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FTI Consulting's David Grant Recognized as One of the Top 25 Consultants of 2017
"We are thrilled that David has been honored as one of Consulting magazine's Top 25 Consultants," said
As the leader of the Consulting practice within the Technology segment, Mr. Grant focuses on planning and managing discovery strategies for and across major litigations and investigations involving large data volumes, tight deadlines and international data collection. With a special focus on predictive coding and visual analytics, he has worked on a wide range of matters, including multiple Hart-Scott-Rodino second requests, international cartel investigations, securities class actions, large-scale commercial litigations and a number of product liability multi-district litigations.
"It is an amazing honor for our team to be recognized among such a talented group of peers," said Mr. Grant. "This would not be possible without the tremendous efforts of all of my colleagues and, most of all, without the backing of my family, who have supported me throughout my career."
Consulting magazine will honor this year's winners at the Top 25 Consultants awards dinner on
FTI Consulting, Inc.1101 K Street NW Washington, DC20005 +1.202.312.9100 Investor Contact: Mollie Hawkes+1.617.747.1791 firstname.lastname@example.com Media Contact: Matthew Bashalany+1.617.897.1545 email@example.com


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Rev. Michael Scott StWindhoek
P.O. Box 6900Sesriem
Suedstrand St. 1Swakopmund
PO BOX 29 -Northern RegionOkaukuejo
P.O. Box 403Namutoni
C38 Andersson GateOkaukuejo
129 Independence AvenueWindhoek
40 Beethoven StreetWindhoek
Namibia, in Southern Africa, boasts remarkable natural attractions such as the Namib Desert, the Fish River Canyon Park, Etosha National Park and the Kalahari desert. Thanks to both a wealth of indigenous cultures and a tumultuous colonial history, its people speak nine different languages, including some of the Khoisan languages which include the 'clicks' that present an enigma to most native English speakers. It is also one of the few places outside Central Europe where German, although not official, remains a commonly spoken language, while Afrikaans, shared with its southern neighbour, is also prevalent.
Blending German, Afrikaner, Herero and other indigenous heritage in its modern cities, unique desert landscapes, rich wildlife and a relatively high standard of living, resulting in part from abundant natural resources (for example, Namibia produces the world's highest-quality gem diamonds), Namibia is today a peaceful country, welcoming to visitors and offering unforgettable experiences.
Namibia was inhabited by San people until about 1,000 years ago. If you have the rare opportunity to talk to a San (most do not speak English), do not call them Bushmen, that's considered derogatory. Due to the Bantu migration, Ovambo people and Ovaherero people moved into northern and central Namibia. In the South the Damara people established themselves; it is unclear where they came from. About 200 years ago the Oorlam people moved in from the South. Then the Oorlam and the Herero clashed.
Namibia was colonized by Germany in the late 19th century. Colonial control was established by private interests before the German Reich itself got involved as Bismarck was rather skeptical of colonial endeavors. German business and colonial interests, among them Adolf Lüderitz, tried to co-opt local rulers into their schemes and to that end signed treaties of varying honesty and even-handedness. One treaty famously mentioned a strip of land from the coast several "miles" inland to be handed over to the colonizers. What the treaty failed to mention was that the British miles of roughly 1.6 km wasn't what the Germans meant - they insisted upon much larger "Prussian miles" that were obscure even then and entirely unknown to the locals.
Conflict broke out, but the colonizers had the better weapons and backing from Berlin so the locals stood no chance. By 1884 "Deutsch Südwestafrika" had officially become a colony and unlike Germany's other colonies, it did attract significant settlement from the mother country, soon leading to serious debates in the Reichstag about the "problem" of "mixed" descendants of settlers and locals. Another problem were local uprisings and when the Herero rose up in 1904 the Germans under general Lothar von Trotha responded with an amount of genocidal cruelty that shocked even contemporary advocates of colonialism. Von Trotha issued an order to shoot down unarmed civilians including women and children and had them driven into the desert. Low estimates put the death toll at 40,000 but numbers as high as 70,000 have been put forth for this first genocide perpetrated by Germany. Both descendants of von Trotha and the German government have since asked for forgiveness but no formal restitution was ever paid. At the start of World War I, only 30 years after they arrived, much of Namibia (then called South West Africa) was in German possession.
During World War I Africa also became a front but by 1915 Namibia had fallen to the Entente. It was administered by South Africa under a League of Nations mandate after World War I, and as if it were a province of South Africa after World War II. The South-West African People's Organization (SWAPO) launched a guerrilla war for independence in 1966 and gained independence in 1990. Namibia is in many ways quite similar to South Africa. Since it was ruled under the apartheid system, Namibia also has many of the problems resulting from that system.
Namibia shares many similarities with its neighbours, particularly with South Africa, and if you're used to travelling in the region, Namibia should be a seamless transition from the latter. However, there are some subtle differences. For example, in South Africa a black South African may choose to speak English rather than Afrikaans (as a political choice) whereas among Namibia's mixed-race population (who call themselves 'coloured' in Namibia and South Africa) Afrikaans is a proud part of their culture, and many people still speak German. Overlooking these differences isn't going to cause offence, but they're handy to know.
The public holidays in Namibia are:
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, many businesses will give the previous, or the following, day off, and be closed.
Tourists may enter Namibia for up to 90 days.
Foreign nationals from the following countries/territories will get a visa on arrival without prior application: Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Cuba, Denmark, Eswatini, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Citizens not from the above countries need to apply for a visa from the Namibian consulate in their country of origin or the Ministry of Home Affairs, Private Bag 13200, Windhoek, ? +264 61 292-9111, fax: +264 61 22-3817.
To apply for a visa from a Namibian embassy or consulate, you will need a visa application form (this is one from the Namibian High Comission in London), a document confirming your address in Namibia (such as a hotel booking), a passport with three blank pages and a colour passport photo.
If you require a visa to enter Namibia, you might be able to apply for one at a British embassy, high commission, or consulate in the country where you legally reside if there is no Namibian diplomatic post. See the UK government website about applying for Commonwealth visas. British diplomatic posts charge £50 to process a Namibian visa application and an extra £70 if the authorities in Namibia require the visa application to be referred to them. The authorities in Namibia can also decide to charge an additional fee if they correspond with you directly.
All visitors require a passport valid for at least 6 months after date of entry into Namibia.
You need a return or onward air or bus ticket when you fly to Namibia; if you don't have one the airline will not take you there. You can book a Intercape bus ticket online. Intercape have buses from Namibia to South Africa and Zambia.
They will not let you in if you don't have an address where you are going, so be sure to have one.
Always verify the dates stamped into your passport, because there have been cases where corrupt officers stamp wrong dates to fine people for overstaying when they leave, and these fines are huge.
Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH IATA), located 45 minutes east of Windhoek, is the main entry point for air traffic. Since the demise of Air Namibia in 2021, connections have been limited. The only flight from Europe is carried out by Eurowings Discover from Frankfurt. Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines offer connections through Doha and Addis Ababa respectively. South African Airways and Airlink operate flights to and from South Africa, TAAG Angola Airlines operates flights to Luanda.
There are 9 commonly used border posts with neighbouring countries:
Each foreign-registered vehicle entering Namibia should pay a CBC or entry fee and obtain the corresponding permit and tax invoice at a Road Fund Administration (RFA) office at Namibia's border posts. The amount to pay for a small passenger car is N$ 308. Information can be obtained from the RFA website. This charge will usually be refunded by car rental companies which utilise South-African registered vehicles to be operated in Namibia.
The most convenient international bus services into Namibia run from Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Johannesburg and Gaborone.
The regular overnight train from Upington in South Africa to Windhoek, operated by TransNamib, was discontinued and remains out of operation as of July 2023.
Travellers are expected to produce identification if police, health inspectors or customs officials stop them. A current passport or drivers license will do. Namibia is very concerned about child trafficking. When travelling with children you need to carry their full birth certificate to prove they are yours. When only one parent is travelling, a consent letter from the other parent (alternatively a death certificate) is required, even if you are married or have sole custody.
There is a veterinary demarkation between northern Namibia and the rest of the country, at approximately the latitude of Etosha. Check Wikipedia for details. No meat may be taken from north of the line southwards. You will nevertheless be checked both ways, nobody knows why.
The national railway company of Namibia, TransNamib, does not operate any scheduled passenger services as of July 2023.
Other rail services operating in the country are:
Despite the vast distances in Namibia, most people get around by land, and not air. Namibia's primary routes (A and B roads) are tarred, and secondary routes (roads designated C or MR) are well-graded gravel. Many D roads are just about passable with a sedan, while F (farm) roads usually are not. An all-terrain vehicle is not necessary to reach the major tourist destinations except Kaokoland. However, if the country gets good rains—December or January, about once every 7 years—all bets are off.
Driving at night is very dangerous because there is a lot of wildlife on the roads. Traffic drives on the left. Namibian roads eat tires and chip windscreens. Always check your spare and inspect your tires often. If someone overtakes you on a gravel road, drive as far left as possible and slow down to avoid being hit by flying stones. The road edges can be soft, so take care.
Service stations can be a fair distance from each other, so it pays to get a map showing where they are located to plan your trip. If you are on the back roads of Namibia, it's always wise to stop and top-off your tank when you see a service station. Most service stations in towns accept credit cards, and many have ATMs available. However, in the countryside you might have to pay cash. A small tip for the attendant pumping your gasoline of N$3-5 is quite common - and you need to make this in cash. It is also necessary to carry food and water, in case you get stuck with a breakdown. On lesser travelled roads it can take days (!) for another vehicle to pass through.
