubicon's success has expanded far beyond the country's borders, as it has licensing and merchandising agreements with several major movie studios. It has offices in Los Angeles, Dubai and Manila, providing it with global visibility.
The company's rise from a startup to a global force in the digital content industry was achieved through Ayoubi's vision and perseverance, but also because she focused on the development of a strong business plan that focused on niche verticals with the digital content industry. She also recruited and retained a high-quality workforce, empowering them with the latest technology and creating an environment where ideas are highly valued. As a small company in a country not known for innovation, Rubicon created momentum in the market by taking on small projects, building a portfolio and eventually using this experience to land large contracts.
Rubicon is one of the companies creating a renewed focus on innovation in Jordan, dispelling the image of Jordan as a strictly agriculture and tourism-based economy, while creating momentum for innovation in other knowledge-based sec-tors such as medical services, pharmaceuticals, clean technology and ICT. Largely due to the success of companies such as Rubicon, the Government of Jordan has ad-opted a focus on the knowledge economy and is actively pursuing investments that will increase the prosperity of its citizens through the creation of high-quality jobs.
The World Economic Forum's 2010-2011 Global Competitiveness Index ranks Ghana 114th out of 139 countries. For the same period, the Legatum Prosperity Index, which measures the relative prosperity of a country's citizens relative to nine criteria, ranks Ghana at 79th out of 104 countries, which records a modest improvement over previous years.12 One would not necessarily expect innovation within this climate. But an emerging group of Ghanaian companies is leading a technological and service revolution that has established a model for the country and also for other emerging markets. One such company is eTranzact Ghana Ltd., which was featured in The International Trade Center's Service Pioneers: Stories of Innovative Entrepreneurship.13
In 2006, a group of Ghanaian entrepreneurs started eTranzact Ghana Ltd., with the purpose of building a cashless society in Africa. eTranzact offers electronic payment platforms for banks, companies and individuals in order to create a virtually cashless society. eTranzact's system, banks, merchants and individuals can transfer cash in a number of ways, including using mobile applications for banking, telecom services, merchant services (e-billing), ordering and payment, Web-based payment, online cash collection and facilitation of export services. The company's services are customized for each of its commercial and banking clients according to their needs.
"These companies are models of innovation in emerging markets, but how did they succeed when others did not? Arguably, it was because their leaders rejected conventional notions that would focus on quick wins without providing sustainable and prosperous growth."
One of the larger challenges for the company, according to CEO George Babafemi, was overcoming the cultural norms of doing business by moving people from a predominantly cash society to an electronic format. Over time, it was able to overcome cultural paradigms of doing business by offering state-of-the-art services and thereby building a brand of excellence. Today, the company has branches in Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe and is also doing business with foreign companies that are investing on the African continent.
While Ghana has traditionally been a stable country, companies like eTranzact have galvanized the government around a platform of increasing reforms, including infrastructure upgrades and reductions in bureaucracy and regulations. This highlights the effect that companies embracing disruptive innovation techniques can have on a country as a whole, establishing an innovation model that can be copied by others.
These companies are examples of entrepreneurs in emerging markets who have not waited for donor organizations or governments to lay the groundwork for innovation. They represent a new mentality in emerging markets, one that infuses disruptive innovation to promote productivity, competitiveness and ultimately prosperity. Hundreds of other emerging market entrepreneurs are following their examples, and if buoyed by a practical strategy and focused support, they are expected to grow rapidly into generators of jobs that promote competitiveness.
These companies are models of innovation in emerging markets, but how did they succeed when others did not? Arguably, it was because their leaders rejected conventional notions that would focus on quick wins without providing sustainable and prosperous growth. In other words, they focused on innovation rather than convention while many of their competitors were unable to see past the obvious challenges they faced in their respective countries. These companies managed to not just survive in the chaos that is sometimes prevalent in emerging markets, but move past it to achieve success.
In many respects, the leaders of companies, countries and even some international donor agencies have been trying to address persistent issues related to development using the same techniques in an attempt to find the magic bullet that leads to prosperity. They have not found it because it does not exist.
While poverty is a significant challenge for emerging markets, this does not mean they are not viable platforms for business. As C.K. Prahalad and Allan Hammond have pointed out, entrepreneurial companies both small and large are "already serving the world's poor in ways that generate strong revenues, lead to greater operating efficiencies, and uncover new sources of innovation."14 The key component in this success is a company's ability to tear up the box and focus on the growth potential of these markets.
While emerging markets can appear chaotic, there are several tactics and strategies that can lead to innovation and a cycle of enhanced prosperity:
- Do not assume. Assumptions are risky in any business venture, but this is especially true in considering emerging markets. Companies often assume that because people are poor, they do not spend money which, according to Prahalad and Hammond, is incorrect when considering aggregate purchasing power.15 collectively, the poor do have money, and they are willing to spend it on nonessentials as well as items of need. Despite infrastructural deficiencies, technological change has in many cases made it cheaper to conduct business in most emerging markets, which increases profit potential. In many countries, reforms are now beginning to intersect with economic potential to make them attractive markets for business expansion and new investment. In eTranzact Ghana's case, it has built a successful business model through an understanding that even those with low disposable incomes require and desire banking and financial services.
- Find a niche (comparative advantage). Companies that are able to find a business niche in emerging markets can greatly increase their profitability. Finding such a niche requires understanding of the market, creative approaches and significant research. Quite simply, a niche in a specific emerging market may be a need or response to a dilemma that does not exist in more developed economies. The upside potential can be worth the effort. Rubicon, for instance, was able to carve out a niche in digital content that up to that point had not been explored in Jordan. This provided it with the ability to capture significant market share in a relatively short amount of time.
- Start small and grow from there. Small companies can make a big impact in a short amount of time by focusing on niche markets, starting with small projects, and taking advantage of opportunities in which larger companies in more advanced markets are not interested. Softwin, for example, grew from a small software development company to a global ICT conglomerate in just over 20 years by focusing on innovative approaches that led to incremental milestones.
- Focus on disruptive innovation. Companies such as Rubicon, eTranzact Ghana and Softwin focused on disruptive innovation (albeit perhaps not in the technical sense as defined by Harvard business professor Clayton Christensen)16 that allowed them to break through the assumed limitations of their geopolitical and economic circumstances by focusing on new technology and approaches. With no powerful incumbents, leapfrogging was based on technology – eTranzact Ghana bypassing conventional ways to move money and instead focusing on technology. This made them market leaders rather than followers, with the perhaps unanticipated advantage that the "box" did not exist. They were able to begin from a clean slate and use innovation as a catalyst for growth. Disruption in emerging markets differs from the strategic situation in developed markets primarily in that it can drive success not only for companies, but also can create models that generate opportunities for the entire country – again, a type of cycle that creates its own fertile ground for further innovation and market development.
- Build alliances with economic and social stakeholders. Collaboration is important to any business, but Rubicon proved that by building alliances with local and international stakeholders, innovation and profitability can occur more rapidly. This is especially important in emerging markets because these stakeholders play a key role in overall development and have resources that can be harnessed to embrace innovative approaches.
While many companies are still looking for conventional mechanisms by which to enter emerging markets, others have found success by embracing innovation as a growth strategy. By "tearing up the box" a growing number of companies are defining a new age for entrepreneurship and innovation in emerging markets – an age that could redefine the paradigm of development. DR
- Schwab, K. (ed). Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011. World Economic Forum. Geneva: p. 8 and the Legatum Prosperity Index 2010, p. 10.
