Automated Trading Systems for Financial Markets and Recommendations for Their Usage

by Librarian on June 3, 2010

1. Introductions

Today, using information and trading platforms has become a de facto requirement for successful trading in the financial markets. Their advantages as compared to conventional trading schemes include, for example, an unprecedented speed of processing and delivery of information to end users, the level of integration with data providers, and a wide array of built-in technical analysis instruments.

At the same time, an investor opening an account with a brokerage firm simply cannot simultaneously manage the real-time analysis and trade in more than 4-6 financial instruments in several markets 24 hours 7 days a week. This brings about the need to employ automatic trading systems in the form of runtime environment with client and server parts and the programs to control these systems (scripts). 2. Comparative Analysis of the Problem Area

Various software components embrace the entire target sector of the market—from analytics and forecasting to complex trade and administration. The components of a trading platform provide its clients—brokers, dealers, traders, financial analysts and advisors—just the service they need at the very moment they need it, from immediate round-the-clock access to information of concern by means of mobile devices, to multi-move trading operations in the major client terminal.

The software market offers a great many of information and trading platforms that differ, first of all, in the functionality of the client and server parts, and the list of services provided by the financial company once an account has been opened. However, only a relatively small number of software solutions include the components that automate trading. 2.1. MetaTrader4-based Solutions

One of the world’s most widely used trade platform products is apparently MetaTrader4, developed by MetaQuotes Software CorporatVon for Forex market trading. The platform includes an integrated development environment (IDE) MetaEdVtor, intended for writing scripts in a programming language called MetaQuotes Language, or MQL4 for short. The language’s syntax is based on the classic C language syntax, and the flow logic has not been significantly changed since the previous version of the platform that used MQL II as the programming language.

The new automated trade framework is, undoubtedly, an evolution of the previous one. Both languages feature good functionality, with an optimum set of built-in trading and utility functions which is quite sufficient to implement the basic operations, and a facility to define custom functions to help implement non-standard ideas.

From the programming point of view, MQL4 is much more convenient that its predecessor; this language is more oriented at professional programmers, while� MQL II, in my opinion, will rather suit financial experts wishing to build trading programs (or trading advisors, in the MetaQuotes terminology) of their own.2.2. Omega Research-based Solutions

In the New World, the vast majority of companies use the Omega Research platform developed by TradeStation Securities, Inc. This platform has long ago proven its worth at the worldwide market, and to date experts consider it to be the best system for technical analysis. The provided IDE called Omega Research PowerEditor is intended to create control programs in EasyLanguage (EL).

The language’s major advantage that strikes the eye is the easiness (hence is the name) of placing opening and closing orders. The corresponding program instructions can be written such as if we were formulating an order to our broker in the plain human language. In MQL4, for example, placing an order to open a position would involve specifying about a dozen of various parameters. In EasyLanguage, the same can be expressed in a short statement using a few words. Working with technical indicators is about that simple, too. But don’t fall under an illusion: when creating these simple commands, language developers sacrificed the functionality and limited the possible ways of using a particular function, therefore effectively depriving the IDE users of the opportunity to accurately implement their own algorithms.

TradeStation decided not to create extensive libraries of built-in trading and utility functions but to limit to only an essential set. As the platform advanced, the number of functions written by both in-house and third-party developers grew, and TradeStation simply included them as user-defined functions into the repository of its scripts. As a result, the functionality offered to users is not in the least scarcer than that of MetaQuotes product.

PowerEditor provides a built-in dictionary that lets user search and get help on the available functions. Another handy tool worth mentioning is the strategy builder. Using the strategy builder, the user can easily create a basic algorithm for his or her trading program, and then modify and adjust it as necessary.