Namibia has some of the worst road accident statistics in the world per head of population. The speed limit on tarred roads is 120 km/h but few drivers adhere to it. There is an unbelievable amount of head-on collisions due to overtaking at unsuitable spots. Self-driving tourists "score" mostly in the 'no other party involved' accident category, losing control of their cars for no apparent reason but speed. Driving on dirt roads is unlike any other driving experience that Europeans or North Americans can gain at home, and the 100 km/h speed limit does not mean you should, or even can, drive safely at that speed. This farmer overtaking you at breakneck speed knows every rock and every puddle on this road, has a better suitable car, and likely a few hundred thousand kilometers of experience on his belt.
Namibians often estimate the time to drive between places according to their own vast experience driving quickly on dirt (untarred) roads. Add a third and you will arrive alive with kidneys intact!
Before you reserve a car let the rental company send you a copy of its rental agreement. Most of them have many (and sometimes absolutely ridiculous) restrictions. Take your time to compare them according to your needs. Small damage to tires, windscreens, and the vehicle front is almost unavoidable on gravel roads. The rental company will charge you for that, or will try to sell expensive add-ons to the contract. When picking up your car, check that the spare wheel is of the same type as the regular wheels, and that the tools for changing it are complete. Consider comprehensive travel insurance from your home country that may cover all damage.
Blood alcohol limit in Namibia is 0.08.
There are two types of taxi services in Namibia: shared taxis and dedicated taxis, often called "radio taxis" or "call-a cab". The shared taxis have a license restricting their movement, either to within a town, or between a set of towns. Taxi fares of shared taxis are regulated by government and cannot be bargained on. However, taxi drivers might nevertheless overcharge tourists who do not know what the standard fares are. Radio taxis have no such restriction but charge between 5 and 10 times for the same ride.
Shared taxis are seldom roadworthy - any car in Namibia must pass the roadworthy test only upon change of ownership. It is not uncommon to see bonnets tied by steel wire, emergency spare tyres, broken screens, and the like. Drivers habitually jump red lights (in Namibia: "robots") and stop signs and will let passengers embark wherever they find them, including on highways and in the middle of an intersection. Be considerate to other drivers by not waving at a taxi where it is not safe to stop.
It is quite easy to get around towns by long-distance shared taxis. They are fast, sometimes scarily so, and they are cheap. Just ask around to find out where the taxi rank is (sometimes there are several taxi ranks, each one with departures to different areas of the country). None of these will take you to tourist destinations, though, as those are almost always away from the larger settlements. For taxis that operate within a town it is expected that you, instead of waving at them, point into the direction you wish to travel.
A lot of companies offer affordable shuttle services between most towns like Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Tsumeb, Otjiwarongo etc. These services are perfectly safe but more expensive than taxis.
Several tour companies operate in Namibia. Each is unique in services offered but most operate with safety in mind.
Hitchhiking is uncommon in Namibia. While it is possible to get a hike from one town to another, the typical "See" and "Do" activities are out in the countryside. For whatever reason, most Namibians have never visited any of their tourism establishments, never seen a wild animal larger than a baboon, and never stayed in tourist accommodation. Only other tourists will go there, and they often have no space in their cars or no willingness to give you a lift. Even worse than to go from a town to a landmark, is going from one landmark to the next. Namibia as a whole is very much off the beaten track, very sparsely populated, and has very little traffic overall. You might stand days at Sossusvlei hitchhiking to the Naukluft. Let's hope you brought water and food. If you finally get a hike, the driver will typically ask for a contribution to his petrol expenses, so it is not even for free.
Major Indigenous languages include Oshiwambo, Otjiherero, Damara/Nama, various San languages, Rukwangali, and Silozi.
English is the official language and is widely spoken. However, the majority of older Namibians (those educated before independence) speak English only as a third language; therefore, the standard is fairly poor. English is more widely spoken in the north, as it was adopted as a medium of instruction earlier than in the south. Older Namibians in the South are more likely to speak Afrikaans or German.
Afrikaans is spoken by many and is the first language of the Coloureds as well as the Afrikaners. English is spoken as a first language by the remaining English families, and German is spoken by the Namibians of German descent, who tend to be in Windhoek, Swakopmund and various farms scattered through the country. German is one of the leading commercial languages as well. Portuguese is spoken by immigrants from Angola.
There are a few English words with specific local meaning.
Namibia is a land of astounding natural beauty. To truly appreciate the country, you need to get out in the countryside, either on a tour or by renting a car, and take in the deserts, the mountains, the villages and everything else that Namibia has to offer.
One of its most dominant features, and the one for which the country is named, is the Namib Desert, which stretches for nearly 1000 km along the Atlantic coast. One of the oldest deserts in the world, its sand takes on a distinctive rust colour, with the desert having some of the highest sand dunes in the world. Sossusvlei is the most accessible part of the desert and is a magical place with its towering dunes that shift hues as the sun rises and sets. Further south, near the South African border, is Fish River Canyon, one of the largest canyons in the world. Stretching for 160 km, it is reaches 27 km across at its widest and nearly 550 m down at its deepest. In the north of the country is the empty and mostly inaccessible Skeleton Coast National Park. It is a seemingly barren expanse of stone and sand famous for its fog and the number of shipwrecks along the coast.
Namibia still has plenty of African wildlife to see and is one of the countries where all of the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo) can be seen in the wild. There are also some local subspecies, such as desert lions, desert elephants and the Hartmann's mountain zebra, which are adapted to the harsh desert climate. Grazing animals like gemsbok, ostrich and springbok are also common. Namibia's national parks are an excellent starting point and one of the most famous is Etosha National Park in the north. The park surrounds the Etosha salt pan, which attracts animals, particularly in the drier winter months, because it is a source of water in a very dry land. Other notable spots to view wildlife are Waterberg Plateau Park, the parks of the Caprivi and the remote Kaokoland.
Namibia has a German influence from colonial times that is retained in some of its buildings. Windhoek has a number of interesting buildings like the Christuskirche, the train station and the castle-like Heinitzburg Hotel. Lüderitz is a colonial era town with distinctive German Imperial and Art Nouveau styles. Nearby is the abandoned mining town of Kolmanskop. Once a thriving center for diamonds, the miners moved on and the sand dunes have moved in, but tours are still available.
When planning your tour, consider that many attractions require a permit but not all of them sell it on-site. Most visitors pass through Windhoek at the start of their tour; Obtain the necessary permits here. The major permit issuers are the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda St, Windhoek), the National Heritage Council (NHC, 52 Robert Mugabe Avenue, Windhoek), and Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR, Gathemann Building, Independence Avenue, Windhoek).
The currency of the country is the Namibian dollar, denoted by the symbol "$" or "N$" (ISO currency code: NAD). It is divided into 100 cents. Unlike elsewhere in Africa you cannot pay anything in US dollars or euro.
Coins of Namibia are issued in denominations of 5, 10 and 50 cents, N$1, N$5 and N$10. Banknotes of Namibia are issued in denominations of N$10, N$20, N$50, N$100 and N$200. There is also a N$30 note, but is worth more as a collector's piece than as a circulating piece.
Namibia, Lesotho, South Africa and Eswatini (Swaziland) form the Southern African Common Monetary Area (CMA) through which each country's currency is pegged 1:1 to the South African Rand (ZAR). The Namibian dollar and South African rand are legal tender in Namibia though change will usually be given in Namibian dollars.
Banks in Namibia will convert Namibian dollars for South African rand and vice versa without charge or paperwork. Since any bank or currency exchange outside Namibia (including other members of the Common Monetary Area) will charge a substantial service fee to change currency, it is advisable to make use of a Namibian Bank before leaving the country.
It is also advisable to carry proof (for example, ATM receipts) that money you are taking out of the country is money that you brought into the country in the first place.
Current official exchange rates are available from the Namibian Central Bank
Automated teller machines are available in all towns. "Town" in Namibia is defined as "being independently governed", and not by size. Some towns thus are really small. Most villages do not feature an ATM. Be also advised that not everything on the Namibian map is a settlement. "Red drum" in Kunene Region is just that, a red drum, and "Sossusvlei" is a clay pan, not a village. And has no ATM, of course. It is best to use only teller machines that are manned by a security guard in uniform. Always be careful to make sure no one is watching you enter your PIN, and be vigilant about typical scams (e.g. machines that seem to eat your card and won't give it back after you enter the PIN).
The cross-border money transfer facilities are limited and expensive, with one of the poorest currency buying-and-selling rates, because the government does not want the money to be sent out of the country. There are only a few Western Union Money Transfer offices in Namibia.
Prices in shops are fixed, but prices in open markets or from street vendors are open to bargain.
In most towns you will be approached by many locals to buy souvenirs, when this happens a 'no thanks' will usually suffice and they will leave you alone. It is common to haggle. Try to buy as much as possible from small shops instead of bigger ones—it's the best way to help the poor local population. Please do not buy high-quality ware like mobile phones or safari gear from mobile vendors. They often trade in contraband, and obtaining such goods may get you into trouble.
Namibia is home to some of the most productive diamond mines in the world, and since all mines are owned by a government-de Beers partnership, prices in Namibia are generally quite lower than in the Western world, where monopolies control the prices. Most large towns in Namibia have stores that sell diamonds.
Possession of uncut diamonds is illegal in Namibia and carries lengthy jail terms. Any attempt to sell them to you is likely a rip-off, anyway.