- Aubert, J.E. (2004). Promoting Innovation in Developing Countries: A Conceptual Framework. Washington, D.C. World Bank. p. 6.
- Ibid
- Grimes, M. Retrieved from http://www.people.ubr.com/authors/by-first-name/m/martha-grimes/martha-grimes-quotes.aspx.
- In the West Bank, for instance, laws still exist that imprison individuals for business failure and non-payment of debts, as well as forfeiting their right to vote.
- Raynor, M. (2007). The Strategy Paradox: Why Committing to Success Leads to Failure and What to do About It.
- The three reports that most closely track national competitiveness are the World Bank Doing Business Indicators, the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report, and the Legatum Prosperity Index.
- Sources: 2010 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report and 2010 Legatum Prosperity Index.
- Sources: BusinessWeek, December 2005 and Financial Times, November, 2006.
- Global Jobs Pact Country Scan: Jordan. International Labour Organization. 2011. Geneva.
- http://www.awn.com/news/jordans-rubicon-co-produce-pink-panther-and-pals-mgm
- Ibid
- Service Pioneers: Stories of Entrepreneurship. International Trade Center. 2009. Geneva.
- Prahalad, C. and Hammond, A. Serving the World's Poor, Profitably. Harvard Business Review. September 2002.
- Ibid
- Christensen, C. Retrieved from http://claytonchristensen.com/disruptive_innovation.html
Popular Posts
Design-Driven Entrepreneurship
Learning Outcomes At the end of the entire course, this is what I'm hoping you will all have to take back with you: • The first, is a set of tools for applying business design to challenges you face in Africa, either for your new business or fo... -
Women Empowerment
Women's empowerment has become a significant topic of discussion in development and economics. It can also point to approaches regarding other trivialized genders in a particular political or social context. Women's economic empowerment refers to th... -
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016


text:
Facts Get in the Way
Republicans and Democrats are being equally nasty in their campaign rhetoric, but they're not being equally truthful.Republicans and Democrats are being equally nasty in their campaign rhetoric, but they're not being equally truthful. To cite one example, much of what the GOP is saying about Medicare simply isn't supported by the facts.
Former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu, one of Mitt Romney's more pugnacious surrogates, almost had a conniption fit Tuesday when CNN's Soledad O'Brien pressed him on his assertion that President Obama "gutted Medicare by taking $717 billion out of it." As Sununu knows but refused to acknowledge, this is not true.
The claim is part of an attempt to shore up a vulnerability Romney created by choosing Paul Ryan as his running mate. The budget that Ryan authored, and convinced House Republicans to pass, would eventually change Medicare into a voucher program: Seniors would be given a certain amount of money each year to buy health insurance.
If that amount isn't enough to pay for the kind of coverage you want or need — under Ryan's latest plan, you could buy a policy from a private insurer or buy Medicare from the government — you pay the difference out of pocket. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the average Medicare recipient would pay an extra $6,500 a year.
It doesn't take a genius to recognize the political problem this causes for Romney, especially in states where older voters are a key voting bloc. The Romney campaign decided to deal with the anticipated Democratic onslaught by striking first with the claim that it is Obama, not Romney, who wants to take away your Medicare.
Like many lies, this one uses a grain of truth as raw material. The Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, slows the rate of growth of payments to Medicare service providers by more than $700 billion over a decade. But no impact is felt by seniors themselves, whose benefits and costs remain the same.
When O'Brien reminded Sununu of these facts, he barked that she should "put an Obama bumper sticker on your forehead." But the claim that Obama had "gutted Medicare" remained false, and O'Brien told Sununu: "You can't just repeat it and make it true, sir."
Sununu knows that. He just wants the focus to be on Romney's pledge to undo Medicare "cuts" that aren't really cuts at all. The Romney campaign knows that as long as people are trying to sort out the facts of this specific allegation, they aren't talking about the real differences between the two parties on the very nature of entitlement programs such as Medicare.
The fact is that Ryan's plan — which Romney has semi-endorsed and now cannot credibly disown — effectively would "end Medicare as we know it" — the phrase voters will hear a bazillion times between now and Election Day, especially those who live in Florida. This is one piece of campaign rhetoric that happens to be true.
Medicare as we know it is a form of social insurance, a guarantee that citizens over 65 will have adequate medical care regardless of how healthy they are or how much money they have. Medicare, as the GOP wants it to be, is a voucher program that will be adequate for some seniors and inadequate for others.
Ryan prefers the term "premium support" to describe his plan. But as Gertrude Stein surely would have noted, a voucher is a voucher is a voucher.
Everyone agrees that something has to be done about skyrocketing costs for Medicare and also Medicaid, the health care program for the poor. Obama took the first step toward "bending the curve" of cost increases with the Affordable Care Act. Leave aside, for the moment, the fact that Romney now pledges to undo the progress Obama has made. The question is what do we want Medicare to be?
There is no reason why Medicare cannot be reformed as a social insurance program. Other industrialized countries provide universal health coverage for their entire populations for a fraction of what we spend in the United States, and those other countries achieve equal or better health outcomes. Surely we can continue to do so for those of retirement age — if we still want to.
The question to ask Romney is whether he believes in social insurance — whether his objections to the way Obama has begun to reform Medicare are fiscal or ideological. Ask him and Ryan whether they agree that markets are often efficient but seldom compassionate. Ask him whether he sees the free market as our servant or our master.
Eugene Robinson's e-mail address is eugenerobinson(at)washpost.com.
© 2012, Washington Post Writers Group
Your support matters…Independent journalism is under threat and overshadowed by heavily funded mainstream media.
You can help level the playing field. Become a member.
Your tax-deductible contribution keeps us digging beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that unearths what's really happening- without compromise.
Give today to support our courageous, independent journalists.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
About Us
The Capri Story
Capri Trivia
Drive-In 101
Drive-In History
Snack Bar Menu
Hi-Res Photos
Press Clippings
Contact Us
The 706 Car, single screen Drive-In opens on August 21st, 1964 by owner-operators John and Mary Magocs.
A contest was held at the Drive-In shortly after it opens to decide on a name... the winner received a brand new sewing machine. The winning name was The Capri. That name was submitted by... Mary Magocs (and yes, she kept the sewing machine :-)
Admission in 1964 was $1.00 and a cheeseburger was 45¢. The snack bar at the time was leased to Auto City Candy Company of Detroit. Operating a Drive-In for the Magocs was a family affair. John and Mary, John Jr. and Tom, spent many a night making sure the show went off each night.
From 1964 through 1977, The Capri served the residents of Branch and Calhoun counties. The 50's, 60's and 70's were boom times for Drive-in's. In Michigan, there were 87 open Drive-In's in 1954, growing to a peak of 110 in 1958. The number of open Drive-In's remained constant over the next 20 years, with 103 Drive-In's still open in Michigan in 1977.
In 1977, the operation of the Capri Drive-In was leased to William Clarke of Coldwater while the Magocs resided in Florida. In 1980, Tom and John Jr. resumed operation of the theatre. Tom and John Jr. were 5 and 9 years old when John and Mary opened the theatre.
After 16 years of learning the ropes, the boys took over. One of their first decisions was to install AM radio transmission of the movie sound. This was cutting edge technology at the time in the Drive-In industry. All but 5 rows of speakers were removed.