EasyLanguage is an old-timer and pioneer in the field of creating automated trading systems for the stock market. It was the basis for the development of MQL II. EasyLanguage will be a good choice for programmers, but still a better one for financial experts more oriented at analyzing the market than trading. 2.3. ProTrader-based Solutions

Professional financial experts can choose the ProTrader2 or ProTraderFX platform as their working tool, depending on the type of the financial market—stock or Forex, respectively. The two platforms are developed and supported by PFSoft LLC. While featuring the specially developed ProTrader Language (PTL), the provided IDE named PTL Builder offers also the opportunity to create scripts in MQLII, MQL4 and EasyLanguage. For this, the text of the program is translated to a language-independent code. Therefore, at runtime it does not matter in which language the script was written. This technology does not only enable creating new scripts, but makes it possible to use freely the entire accumulated collection of scripts that many experienced traders possess.

The main idea put into the new scripting language was to ensure maximum reliability and predictability of the scripts being run. The PTL language is built so as to minimize the possibility of making a mistake in the text of a user’s script—the potentially dangerous points will be detected even before the script is tested or launched.

Regardless of the programming language chosen, the platform works with verified managed code while running the script. This Microsoft-developed technology enables proper handling of errors that cannot be detected before the script is run. This means the program will not fail and will not perform any unwanted operations that might be due to critical errors or damage caused by another program, for which the account holder would eventually have to pay.

The PTL Builder IDE will serve well both financial experts and programmers thanks to its support of different programming languages and provided tools such as tester and debugger.2.4. Solution Comparison

The above IDEs have their specific feature sets. The table below provides a summary comparison of the capabilities offered by each. 3. Approaches for Creating Automated Trading Systems and Recommendations for Using Them

It hardly needs mentioning that choosing an information and trading platform should be taken with all seriousness. For those who plan to use an automated trading system in their business, below are some points I would recommend considering, based on my personal experience. 3.1. Choosing a Working Environment

First of all, define the type of tasks the automated trading system is to perform. These could be:

Nikita Laukhin
Automated Trading and Scripts Analyst of PFSoft Company

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How Can Anyone Oppose Embryonic Stem Cell Research?