Namibians have a very high intake of meat, and a low intake of vegetables. This has to do with the semi-arid climate; agriculture almost exclusively is cattle, sheep, and goat farming while edible plants only grow when irrigated. As a result, meat is good, cheap, and plentiful, while fruits and vegetables tend to be expensive as a lot of produce is imported from neighbouring states. A very popular way to eat and socialise is the braai, a mixed wood-fired barbecue with lots of alcoholic drinks. Every campsite, every lodge, and every domestic home has pre-installed braai facilities.
In the coastal towns seafood is fresh and inexpensive. Make sure you try the local specialities kingklip and sole. Hake is also available and cheap. Restaurants will often offer line fish or angel fish which is simply what the fishermen managed to haul out from the sea—do ask what kind of fish it is before ordering. Inland, fish is also served in restaurants but how fresh it is is a matter of luck. Of course it has been frozen during the transport across the Namib Desert; if you don't like that then order something else.
All towns have supermarkets with all standard products, although most fruits and vegetables are imported and therefore rather expensive. Shops in villages will have very little fresh produce. Even if they have cold storage it will mostly be used for drinks. Far away from bigger towns tomatoes, onions, potatoes and apples is all you can hope for, and mostly not at once. Also buying meat can be a challenge unless you are prepared to take the whole animal. Travellers usually take along mobile fridges, or at least several coolboxes, to complement the restricted offer. Cooler boxes are so ubiquitous that there is a local viral video about them.
Of the local food specialities these are the ones you should try. You get them on any open market and in some specialised restaurants:
As a tourist you won't have the chance to prepare a potjie, stewed food from a cast-iron pot prepared over open fire. It takes forever, the pot is heavy and awkward to transport, and a good potjie requires a lot of experience. But lodges and some restaurants offer it, and if you are invited privately, your host will be happy to make a potjie for the occasion.
Vegetarians and vegans can have a challenging time in Namibia. While you may have to explain your diet in restaurants, the average place will make an effort to accomodate you - though this may come at a cost. With the exception of Windhoek, Swakopmund, and high end lodges you won't find anything that is purposefully vegetarian.
Windhoek and Swakopmund also have a variety of world cuisines now. There are Indian, Thai, Chinese, Mexican and other restaurants.
Namibia's nightclubs are always happening and always open late (pretty much until the last person leaves). They are only located in bigger cities. The local version of a bar is the shebeen, a formal or informal structure with a counter for alcohol sale, a TV, a slot machine, and often a pool table. Drinks in shebeens are very cheap, and there are a lot of them, but most are situated in the townships. The flagship beer of Namibia is Windhoek Lager, an easy-drinking filtered beer, brewed by resident German master brewers.
The sale of alcohol for take-away is not allowed between Saturday 13:00 and Monday morning; all holidays count as Sundays. That means in supermarkets, which usually are open every day, the fridges with alcoholic drinks will be padlocked during this period. In informal areas (townships, shebeens, or remote villages) this rule is seldom enforced.
Oshikundu or Ontaku is a traditional Namibian beer-like drink made from fermented millet and sold in markets and at street stalls.
Namibians love camping and the outdoors. Near every tourist attraction you will find several camp sites, from very simple, communally run places on sand that just have water and a dry toilet (about 100 N$ per person) to private park-like settings with lush grass, power sockets and a sink per camping spot, shade, and private WCs (about 200 N$ per person). In the national parks there are places without any amenities where you even have to bring water. These often need a 4x4 to get to, and you have to buy a permit in advance which is more expensive than staying at the best camp sites in the country. The chance to get caught without a permit is small but if they get you they will impose a 7.800 N$ fine—per person! If you spot a nice place to camp next to the road, check if there is a fence. If there's a fence then that's a farm. Farms are private properties. Don't enter a farm without notifying the farmer and asking for permission. Wild camping is allowed (but not very safe, luxurious or pleasant) on the side of the road between the banks and the farm fence, or in the areas that are neither commercial farms nor protected areas.
There are a few dormitories and hostels, but only in the older and larger towns. Neither hitchhiking nor backpacking are very common among tourists.
Every tourism establishment that thinks it offers quality will call itself a lodge. It means that besides a roof over your head there are additional offerings like a restaurant, a pool, game drives, sports activities, hunting, and more. Originally far away from urban centres, even ordinary B&Bs will have the name 'lodge' today.
As a rule, if a lodge also offers a campsite, it is not ridiculously expensive. Apparently the wealthy do not like to mingle too much with dusty people pitching tents.
Prices are often quoted per-person rather than per-room. Of course you'll find a double room cheaper per person than single occupancy.
It is extremely difficult for foreigners to get work permits in Namibia. With about 30% unemployment, the government is not enthusiastic about letting people in who would take jobs from Namibians. All semi-skilled and unskilled positions must be unconditionally filled by local Namibians. A work permit is necessary for all sorts of work, not just permanent employment. Delivering a talk at a conference, appearing in court representing a client, fixing a car for a rental company, volunteering in any capacity, treating people or animals without pay, or consulting, are all work and require one. Estimate at least 3 months of paperwork to get a work permit.
An employee's salary is normally paid in Namibian dollars and income tax (maximum rate is 37% and is based on different income slabs) is deducted by the employer. The capital city of Windhoek is one of the least expensive places in the world for expatriates to live.
Namibia is a peaceful country and is not involved in any wars. Since the end of the Angolan civil war in May 2002, the violence that spilled over into northeastern Namibia is no longer an issue. Namibia is, however, a country with extreme income disparities. A middle manager easily earns twenty times the salary of a cleaner, and a third of the workforce is unemployed. As a tourist you're inevitably seen as stinking rich, and a prime target for thieves.
Namibia has a relatively high crime rate, particularly sexual abuse, general violence after alcohol abuse, and theft. Be careful on or right after pay day, the last day of the month, when there will be more drunk people than anyway usual. Travellers should have no problem visiting the townships, but do not go there on your own, or after dark. In Windhoek you can book township tours where you will be taken to the most interesting places, but that's not the same as going there yourself and see that there are people living there like you and me.
For foreigners, it is not prudent to walk or ride taxis alone after sunset. Pickpockets can be a problem. No local will carry a bag while walking, and for thieves the bag is the token to make out who is a tourist and who isn't. Stuff all possessions into your trousers' pockets. If you rent a car, insist that the owner (rental company) of the car is clearly visible with stickers or as car paint. In the event of carjacking there is no easier way to relax the attitude of the robbers than pointing out that the car isn't yours. Besides, as pretty much all rented cars have hidden communication devices, no carjacker in his right mind will take one from a rental company.
Most reported robberies take place just outside of the city centre. The police report that taxi drivers are often involved: they spot vulnerable tourists and coordinate by cell phoning. Take these warnings in context; if you are alert and take some common sense precautions, you should have no problems. Never be specific when asked where you stay; "in town" or "at some B&B" is sufficient for all good-faith conversations and doesn't disclose your intended route.
Namibia has a serious problem with driving under the influence of alcohol. The problem is aggravated because most people consider it no problem. When driving or walking on weekend evenings, be especially alert. The person in a car (the more expensive the better) is more important, and has the right of way. This specifically includes zebra crossings and green pedestrian traffic lights—even expats and fellow tourists will not stop for someone on foot in order not to confuse local drivers.
The HIV infection rate in Namibia is around 17%, which is lower than before but is still the leading cause of death in the country.
Namibia's medical system is modern and capable of attending to whatever needs you may have. Staff are well trained and so HIV transmission in hospitals is not an issue. This applies to government and private hospitals alike, though line-ups are often shorter at private hospitals, and there have been cases of incorrect diagnosis in government hospitals. Should you become a victim of violence, private doctors and hospitals will send you away. The reason is that staff treating you will be summoned as witnesses to subsequent court cases without compensation, and lose valuable working time. In state hospitals, where productivity is not an issue, you will be treated at almost no charge. Thereafter do consult a private practice to confirm diagnosis and treatment. All private medical facilities expect cash or credit card in advance, no matter if or where you are insured. A visit to the doctor will be about 500 N$, for a night in hospital you'll have to deposit at least 10,000 N$.
The northern part of Namibia is in a malaria-risk zone, so consult a doctor before leaving, and take appropriate malaria precautions when travelling in these areas.
Ensure you are well stocked with water when journeying through the hot and sparsely populated country. On main roads take along at least 2 liters of potable water per person. In lesser travelled areas, 5 litres per person are the absolute minimum. If your car breaks down it can take days (!) for someone else to pass through. Namibia's water supply is usually safe to drink, except where labelled otherwise. Campsites next to rivers often get their water directly from the river. This water is clean but still disturbs some stomachs. Windhoek has the oldest direct water reclamation plant in the world. "Direct" means toilet-to-tap in one go, and many Windhoekers are uncomfortable with that and only drink bottled water. However, the water is completely safe, it just doesn't taste very good.
Having said all this, make sure you consult a physician specializing in health issues of Southern Africa, as well as things like the Centre for Disease Control web page. Make sure you satisfy yourself of the safety of anything you're getting into.
Namibians are very proud of their nation. It is a well developed country (albeit still economically developing) with modern amenities and technologies. Namibians have been exposed to a surprisingly wide variety of peoples during the United Nations supervising of the elections, as well as from various volunteer organizations. As in many African countries, the further away you come from the more curiosity you are going to attract.