In 1982, Susan Magocs (Tom's beautiful wife) assumed operation of the Snack Bar. Between 1964 and 1981 the snack bar had been run separately. For those of you who remember back 20 years, this was a major UPGRADE for the concession stand. The Capri Drive-In's concession now consistently rates as one of the best Drive-In concessions in operation.
In 1986, the Capri became a twin. Screen Two was added on the back side of theatre. Screen One's car capacity was decreased to 550 cars, with Screen Two parking 300 more. It was at this time that 5 remaining rows of speakers were also removed. In 1996, sadly, the original "showman", John Magocs Sr. passed away in his Naples, Florida home.
Concession 1997 through 2000 saw The Capri Drive-In continually increase their technology and film exhibition capabilities. FM radio transmission of the sound, following by FM Stereo brought indoor theater sound quality to the Outdoor show. The Addition of a Red Dye Cye Analog filter (which was replacing Silver Nitrate on new films) allowed the Capri able to show current first run films.
The Coldwater Indoor Cinema opened and many predicted the demise of the Capri Drive-In. But they couldn't have been more wrong. The Capri Drive-In has continued to thrive, with an ever growing and widening audience. Not only do we see regular customers from local counties like Branch and Calhoun, but regular weekly visitors from Kalamazoo, Lansing, Angola, Fort Wayne, Jackson, Defiance, and even semi-regulars from as far away as Detroit, Chicago and Toledo.
During the Summer of 2000, a local Coldwater TV program featured the Coldwater Drive-In. "Historically Speaking" conducted a 20 minute interview with Sue Magocs of The Capri. Sue talked about the Drive-In's past, the present and its future. Classic video footage was found and shown for the show. You can Watch the show in its entirety
In the summer of 2001, The Capri Drive-In earned its highest honors, named One of Ten Drive-In's Worth a Detour by both the USA Today and The New York Times. In the article written by Drive-In author and aficionado Don Sanders, the Capri was called "what a drive-in experience should be." The whole text run said "The original family runs the theater, which has great food and the original neon sign. Great FM sound system, too. This family (Tom and Sue Magocs) really knows what a drive-in experience should be. Cool nights! 517-278-5628."
We want you to know what the Drive-In experience should be also. So, please, come on down and take in a great outdoor show at The Capri Drive-In.
Call for movies:
Movies start at sundown.
The sound is broadcast over FM stereo to your car or portable radio. We also rent portable radios for $5.
Radio Frequencies
Screen 1: 89.7 FM
Screen 2: 89.3 FM
Admission is $12.00 for adults, age 5 thru 11 is $5.00 and kids under 5 are free.
2024 © Capri Drive-In Theater 119 West Chicago Road Coldwater, MI 49036 - 517-677-7824


text:
Devon Inglee Processes Diabetes Through Art
In one of Devon Inglee's artworks, a teddy bear, the symbol of childhood innocence, lies flat on its back with three menacing syringes piercing its furry tummy. In the background, the bear's owner, a small girl, stands above the teddy eating an apple. Inglee writes, "In 'Tit for Tat,' a sweet girl contently eats an apple while hiding a large syringe behind her back, oblivious to her beloved, yet murdered toy. This piece deals with the process of anger, mourning, and denial associated with my personal diagnosis of a chronic disease." For the 33-year-old art student, this work is about mourning and letting go of preconceived notions and ideas of what the future will be.
As a child growing up in New York, Inglee used to illustrate stories for family members. She remembers being encouraged by her grandmother, a professional artist. In 2005, Inglee left home and moved out west for college. She is preparing to graduate with a degree in art education and studio art. A printmaker, Inglee finds her materials at Home Depot and transforms flat boards of wood into beautiful, dark fairytales.
Two years ago, in the middle of her busy life as a double major art student, Inglee got sick. She Googled her symptoms (thirst, fatigue, and frequent urination) and came up with type 2 diabetes. The diagnosis didn't seem to fit, but when she went to the health center at school, the doctor put her on metformin and gave her a box of test strips. "But I didn't get any better," she says. "So after two weeks I went back to the doctor and said, 'What's wrong with me? Why can't I fix this?' and the dietitian told me to restrict my food." Inglee weighed 97 pounds before they figured out what was wrong. "The doctors told me I was lucky to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes later in life instead of my teens," she says, "but at 31 years old, I was set in my ways."
Inglee's mother, a registered nurse, flew out to Arizona to help her daughter get back on her feet, and after two weeks Inglee was able to return to school. "I was doing shots for a few months and then I went on the pump, and that was the best thing that ever happened to me," she says. Getting back into the studio was a helpful part of the healing process.
Before her diagnosis, Inglee's art explored emotional issues such as her grandmother's battle with breast cancer and the concurrent loss of feminine identity. She says, "My work is so personal. When I started to address diabetes in my art, I was trying to explain to the viewer what I had gone through: fear, anger, and frustration. I wanted to look at the difference between what I thought was important then and what I know is important now." In "While I Slept," a woman lifts her dress up to reveal a cluster of frightening monster faces with big eyes and sharp teeth. "This is the monster under the bed that we can't see, the body attacking its own cells," she explains.
In the series, "Remove, Replace, Revisit, Repeat," a young woman is depicted wearing a scuba mask with a fish at her feet. In another work in the same series, she holds a lollipop and her face is hidden by a ski mask. The mask represents the invisible cloak of chronic illness and the decision we all must make about when to take it off, and with whom. These images are meant to push the viewer to wonder about what is being shared and what is being held back.
Inglee says her life is better now. "I have a lot of hope for the things I want to do. Every decision I make matters more, and I appreciate the things I have. This diagnosis made me realize that I need to make the most of my time, and I'm more excited about living," she says. "I never want to be that sick again."
Inglee finds support through resources like TuDiabetes, and she recently participated in Lee Ann Thill's second annual Diabetes Art Day. She says it has been helpful to connect with others in the diabetes community. Inglee graduates in May and is looking for a teaching job in which she can share her talent with the next generation of artists and, most importantly, receive good health insurance.


text:
Before I speculate about what 2015 holds for authors and publishers, let's reflect for a moment about how self publishing has transformed the book publishing landscape.
Thanks to ebook self publishing, every writer in the world has democratized access to the tools and knowledge of professional publishing. It's now possible for writers to make their books instantly accessible, discoverable and affordable to billions of readers around the world.
Most exciting of all, we're still in the early days of the ebook self publishing revolution. I'm confident that decades from now, ebook self publishing will be viewed by historians as no less transformative than the advent of the Gutenberg printing press.
Despite the incredible opportunities available to every indie author, clouds loom on the horizon. Recent years of exponential ebook growth have given way to a new normal of slower growth, greater competition and disruptive business models and power struggles. These factors create new threats and opportunities for publishing industry participants.
This is why annual predictions are so useful. To the extent any of us can predict the future (an exercise fraught with folly I might add!), predictions help stir the imagination, spark constructive debate and assist with strategic planning.
So without further delay, I present to you my predictions for 2015. Enjoy!
Mark Coker's Publishing Predictions for 2015
1. More authors will aspire to publish indie – In 2008 when I founded Smashwords, nearly all writers aspired to traditionally publish. Self-publishing was viewed as the option of last resort – the option for failed writers. Today the former stigma of self publishing is evaporating. Indie authorship has become a global cultural movement, as I described when I published the Indie Author Manifesto earlier this year. The indie author movement will grow stronger in 2015. Traditionally published authors will continue to transition to indie, led by midlist authors. We'll also see more hybrid authors reorient their publishing strategy back in the direction of indieville.
