What Microsoft says and what Microsoft does are two very different things. Granted, it hasn’t actually committed to a solid smartphone hardware business, but it hasn’t completely discounted that future either. But if there were any doubt that Microsoft doesn’t really have smartphones in mind, as far as devices are concerned, this revelation of nearly 3,000 job cuts should probably … Continue reading
When you’re a company set on conquering every household with smart monitors and sensors, you can’t afford to ignore even your parent company’s fiercest rivals. That is especially true for Nest, formerly owned by Google, now owned by Alphabet. Although the company has had an iOS app for quite some time now, one important piece of the puzzle was still … Continue reading
By European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager
We deal with issues that affect people’s daily lives but are cross border so no single member state can solve them on its own. And what we do is about people – no matter if you see yourself as a consumer, a worker, a business owner or a citizen. It’s about coming together to find answers to the problems we have in common. This also concerns competition.
In general, competition drives companies to cut prices, improve their products and invent new ones – to innovate. That’s good for the people who buy those products. And it also brings along the investment that makes our economy grow and creates jobs. It may even minimize the use of resources such as water, energy and raw materials.
Do you remember what it was like to search the Internet before Google invented their search machine? I myself have a vague memory of it being very difficult. Today it is easy. But these fabulous innovations don’t give the company the right to stop others from competing. Because consumers need competition and innovation, so they can choose the product that’s best for them. And the economy needs competition, to drive companies to invest.
That’s why we’re concerned that Google seems to have favoured its own comparison shopping service in its search results. It means consumers see the results that Google wants them to see, which might not be the most relevant ones. And if Google’s rivals believe that their services will never be as visible as Google’s, no matter how good they are, that could discourage them from investing and invent new services all together.
We want to ensure that consumers have a choice, and to make sure Internet businesses keep investing in better products. Markets need to stay competitive because in a competitive market companies will invest. And have a fair chance to make it in the market.
But it’s not only consumers and businesses that depend on us enforcing the competition rules. It matters to workers as well. All over Europa workers in general benefit if competition is fair – but not if the competition is flawed or unfair. Let me give you a very painful example: The European steel industry has much more capacity than it can use. Our state aid rules don’t allow pumping taxpayers’ money to keep failing producers to keep overcapacity on the market.
Earlier this year, we launched an investigation into whether Italy did just that for Ilva, which runs the biggest steel plant in Europe. Because the effects of such a support go far beyond Italy.
Other steel makers all over Europe also have to deal with excess capacity and large imports from low-cost countries. Many have already gone through extensive restructuring to make them competitive. So keeping Ilva going with Italian taxpayer money would put other steelworkers’ jobs at risk across Europe. Of course: If Ilva can restructure with a new buyer and no taxpayer money it is another story.
We need state aid rules, to keep competition fair and to make our economies strong. To reward the companies that produces the best products at the lowest possible costs and with efficient use of resources. Not just the ones that get the best hand-outs from governments. And at the same time we can protect the steel makers form unfair competition from outside of Europa trough anti-dumping measures. That’s only fair.
Europe has become wealthy, thanks to free trade and open markets. And yet many people don’t feel the benefit. They see the executives and shareholders of big companies getting richer. And they ask – where is my share?
Competition enforcement isn’t the answer to everything. But it can help to stop inequality getting out of hand, by preventing powerful companies from misusing their power to deny anyone else a chance to also succeed.
By opening markets for competition, European politicians – ministers from member states and members of the European Parliament – have helped millions of people. Opening up the right to provide phone connections, supply energy or run trains has helped cut prices and raise quality and choice. But it only works if new rivals can enter the market. So competition enforcement also needs to make sure that former monopolies improve their services and don’t just try to keep others out of the market. Otherwise, it’s the least well off citizens who will suffer most by high prices and low quality.