It is customary when greeting someone to ask them how they're doing. It's a simple exchange where each person asks "How are you?" (or the informal version "Howzit?"—"Sharp, bro") and responds with a correspondingly short answer "Good, yourself?", and then proceed with whatever your business is about. It's a good idea to say this at tourist info booths, in markets, when getting into taxis and even in shops in Windhoek (though it's normally not said in some of the bigger stores in the malls).
Shorts and trousers are worn by Namibians, so no one is offended if tourists dress in that style, too. Generally a dress that is overly safari-like is only appropriate if you are indeed on safari. Everywhere else it will earn you anything from mild smiles to outright laughter, not to mention that such attire screams "tourist". Black Namibians are sometimes dressed very formally, also outside working hours, while some white Namibians are the exact opposite. So on one hand you may see patrons in a shebeen donning dinner dress or black suit while on the other, managers or owners of fairly large businesses walking about with shorts and thick, knee-high socks, to prevent snakes from biting their lower legs, even in the capital where there are few snakes.
For festivities and church service everyone is dressed formally or traditionally. The traditional dresses of the women originate from the early colonial era and can look funny and out of place today. Don't laugh, culture is very important in Namibia.
Race is a common part of Namibian discourse and Namibians refer to the race of others more frequently than travellers may expect. Because of apartheid, race is an issue in many spheres of life, so it comes up a lot. In spite of this, the various races do get along well in Namibia, and it is fairly uncommon to find racial tensions flaring. Even the various past conflicts were about cattle and land, not race.
Those who are more accustomed to North American racial terminology should understand that words that are familiar to them have different meanings in Namibia and South Africa, and the rules for what terms are polite or not are different. If in doubt, call everyone 'Namibians'.
Namibians have an ambivalent attitude towards gays and lesbians. Sexual intercourse between men is illegal, and there are no laws supporting LGBT rights. In the early 2000s there were a few incidents of discrimination, harassment and violence, along the statement that homosexuality is "un-African". The current situation is more like "leave them alone". The so-called Sodomy Law has never been enforced. As not many Namibians discuss sexuality with strangers, outing yourself for no apparent reason will be perceived as odd. When booking a room together it may be wise not to disclose that you are married.
On the other hand, homosexuality is really common, and in many bars you'll find same-sex couples. Showing affection in public is generally rare and happens only in bars and nightclubs when people are drunk. Everywhere else it is expected that it happens in private, even more so for same-sex couples.
Namibia's country code is 264. Each city or region has a two-digit area code. When calling long distance within Namibia, prefix the area code with a '0'. There are still a few pay phone booths around the country but they are no longer maintained. When making an international call from a phone booth, bring plenty of coins. Such calls are still expensive in Namibia, and it requires some dexterity to stuff coins in fast enough to not be cut off.
Mobile phones are very common in Namibia. There are two cell phone providers in Namibia, MTC and Telecom. Overall, MTC offers better coverage for tourists. Coverage is complete in all towns and on the major highways. On minor roads and in the countryside you won't have reception, despite both providers advertising near-complete coverage. All major tourist destinations are covered by MTC. Telecom has better coverage in villages that are not on tourist routes. If you are travelling near the borders, be aware that the foreign towers are usually stronger, and your phone will connect to these, causing additional charges.
A new SIM card costs N$10 or less and has N$5 of credit on it. Unlike in South Africa you don't need a passport to register them (January 2020) but the legislation to make this compulsory is coming soon. Bundles are available at N$30-50 and give several hundred SMSs, 100 call minutes or more, and 1-10 GiB of data. These bulk options, called "Away" for MTC and "Jiva" for Telecom, are very common and a lot cheaper than pure data packages. However, they all expire after a week.
MTC SIM cards need to be activated by phoning or texting to them. Data usage needs to be activated in an official outlet of the provider, only available in larger towns and at the airport. Recharge vouchers are available everywhere for MTC. Only few vendors stock Telecom vouchers, buy them in advance with the SIM card. When recharging, 15% tax is deducted; a N$30 voucher will give you N$26.09 credit, not N$30.
The international airport and virtually every restaurant, bar, B&B and camp site provide free Wi-Fi. However, not all of Namibia is covered by mobile towers. Far away from both major highways (A and B roads) and larger settlements, there is no reception. The tourist establishments in these remote areas have themselves no Internet access, and can thus not provide it to you. Some fill the coverage gap by providing satellite Internet, but this is by no means guaranteed.
Voice over IP is illegal in Namibia. Private persons will not be prosecuted for it, but there have been some prosecutions for people selling the service. You will not find shops offering cheap international calls, and you will not be allowed to Skype or similar from an Internet Cafe.
The nearby nations of South Africa, Botswana and Angola are three obvious places to consider going next.
The decision to travel is your responsibility. You are also responsible for your personal safety abroad. The purpose of this Travel Advice is to provide up-to-date information to enable you to make well-informed decisions.
Peace in Angola has improved the security situation along the Namibia-Angola border. However, you should exercise caution when travelling to this area (including the region of Kavango in the northeast and the western half of the Caprivi region) due to the risk of banditry. If you intend to cross into Angola, only do so at official border crossing areas.
You should contact the Consulate of Canada in Windhoek for the latest security information.
Petty crime such as pickpocketing and purse snatching is prevalent. Vehicle theft and break-ins occur. Violent crime such as muggings and robberies targeting foreigners has increased, particularly in Windhoek. Remain alert to your surroundings, ensure that your personal belongings and travel documents are secure, and avoid the townships and remote areas after dark. Vehicle doors should be kept locked and windows shut to deter carjackings and theft. Keep valuables out of sight. There have been reports of thefts from vehicles at service stations.
You should be alert when travelling in Namibia and be cautious of persons ostensibly looking for assistance next to roads in remote areas. Unsuspecting tourists have been victims of armed attacks.
Demonstrations are rare and are concentrated in Windhoek. They can disrupt traffic and business. You should exercise caution and avoid large crowds and demonstrations.
Be aware of the presence of landmines in the border area from Katwitwi (a village on the Okavango River in western Kavango region) to Kongola town (Caprivi region).
Traffic drives on the left. Careful driving is particularly important at night and on rural roads, many of which are gravel with sloping sand shoulders. Road conditions are generally good, but much of the country is desert and overland travel takes considerable time. Sand roads become very slippery when wet. Turning right on a red light is not permitted. Excessive speeds and animals on the roadway pose hazards. Emergency and roadside assistance is unreliable or non-existent outside Windhoek. Overland travel via the Trans-Caprivi Highway between Rundu and Katima Mulilo should be undertaken during daylight hours only.
Road travel to desert areas should be undertaken with sufficient water and fuel supplies and two spare tires. Travel by convoy if you plan to go to the desert.
Avoid hitchhiking, as drivers may be intoxicated or reckless, vehicles may be poorly maintained, and the incidence of single-vehicle rollover accidents is high. Avoid stopping at roadside rest stops, where robberies have been known to occur.
Buses and taxis operate in the capital. Public transportation is limited outside Windhoek. There have been reports of foreigners being robbed by taxi drivers. The Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (NABTA) has taken steps to regulate taxi drivers by allocating registration numbers (one letter of the alphabet followed by a two-digit number). Use registered taxis only, displaying the NABTA logo, or arrange for a taxi through a reputable hotel.
Consult our Transportation FAQ in order to verify if national airlines meet safety standards.
Cases of attempted fraud are frequently reported in this country. See our Overseas Fraud page for more information on scams abroad.
Since 2008, there have been reports of credit card copying in some hotels and lodges. When paying by credit card, keep your card in view at all times. Be extra vigilant at automated banking machines (ABMs), as criminals may attempt to distract you or offer assistance with the aim of stealing your money. Don't accept any offers of assistance and cancel your transaction if you become suspicious.
When visiting parks and game reserves, remain with your group and observe all local or park regulations and instructions given by tour guides, as wild animals pose risks. Potentially dangerous areas may lack fences and warning signs.
You should dress conservatively.
Carry a copy of your identification and your visa with you at all times.
The emergency number in Windhoek is 211 111. If calling from a mobile phone, dial 061 211 111.
Be sure that your routine vaccines are up-to-date regardless of your travel destination.
You may be at risk for these vaccine-preventable diseases while travelling in this country. Talk to your travel health provider about which ones are right for you.
Hepatitis A is a disease of the liver spread by contaminated food or water. All those travelling to regions with a risk of hepatitis A infection should get vaccinated.
Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver spread through blood or other bodily fluids. Travellers who may be exposed (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment or occupational exposure) should get vaccinated.
Seasonal influenza occurs worldwide. The flu season usually runs from November to April in the northern hemisphere, between April and October in the southern hemisphere and year round in the tropics. Influenza (flu) is caused by a virus spread from person to person when they cough or sneeze or through personal contact with unwashed hands. Get the flu shot.
Measles occurs worldwide but is a common disease in developing countries, particularly in parts of Africa and Asia. Measles is a highly contagious disease. Be sure your vaccination against measles is up-to-date regardless of the travel destination.
Rabies is a disease that attacks the central nervous system spread to humans through a bite, scratch or lick from a rabid animal. Vaccination should be considered for travellers going to areas where rabies exists and who have a high risk of exposure (i.e., close contact with animals, occupational risk, and children).
Typhoid is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among travellers going to rural areas, visiting friends and relatives, or with weakened immune systems. Travellers visiting regions with typhoid risk, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation should consider getting vaccinated.
Yellow fever is a disease caused by the bite of an infected mosquito.
Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.
|* It is important to note that country entry requirements may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.
|Country Entry Requirement*
Travellers to any destination in the world can develop travellers' diarrhea from consuming contaminated water or food.