2. Indie authors will capture more ebook market share – The percentage of reader dollars going to indie ebooks will increase. The growth will be fueled by a continued increase in the number of indie-published ebooks, and by more indie authors adopting best practices to publish with greater pride and professionalism. In March I shared some of my longer term market share projections here and here.
3. Screen reading will increase, but at a slower rate – For readers of English language books, the early adopters of ebooks have adopted. I think reading will continue to transition from print to digital, yet the rate of growth will slow. One bright spot will be the continued growth in screen reading in developing countries aided by the ubiquity of smart phones.
4. 2015 will be slow growth for most authors, indie and traditional alike – I blogged about this topic last month in my post titled, Ebook Publishing Gets More Difficult From Here. While some indies had a fabulous year in 2014 (look no further than the Smashwords bestseller list published in Publishers Weekly each month), most authors experienced a slower growth year - especially when compared against the go-go days of exponential growth from 2008 to 2012. The causes for this slow down include a new equilibrium between print and ebook formats; immortal ebooks published by publishers and indie authors alike that will never go out of print; the continued growth of self-published titles; and myriad low-cost and free non-book alternatives competing for slices of consumers' time such as social media, Internet video and games.
5. Indie authors face increased competition from traditional publishers – For the first years of the ebook revolution, large publishers all but ceded the $4.99 and lower ebook market to indie authors. Publishers tried to maintain higher prices, and indies – empowered with the ability to earn royalty rates of 60-80% list price - offered budget-conscious consumers high-quality books at low prices. The low prices, including the ultralow prices of FREE and .99, made it easier for readers to take a chance on unknown writers.
In the last year, large publishers, borrowing a page from the indie author playbook, have stepped up their price-cutting in the form of temporary promotions on titles from big-name authors. In 2015 we'll see the temporary promotions from large publishers that were so common in 2014 give way to permanent lower prices on backlist titles from big names, and faster, more aggressive discounting on recently released titles.
This means indies will face increased competition in the sub $5.00 price points. In the past, you could identify indie titles on the bestseller lists by price alone. This is no longer the case. Large publishers will also make greater use of ultra-low prices.
6. Large publishers step up usage of FREE – Inspired by the success of indie series writers who've had enormous success pricing series starters at permafree, large publishers will start making increased use of this unconventional price point. Although few large publishers have made use of free as a promotional tool to date, this will begin to change in 2015. As retailers such as iBooks run more "First in a Series Free" promotions which heretofore have been dominated by indie authors, publishers will feel the pressure to jump in. As I write these predictions, iBooks is running a major multi-genre First in a Series Free promotion with nearly all the titles supplied by indie authors. Fifty nine Smashwords titles are featured!
7. FREE will lose more mojo – Since 2008 I've encouraged authors to utilize free as a price point to turbocharge downloads, build readership and reader trust, and drive readers to priced titles. Authors who followed this advice early on reaped the most benefit. However, free is losing some of its gusto as the market becomes flooded with free ebooks. At Smashwords, nearly 50,000 titles are priced at free.
In our 2014 Smashwords survey we found that free books at iBooks were downloaded with 39 times more frequency than books at a price, down from a multiplier of 91 in the prior 2013 survey. In 2015 I predict the multiplier will drop further. Despite the anticipated drop in effectiveness, free remains one of the most powerful merchandising tools for indie authors, especially when applied to series starters. This also means that authors who utilize free today will get much more mileage from it than authors who use it a year from now (hint: If you're using free, make sure your free titles are upgraded with enhanced backmatter so they direct readers to your priced titles. See my blog post and video on this subject). If you haven't experimented with free yet, now is the time.
8. Many indies will quit in 2015 – Authorship is tough work. Discouraged by weak or slumping sales, many indie authors in 2015 will either give up on publishing or will decrease their production rates. With the rapid rise of anything – whether we're talking tulips, dot com stocks or real estate – bubbles form when the market becomes too frothy, too optimistic, too euphoric, and too crowded. All markets are cyclical, so this boom-to-bust pattern, while painful for many, is healthy for the long term, especially for authors who stick it out.
Indie authors will be forced to take honest stock of their dreams, motivations and commitment. What drives you? Is it the joy of writing, or the necessity of putting food on the table, or both? Either reason is respectable, but if your family's next meal is entirely dependent upon your book sales, you're under extra pressure.
9. Time management will separate winners from losers – Raise your hand if you have too many hours in the day. I'd hazard to speculate that each and every one of us fails on time management to some degree each day. We only have so many minutes in a day, and only so many heartbeats in a lifetime. Are you optimizing your author time so you're spending more time writing and less time on the nonessentials?
For example, if it takes you multiple hours to format your ebook, why not hire a low cost formatter for $40 or less? I'll give you another example, and this one's entirely self-serving but will resonate with many Smashwords authors - using a distributor. Smashwords is a distributor. Our job is to help you quickly deliver your book to multiple retailers, and then help you manage and control it with minimal effort. When an author works with Smashwords, in exchange for a small commission we earn on every sale, the author gains the time-saving benefits of a single upload, centralized metadata management, and consolidated sales reporting and tax reporting. I think this is why the vast majority of Smashwords authors choose to fully distribute with Smashwords rather than uploading direct to retailers. The time-saving advantages of managing your publishing with a distributor become even more pronounced once you're managing multiple titles. No author's career will fail because they gave 10% list to a distributor, but many authors will fail because they're not focusing enough time on writing.
Another example. Many authors spend too much time on marketing and social media when they should be spending more time writing. Your best marketing is a book that sparks enthusiastic word of mouth, so focus on the book. If you enjoy social media, that's great, but try to make it your end-of-day brain break after you've completed your daily writing quota.
10. Amazon Will Use Kindle Unlimited to Pay Authors Less – Whether you love it or hate it, KU is already a massive disruptor in the world of ebook publishing. Many writers are claiming it caused their sales to plummet, while others say it has helped them reach new readers. You can check out my prior analysis of KU here and here, or check out David Streitfeld's recent story on KU in the New York Times.
KU will have broader impact in 2015. Unlike its ebook subscription competitors Oyster and Scribd which allow authors and publishers to set prices and receive retailer-level margins on qualifying reads (Smashwords authors earn 60% of their book's list price), KU pays from a shared pool. Author/publisher compensation is based on a book's prorated share of readership multiplied against the size of pool. If it sounds opaque, that's because it is. Amazon determines the size of each month's pool and the value per qualified read after the month ends.
This wouldn't be a problem if Amazon was a benevolent player, committed to paying their publishers 70% list. In November Amazon paid only $1.39 per qualified read, regardless of the book's length or price. $1.39 works out great if your regular retail price is $.99 (a $.99 ebook sold at Amazon otherwise earns about 34 cents). Yet if your regular ebook price is $3.99 and you're accustomed to earning almost 70% of that or $2.80, then KU means your effective royalty rate was cut by almost half in recent months to 35%.
Kindle Unlimited represents Amazon's end-run around the Agency pricing model. With Agency, Amazon is obligated to pay publishers 70% of the list price set by publishers and cannot discount books. KDP has an "Agency-lite" equivalent model in which Amazon doesn't discount except in price matching situations. With KU, your book's price becomes irrelevant to Amazon. It also gives Amazon the ability to pay you less than 70% list for each qualified read.