For example, affordable rail transport is important and nearly a fifth of freight within the EU is carried by rail. And that proportion will have to increase, if we’re serious about cutting our carbon emissions. So the whole society suffers, if the old rail monopolies can stop competition.
Three years ago, the Commission was concerned that Deutsche Bahn was using its monopoly on supplying power to trains to keep competitors out of the market. It was charging prices that seemed to be so high that rivals just couldn’t compete. The commitments that the Commission agreed with Deutsche Bahn have worked so well in removing its monopoly over power supply to trains that we’ve been able to end the commitments two years early.
We’ve also looked into taxation. In the cases we’re dealing with, tax authorities have approved arrangements that allowed very profitable multinationals, like Fiat and Starbucks, to avoid paying the tax they should have paid. Meanwhile, SMEs and other standalone companies couldn’t get those benefits even if they wanted to. As well as in the cases in Luxembourg and in Netherlands, we have taken a decision on the Belgian excess profits arrangement, which gave tax benefits to at least 35 multinationals. We’ve opened in-depth investigations into possible illegal state aid/tax benefits in Ireland to Apple, and in Luxembourg to Amazon and McDonald’s. And we’ve looked at more than a thousand tax rulings, as part of an investigation that has been going on since 2013.
Of course, competition enforcement alone can’t close all the tax loopholes that help multinationals avoid tax. So the Commission has also put forward a whole series of proposals for new legislation. That should help make sure companies pay tax where they make profits.
It’s vital for the health of our society, not just our economy, that we fix these problems. It is not fair that taxes go up for citizens or that there’s no money to provide services to the most vulnerable, when only some companies pay their taxes. All companies should contribute.
In this regard, the public country by country reporting on what taxes a multinational company pays is important. The reporting will ensure that large multinationals that operate in the EU have to publish information showing where they made their profits, and where in the EU they paid tax.
This sort of transparency is essential to rebuild our confidence in a fair society. Three years of parliamentary inquiries, journalists’ investigations and state aid cases have shown that we need to enable citizens, journalists and tax authorities to follow closely the facts of tax. We now need to show people that the system is truly fair.
Competition saves both consumers and businesses money. It can save precious resources as water, energy and raw materials. It also makes sure that our system works fairly in finding answers to problems we have in common.
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This article first appeared on QuietRev.com
Quiet Revolution’s Field Notes are first-hand workplace experiences written by readers like you who share the lessons they’ve learned on how they use their temperament in their workplace. Have a story to share? Submit it to QLIfieldnotes@quietrev.com.
While it appears that our extrovert world may finally be slowly shifting toward giving some credit to introverts, let’s face it: many corporations are still a long way from reaching equality between introverts and extroverts. Introverts may be respected for the work they do and usually get a pat on the shoulder, but extroverts are still the ones who command the spotlight and reap much of the recognition. Because of our very nature, we introverts are still widely believed to lack an important part of what constitutes a “modern-day personality”—the gene for career success.
Being an introvert myself, I’ve often been ignored, overlooked, and dubbed “not a team player.” It does hurt. Especially when you are surrounded by over-confident extroverts who have little to no understanding of what makes us different and that being different is not necessarily a bad thing.
Over the years, I have fought my own battle—to measure up, to stand up, and to be heard. I believe there are steps and strategies we can all explore to aim at a successful career and command the respect we deserve. What follows is my own wisdom, which I have collected throughout my professional life as a financial consultant.
We all have an opportunity to make it better for ourselves by simply playing extroverts at their own game. Here are some tips on how to get started:
There is an overwhelming amount of research, studies, and books on the science of smiling (including Charles Darwin’s own The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals). While it’s still unclear why people smile, this simple act is believed to bring great positive effects on our minds and bodies when practiced regularly. According to some scientists, it can even give us a short-term “high.” More importantly, however, in a corporate environment, smiling is one of the brand manifestations of extroversion. Smiling can help us introverts to appear more approachable, social, and upbeat. And who wouldn’t benefit from a better mood? It’s pretty easy too—it’s just a matter of practice.