In some areas in Southern Africa, food and water can also carry diseases like cholera, hepatitis A, schistosomiasis and typhoid. Practise safe food and water precautions while travelling in Southern Africa. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
There have been cases of cholera reported in this country in the last year. Cholera is a bacterial disease that typically causes diarrhea. In severe cases it can lead to dehydration and even death.
Most travellers are generally at low risk. Humanitarian workers and those visiting areas with limited access to safe food and water are at higher risk. Practise safe food and water precautions. Travellers at high risk should get vaccinated.
Schistosomiasis is caused by blood flukes (tiny worms) spread to humans through contaminated water. The eggs of the worms can cause stomach illnesses like diarrhea and cramps or urinary problems. Risk is generally low for most travellers. Avoid swimming in contaminated water. There is no vaccine available for schistosomiasis.
In some areas in Southern Africa, certain insects carry and spread diseases like African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, chikungunya, leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis, malaria, Rift Valley fever, and West Nile virus.
Travellers are advised to take precautions against bites.
Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats. Some infections found in Southern Africa, like rabies, can be shared between humans and animals.
Crowded conditions can increase your risk of certain illnesses. Remember to wash your hands often and practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette to avoid colds, the flu and other illnesses.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV are spread through blood and bodily fluids; practise safer sex.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks and impairs the immune system, resulting in a chronic, progressive illness known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).
Practise safe sex while travelling, and don't share needles, razors, or other objects which could transmit infection.
Remember that HIV can also be spread through the use of unsterile medical equipment during medical and dental procedures, tattooing, body piercing or acupuncture. Diseases can also be spread though blood transfusions and organ transplantation if the blood or organs are not screened for HIV or other blood-borne pathogens.
Tuberculosis is an infection caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs.
For most travellers the risk of tuberculosis is low.
Travellers who may be at high risk while travelling in regions with risk of tuberculosis should discuss pre- and post-travel options with a health care provider.
High-risk travellers include those visiting or working in prisons, refugee camps, homeless shelters, or hospitals, or travellers visiting friends and relatives.
Medical facilities are relatively modern, particularly in the capital. However, well-equipped facilities are rarely available in smaller towns. Upfront payment is generally required, even if you have medical insurance. Ensure that your insurance policy covers all the activities that you plan to undertake, particularly in the case of extreme sports.
The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.
Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a travel health kit, especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.
You are subject to local laws. Consult our Arrest and Detention page for more information.
Diamonds and other protected resources should be purchased from licensed shops. If you are convicted of illegal dealings in diamonds, you could face heavy fines, up to US$20,000, or five years in prison. The purchase and export of other protected resources, such as elephant ivory, may be subject to restrictions.
Homosexual activity is illegal.
Penalties for drug offences are severe and include lengthy prison sentences.
Do not photograph military sites or government buildings. Ask permission before taking photographs.
Original Canadian driver's licences in English are accepted. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended. If hiring a car, pay particular attention to the insurance coverage provided. Take out fully comprehensive insurance on any hired vehicle.
It is against the law to use a cellular telephone while driving or to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A charge of culpable homicide can be made against a driver involved in an accident resulting in death.
Individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation standards very different from those in Canada. The Government of Namibia does not require that public buildings be accessible, and some ministries are not wheelchair accessible. The government does require that all new government buildings include ramps. Some street corners in Windhoek have special signal crossings for the visually impaired.
The currency is the Namibian dollar (NAD). The South African rand (ZAR) is also accepted. Major credit cards are accepted and most ABMs are linked to international networks.
The dry season extends from March to October, and the rainy season extends from November to February. Unpaved roads may become impassable during the rainy season. You should follow regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
https://www.rivieranayarit.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/logox300.jpg 0 0 1stonthelist https://www.rivieranayarit.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/logox300.jpg 1stonthelist2011-10-27 07:33:002011-10-27 07:33:00Riviera Nayarit rocks!
Riviera Nayarit rocks!
- The Hard Rock Hotel will come to Mexico's Pacific Treasure with Palace Resorts in the Spring of 2012
Riviera Nayarit Rocks! This is now truer than ever, because in the Spring of 2012 our destination will open a new concept in hotels that will attract a new market niche: Palace Resorts has announced its alliance with Hard Rock Hotels in Mexico, and its property in Riviera Nayarit will be ready to rock in the first months of next year.
The opening of the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta Palace will not involve new construction, but will instead see a complete reengineering of its design and decoration, which will include hundreds of memorabilia items in the purest style of this franchise.
Live music and the concept that has made Hard Rock a successful brand will allow them to offer enticing features that currently can't be found anywhere else in Mexico, and will therefore allow us to attract a new market niche to Riviera Nayarit.
The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Riviera Nayarit congratulates Palace Resorts for this new alliance, which contributes not only to increase the number of tourists, but also to offer new marketing possibilities for our destination.
The marketing efforts made by the CVB of Riviera Nayarit in 2011 include the diversification of market segments and tourist profiles arriving to our destination, as these are the best ways to guarantee that we will be able to attract a larger number of tourists to our destination, which will in turn translate into improving the quality of life of all the people of Nayarit by reactivating the regional economy by linking the productive chains in our State, generating wellness for everyone.
Innovative efforts like this one by Palace Resorts are contributing to attain these objectives, which complement the goals defined by the State Government, headed by Roberto Sandoval.


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Cisco Systems, Inc. was founded by two computer scientists at Stanford University in 1984 to develop and manufacture networking systems; Cisco went public in 1990. Until Cisco introduced its first commercial router in 1986, machines on local networks had been unable to communicate easily with machines outside of that network. The multi-protocol router allowed geographically dispersed local networks of computers, often using different networking protocols, to link together. Cisco quickly became a worldwide leader in networking hardware, software, and services, growing to over 40, 000 employees and annual revenues of $23. 8 billion by the end of 2000, although the downturn in the economy affected Cisco's 2001 revenues and forced Cisco to lay off nearly 14% of its employees (Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2001).
Cisco Systems, Inc. is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Today, networks are an essential part of business, education, government, and home communications. Cisco hardware, software, and service offerings are used to create the Internet solutions that make these networks possible, giving individuals, companies, and countries easy access to information anywhere, at any time. In addition, Cisco has pioneered the use of the Internet in its own business practice and offers consulting services based on its experience to help other organizations around the world.
Since the company's inception, Cisco engineers have led in the innovation of Internet Protocol (IP)-based networking technologies. This tradition of IP innovation continues with the development of industry-leading products in the core technologies of routing and switching, along with Advanced Technologies in areas such as home networking, IP telephony, optical networking, security, storage area networking, and wireless technology. In addition to its products, Cisco provides a broad range of service offerings, including technical support and advanced services. Cisco sells its products and services, both directly through its own sales force as well as through its channel partners, to large enterprises, commercial businesses, service providers, and consumers. As a company, Cisco operates on core values of customer focus and corporate social responsibility (Cisco Systems Inc 2004).
Cisco has a proven track record of successfully capturing market transitions. Beginning in 1997 with the reality that Voice and Video would all be one, moving to the Networks of Networks in 2000 and the Network becoming the platform for all related technologies and the core of customer solutions, and the most recent market transition of Collaboration and Web 2. 0 technologies. As market transitions evolve so do the product offerings – all to best meet customer needs.
Over time, Cisco has evolved from Enterprise and Service Provider solutions to addressing customer needs in many other segments including Small, Consumer and Commercial. The network has truly become the platform for providing one seamless, transparent customer experience. As a result, Cisco and Cisco technology is changing the way they work, live, play and learn. They strive to be " Best in the World" and " Best for the World" – offering solutions that meet customer needs, exceed their expectations and contribute to the world in a positive way. Connecting and collaborating with others is a key element of Cisco's culture. Making the world a smaller place through technology and using it to enhance life experiences. That's the " Human Network" – a place where everyone is connected (Cisco n. d.).
Market Orientation
Jaworski and Kohli (1996) defined market orientation as " the organization wide generation of market intelligence pertaining to current and future customer needs, dissemination of the intelligence across departments, and organization-wide responsiveness to it."
Customer and Market Focus
In recent years, market-driven organizations have begun to emerge as the new industry giants. The market-driven formula for success in today's marketplace is to produce the right product at the right price at the right time. The right product is the one that solves the customer's problem and delivers the highest value. The right price is what the customer is willing to pay. The right time is when the customer needs the product. Customer needs are continuously changing. Therefore, an organization must know how customers' wants, needs, and values evolve over time to be successful. To gain the intimate knowledge of the customer, an organization must become focused on the markets and customers it serves and put the customer first in every aspect of the organization. Marketing-orientated companies focus on customer needs (Jobber 2007: 6).
Figure 1: Market Orientation (Jobber, D. 2006: 6)
By putting the customer first in an organization's mission and goals, market-driven organizations make providing value to the customer a top priority.
This commitment to the customer is evident in Cisco System's mission statement:
Mission: to shape the future of the Internet by creating unprecedented value and opportunity for our customers, employees, investors and ecosystem partners (Cisco n. d.)
Cisco's market focus begins with its emphasis on delivering unprecedented value to its customers, as well as other stakeholders, including employees, investors, and environmental partners. Cisco's mission statement is consistent with market-driven perspective of serving the objectives of all the stakeholders (Bill Barrett 2001).