by Librarian on June 2, 2010

Technological advances open up new realms for man. Sometimes, an advance presents ethical challenges never previously contemplated. But, every once in a while, the research itself creates the challenge – before anything has even been developed! Such is the case with Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Currently, stem cells are being extracted from embryos for research, and, at the time of this writing, this procedure kills the embryo. If cures are discovered, then a full scale cultivation – and harvest – of embryos will ensue. So, how does the Naturalist view this? What about the Biblical Theist? And, what about the Humanist?The Naturalistic View. The Naturalist is for the life of an embryo over any present, malady-ridden human. Beneficial mutations arise randomly, and the new life of any species has always been the engine that drives evolution. But even more importantly, in light of our impending doom [our sun is dying], any one of these new lives may possess the needed genius to deliver us from our coming fate. As it now stands, a relatively few number of embryos have been exterminated. But even this loss is totally unacceptable to the Naturalist, as our next Einstein may now be strewn in some lab somewhere. But if this research does lead to cures, embryos will be grown for harvest. So, here is the question. When a species consumes its own kind, what is this called? You already know the answer. Therapies coming from embryonic stem cell harvesting will be a sophisticated form of cannibalism.
I hear the screeching even now. “What kind of radical lunacy is that? Cannibalism? Cannibalism is the eating of the flesh of ones own species! Nobody is eating an embryo! They will enter sick bodies by injection, implant, pills – or some way other than eating. And besides that, eating is for nutrition – and the embryos will be consumed for medicinal purposes!” Well, are you done yet? “*#%@* no, you twisted, *#+%*, ! These embryos will be used to heal people of all kinds of horrific diseases. Do you want these suffering people to perish? And what if it’s your Dad or Mom or child – or you – who can be healed? You will change your tone real quick. And what if ….” I know you are still railing, but I must cut you off now and address those not ruled by emotion.
Embryonic stem cell therapies will be the consumption of one genetically complete (and unique) human life form – by another genetically complete (and unique) human life form. Any biologist, researcher, or doctor who denies this physical reality has left the realm of science – and opted for some kind of metaphysical speculation. An embryo is human flesh. It is nothing else and it cannot become anything else. It’s just very young and very small – and unable to defend itself.
As far as the “eating” of an embryo, from an embryo’s viewpoint, whether injected or chewed up – this is a distinction without a difference. The embryo’s life ends – with a member of its own species consuming its stem cells. This is at least “a sophisticated form of cannibalism.” But, the more I think about it, this is just plain old cannibalism with a high tech twist.
Concerning “nutrition versus medicine,” our body often uses food to heal and repair itself. And if it is my Mom or Dad, or child (or me) who would be cured by this cannibalism, what does that have to do with anything? Does personal need supplant fact? It might for the Humanist, but never for the Naturalist or Biblical Theist. The Naturalist would not be concerned if we consumed the stem cells of pigs or cows, but a species growing and consuming its own preborn? Even the desire to do such a thing sounds alarms in true Naturalists. Surely the desire, and practice, of the cannibalization of one’s preborn population should be a part of self-extinction science. Maybe the dinosaurs started eating their own eggs.”Ah! But these research embryos are frozen ‘extras’ destined for the dump. And if cures are found, the embryos grown for harvest would be grown only for that purpose.” This is not the speech of the Naturalist. Read on.
The ability of making “test tube” embryos opens a whole new world for the thinking, non-cannibalistic Evolutionist! Rather than growing embryos for harvest why not grow them for birth and unique adulthood? With current technologies, the “test tube” would be replaced by a “rubberized womb” – programmed to imitate a mother’s daily range of activity. And here’s the best part. All fluids would be absolutely free of pollutants! No crack babies, alcohol damaged babies, tobacco damaged babies …. These newborns would have no impurities – other than what was present in the first two original cells! What an enhancement to evolutionary development! So, what makes more sense scientifically? Cannibalize the coming generation for a current, malady-ridden, older one, or bring all embryos to fruition as they may hold the beneficial mutations we desperately need? For the Naturalist, the answer is evident. The Biblical Theistic View. Before the advent of artificial insemination, egg fertilization occurred only in the womb at the discretion of the Creator. But even in the “test tube,” man cannot make the egg fertile – much less make an embryo. These “test tube” embryos are simply the result of humans manipulating other human life. Manipulation into life does not translate into creator rights over life. Embryos are not reduced to fodder for cannibalization or the garbage dump. These “throw away” embryos are as human as you and I. Whoever manipulates these humans into life are responsible for their well being. The manipulator becomes – a surrogate parent.
Man will always be subject to the decrees, standards and judgements of the Creator of life. The Author of the Bible claims to be that Creator, and there is no indication He ever intends on relinquishing this position of sole dominion. “See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me. It is I who put to death and give life ….” (Deut 32:39). I believe the “spark” that causes innately inorganic elements to come to life will always rest with the Creator. Man will never figure it out, replicate it, or bottle it.
Once alive, no human can act against the life of another human unless that human is guilty of a capital offense. An embryo is fully – and only – human life. These attacks on embryos are premeditated killings with future charges of cannibalism. “All unrighteousness is sin” (1 Jn 5:17).
The Bible maintains that human life is the most important object in our observable physical universe. It would be better to face the Creator as a lying, adulterous, slovenly drunkard – rather than an embryonic stem cell research advocate or participant. The eternal punishment will be less severe.
Some contend these “extra” embryos should be used for the greater good – research now and therapies later. After all, they already exist and will come to nothing as they are not slated for implant. This amoral position assumes no one has any responsibility for embryos being placed in such a perilous situation. This assumption will not prevail before the Creator. The Humanistic View. It is only here that embryonic stem cell endeavors have a home. Because the embryo has been declared nonhuman, or subhuman, then anything can be done with this blob of protoplasm. The life of the embryo can be experimented with, removed, or given to another human. After all, an embryo is only the size of this period. (Your eye just skipped it.) For the Humanist, any consideration contrary to the embryo’s life – trumps that life. The curiosity of researchers trump the embryo’s life. Cries for cures trump the embryo’s life. Economic gains for a State (i.e., California) trump the embryo’s life. Politicians, who smell the gain of votes, trump the embryo’s life. Any grounds which the Humanist envisions as some kind of gain for somebody – other than the embryo – trump the embryo’s life. The unscientific declaration – “the preborn is not human life” – fosters all kinds of predictable atrocities. With science abandoned and Biblical Theism gone, the sole authority for valuation is opinion – grounded in nothing. The “substance” of Humanism is thin air….
[When abortion on demand was legalized, many pro-lifers warned of a “slippery slope” with human life being devalued in all kinds of ways. But, I doubt anyone envisioned cannibalism of the preborn.]