It’s no secret that straight posture, eye contact, and a head held high are all signs of confidence. It is also a way to make a great impression and to get noticed—the thing that introverts usually try to avoid at all costs. Research supports the idea that non-verbal communication, in the form of posture and gestures, constitutes the largest part of how others see us. More importantly, though, it is related to self-respect and self-assurance. While we don’t necessarily need to show off, we can still demand appreciation from others and assert that we are good at what we do and that we do mean business. Remember that slouching won’t make us invisible—it will only make us look insecure and give us a hefty medical bill from the subsequent back problems.
Experts tell us that to make a long-lasting impression, we should avoid speaking too fast, articulate our words, and pay special attention to our tone of voice. The fear of public speaking and being the center of attention are well-known terrifying situations for most introverts. Undeniably, though, the art of expressing ourselves is a priceless skill. Words constitute a very small—but still significant—part of our communication with the world. The ability to choose the right phrases, as well as the lack of it, communicates to others the story of our personality, of our brand, and of the degree to which we are willing and motivated to succeed. An introvert can master the skill of a great conversation by joining a professional organization such as Toastmasters. Try to view any chance to speak in front of an audience as a challenge instead of a dread, and explore the speaking opportunity as preparation for the times when you will really need this skill in order to shine.
Just because we are introverts doesn’t mean we are to be glued to our work desks and avoid speaking to others. While we may find it undesirable to “waste time” with small talk, there is no better way to benefit our careers than by engaging in office networking for few minutes a day. At the very least, others will notice that we exist, and we may even make a few true friends along the way. If you don’t know what to say, ask others about themselves—this strategy is always a winner.
It simply means one thing: learn flexibility. Yes, such advice may feel like going straight against our very nature, and it contradicts everything we stand for, but a little social chameleon-ism can, in fact, bring great benefits. In order to do this, we don’t need to change who we are or betray our principles. It merely involves showing different parts of our personality to different people so that we can better relate to them. Simply put, converse with others about things you know they are interested in. And that is really what adaptability in action is.
Being an introvert in an extrovert-dominated world is still, by no means, easy. Striving for a successful career in such a skewed environment is even more challenging. But the silver lining is that the world is not static. Public opinions have begun to shift. Research tells us over and over that introverts generally perform better and are more reliable and creative than their extroverted counterparts. Until that shift is complete, exercising some social introvert skills that still align with our personality type can help us reap the benefits of our society’s favoritism for the extrovert, outgoing personalities. By pushing ourselves a little more persistently in front of others, we can help people appreciate us for who we truly are and recognize the skills we have to bring to the table.
You can find more insights from Quiet Revolution on work, life, and parenting as an introvert at QuietRev.com.
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July 29 (Reuters) – Two San Diego police officers were shot on Thursday and the suspect or suspects were at large, the department said on social media.
The condition of the officers was unknown, the San Diego Police Department said on Twitter.
Police were searching for a suspect or suspects in Southcrest, a southeastern neighborhood of San Diego.
This is a developing story. More to come…
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After watching Joe Biden’s speech last night, one thing seems patently obvious. He should be launched into the highest rank of Hillary Clinton surrogates out on the campaign trail — and as soon as possible. Furthermore, scheduling his appearances would be a piece of cake, because all Team Clinton would have to do would be to book Biden into every city and town where Donald Trump appears, a day or two afterwards.
Multiple people at the Democratic National Convention last night (after Biden spoke) told me one version or another of the following: “If Joe Biden were the Democratic nominee, he’d be beating Trump right now by 10 or 15 points.” These weren’t die-hard Biden fans, mind you, but instead journalists and delegates and other random people I spoke with. Biden’s speech was that impressive.
While I can’t swear that Biden would be beating Trump by that wide a margin right now (hypotheticals are always impossible to prove in the real world, after all), he certainly could be doing the next best thing to running — being the most robust and effective Clinton booster possible.