We believe Cisco's market orientation emphasizes continuous improvement of the processes since information gathering is one of the main characteristics of a market driven organization. As the market demands and customers' requirements change continuously, it is extremely essential for such organizations to gather relevant data in all environmental sectors – competitive, political, cultural, economic, technological, human resources and most importantly the consumer. Thus, it can be said that Cisco's orientation is rightly aligned with its mission statement.
Relationship Strategies
The market-driven concept suggests that putting the customer first in all aspects of an organization results in satisfying all stakeholders, which challenges the belief that multiple stakeholders often have conflicting goals. Market-driven organizations use relationship strategies to form partnerships and alliances with stakeholders to create synergy and minimize or eliminate conflicting goals. Cisco Systems has formed strategic alliances with suppliers and customers to deliver a customer-centric, total solutions approach to solving problems, exploiting business opportunity, and creating sustainable competitive advantage for our customers (Bill Barrett 2001). Cisco and its partners recognized that their products and services, combined with those of suppliers and customers, created a total solution that was more valuable than the sum of the individual pieces (Bill Barrett 2001).
" Cisco's strategy is based on catching market transitions-the market transitions that affect our customers. With the proliferation of video and collaborative Web 2. 0 technologies, the network continues to evolve from the plumbing of the Internet-providing connectivity-to the platform that will change the way we work, live, play and learn." – John Chambers, Chairman and CEO, Cisco (Cisco n. d.)
The most fundamental way in which John Chambers views strategy is around the idea of change, and how change affects customers; in essence, he believes that market transitions that most effect customers, define competitive opportunities for Cisco. Change is recognized as endemic and adaptation considered to be the Darwinian condition for survival (Jobber 2007: 6).
Cisco prepares for market transitions by listening to customers and by taking risks, innovating and investing 3-5 years in advance of a major transition in order to capitalize on it before competitors when the transition is realized in the market (Cisco n. d.). Cisco's vision and innovativeness can be evidently seen from the above statements that promote its connoisseurship in computer networks and the recent developments of the internet which is a heterogeneous network of networks. Its ability to anticipate and prepare for such market transitions is the key plot of its customers and its own success.
Changing needs present potential market opportunities, which drive the company (Jobber 2007: 6). Cisco takes every effort in its power to work towards its vision by its innovativeness which has provided enormous potential market opportunities. This approach is by far one of the largest contributors to its success in the Silicon Valley amongst its competitors in the industry. It has led to Cisco being one of the big names among industry giants like Microsoft, Apple, Sun Microsystems etc.
Elements of Market Orientation
Customers guide where we go and we stay ahead of market shifts so that we are ready to help our customers evolve, as their industry evolves (Cisco n. d). The customer centric approach is vital to the product development at Cisco. It signifies the presence of market orientation in the organization with respect to the customers' needs and requirements that form the basis of marketing strategies at Cisco.
The most influential market orientation elements are fast response to negative customer satisfaction information, strategies based on creating value for customers, immediate response to competitive challenges, and fast detection of changes in customer product preferences (Pelham 2000). Cisco has been concentrating on the consumer markets as part of their marketing strategies. It transitioned its Linksys subsidiary into a dedicated consumer business group, formed a consumer-focused council, and made key changes in the way it builds consumer products. This change has accentuated Cisco's efforts in building brand awareness among customers worldwide. Another essential factor of creating value for customers resulting in their success is evident from the organizations market concentration.
Cisco has tried to adopt a unified approach to consumer market since it acquired home networking company. It can be seen as a strategy based on creating value for customers and its focus on the much fragmented home networking segment. It implies Cisco's strategy to expand business in the area of home networking since it had believed home networking to be on the cusp of a major market transition.
SWOT Analysis
SWOT analysis summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of the company together with the opportunities and threats it faces. It draws the critical strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats from the strategic audit and distils this data to show the critical items from the internal and external audit. The number of items is small for forceful communications, and they show where a business should focus its attention (Kotler et al. 1999: 94).
Figure 1: SWOT Analysis (Excelsia Blog 2009)
On the whole, a formal SWOT analysis not only increases the awareness of the unique situation the firm is in, but also provides a roadmap to maintain, build and to act effectively as well as to eliminate weaknesses so as to capitalize on the opportunities even while defending against potentially wreaking threats.
In the words of a top consultant: " It gives a comprehensive concept of internal and external factors and how to creatively and innovatively develop a strategy that is directional, cost-effective and of course executable" (Excelsia Blog 2009).
SWOT Analysis of Cisco
Market leaders
Dedicated Management Team
Strong brand value
Strong financial hold
Fluctuating global margins
High pricing
Services expansion
Economic slowdown
Price wars
Product substitution
Cisco Strengths
Financially, Cisco is debt-free and has about $30 billion cash (Pimentel 2008). It generated around $3. 2 billion in cash flow from operations alone for the second quarter of fiscal 2009, compared with $2. 4 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2008, and compared with $2. 7 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 (Cisco 2009). The huge turnover not only aided them to fund the critical areas such as R&D or marketing, but also gave them the strength to acquire technology with lower venture capital funding in the market. It also enabled the company to buy back $2 billion in common stock during FYQ1 (Omnivorous 2003).
Cisco's financial strength has complemented its long term vision and strategy since they moved into new market adjacencies in conjunction with prioritizing the existing opportunities (Chambers 2009). Thus Cisco has been working on the simple principle of acquiring new companies and using their existing values to successfully integrate them.
Moreover, Cisco Management is well-respected for its ability to react to adverse business conditions, especially during the downturn. While Cisco was initially hit by the recession, the company was able to refocus much faster and more effectively. " Even in this downturn," says chairman and CEO John Chambers, " We intend to be the most aggressive we've ever been" (Malone M 2009).
The sales management of the company is highly respected. They are used to working with aggressive targets in mind, good international coverage and participation in all key segments — from international service providers (ISPs) to government education and Fortune 1000 distributors (Omnivorous 2003). The one piece missing in their long list of achievements was a strong product offering for small businesses and home, which was filled in by the Linksys acquisition. The Cisco Management also has strong ability to manage channel partnerships, including IBM (storage area networks), Verizon Communications, Telstra, Sony Electronics and others.
Considering the work environment, Cisco was recently nominated to the National Association for Female Executives' (NAFE) list of " Top 50 companies for Executive Women" (Cisco 2009). The list recognizes organizations whose policies and practices encourage women's advancement and whose numbers at the highest levels of leadership, demonstrate that commitment. In the article that accompanied the list, NAFE highlighted their Inclusion Advocacy Program (IAP), which paired high-potential employees with senior executives from other business units, who not only mentor the individual, but also become an advocate for that person's professional development (Cisco 2010). Cisco is extremely proud and feels privileged to be recognized on this list.
Cisco Weaknesses
As is often the case, some strength's are also potential weaknesses. Cisco's high gross margins are not believed to be sustainable, even by management. With the acquisition of Linksys, average gross margins declined by 1% because consumer products typically have gross margins in the 30-40% range (Omnivorous 2003). Analysts feared Dell's entry into the business, using low-cost off-the-shelf components (Omnivorous 2003) to cut down into Cisco's business.
The pricing strategy of Cisco has come under scrutiny as some of the products are highly priced in the market. The customers of Cisco have expressed their perception of the pricing of the individual products as overpriced as compared to Cisco's competitors.
The company has also done some vertical integration, including purchasing chip-maker Seagull Semiconductor in 2000 (Cisco 2000), but with this another problem arises which is, it has become highly reliant on outside vendors who may be capacity-limited during periods of high demand.
Cisco Opportunities
The company is positioned well overall, as IP-based networks that form the backbone of the Internet expand and drive productivity. Howard Charney, in a presentation to Korean customers of Cisco, notes that U. S. non-farm productivity has been growing at an average rate of 3% per year since 1995 (when the Internet and browsers became widely used) — more than double the 1. 4% of the previous 20 years (Add references). Cisco has abundant inputs in respect to this evolving market and can play an important part in this business sector. Specifically, this is opening up the following types of opportunities, according to market research : Storage Area Networks: 16% CAGR (Compounded Average Growth Rate) Voice-over-IP (VOIP): 44% CAGR Security: 20% CAGR Wireless LAN: 18% (Omnivorous 2003).
The company has been seeking to identify 12 advanced technologies that could generate $1 billion per year if markets develop up to the expectations. According to John Chambers, CEO Cisco, six have been identified and are in the Advanced Technology revenue group (IP telephony, home networking, optical networking, security, storage networking, and wireless) (Add references). The remaining six are yet to be identified.
Finally, the increase in networking speed has offered the company substantial growth. The common standard today is 100Mbps Ethernet (often referred to as 10/100 Ethernet because of its support for the older, slower 10Mbps speed). Christin Armacost, of SG Cowen, believes that growth in that market will fuel Cisco growth, as it's only about 10% of the market — and has an average sale price of $356 vs. $61 for 10/100 Ethernet (Add references).
Cisco Threats
The comprehensive summary report of the company's own analysis of threats realized top three risks as:
1. Uncertain global economy
2. Variability of revenues
3. Product gross margins may not be sustainable (Omnivorous 2003)
Additional threat factors mentioned by analysts and management include the following:
An alliance of Microsoft (as software supplier) and low-cost hardware vendors (Dell, Gateway or offshore PC suppliers) may eat into the market share of Cisco (Omnivorous 2003). There is also a possibility that Juniper Networks, which outsources all of its manufacturing (in contrast to Cisco), is able to build a lower-cost operating model, particularly in the high-speed network arena. Also, potential acquisition of Juniper by a major strategic partner, such as IBM is a hindrance to its strategy of global expansion (Omnivorous 2003). Lately there are plenty of low cost hardware entries in the Wireless LAN market as well, that contribute to significant erosion of Linksys's profit margins.
