Posted by Elena del Valle on October 14, 2013
Three researchers examined TIGER indexes for 23 countries
Is the world economy improving? Yes, sort of. After examining key economic indicators of a group of advanced and emerging markets three researchers concluded the economic turn around remains slow and uncertain. Eswar Prasad, Karim Foda and Arnav Sahu, authored the October 2013 Update to TIGER: Tracking Indexes for the Global Economic Recovery published this month by The Brookings Institution and the Financial Times.
Growing confidence in advanced economies and stable growth in emerging markets are driving the economic climate. The analysts are convinced that the economy “remains just a shock or two away from turning into another slump.”
They shared TIGER indexes for 23 countries and charts for the indicators indexes, each including real activity, financial and confidence indicators. The countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States.
The Overall Growth Index, the Real Activity Index and other charts for the United States, for example, show a deep slump in 2009 with varying degrees of recovery since. The confidence index was the most worrisome.
It appears the worst is over for advanced economies including Europe, Japan, United States, and United Kingdom. The latter “is experiencing surprisingly good growth.” Overall in advanced economies although jobs creation is weak and financial conditions are mixed confidence in the private sector has increased and inflation is modest. We’re not out of danger, seems to be the cautionary message which points to the need for growth.
At the same time, emerging market economies, such as China, India and Brazil, which had stopped growing are looking stronger. Private sector confidence in these countries had been poor recently and has improved somewhat.
Eswar Prasad is senior fellow, Global Economy and Development
new century chair in International Trade and Economics. Karim Foda is research associate, Global Economy and Development,
and Arnav Sahu is a student at Cornell University.
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 11, 2013
Capture the Mindshare and the Market Share Will Follow
Some people are brand loyal because they believe that those brands provide them with extraordinary value that cannot be acquired any other way. That is how Libby Gill, a Los Angeles management consultant, sees the relationship between consumers and brands. She says that the most successful brands are carefully built by people who are meticulous about getting certain things right.
In Capture the Mindshare and the Market Share Will Follow: The Art and Science of Building Brands (Palgrave MacMillan, $26), a 240-page hardcover book published this year, she explains her thinking. When she writes about mindshare she’s referring to the heads, trust, loyalty and hearts of a company’s customers.
In the book, she promises readers a blueprint for deep and lasting connections for executives, entrepreneurs, leaders and those who seek to influence, sell, persuade or attract customers. She defines branding as the ability to maintain an on going connection through awareness of value that drives others to act and create loyalty born of hope, trust and respect.
She describes seven elements she sees as necessary for the creation of the powerful company client relationships that generates customer loyalty and promotes economic success among successful brands. The elements are: Clarify Customer Benefits, Commit to Your Customer, Collaborate with Your Customer, Connect with Your Customer, Compete with Your Competition, Communicate with Confidence and Certainty, and Contribute to the Community.
An executive coach and branding expert with over 20 years of industry experience, Gill is the former head of communications and public relations for Sony, Universal, and Turner Broadcasting. Her clients include ABC-Disney, Nike, PayPal, Warner Brothers, and Wells Fargo. Her previous books are Traveling Hopefully: How to Lose Your Family Baggage and Jumpstart Your Life, and You Unstuck: Mastering the New Rules of Risk-taking in Work and Life.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on October 4, 2013
Your Bones book cover
Photos: Praktikos Books
Fifty-six million Americans suffer from bone disease or have low bone mass, according to National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) data released April 2013. The Foundation numbers point to 9 million adults in the United States estimated to have osteoporosis. Another 48 million have low bone mass (indicated by T-scores between -1.0 and -2.5), and are at increased risk for osteoporosis and broken bones, according to the Foundation’s study titled The 2010 Burden of Osteoporosis and Low Bone Mass among Residents of the U.S. Age 50 and Older.
Osteoporosis is held responsible for 1.5 million fractures a year costing sufferers of the silent condition pain, quality of life loss and in some cases eventually death. When there are catastrophic fractures as many as 20 percent of patients die, and 50 percent of survivors require long term nursing home care.
For years, doctors have prescribed potent medicines that they promised would alleviate or eliminate the problem. Lara Pizzorno, MA, LMT, managing editor, Longevity Medicine Review, and Jonathan V. Wright, MD, who holds degrees from Harvard and the University of Michigan, believe a natural path can lead to healthy bones. In Your Bones How You Can Prevent Osteopororosis & Have Strong Bones for Life-Naturally (Praktikos Books, $12), a 496-page soft cover updated and expanded edition published March 2013, they explain how readers can turn brittle bones strong.