The biggest part of Biden’s appeal, much like Trump’s, is his plain-spoken style. A Barack Obama speech could be likened to a symphony — every note carefully planned, with complex melody and counterpoint, and a mathematical relationship between various themes which build to a carefully-planned crescendo. A Joe Biden speech, on the other hand, is more like a catchy pop tune you can’t get out of your head. The tune sticks with you because it resonates naturally and is so memorable and easy to relate to.
Hillary needs both. She is closer to Obama in how carefully she wordsmiths her speeches, which means she lacks the catchy nature of a Biden address. She already does have several effective surrogates who can provide this feature, but none as effective as Biden (at least, if last night was any measure). Biden doesn’t mince words — when he thinks Trump is “full of malarkey,” then that is exactly what he says. He is closer to Horton the Elephant in this respect. He says what he means, and he means what he says — you can just tell by listening to him.
But the most important aspect of Biden’s oratory is the audience he can reach. Biden can communicate not only with the middle class, but also with blue-collar workers and those who have been hurt the most by the decline of manufacturing in America. This is precisely the audience that Donald Trump is now appealing to. Biden has the same gut-level appeal as Trump — but although the style is similar, the content of Biden’s message is (obviously) very different. His riff last night on how Trump “has no clue” absolutely electrified the audience in a way only one other speaker has managed over the past three nights. In fact, it’s a tossup as to whose speech was better; Michelle Obama’s or Joe Biden’s. Both reached the audience on an emotional level that many other speakers tried for, but mostly failed to achieve.
Hillary Clinton is many things, but for millions of voters she is not exactly someone they could picture sitting down and having a beer with. Joe Biden, on the other hand, definitely is. Heck, most people could picture having two or three beers with Joe, and enjoying the heck out of it to boot. Joe Biden would be at ease in many small-town settings (a bowling alley, the corner bar, a hardware store, the P.T.A., and, of course, a train station). You can easily picture shooting the breeze with Joe in just about any setting, in fact. That is a very valuable thing in politics, and the Clinton campaign should realize this golden opportunity to allow Joe to make Hillary’s case in as many of these settings as they can.
Donald Trump just made it very easy for them to do so, in fact. Trump appeared this week in Biden’s original home town of Scranton, Pennsylvania. That’s like tossing a gauntlet down. So send Biden to Scranton as soon as humanly possible! Let him not only make the case for Hillary, but also allow him to forcefully rebut the case Trump just made there. Biden could give pretty much the same speech he just did at the convention, and it would do Clinton a world of good. Even just the part about how Trump enjoyed firing people so much on his television show — and what a reprehensible thing it is for anyone to actually enjoy firing people. That is a message Scranton could relate to, I would bet.
Scranton’s not the only place this would be true, either. The biggest threat Trump poses to Clinton (pretty much everyone agrees) is in the Rust Belt — in particular, the key states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Many voters in these states have seen their fair share of people getting fired, over the past decades. Biden explaining how Trump not only enjoys firing people but also has stiffed many small businesses throughout his life would resonate in many places throughout this region.
Joe Biden is precisely the person to deliver both a pro-Clinton and an anti-Trump message not just to the Rust Belt, but to a lot of similar regions of the country. He can reach people who regularly tune Hillary out, in fact. People comparing Trump’s message to Biden’s message would help Clinton among many demographics she has so far not had a lot of success in reaching.
Biden is just the person to help her reach these people. And the most effective way of reaching them would be to immediately counter a Trump rally with a Biden rally. If Trump speaks on Tuesday night, by Friday Joe should give a speech in exactly the same town. Matching Trump’s footsteps would give people a clear contrast. Sure, Trump’s amusing and all of that, but Joe makes so much sense he might just convince people to take a second look at Hillary.