Asian markets contain enormous potential but due to inadequate intellectual property protection, Cisco is unable to invest heavily in these markets. Regulatory and logistical issues have prevented the emergence and establishment of new market areas such as voice over IP.
References (By Archak):
Kotler, P., Armstrong, G., Saunders, J., and Wang, V. (1999) Principles of Marketing. Second European edn. Europe: Prentice Hall Inc, 94-95
Excelsia Blog (24 March 2009) Leverage success with SWOT analysis [online] available from
Chambers, J. (2009) Cisco Reports Second Quarter Earnings [online] available from
Cisco (2000) Cisco Systems to Acquire Subsidiary of Seagull Semiconductor, Ltd. [online] available from
Malone, M. (2009) Silicon Valley Survivor [online] available from
Example essays (2005) Cisco Systems Inc SWOT Analysis [online] available from
omnivorous-ga (2003) Strategic paper – Cisco [online] available from
Cisco (2009) The Platform Opinions and Insights From Cisco [online] available from


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Ed Bott�s Media Central, Xbox 360 reviews begin trickling out Ed Bott has some links out on some of the first XBox 360 reviews. I hope to have a review out myself at some point but I'll need to buy a unit first.
One piece of negative criticism that Ed points out is from the Seattle P-I by Todd Bishop: The Xbox 360 is loud: Joystiq does a comparison of appliances and ranks the new console second only to an �old, clunky refrigerator� in fan noise.
Loud. Ouch. I hope not. A little noise is fine, but too much will hurt it.
JupiterMedia's Michael Gartenberg offers his thoughts on the XBox Launch. More from Dawn Chmielewski at the Mercury News.
Also with regards to the noise criticism above, one of our readers, Steve says, "They're wrong. It's really not that bad. If they wanted to be reasonable and appear unbiased they might have included a statement like "Next to the original XBox this thing is whisper-quiet."


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Hallow's End is here and I'm sure that at least some of your are trying to get the Horseman's Mount and are eating way too much virtual candy.
Well, Zygor Guides are having a sale to celebrate. Why? Maybe they got their mounts? That Celebration means that you can get a big discount on any or all of their guides. Everything is half off!
What is this thing?
Zygor Guide is an n in-game level guide which will blast you through the quests ASAP, regardless of your experience or gear. You'll never wonder where to go or what to do and you'll hit 90 very quickly.
Why now?
It's Halloween and they are offering a nice treat. They're having a 50% off sale on ALL of their guides, but only until Nov 2. Take this coupon code with you, though you might not even need it: TRICKORTREAT.
Where is it?
The longer version:
Zygor guide is an in-game addon that will take your through the quests, for any race or class, as quickly as possible, and it's fully updated for all of the latest patches. It's like having a guide looking over your shoulder, showing you where to go and what to do.
You'll take the most efficient route to 90 and skip everything that you don't need (unless you want Loremaster, then it will help you do all those quests.) It's also smart enough to know your level and your location. If you're leveling quickly (eg: lots of rest XP,) or you level up a few levels in the dungeons or PvP, Zygor will "see" your new level and tell you the best place to go next. It even gives you a way to dump the old quests.
You'll never find yourself cruising around in an area that's too low or too high for you. It even has a difficulty setting in the options, so if you want things a bit tougher or less tough, just click a button.
Whether you're brand new to WoW or decked head to toe in heirlooms and the best gear Zygor will blast you through the levels ASAP. It can auto accept quests and turn-ins, help with gear, help with talents, and so on. You'll never again wonder where to go or what to do next.
And it's 50% off for the next few days. Grab it now.


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If you follow this blog, you know that we have often posted that we believe young adults between the ages of 18-34 will be a major percentage of all buyers purchasing a home in 2013. Some believe we are overestimating the millennials' belief in homeownership. However, a new study by Trulia reveals we may be dead on. Regarding young adults, the study reports:
- 43% are already homeowners
- 93% that currently rent plan to purchase a home
- 72% say homeownership is part of their personal American Dream
Jed Kolko, Trulia's Chief Economist, explained:
"Millennials have been shaken, not scarred by the housing bust. Nearly all of them want to own a home someday, if they're not homeowners already. But many of them think today's low prices and low mortgage rates will last. They may be in for sticker shock if the cost of homeownership has returned to normal levels by the time they're ready to buy."
If you are a young adult waiting to buy, you must realize that the price of a home and the cost of a mortgage are both projected to increase in the next 12 months.


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The Charlottesville City Council has agreed to appropriate $15.3 million in federal and state funding to purchase property for the extension of Hillsdale Drive.
However, a key milestone in the project's timeline has been delayed by six months. A road construction project technically begins when the Virginia Department of Transportation advertises it for bids.
VDOT officials had hoped the Hillsdale project could be advertised in December, but city officials said they cannot meet that milestone.
"The new ad date at this point is June 2016," said Chris Engel, the city's economic development director, at a meeting last week of the Route 29 Solutions Project Delivery Advisory Panel.
"We're continuing to push the consultant to move that forward, some of which is contingent on right of way," Engel said, adding that the firm McCormick Taylor does not anticipate that will change the expected completion date of October 2017.
The city is managing the Hillsdale extension separately from the other U.S. 29 projects. A single contract was advertised for the grade-separated interchange at Rio Road and U.S. 29, the widening of U.S. 29 between Polo Grounds Road and Hollymead Town Center and the extension of Berkmar Drive.
Those three projects were advertised in October and a $116.7 million contract was awarded to the Lane Corman joint venture. Work has begun on the widening and the intersection. A separate project to add a lane to the westbound on-ramp from Emmet Street to U.S. 29 also is underway.
But news of the delay in the Hillsdale advertisement has made the man overseeing the Route29 Solutions projects nervous.
"I don't want to set an ad date that inspires the wrong [completion] date but I sure would like to see the [ad date] in the first quarter of 2016," said Philip Shucet, a former VDOT commissioner. "I would like to investigate every way of making that happen and be as supportive as possible."
The website for the project states that construction will begin in April.
The project advisory group had discussed the possibility of a delay at its Sept. 21 meeting but no representatives from the city were present.
The council was not told of the possibility of a delay when Jeanette Janiczek, the city's Urban Construction Initiative manager, briefed the body at a public hearing for the appropriation Sept. 21.
On that night, Janiczek said construction would begin in "the summer of 2016."
City and VDOT officials are expected to meet Oct. 12 to further discuss the project.
At Monday's council meeting, City Manager Maurice Jones said the project will be completed on time.
"We're still going through the right of way acquisition and it's taking longer than we expected but we expect the completion date to stay the same," Jones said. He said they will try to advertise the project faster if possible.
Another issue with the 0.85-mile extension of Hillsdale is its intersection with Greenbrier Drive. Albemarle County officials and nearby residents had expected it to be controlled with a traffic signal, but VDOT has said projected traffic volumes so far do not meet the agency's guidelines for installing one.
"I would expect it's more likely that a two-way stop will operate there," said Joel DeNunzio, the administrator of VDOT's Charlottesville office.
A final decision on whether to install the traffic signal now has not yet been made, but Shucet is recommending that the infrastructure for one be installed during initial construction.
"It's the stuff that's underground, the components, the conduit, the junction boxes and the pole foundations that would all have to be in place for the eventual placement of a signal," Shucet said.
The Hillsdale project has been in development for more than 10 years and a traffic signal has always been depicted at the intersection. However, an engineering analysis was not performed until recently.
Albemarle Supervisor Brad Sheffield said he was disappointed and reminded the group that many of the neighbors oppose the stop signs.
"For [several] years, the public has been told a signal was needed there and now we're saying it's not, and that's not going to settle well with the public," said Sheffield, who is the executive director of JAUNT, a paratransit service whose clients include many seniors in the Hillsdale area.
In August, supervisors made a formal request that VDOT do all it could to install a traffic signal there.
But the engineering analysis currently shows that a signal will not be needed until 2038.
"The bigger issue is not the 'if' so much as the 'when' these warrants might be met," Shucet said.
Another member of the project delivery advisory panel suggested conditions may change quickly as people begin to use the new road.
"The problem is that nobody knows exactly how that traffic is going to flow," said Henry Weinschenk. "Once you have through-traffic on Hillsdale, I wonder how much traffic will actually be left on Greenbrier."


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I am on book tour, so missed last Friday's update because I was in a hotel with bad internet.
This week's episode comes right after Makoto in Hell. http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/2012/08/31/the-burning-throne-episode-42-makoto-in-hell/ As you saw there, the Paper Lanterns now know who is the mastermind behind Yuni being poisoned. Jimen is the Emerald Champion, which is a very important position in the Empire, and has been trying to claim the throne for himself.
For those of us just joining us, every Friday I post a bit of serial fiction that comes from Writer Nerd Game Night. These bits of fiction come from our Legend of the Five Rings Campaign. This one is almost done. I believe there are only 3 more episodes before we are done. If you want to read these, a link to the first one is under the Best Of tab and then they are all linked to each other. Or I have been posting all of them here in one place: http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=295&t=94523
The Ignominious End of Bayushi Jimen
Bayushi Jimen had been fast asleep when the strangers had intruded into his dreams. The Emerald Champion awoke with a start, immediately recognizing that someone had broken into the vault of his mind.