By providing KU preferential in-store merchandising, Amazon discourages customers from purchasing individual ebooks. Since Amazon has a critical mass of over 700,000 books in Kindle Unlimited, Amazon's most voracious power readers already have nearly one million fewer reasons to purchase indie ebooks at full retail price. This means that for many budget-minded readers who love indie ebooks, your $2.99 and $3.99 ebook is now too expensive when they can read it (or similar books) for free as part of their subscription.
As I mentioned in my last post, Is Kindle Unlimited Devaluing Books, most of Kindle Unlimited's catalog is supplied by indie authors enrolled in Amazon's KDP Select. Without indie author support and participation in KDP Select, there'd be no Kindle Unlimited.
Will indies step up to the plate in 2015 and say no to KDP Select? Since most indie authors sell poorly, I fear many indies will hear KU's siren song and decide that earning $1.39 or less is better than earning nothing, and this will then perpetuate a slippery slope that will jeopardize earnings for all authors at Amazon.
11. New VAT rules in Europe will put a damper on European ebook sales – Indie authors will suffer a drop in earnings from European ebook sales in 2015. The cause? New European Union VAT (Value Added Tax) rules. On January 1, 2015, new VAT rules go into effect in the European Union.
In the past, the VAT imposed on ebooks was based on the VAT rate for the country in which the retailer was based. To reduce the tax hit, retailers located their European headquarters in Luxembourg, where the VAT was only 3%. At Smashwords retailers, the price set by the author was always VAT-inclusive, which meant the author and retailer's cut was calculated after the 3% VAT was deducted. At 3%, the rate was negligible and went unnoticed by most customers and authors.
Effective with the new EU rules that start January 1st, VAT is charged based on the customer's geographic location. Rates across the European Union will range from 15% to 26%. This means that effective January 1st, myriad tax rates will be applied to your ebooks sold at Smashwords retailers such as Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble UK, Txtr, and Kobo.
Indie authors must now decide whether to raise their prices to pass the tax burden to readers, or hold the line on prices which means the author absorbs the tax hit. Either way, the author loses. The ebook retailers are harmed as well since the tax comes out of the purchase price before the retailer earns their 30% cut. As one retailer told me, "we're all hit with the same stick here." (Update: To help mitigate the pain, on December 31 Smashwords launched a new pricing tool that allows authors decide if they want to bear the burden of the VAT tax to keep customer prices the same, or if they want to pass the increased VAT burden on to customers in the form of higher prices. Find it in your Smashwords Dashboard or click here.)
12. Back to basics: The bestselling authors in 2015 win with best practices - The formula for bestseller success isn't rocket science. Success is all about best practices. For every well-executed best practice implemented by the author, the author gains an incremental advantage in the marketplace. What are some of these best practices? 1. You must write a super-awesome "wow" book that takes the reader to an emotional, satisfying extreme (this applies to fiction and non-fiction). 2. Your books should be professionally edited and proofed 3. A great cover image makes your book more discoverable and more desirable to your target reader. Great cover images make an honest and visual promise to your target reader about the experience your book offers. 4. Give your book a fair price. 5. Release your book as a preorder. If you're not doing preorders, you're missing out on one of the most powerful merchandising tools today (click here to learn how preorders work). 6. Avoid exclusivity and distribute your book widely. 7. Write another book, rinse and repeat.
Although the best practices aren't secrets any more (check out my Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success for a refresher on best practices – or watch my best practices video tutorial), most authors fall short on the best practices front. Some authors fall into the trap of searching for easy silver bullet shortcuts. There is no single silver bullet. You must do many things right and avoid pitfalls that undermine your opportunity.
That's everything! I hope you enjoyed my 2015 predictions. Please add your own predictions for 2015 in the comments below. What big trends are you seeing?
For your reading pleasure, below is an archive of some of my previous predictions. How did I do?
2014 Predictions from Smashwords Blog (Published December 30, 2013) and Huffington Post (Published January 7, 2014)
2013 Predictions at the Smashwords blog (published Dec 21, 2012)
2011 Predictions at GalleyCat by Mark Coker (published Dec 28, 2010)
10-Year Predictions at GalleyCat By Mark Coker (published Jan 4, 2010)


text:
So this weeks choice is one I may or may not have posted about before. The fact is, I can't remember but it doesn't really even matter because either way, I am so excited and so darn anxious to get my hands on the second book on the Of Metal and Wishes series by Sarah Fine. Sarah is an amazing author and everything she writes is pretty much gold and I just loved the first book in the series and can't wait to see how she continues it.
Release Date: August 4, 2015 (Margaret K. McElderlly)
Book Description:
War erupts in this bittersweet sequel to "Of Metal and Wishes", inspired by The Phantom of the Opera and called "relentlessly engrossing" by The Romantic Times.
In the year since the collapse of the slaughterhouse where Wen worked as her father's medical assistant, she's held all her secrets close. She works in the clinic at the weapons factory and sneaks away to nurse Bo, once the Ghost, now a boy determined to transform himself into a living machine. Their strange, fragile friendship soothes some of the ache of missing Melik, the strong-willed Noor who walked away from Wen all those months ago—but it can't quell her fears for him.
The Noor are waging a rebellion in the west. When she overhears plans to crush Melik's people with the powerful war machines created at the factory, Wen makes the painful decision to leave behind all she has known—including Bo—to warn them. But the farther she journeys into the warzone, the more confusing things become. A year of brutality seems to have changed Melik, and Wen has a decision to make about him and his people: How much is she willing to sacrifice to save them from complete annihilation?


text:
Swiftspace | The DOS mobile meeting booth arrives to you fully assembled. DOS, is a 2-3 seat touchdown/meeting space which easily fits through doorways. It comes with a fold down back wall which allows you to push two together to expand to create a 4-6 person meeting space. DOS is also available with an optional acoustical canopy which when added improves on sound absorption.
ICF | Steel and wood are beautifully combined in the Sleipner table – creating an exclusive lightness as well as a stable and functional table design.
ICF | Slender Table is designed with the aim to make the conference table as simple and practical as possible.
ICF | A small cluster of coffee tables, circular, square and rectangular in solid oak or in plywood with all our standard laminate and linoleum colors.
Malik Gallery | The Kabira design encompasses a range of chairs and stools that are compact and very comfortable.
Malik Gallery | The Loft Lounge Chair is a large relaxing armchair with squarish and well-defined lines.
Malik Gallery | The Look Armchair features a very open form. Its appearance is broad, sharp and always inviting.
Malik Gallery | The Miramar Lounge Collection is a range of three different lounge chairs using different back heights – low, medium and high.
Malik Gallery | The Moon Chair expresses solidity through the decisive lines of its structure and softness of its tapered legs in warm beechwood that separate the seat from the chair's back.
Landscape Forms | Arne is an outdoor light from global partner Santa & Cole Urbidermis that combines classic modernist design with 21st century LED technology.
Landscape Forms | Arne's formal simplicity has international appeal and complements both traditional and contemporary architecture.
Landscape Forms | The smaller Arne S luminaire from global partner Santa & Cole Urbidermis creates intimate light experiences that bring the ambiance of indoor lighting to the outdoors.
Watson | IMAGINING A NEW WORKSTATION…The truth is, while the open plan works some of the time, privacy and focus are diminishing.
PS Furniture | Created by award-winning designer Hugh Acton, the Acton® chair is a mid-century modern American classic.
PS Furniture | NIMA™, designed by Giancarlo Piretti, is a family of chairs with a patented articulating back mechanism paired with elegant design.