Joe’s a down-to-earth guy. He can communicate with millions of other down-to-earth folks all across America. The smartest thing Team Hillary could do right now would be to unleash Biden to do exactly that. Book Joe in every small town Trump hits. Get under Trump’s skin. Traditionally, this is the role of the vice-presidential candidate, not the sitting vice president himself. But this isn’t set in stone or anything.
This election is the first in a very long time where the sitting president will be campaigning for his replacement. Al Gore thought Bill Clinton on the campaign trail would be a distraction (this may have been the biggest political mistake of Gore’s life, in fact). Every Republican candidate since George W. Bush left office has been embarrassed to be seen with him (since he failed so badly). In fact, you have to go back to the 1992 election, when Ronald Reagan campaigned (successfully) for his own vice president, George H. W. Bush. Since it’s been so long since it happened, who’s to say the rules can’t now be rewritten? Many other political “rules of thumb” have already crumbled in this election cycle, after all.
Barack Obama will be a good campaigner for Hillary Clinton, but he’s a busy guy and can only do so many appearances. Biden’s got a lot more time to devote to the Clinton campaign. So why not send him out to follow Donald Trump around his campaign trail? The smartest thing Clinton could do for the next few months would be to convince Joe Biden to become Donald Trump’s shadow, always following right behind him and explaining why his particular brand of malarkey is not worth buying into.
Chris Weigant blogs at:
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
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Moto and Verizon have just unleashed the collective power of all Moto Z editions, including the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid. But while the smartphones themselves are already the head turner, they become even more so thanks to one crucial part of the spiel: Moto Mods. And Moto is doing more than making these Mods commercially available … Continue reading
The Kepler mission scopes out stars and galaxies thousands of light-years away to find exoplanets. NASA’s upcoming planet hunter, however, will keep an eye on solar systems closer to home. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite or TESS will find p…
Thanks to all the leaked specs and rumors, pretty much most of the major features of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 7 have been revealed. However thanks to new information from Talk Android and 9to5Google, additional information has been released that gives us a bit more information on what to expect.
So like we said, the major specs of the phone have been revealed which includes a 5.7-inch QHD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset/Exynos chipset, a 12MP rear-facing camera, a 5MP front-facing camera, and a 3,500mAh battery. Now according to these new sources, Samsung will taking advantage of the newly launched Gorilla Glass 5 for its display.
It is also said to be IP68 which means both water and dust resistance, something that Samsung had teased in an earlier video. We are also looking at a USB-C connection, and like we speculated earlier, it will come with both an iris and fingerprint scanner. The phone will also see the launch of a new service called Samsung Cloud, which sounds a lot like Apple’s version of iCloud, except it is for Samsung phones.
That being said, all of this should be confirmed next Tuesday, the 2nd of August, so remember to check back with us then for all of the official information.
Additional Galaxy Note 7 Specs Revealed [Rumor] , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
Missed your chance to watch the Warcraft movie in the cinemas? Fret not because it looks like the movie’s DVD/Blu-ray release date has been revealed, so come 13th September you will be able to pick yourself up a copy if you’re so inclined. Even if you have seen the movie, we guess this would be a good way to rewatch it.
Naturally there are advantages to purchasing this copy because the Blu-ray version of the movie will come with some exclusives, such as a motion comic, a multi-part documentary, a featurette on wax Warcraft figurines, and the teaser that was exclusive to audiences at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con.
Both the Blu-ray and DVD versions of the movie will also come with bonus features like an origin story, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a BTS look at the effects and facial capture technology used in the movie. So far the majority of reviews for the movie haven’t exactly been too kind. Many critics in the US have panned the film, saying that it was more of a fan movie than anything.
However the numbers in China tell a completely different story as the movie made the bulk of its revenue from the Chinese market, which ironically enough despite its bad reviews, allowed it to become the most successful video game movie of all time.
Warcraft Movie Blu-ray/DVD Release Set For September 13 , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.
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