Pizzorno, the lead author, and Wright start out by outlining why biophosphonate patent medicines should be the last alternative for osteoporosis patients; and how conventional medicine aggravates the problems it promises to solve with prescription medicines that are not naturally occurring. Next, they address the risk factors that may lead to osteoporosis and low bone mass, also known as osteopenia. The authors dedicate the remainder of the book to what they believe is the best way to achieve healthy, strong bones with nutrition and lifestyle adjustments.
In Chapter 7, for example, they outline the role of vitamins and minerals such as B, D, C, K and calcium, magnesium, zinc, strontium as well as studies to support their arguments. They address issues relevant to supplements and safety and provide examples of foods high in each of the vitamins and minerals. They also discuss the role of hormones, weights and exercises in bone building. The extensive book includes tables with listings of foods and their nutrient values, and appendices with information about bone lab tests and vitamins and minerals.
Lara Pizzorno, lead author, Your Bones
Pizzorno is co-author of Natural Medicine Instructions for Patients, and editor of The World’s Healthiest Foods: Essential Guide for the Healthiest Way of Eating. Wright, according to his bio, has been at the forefront of natural biomedical research and treatment since 1973. The authors live in the Seattle, Washington, area.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on September 27, 2013
Contagious Optimism book cover
Photos: Cleis Press
Optimist David Mezzapelle believes his ability to anticipate good results before they take place is part of the secret to his success in life. He anticipates rewards or Life Carrots in challenging situations to help him overcome them and move forward.
In Contagious Optimism Uplifting Stories and Motivational Advice for Positive Forward Thinking (Viva Editions, $16.95) Mezzapelle and 65 others share stories, outcomes and advice meant to be uplifting.
The 405-page softcover book published this year is divided into eight sections: Talent; Goal Analysis; Turning Envy and Jealousy into Something Positive; Relationships; Business and Careers; Maturing and Staying Young-Health, Fitness and Relaxation; Need Help Getting Somewhere?; and You Have Arrived! At the end of each story there is a short summary of the take away concept within an easy to find box.
David Mezzapelle, editor, Contagious Optimism
Mezzapelle was the founder and director of marketing of Goliath Technology before it was sold in 2007. He launched JobsOver50.com. Today, he dedicates his time to consulting projects and serving on boards.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on September 23, 2013
Foyle’s War DVD set
Photos: AcornTV, RLJ Entertainment, Inc.
Tired of the same old predictable TV programming? Acorn TV, an RLJ Entertainment, Inc. brand, now offers United States online audiences prime British television through online streaming and on DVD and Blu-ray products. Subscribers to the website pay a fee to watch a rotating selection of programs online at Acorn.tv. The website is compatible with computers, Roku, iPhones, iPads, Apple TV, and Google TV. Offline watching is possible with Acorn’s DVD sets available from retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn.
Honeysuckle Weeks and Michael Kitchen from Foyle’s War
This year’s releases include: Jack Irish starring Guy Pearce, BBC’s The Syndicate, The Fall starring Gillian Anderson, North & South starring Patrick Stewart, Falcón starring Marton Csokas, Jack Taylor starring Iain Glen, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Doc Martin Special Collection, Helen Mirren’s Prime Suspect and Smiley’s People on Blu-ray. Also on offer Douglas Adams’ Dirk Gently, Tales of the City: 20th Anniversary Edition, and Foyle’s War, George Gently, New Tricks, Murdoch Mysteries, Midsomer Murders and Vera.
Foyle’s War premieres on PBS September 2013
Foyle’s War premieres its new season on Masterpiece Mystery! on PBS on September 15, 22, and 29. Acorn TV will offer each new episode the day after it airs on PBS, as well as all previous episodes. The new episodes will also become available on DVD and, for the first time, Blu-ray from Acorn beginning September 24. The recording will feature the complete United Kingdom broadcast edition. It will also include a recap of the first six sets, four behind-the-scenes featurettes, and introductions by writer and creator Anthony Horowitz. They retail for $49.99. The trailer for the new season is available at youtube.com/AcornMediaUS.