Robin addresses the abortion argument , of which this Article is a part, in an explosive Free Christian Ebook at www.freelygive-n.com ! Other Ebooks address: no tithe for the Christian, death, love, and capital punishment. Robin has a BA, Bus. Admin (Milligan College ‘90) and Master of Divinity (Emmanuel School of Religion ‘92). Challenging materials!

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Revolution and Evolution in Educational System

by Librarian on June 1, 2010

REVOLUTION AND EVOLUTION IN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

BY PROF.M.S.RAO, ACADEMIC GUIDE, ICFAI UNIVERSITY, INDIA

“ Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it”, Martin Wright Edelman.

WHAT IS EDUCATION AND SOCIETY:

Education provides the man with information, imagination, knowledge, ideas, values, ethics, reasoning and over all makes the man complete man. Education brings refinement, adds to intelligence, and makes independent and confident man. It is only the human beings who can get armed and equipped with education, which is missing in animals. Education does not mean only reading and writing but also thinking, learning, reasoning, practical experiences and so on. Education is a learning process from cradle to grave. It is education that has brought out many changes in this world and transformed the entire civilization since time immemorial. Ariel and Will Durant quoted, “Education is the transmission of civilization”.

The growth of society solely depends on the type of educational system adopted. Education makes tremendous impact on the society. The quality of the society depends on the quality of educational system implemented. Some one correctly said, “Better institutions are essential if we are to lead better lives”. Right education makes the people build character, values, ethics, and prepares the society and country as a whole to catch up with the rest of the world. Right education is the legacy or the gift, which we pass on to our next generations. George Peabody said, “Education: a debt due from present to future generations”.

EFFECTS OF EDUCATION ON SOCIETY:

Kerala is the first state in India, which attained cent per cent literacy. It encouraged other states to contribute their best so as to attain total literacy. Rather Kerala has become a model state and ideal state to be emulated by the rest of the country in providing importance to education.

No nation can develop without proper education. And India too developed as a society and as a nation for the last 60 years. India has now vast human resources and it has the thirst highest technical manpower in the world. Although the effects of education in the society are tremendous, yet there are grey areas, which needs to be addressed. India as a nation has developed politically, culturally, economically and socially but yet much needs to be focussed in a right direction.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”, said Nelson Mandela. It is very obvious that no weapon is superior to education. Apart from education, the influence of technology has brought out significant changes in the society. If technology is used in the right direction and if it is coupled with education, we can expect miracles in the society as a whole.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

“Education is when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get if you don’t”, said Pete Seeger. All human beings make many mistakes resulting in bitter and, of course, experience. If an individual is educated, he knows the things because he reads the fine print. He tends to make a few mistakes in his life. Where as if an individual is not educated he tends to make more mistakes because he does not know the fine print. An uneducated individual believes in trial or error method. If he succeeds in his trial, he pursues or else he drops. The uneducated man mostly believes in observation and practical knowledge. The success rate is far higher in educated man rather in an uneducated man. Education brings down the complexities in one’s life thereby making life easier, simpler and comfortable. John Dewey rightly said, “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself”.