PS Furniture | Our T-1000™ training chair delivers long-term seating with a sleek aesthetic.
PS Furniture | This one-of-a-kind center folding table allows a single-user to fold the table from the center without any pinch-points for safety.
Groupe Lacasse | It is with great enthusiasm that Groupe Lacasse announces the addition of a NEW black polypropylene backrest option for Shifter!
BBF | The Bush Business Furniture Office by Kathy Ireland Centura Collection brings the iconic styling of mid-century modern design to the home or professional office.
ERG | The Morgan stool offers a modern looking saddle seat on a sleek base.
Swiftspace | This mobile all in one station features a sleek panel design with stackers that allow wall heights to be easily changed, plus has all the benefits of our SOLO line.
Swiftspace | The FUSED arrives to you fully assembled. It easily fits through doorways to be set up in your office in a matter of minutes.
Swiftspace | The DOS mobile meeting booth arrives to you fully assembled.
JSI Seating | JSI introduces a multi-purpose seating line with a full slate of materials, colors, and options to fit a variety of environments.
JSI Seating | Indie series, by JSI, a freestanding lounge collection that embraces a relaxed sit with styling towards residential aesthetics.
Groupe Lacasse | The new Pilo collection by United Chair includes guest models available with or without arms, a choice of 6 trendy polypropylene shell colors, 2 stool heights and seat pad available in hundreds of upholstery choices.
SiS Ergo | M-Series Nesting combines nesting and mobile single-user desking with the benefits of sit-to-stand.
SiS Ergo | Introducing Ivy, a brilliant, open-office power and data distribution solution.
Magnuson Group | BALDAS is a family of wall mounted modular aluminum shelving in both vertical and horizontal orientations.
Magnuson Group | BUTLER is a freestanding coat rack with a linear aesthetic and eye-catching zig-zag base.
Magnuson Group | CELES is a family of occasional tables of varying height and composition.
Magnuson Group | DROP is an elegant wastebasket made of painted steel with a stainless steel internal bag ring that will adorn any executive office or conference room.


text:
Every Grammy Awards Best Country Album Winner Ever
It's Grammy Awards time again, and to get country fans set, we're taking a look at every album that has won the Best Country Album category over the years, which includes some of the most iconic country albums of all time.
In 1965, the Grammy Awards began honoring country artists for their best vocal and instrumental records. The first-ever award, for a category then named Best Country & Western Album, was given to Roger Miller at the 7th Annual Grammy Awards, for Dang Me / Chug-a-Lug. Miller would go on to win the award a second time in 1966, for The Return of Roger Miller, before the category was discontinued. After a three-decade hiatus, the category was revived and renamed Best Country Album. It has remained a highlight of the Grammy Awards ever since.
Scroll down below to learn about all of those who have won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album. It should come as no surprise that country stars including Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert and Zac Brown Band are among the winners, but there are a number of A-listers (Dierks Bentley, Eric Church and Little Big Town among others) who have surprisingly never won, despite many nominations. And then there are the Dixie Chicks, who have won the award a record number of times.
Most recently, Tanya Tucker won the 2020 Best Country Album Grammy for While I'm Livin,' and Kacey Musgraves took home the prize in 2019 for her album Golden Hour. Who will be next? Ingrid Andress, Miranda Lambert, Brandy Clark, Little Big Town and Ashley McBryde are nominated for Best Country Album in the 2021 Grammy Awards, which are set to take place on Sunday (March 14).
Every Grammy Awards Best Country Album Winner Ever:


text:
No carbs for you! No second helpings! You know you can't have that!
Sound familiar? Women all over Australia who care for a spouse, child or elderly parent with diabetes often find themselves in the difficult position of having to cajole a reluctant diabetic to follow their treatment plan.
When dealing with an adult diabetic, it's incredibly hard to know where to draw the line between being supportive and letting your loved one take responsibility for managing their diabetes. The newly diagnosed diabetic might be in denial or feel angry and scared about the impact diabetes will have on their life. While most people would say it's their life; this is especially hard when it feels like it's your life too, and your kids, and the whole family is 'living with diabetes' on a day-to-day basis. You may, however, find you have an unexpected ally in your local community pharmacist. With a third of women between the ages of 25-54, who are caring for someone, visiting a pharmacy at least fortnightly[1], your community pharmacy is an easily accessible source of advice and support.
Problem #1: Never had to watch what they ate before
Caring for someone who has always eaten what they like and is now being advised to change their diet can be a real challenge. The grocery store can become a battleground where your loved one loads the trolley with the unhealthy treats they've always eaten; and you feel like the food police because you veto their choices. Having a neutral third party who can educate your loved one about diabetic-friendly foods can help diffuse this situation. The next time you are in your local pharmacy, ask about the services they provide for diabetes management. Your pharmacist can provide advice on how your loved one can lose weight safely, set realistic weight loss goals, and they can provide extra support if needed.
Problem #2: Explaining away everything as old age
Diabetes is serious and untreated diabetes can lead to a number of complications, such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, depression, anxiety, blindness and limb amputation. Your loved one might have been feeling unwell for some time, but chalked it up to getting older. It's important for them to have regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks, which can be done by your community pharmacist. You can also ask your pharmacist if your loved one is eligible for a diabetes MedsCheck, which is an in-pharmacy medicines review. During a MedsCheck, your pharmacist will have an individual consultation on how to use the blood sugar monitor and get the best out of the diabetes medicines. They can also discuss side effects and over-the-counter medicines that might interact with their diabetic medication.
Problem #3: Deferring to you as the 'font of all knowledge'
When your parent or partner is first diagnosed as diabetic, it can leave them feeling overwhelmed and worried about the possible complications. You may find that they take a 'head-in-the-sand' approach initially, leaving you to learn as much as you can about diabetes in order to support them. While diabetes requires daily management, they need to be reassured that it doesn't have to take over their life. Encourage your parent or partner to ask questions and equip themselves with as much information as possible. Your community pharmacy offers much more than just medication supply: it is an easily accessible community health hub that can equip you with what you need to manage diabetes. Visit https://www.findapharmacy.com.au/ to find a community pharmacy near you that offers diabetes services.
Some initial questions to ask your pharmacist include:
* How does my diabetes affect other medication I am taking?
* Are there any medications that I can't take?
* How can you help me to remember to take my medication?
* When should I take my diabetes medication?
* Can I take supplements with my diabetes medication?
* Should my diabetes medication be taken with meals or on an empty stomach?
* How do I store my diabetes medication?
* Can I consume alcohol with my diabetes medication?
* If I am sick, do I need to take my diabetes medication differently?
* How often should I test my blood glucose levels?
* What do I need to test my blood glucose levels?
* How do I use the blood glucose meter?
* How do I ensure the results are accurate?
* Where can I get testing strips and needles for my blood glucose monitor?
* How do I care for the strips?
* What is the National Diabetes Service Scheme and what does it mean for me?
Problem #4: No one likes to be told 'it's for your own good'
No one likes to be told 'no' or that "it's for your own good", so you may have to pick your battles when it comes to food choices. However, you can stress to your loved one that there is a team of people there to support them, from health professionals like their doctor and pharmacist, to family and friends.
Diabetes affects the entire family, not just the person diagnosed, so make sure you look after yourself as well. Having a supportive network that can provide advice and practical help when you need it is a very important part of living well with diabetes. Let your pharmacist know if you're caring for someone, because they're here to help you too.