Guy Pearce is Jack Irish, an Australian investigator
Australian accents rule in the Jack Irish series which is based on the brooding antihero of Australian writer Peter Temple’s award-winning novels. Irish, played by Pearce (Iron Man 3, Memento, L.A. Confidential), is reeling in the wake of his wife’s murder. The former lawyer now a part-time private investigator and debt collector stars in two feature-length mysteries. Acorn is due to release the new series on home video October 1, 2013. Until then Acorn TV is the only way for American viewers to see it.
Based in suburban Washington, D.C. and founded by Peter Edwards, Acorn Media Group has grown from a one-man basement documentary production and distribution operation in the mid-1980s into an independent media company operating on three continents. The Acorn Media Group consists of four divisions. With its Acorn label, Acorn Media U.S. distributes British television programming to consumers in North America.
Its Acacia label offers a line of original health and wellness programming. Acorn U.S. also offers documentaries on the Athena label. Acorn Direct is a direct-to-consumer division offering DVDs, digital downloads, and other quality products in North America through its Acorn and Acacia catalogs and e-commerce websites. Acorn Media U.K. and Acorn Media Australia distribute comparable lines of DVD titles to consumers in the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.
Click to buy Foyle’s War: Set Seven
Jack Irish: Set 1
Posted by Elena del Valle on September 20, 2013
Pemba talks to sherpas on the radio
Photos, video: Robbie Ryan, IFC Films
On August 1, 2008, eleven mountaineers from international expeditions died on K2, said to be the second highest mountain in the world. Three others were seriously injured. It was the worst single accident in the history of K2 mountaineering. Following that day, many wondered why the athletes risked serious injury or death to reach a place inhospitable to humans. Questions about the events and decisions that led to the accident lingered. Unsung heroes were brought to light by some of the survivors.
The Summit, a 99-minute film, rated R and produced in 2012, explores the complex questions that arose that day. It was filmed on location in Ireland, Switzerland, Pakistan, Spain, Serbia, Nepal, Italy, Holland, Norway and Sweden. It features, according to promotional materials and a trailer (no review copy was made available), reenactments based on the testimony of the survivors. It is scheduled to open October 4, 2013 at the Lincoln Plaza, 1886 Broadway, and Sunshine, 143 E Houston Street, in New York City. The following week the film is slated to open at theaters nationwide. Scroll down to watch a film trailer.
A scene from The Summit
Although the climbing season at K2 usually runs from June to August, in 2008 poor weather made the mountain inaccessible. By the end of July, ten groups of climbers were waiting for an opportunity to scale the summit. Some of the people had waited for almost two months before attempting to reach the top of the mountain. Many lost their lives in the attempt.
The film is Winner of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival Editing Award and 2013 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize Nominee. It was produced and directed by Nick Ryan, written by Mark Monroe and edited by Ben Stark with the support of investment incentives for the Irish Film Industry from the Government of Ireland.
Posted by Elena del Valle on September 13, 2013
The Power of Latino Leadership book cover
Leadership specialist Juana Bordas thinks Latino leaders are powerful, distinctive, and offer lessons that can inform other leaders. In The Power of Latino Leadership Culture, Inclusion, and Contribution (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, $19.95) she strives to outline the principles and practices of how, she believes, Latinos lead.
The 261-page softcover book is divided into five main parts and thirteen chapters.
In the book, peppered liberally with Spanish language words, Bordas includes comments from a few politicians and nonprofit Latino leaders. She also shares sayings she hopes illustrate Latino culture, and even notes on how, in her opinion, the Spanish language itself influences and reflects the Latino worldview.
Bordas is president of Mestiza Leadership International. Prior to that she was vice president of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership’s board, and trustee of the International Leadership Association.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on September 9, 2013
Danielle Nierenberg, cofounder, Food Tank
Photo: Food Tank
A podcast interview with Danielle Nierenberg, cofounder, Food Tank, is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, she discusses how Family Farming Can Feed the Worldwith Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.
Danielle is an expert on sustainable agriculture and food issues. She recently spent two years traveling to more than 35 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America meeting with farmers and farmers groups, scientists and researchers, policymakers and government leaders, students and academics, and journalists collecting their thoughts on what’s working to help alleviate hunger and poverty, while also protecting the environment.
Her knowledge of global agriculture issues has been cited in 3,000 major publications including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, International Herald Tribune, Washington Post, BBC, and The Guardian in the United Kingdom. Danielle served as director, Food and Agriculture Program, Worldwatch Institute. She also worked for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic.
To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Danielle Nierenberg” click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save it to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the September 2013 section of the podcast archive.