PROBLEMS IN PRESENT EDUCATION:

India is the second largest populated country in the world and unfortunately it is nowhere near in number qualitatively. It may be again due to huge population and the type of administrative and political system we have. There is stress on cramming, memory and mugging up. One who mugs up and puts in examination paper is treated as a meritorious candidate. It does not encourage imagination, creativity and originality. There is no effective emphasis on practical aspects of life. It is mostly beset with theoretical aspects and concepts, which any one can read even without going to institutions.

School children are loaded with many books and they find it highly stressful. Education, in fact, should be filled with entertainment and fun so that student can discover the joy of learning, which is missing now. Children find it horrible to go to schools because of too much of study. Even at home children engage themselves so much on school homework. Such things do not promote the relations between parent and child at home. Inadequate infrastructure and inexperienced teaching staff are another bane. Unfortunately, in India, both the primary and secondary level education is still struggling to survive qualitatively. The views and opinions of the students are not being respected. Students are always imposed whatever is there in the textbooks resulting in lack of imagination and innovation. R W Emerson rightly said, “The secret in education lies in respecting the student”. Only when students are respected and valued, they will try to think creatively, innovatively and out of the box. Students should be provided with more freedom of thought.

It is very unfortunate that the teachers are not paid handsomely. Best brains are pursuing other careers for monetary benefits and for better prospectus. It is a pity that those who stick to teaching profession either due to their aptitude and taste and temperament towards teaching or because there is no other alternative (TINA factor) career.

Pandit Nehru’s policies and Kothari commission have brought some significant changes in the education but still there is no healthy and constructive impact. There is commercialization of education, and a few fly by night operators entered into this sacred field and spoiled the standards.

TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES TO OVERCOME:

Teaching faculty must undergo regular training to update and upgrade their skills and abilities. Encouraging regular workshops or seminars or courses related to teaching methodologies can enhance and sharpen their skills. Such seminars will encourage the teaching faculty to exchange and gather more information.

“He who opens a school door, closes a prison”, Victor Hugo. Children from the age of 6 to 14 are to be admitted in schools to provide education, as this is the best age to tune them for creating interest in education. Child labor has been abolished but unfortunately it is not enforced effectively. Children should be encouraged by various innovative ways and means to get into educational institutions.

Content and curriculum in the educational system needs to be addressed. Streamlining the educational system on national basis from Kashmir to Kanyakumari will raise the educational standards. There are disparities in the educational system in various states and efforts must be made to fill those gaps.

Govt. levies 2 per cent educational cess and authorities must ensure that the funds go in a right direction to create strong educational infrastructure. Nobody is against the levy of 2 per cent cess but the right application and mobilization of the resources will bring right results rapidly.

Focussing more on vocational education is the need of the hour. Presently there is a vast gap between industry and academics. Infosys has come out with ‘Campus Connect’ initiative to bridge the gap between the industry and academics and it is a step in right direction. The corporate leaders have a vital role in funding the educational system. They make money for themselves, pay handsome salaries to their employees and paying dividends to their shareholders and all the people who are involved in the business are earning one way or the other. But what are they contributing for the education and society? It is a well admitted fact that the helping hands are far better than praying lips. Corporate, whether big or small, can wholeheartedly come forward to contribute their best for bringing Indian educational system on par with global standards.

It is essential to bring reforms in education from time to time as the tools and techniques involved in teaching are changing rapidly due to the influence of technology.

For professional qualifications like engineering, management, medicine, computers etc., the students should be engaged in the practical education and project works from the first year itself. Such activities will build more confidence in the minds of the students as they grasp the needs of the industry and thereby fine-tuning as per the industry expectations. Fee structure needs to be rationalized and the deserving students should be provided with scholarships.

Providing interest free educational loans will help the deserving and poor students. Also, it is desirable to encourage non-professional degree holders to get vocationalized. “Education is not filling a pail, but the lighting of a fire”, said William Butler Yeats. Education must ignite the minds of the students and it must move the students from comfort zone to effective zone. The students in the comfort zone will not achieve as much as that of in effective zone.