The content displayed on this webpage is intended for informational purposes and is a guide only. It does not replace or substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Information contained on this webpage must be discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional before making any decisions or taking any action based on the content of this webpage.


text:
Jesse is touring with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours from December 3 - 21, please see the schedule of stops at the end of this post to follow the tour.
About the Book
Publication Date: September 11, 2012
Bywater Books
Scotland, 1561, and a ship comes across the North Sea carrying home Mary, the young, charismatic Queen of Scots, returning after 13 years in the French court to wrest back control of her throne.
The Blackadder family has long awaited for the Queen's return to bring them justice. Alison Blackadder, disguised as a boy from childhood to protect her from the murderous clan that stole their lands, must learn to be a lady-in-waiting to the Queen, building a web of dependence and reward.
Just as the Queen can trust nobody, Alison discovers lies, danger and treachery at every turn. Then, unexpectedly, she finds love…
This sweeping, imaginative and original tale of political intrigue, misplaced loyalty, secret passion and implacable revenge is based on real characters and events from the reign of Mary Queen of Scots. The Raven's Heart is a breathtaking epic from a bold, fresh Australian voice.
Book Trailer
About the Author
Yes, Jesse Blackadder really was born with that surname. When she finally had enough of people asking if she was related to Rowan Atkinson, she travelled to Scotland to find the origins of her surname. Her novel The Raven's Heart grew from there. It won the Varuna HarperCollins Manuscript Development Award in 2009 and was published in Feb 2011.
Jesse is an award winning Australian novelist, short story writer and freelance journalist, fascinated by landscapes and belonging. Her first novel was After the Party (Hardie Grant Books 2005), which made the Australian Book Review list of all time favourite Australian novels in February 2010. She's been a writer in residence in Sitka Alaska, in outback New South Wales, at Byron Bay and at Varuna in the Blue Mountains. Jesse's next book, which she is writing as part of a Doctor of Creative Arts at the University of Western Sydney, is about the first woman to see Antarctica and Jesse recently travelled to Antarctica as part of her research.
Connect with Jesse Blackadder: WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
Virtual Tour Schedule
Monday, December 3
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages
Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, December 4
Giveaway at Bibliophilic Book Blog
Wednesday, December 5
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Thursday, December 6
Review & Giveaway at Griperang's Bookmarks
Friday, December 7
Review & Giveaway at Paperback Princess
Monday, December 10
Review at Book Journey
Review & Giveaway at Oh, For the Hook of a Book!
Tuesday, December 11
Review & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick
Wednesday, December 12
Review at Bonjour Cass
Review at The Worm Hole
Thursday, December 13
Review & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair
Friday, December 14
Review at Book Dilettante
Monday, December 17
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Tuesday, December 18
Review at One Book at a Time
Review & Giveaway at Book of Secrets
Wednesday, December 19
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Thursday, December 20
Review at The Musings of a Book Junkie
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Friday, December 21
Review at JulzReads
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Review at Raging Bibliomania
Giveaway (Open Internationally)
Good luck to all!


text:
Home »
Official News and Updates from the BMW CCA Club Racing Site
www.sunshinebimmers.org is the official website of the BMW Car Club of America Sunshine Bimmers Chapter, Inc., (the Club) a not-for-profit organization not connected with BMW or BMW North America, LLC in any way. All information published herein is provided by and for the members of the Club and the Club assumes no responsibility for any of the ideas, opinions, or suggestions contained herein. Reports, ideas, suggestions, and opinions expressed in this website are those of the authors and not of the BMW Car Club of America or the Sunshine Bimmers Chapter. The Club assumes no responsibility for any of the information contained herein. Modifications to vehicles within the warranty period may void the warranty. The contents of this website remain the property of the Club. Contact the webmaster with any questions.


text:
About the Artist
Gartner-Blade is the collaborative work of Danielle Blade & Stephen Gartner. Business partners since 1996, we combine our ideas, techniques and experiences to create original works in both blown and sculpted hot glass. We are continually developing a series of pieces that explores our interpretation of objects used in rituals and worship. The inspiration for these pieces begins with our mutual fascination with the many vessels and sculptural objects that are revered in the rituals of both primitive and contemporary cultures. Natural elements such as bone, wood, vine and rock formations combine with our highly original color palette to inform our signature pieces. Our work merges traditional hand blown glass techniques with innovative color applications and original sculpting techniques.


text:
Construction company makes building painless
By Les Wong
Born and raised in Honolulu, I became a licensed general contractor and started doing small renovations and repair jobs in June 1983.
My only daughter, Tanyce, was born around the same time, so needless to say my days and nights were very busy, but also enjoyable. Over the next several years, Wong Construction grew to where we could handle larger additions and even new homes.
Today, I employ a crew of four skilled craftsmen, including myself, and although I still consider us to be a small business, we are able to handle larger jobs. We have completed projects around the island of Oahu, and we can do everything from termite repairs to million-dollar homes.
We work with outstanding subcontractors, draw plans, and can design the home of your dreams. We also have great contacts that can provide financing, if the need arises.
Here are some comments from satisfied owners Steven and Jan Iha:
"I have known Les since 1992, when I made an addition to a home in Kaneohe. Since then he has done three different home renovations, including a complete renovation in 2001 of my current home. That is why, when we decided to add an extension to our home, I contacted Les. I remembered how easy it was to work with him. Les was dependable and trustworthy; he would ensure our needs were met and worked within our budget.
"I liked how Les would walk us through the design phase and through final completion of the project. Working with Les made it easy to make minor changes as the construction progressed. Les handled everything, beginning with obtaining the permit to installing the floors. I was pleasantly surprised to find that all the things I liked and what made working with Les so easy were still the same, even after 17 years since our last renovation work by Wong Construction. We were also astonished to learn that some of the same people that worked on our renovation 17 years ago were still working for Les.
"Since my wife and I are both retired, this is the first renovation Les has done for us where we were home. We watched the construction progress each day and witnessed his dedicated crew at work. His crew was easily approachable, extremely polite and listened to any suggestions or concerns we had during the renovation. We especially appreciated the many suggestions they offered when we were not exactly sure about the certain details of the construction. They also cleaned up every day before they left and ensured all equipment and materials were safely stored before they left for the day.
"Home construction can disrupt a person's life, but Wong Construction made the experience painless. We were rewarded with a home addition we both love and our beautiful home is more than what we expected. We truly appreciate Les and his crew for all their hard work. If we need additional work we will definitely call Les again.
"Mahalo to Les and the boys and remember to 'Do it the Wong way!'"
After more than 30 years in the industry, Wong Construction still strives to do the best job possible. For more information about Wong Construction, call 542-9664.
Les Wong is the owner of Wong Construction.


text:
2 people are interested
Bilingual Business Mentor: Help local businesses thrive
ORGANIZATION: SCORE Greater Omaha
Please visit the new page to apply.
2 people are interested
SCORE needs bi-lingual mentors who can help aspiring entrepreneurs and existing business owners whose first language is not English by providing business expertise, support, and the necessary tools to help them reach their goals.
As a mentor you will use your industry-based knowledge and expertise to help clients solve problems, increase business efficiency, and assist with developing long-term business plans. Mentors often have significant experience within their field, excellent communication skills, and the ability to dedicate a few hours a week.