What had I been dreaming of? But he knew that answer immediately. It was what he was always dreaming of, plots within plots within plots. And as the time drew close for him to make his final moves on the great go board that would decide the fate of the Empire, someone had seen his secrets.
It had to be some form of magic? But what? His quarters were warded. Who could accomplish such a thing? He was already getting dressed when one of his servants called to him through the door. "Master, there is an emergency."
"What now?" Jimen removed his katana from the rack and slid the sheath through his obi. It was not the traditional sword of the Emerald Champion, rather it was the powerful nemurani shame sword called Fear. It had been the sword that had helped him understand his true path to become emperor. The shame sword immediately began whispering to him, but Jimen's considerable willpower kept it under control.
"Ide Todo and his shugenja are with Otomo Yuni. They are attempting some sort of ritual."
"That cursed fool!" Jimen spat as he put on his mask. There was no way that mad Kuni's magic was strong enough to break the curse, but it had to be related to the intrusion into his dreams. "Follow me," he told his bodyguards. They were loyal to him, rather than to the office he held. They would do whatever was necessary. He slid open the door of his chambers and his servants scurried out of his way. Walking quickly, he went toward the Princess' chambers. His personal guard like shadows behind.
He would not be outmaneuvered by a Unicorn.
But when the Emerald Champion reached the Otomo section of the palace and saw Otomo Yuni waiting there in the courtyard, alive, coherent, and very angry, Bayushi Jimen realized just how badly he had underestimated Ide Todo.
"That is the man who poisoned me," Yuni stated coldly. "My mother is on her way."
Jimen's mind was moving rapidly. He was of high status, no one here could challenge him. Yuni's word alone was not sufficient. However, Hoketuhime would surely use this to her advantage. She would turn the others against him and he'd never be able to take the throne then. He could see his plans unraveling. He had to move quickly.
There were only a handful of the Paper Lanterns here. His personal guard were superb fighters. There was still time to kill Yuni and then blame it on Todo's men…
Ide Todo was not doing a good job hiding his disgust. That blasted delusional Crab, what was his name… Makoto… He was there… Wearing armor and covered in blood, most of his face hidden behind a peasant's hat, only a massive unkempt beard hanging out the bottom, like some sort of barbarian. Even before he said a word, the shame sword Fear began shrieking at him. That is the one. The Crab is the one who witnessed your dream. You must silence him. Silence him now!
He had already done the calculations. The only warrior present was the Crab, and he was too young and inexperienced to have a chance against his personal bodyguards. "Kill them all," Jimen ordered.
Katanas were unsheathed. Red silk flashed as they charged. The Crab stepped forward to meet them, tetsubo at his side. Jimen blinked.
And both of his personal guard lay crippled and dying, bones splintered and heads leaking.
Makoto pointed the bloody tetsubo at him. "I've gotten a lot of practice lately."
The sword was shrieking at him. Fear clawed at his mind. There were shouts from nearby. Hoketuhime and her Seppun guard were on their way. Todo must have had messengers prepared to rouse her at a moment's notice.
"It is over, Jimen. We know the truth," Ide Todo spat. "We have witnesses to your crimes. Accept your fate with whatever honor you have left."
The terrifying Kuni appeared. "Do you wish me to crush him with rocks, Todo-sama?"
"No, Magatsu. Let's let Yuni and Makoto tell their story to the daimyos. Let him be executed like the criminal that he is."
Silence them! Silence them!
Jimen was not thinking clearly. He was a go master, a cunning strategist, a superb plotter, but this was too sudden. All of his plans were collapsing at once. Fear had shown him what would happen to the Empire unless someone with his gifts was the one to rule it. This couldn't be.
A line of Seppun guard fanned out into the courtyard and he caught a glimpse of his chief rival in their midst. Hoketuhime saw Yuni awake and gasped. Jimen's leverage against her had just evaporated. Hoketuhime would now be free to use all of her own considerable allegiances against him.
Silence them! Silence them!
He made one last, desperate ploy. Let there be only one witness, a poor girl who had been delusional with fever. The Crab was of such low status that his words were meaningless on their own, but coupled with the Otomo family heir, it would be too damaging to his plans. His allies would see his weakness and flock to Hoketuhime's side.
Besides, the Crab had almost no dueling tradition, and Jimen's superb memory told him that his spy network had confirmed that this particular Crab had virtually no training in the art of iaijutsu. Jimen was no master duelist, he preferred to win all his duels with blackmail, but he was skilled enough to easily gut this fool.
"You! Crab!" Jimen shouted as he placed a hand on the hilt of Fear. "You have insulted my honor and the office of the Emerald Champion. I challenge you to a duel to the death, immediately."
Makoto laughed. "Sounds good to me."
"You dare mock me?"
The Crab placed his bloody tetsubo on the grass and walked purposefully toward Jimen. "Your very existence mocks the Empire."
"My Lady…" one of the Seppun asked hesitantly.
"Allow it," Hoketuhime ordered. Then she folded her arms and waited.
The abnormal new moon was eerily strong, making the courtyard far too white. Jimen met the Crab on a decorative bridge over a gentle pond. The Crab rested one hand on his Katana, awkward, clumsy, still wearing his heavy gauntlets that would make his draw stroke far too slow. "To the death then," the Crab said. "I've been waiting to kill you for a very long time."
That made no sense at all. The Crab could only barely have found out the truth. Fear was screaming at him, something about the Crab wearing the stink of the Realm of Slaughter, how the Crab had changed, but Jimen tried to block out the distraction. He assessed his opponent… The Crab just stood there, his form loose and sloppy. It was like he wasn't even trying.
Bayushi Jimen drew. The shame sword seemed to glow with a sick grey light. His draw stroke was clean, flawless, and he drove the tip forward before the Crab had even begun to pull his own blade free. Fear pierced armor and flesh.
The Crab looked down at the sword jabbed into his side. He wasn't even reaching for his own sword. Jimen pushed, trying to drive the blade deeper into the Crab but it seemed stuck on his armor. Impossible. Fear was a powerful nemurani, but it didn't seem capable of cutting through this armor at all. Jimen tried to wrench the blade out so he could strike again.
Makoto simply reached down and grabbed Fear with one gauntlet. Jimen tugged, but the blade didn't budge. "How dare you? How dare you!" Jimen shoved as hard as he could. Makoto was some sort of oni, he would not move. The big Crab towered over him, grimacing in pain, he lifted his other hand, fingers curling into a fist, and struck Jimen in the face.
It was like a bolt of lightning. Jimen's nose split in half. Bones in his face broke. Makoto struck him again, and again, and again. His mask flew off in a spray of blood. He tried to release Fear, anything to get away from this monster, but Makoto let go of the blade and clamped his gigantic hand on top of Jimen's sword hand, pinning him to the hilt of his own sword, trapping him as the merciless beating continued. Makoto struck him so hard that one of his eyeballs ruptured.
Finally he broke free and fell onto the bridge, gasping and crying, blood streaming down his face. Jimen's mask was laying there before him in a red puddle. They can see my face! A strange thought, considering.
Makoto loomed over him, Fear still driven through his side.
"Please… Anything… Anything you want…" Jimen mumbled around his broken teeth.
There were many others in the courtyard gathered now, watching the spectacle, watching the fall of a despised and feared Emerald Champion. The Fortune Kisada seemed to look on approvingly. "I chose well," the Fortune said. Bayushi Paneki, his own Clan Champion seemed somehow disinterested, but he had still come to watch the show. And Ide Todo… If only he had realized earlier how well that man could play the game.
Makoto glanced toward Otomo Yuni. She shook her head in the negative. Jimen's fate, decided.
The Crab reached down and grabbed Jimen by the sleeve of his kimono, then he dragged him across the bridge, across the grass. Jimen could barely see. He reached for his tanto, but Makoto kicked him in the arm so hard that his forearm snapped in two. The dragging continued until he was plunged into cold water.
He came up splashing. I'm in a koi pond. Why am I in a koi pond? But then a massive hand wrapped around his neck and Makoto thrust him beneath the water to hold him against the soft bottom. Fish swam away in terror.
Jimen thrashed and tore at the Crab, but he was unyielding as rock. His remaining eye's vision blurred as his air ran out. Blood streamed down the inside of his throat and spilled into his lungs. The pain was unbearable. The Crab did not relent.
I am the Emerald Champion. I should be Emperor! I should be Emperor!
In the last few seconds of Jimen's life there came a sort of clarity. He had not meant for things to end this way. He had discovered Fear, and it has whispered to him. It had lived up to its name and the things it had shown him had terrified him. Politics had always been a game, but only he could win this game. He had been wrong to put his own fear and desires ahead of what was best for the Empire.
But then it didn't matter, because the air was gone, and the water came rushing in to fill his lungs.
The pain only seemed to last forever.
To be continued next week with the final piece of fiction from Steve Diamond about the leader of the Paper Lanterns, Ide Todo. http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/the-burning-throne-episode-44-the-short-sword/


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Daily meditations on the day's office readings, as well as a myriad of other spiritual resources. FDbD is one of the most popular daily devotionals in the world.
Don't have a copy of The Book of Common Prayer?
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Complete Morning and Evening Prayer for each day. You can read it online or have the service sent to you by email.
We believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Join your fellow parishioners in prayer. Available during communion at all Sunday 10 AM services and during the first Wednesday service each month. Contact the Deacon
A team of dedicated prayer warriors gather via email and our Realm platform to pray for the needs of our congregation and beyond. Contact the Parish Administrator
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