CONCLUSION:

There is a strong need to streamline the present educational system. The problems in the educational system need to be addressed immediately. Education should focus on ethical, social, vocational and academic aspects. Education builds man and man in turn builds nation. A strong nation can be built only when there is a strong character education. Abraham Lincoln aptly said, “Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing”. Hence the essence of any education is the strong character. The evolutionary approaches and revolutionary changes in the present educational system are the need of the hour. We must build a nation where youngsters have a vision to think beyond their geographical boundaries. There should be scope for the students to expand intellect, reinforce mind and make them to stand on their own feet.

MESSAGE:

Education and character are two sides of the same coin and one without the other is meaningless. Money may come and go but it is the character that counts from beginning to the end of life. Any individual when equipped with character education can excel in any part of the world. To put it in the words of Martin Luther King Jr. “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically . . . . . intelligence plus character . . .. That is the goal of true education”.

T H E E N D

(The author, Prof.M.S.Rao, is working as an Academic Guide in ICFAI University, INDIA. He talks over radio on various topics. He is a professional trainer in soft skills, communication skills, personality development, motivation, equity investments etc., Number of articles has been published in various global websites, magazines, newspapers and journals. He can be reached at email: profmsr7@yahoo.com)


H.No: 6-18-188, New NGO?s Colony, Nizamabad-503002, INDIA

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Get Excellence in Each Financial Task With Accountant New York

by Librarian on May 31, 2010

As accounting is considered as measurement and communication of financial and economic data, it involves all major tasks that represent flow of cash inside or outside the organization. Accounting is as old as money itself; whenever money flows in term of services of currency a transaction takes place and that is why accounting is needed to record the transaction in a systematic format. The process of accounting is still in an evolutionary process and it will last till money is there. As accounting refers to the discipline of recording and classifying the monitory events of an organization, an efficient individual is needed to analyze and categorize the data according to requirement. Person who takes care of accounting task is accountant, a qualified and proficient professional who contributes chiefly in growth of any organization. New York is the ultimate destination to find variety of talents and that is accountant New York are also the preferred choice of every business interested in outsourcing it’s accounting task.

Are you worried as the tax session is approaching? If yes then stop worrying and have a look accountant New York, you will definitely find solution for your accounting hassles. Accounting is the language efficiently employed to understand cash flow; an efficient accountant not only understand the complex terminology of this language but also plays with its term to make your balance sheet more delighting. It is now well recognized that accountant New York is the master of accounting terminology who can make everyone’s tax session hassle free. During the tax session, a well-organized financial recording system can prove to be the biggest help as it makes every required information easily available. An accountant New York that you hire keeps the massed up data in a systematic books of ledger and journal. Journal and ledger books are the basic information providers to prepare annual financial statement for assessing tax.

The primary role of an accountant is to record and process the data in accounting system. He is liable to handle operational and non-operational accounting data; operational data constitutes great deal of cash flow whereas not operational records are stable and updated annually. Organizations that have poorly managed operational records repent for it as they tally records for tax assessment or annual report preparation. Similarly, other muddled financial records can portray a wrong image of that organization. If you are a business owner and want to entrust your accounting tasks to someone reliable and efficient then accountant New York is your ultimate destination.

Accountant New York is committed to maintain accuracy and privacy of your confidential data. With him, you can be rest assured that your accounts are in safe and professional hands that will take care of every financial activity carefully. Now you can sit at ease even during the tax session as accountant New York is there to accomplish every task in minutes. For finding an efficient accountant New York, you can take help of internet as there you can easily search for an accounting service provider.

Peter Terry has extensive knowledge about bookkeeping and knows the importance of this for running a successful business.To know more about Accountant New York ,NYC bookkeepers ,Bookkeepers New York visit www.nycbookkeepers.com

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Great Coral Reefs

by Librarian on May 30, 2010

They aren’t as great as they used to be!

The actual “Great Coral Reef” is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland in northeast Australia. It is so large and massive that it can be seen from outer space. It is the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms. This reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps. And it is dying! Global warming?