Being a SCORE volunteer offers many benefits, such as becoming a leader in your business community, feeling empowered sharing your expertise with others, expanding your network, making new friends, and growing professionally through lifelong learning.
Apply today if you have expertise in any business topic, including but not limited to marketing, finance and accounting, management, technology, strategy, websites, etc.
SCORE is a nonprofit resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration that helps aspiring and existing entrepreneurs succeed. Every year, our volunteers help thousands of entrepreneurs achieve their dreams of starting small businesses and achieving new levels of success. Volunteering is a way for you to give back, network with business experts, and share your knowledge. Join SCORE today to make a meaningful difference in your local economy. Learn more at www.score.org/volunteer.
5 More opportunities with SCORE Greater Omaha
About SCORE Greater Omaha
10675 Bedford Avenue, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68134, US
Mission Statement
SCORE, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentoring. Our mission is to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education.
SCORE, America's premier source of free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs and small businesses, is a nonprofit resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). We have over 300 SCORE offices across the country and 10,000 volunteers offering free business mentoring and low- or no-cost workshops.
For over 50 years, SCORE's thousands of working and retired business professionals have volunteered to support the success of small business nationwide. SCORE business mentoring is free and confidential.
We provide:
- Free, confidential business mentoring in person, via email or by video
- Volunteer mentors who share their expertise across industries
- Free business tools, templates and tips online
- Inexpensive or free business workshops (locally) and webinars (online 24/7)
10675 Bedford AvenueSuite 100Omaha, NE 68134
July 3, 2024
- Mentoring
- Strategic Planning
- Bilingual
- People Skills
- Relationship Building
- Verbal / Written Communication
- Must be at least 18
- Orientation or Training
- A few hours per month.
- Complete your volunteer application at www.score.org/volunteer-registration.


text:
Don't Wait.
Call now for an instant Data Recovery quote. secure, fast, reliable, confidential 24-Hour Data Recovery Services.
24/7 Data Recovery Service – No Data, No Charge
Affordable Pricing; Our flat fee pricing is based on your media type, capacity and circumstances of failure.
Call Now For A Instant Data Recovery Quote! 1-877-331-2313
Laptop & Desktop Recovery
Laptop & Desktop Recovery:When your laptop or desktop crashes and is inaccessible, we are here 24/7 to help you recover your precious data, even when others can't. We recover data from virtually every brand of laptop or desktop, any laptop or desktop hard drive manufacture and from all types of failure.
Smart Phone Recovery
Smart Phone Recovery:We offer a SMART PHONE ONE RATE FEE; $385 for any smart phone recovery service. Excluding iPhone 10 and above which is our ONE RATE FEE OF; $685. No additional fees! Get it to us and we always ship it back on our dime, no cost to you.
RAID Server Recovery
RAID Server Recovery:We surpass the competition in recovering your important data from SATA, IDE or SCSI RAID arrays using advanced RAID hard drive data recovery tools and methods. We understand that data recovered from a RAID array is mission-critical. RAID data recovery cases accepted by our lab will be evaluated immediately and will receive 24/7 non-stop service.
Network Storage Recovery
Network Storage Recovery:Network attached storage devices (NAS) are stand alone external storage devices that are connected to a network via a wired network cable or wireless network connection. We have many years of engineering experience with NAS Network Storage devices from manufacturers like Intel, Synology, Seagate, Western Digital, Maxtor, Buffalo and Apple XServe.
SSD Recovery
SSD Recovery:Our data recovery experts use proprietary tools to recover data from inaccessible ssd devices. We offer a ONE RATE FEE; $285 for; digital flash cards, flash memory cards, san disk (sd memory cards), camera memory cards, usb memory sticks, excluding mechanic failure on ssd hard drives. Please call for ssd hard drive pricing.
Authority In Data Recovery
Authority In Data Recovery:Over a 92% success rate, we have succeeded where other recovery companies failed. We follow a strict no recovery, no charge policy. Which means: NO RISK to you! You only pay if we have a successful recovery.
Certified And Secure
Certified Cleanroom ISO Class 5 / Class 100. To protect your data and keep your data secure, all recovery jobs are always done in a Certified ISO Class 5 / Class 100 Cleanroom environment.Call Us 24 Hours A Day
Call Us 24 Hours A Day:24/7 on call emergency service. We pay shipping to and from nationwide. We apply state-of-the-art data recovery technologies that offer the most effective and affordable services to our customers.
We Never Charge a Diagnostic Fee
No Up-Front Cost – No RISK!
Data Recovery Services 4 Less provides our customers in Mendon, Michigan with secure, fast, reliable, confidential, and lowest cost data recovery services the industry. Call us 24/7 and speak with a recovery tech who will answer any questions you have, explain how we can help and pricing… all on this one call.
We Handled lost and/or inaccessible data from all types of media devices, such as internal and external hard drives (all manufacturers and models), NAS, RAID, desktop, laptop, servers, usb flash drives, and memory sticks, regardless of which operating system; MAC, Windows, DOS, UNIX, Novell, and Linux you use. We also recover lost data from all types of smart phones, iphones with the lowest prices in the industry, and all backed by our no data, no charge policy.
Award-Winning, Certified and Secure Data Recovery Services in Mendon, Michigan.
- Best price guaranteed!
- 24/7 professional service.
- We pay shipping to and from.
- No data, no pay!
Get the professional service you deserve at the lowest price, guaranteed.
Simply call 1 (877) 331-2313
or click on get started below!
Satisfied Google and Yelp Customers
Customer Experiences
Read What Our Clients Are Saying About Our Data Recovery Services


text:
Governor's Commission on Education beyond High School
The Governor's Commission on Education beyond High School, commonly referred to as the Carlyle Commission, published a report in 1962 that led to legislation in 1963 establishing the state's community college system and public universities at Asheville, Charlotte, and Wilmington. The commission was appointed in 1961 by Governor Terry Sanford to plan for the higher education of the rapidly increasing baby boom high school graduates and to consider other issues relating to the state's change from an agricultural to a technology-based economy. Irving E. Carlyle, attorney and former legislator from Winston-Salem, was chairman of the 20-member panel of educators and citizens, and W. Lunsford Crew, president pro tem of the North Carolina Senate from Halifax County, served as vice chairman.
The commission's report contained 61 recommendations for higher education on statewide planning and coordination, the University of North Carolina and public senior colleges, comprehensive community colleges, students, faculties, finance, and extension and public service. The commission also initiated a comprehensive demographic study, titled Community Colleges for North Carolina: A Study of Need, Location, and Service Areas (1962), led by C. Horace Hamilton of the Department of Rural Sociology at North Carolina State College (modern North Carolina State University). The Hamilton Report documented the great need for additional institutions of higher education in North Carolina.
Arnold K. King, The Multi-Campus University of North Carolina Comes of Age, 1956-1986 (1987).
Jon Lee Wiggs, The Community College System in North Carolina: A Silver Anniversary History, 1963-1988 (1989).
Image Credit:
UNC-Asheville began as Asheville-Biltmore College at the recommendation of the Governor's Commission on Education Beyond High School. Image courtesy of NC Office of Archives & History. Available from https://www.ncdcr.gov/about/history/division-historical-resources/nc-highway-historical-marker-program/Markers.aspx?ct=ddl&sp=search&k=Markers&sv=P-56%20-%20UNIVERSITY%20OF%20N.C.%20AT%20ASHEVILLE (accessed September 18, 2012).
1 January 2006 | Fountain, Benjamin Eagles, Jr.