There’s a concern that rising carbon emissions might kill off the ocean’s coral reefs by 2050. Like, who’s worrying or even thinking about 2050, right? We’re more concerned about living through the predicted 2012 catastrophies.

A recent study by 17 marine scientists in seven countries, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is the most comprehensive review so far of the catastrophic threat global warming poses to coral, and by extension many ocean species. Burning coal, oil and gas adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, the same gas used to give soft drinks fizz. Just as carbon dioxide is absorbed into the drink, ocean water absorbs it from the air.

When the carbon dioxide enters the ocean, it makes the water more acidic.

That interferes with the ability of coral to calcify their skeletons as they can no longer grow and they begin to die. Coral reefs are important because they act as hatcheries and nurseries for open ocean fish. They also protect coasts from storms, and provide fish, recreation and tourism dollars. It is estimated that coral reef fisheries in Asia feed one billion people.

The total economic value of coral is estimated to be $30 billion. Are we killing this planet earth?

The crucial component of the ocean biodiversity is seriously threatened by global warming. “We’re creating conditions on Earth unlike anything most species alive today have experienced in their evolutionary history. That’s no small thing. Corals are feeling the effects of our actions and it is now or never if we want to safeguard these marine creatures and the livelihoods that depend on them,” said Bob Steneck of the University of Maine.

Scientists provide three possible scenarios of what might happen to the world’s coral reefs, all based on the lower range predictions of atmospheric carbon dioxide given by the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.(1) In the best-case scenario, carbon dioxide emissions are stabilized at today’s levels of 380 ppm. Coral reefs survive mostly intact. (2) In the midrange scenario, carbon dioxide levels rise to 450-500 ppm and the temperature goes up 3.6 degrees. Heat-tolerant forms of coral take over and reefs become significantly less diverse, with a decline in fish and other sea life. (3) In the worst scenario, carbon dioxide levels rise above 500 ppm and the temperature increases more than 5.4 degrees. At this point, the reefs crumble and half of sea life disappears. Red, brown and green algae take over, plankton blooms increase and water quality erodes. Today’s levels are rising quickly due to ever-larger amounts of fossil fuels being burned.

If you believe in global warming or not, it is encumbent on all of us to make the STUDY of what’s happening to our environment, our planet that sustains us. That’s the least we can ALL do. Let’s get educated and drop all the political posturing and finger pointing that only further divides and you know what happens to a house, a people divided.

They fall!

ernie@lrchouston.com

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Non Verbal Communication

by Librarian on May 29, 2010

Humans are very intricate and subtle; in fact most of our communication is performed by non-verbal means. Eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, posture, body positioning, and spatial proximity all play important roles in effective communication. Non-verbal communication varies by age, culture, and even socio-economic group but some universal truths are clear and can provide guidelines for better communication. Studies have revealed some fascinating facts of human communication.

Eye contact is a common form of non-verbal communication. In our evolutionary history, eye contact has been important in mating and survival. Kim Dalton at the University of Washington-Madison in 2005 measured eye movements of persons with Autism. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to discern brain activity. In summary, the study found that eye contact triggers activity in the amygdala. The amygdala is responsible for complex emotional responses. In those with autism, this section of the brain triggers a fear response in relation to eye contact where as in others the emotional response might be pleasure, interest, etc.. In persons with autism, this section is over stimulated and the result is an almost complete avoidance of eye contact.

In “’Calm Down!’: the role of gaze in the interactional management of hysteria by the police,” a study by Mardi Kidwell at the University of New Hampshire, it was shown that when dealing with people who are hysterical it is important to acquire and maintain eye contact to calm the person down. It also resulted in greater compliance, less physical trauma, and more positive verbal communication.

Eye Contact Tips

? If you look away from someone when meeting it communicates disrespect or contempt. Always make eye contact when you are introduced to someone.

? People in groups often participate based on the amount of eye contact that is given. If you want to draw someone into the discussion, increase the amount of eye contact slowly until they respond.

? In nature staring generally means one of two things. Either you want to fight or you want to mate. Humans have the same response. Staring will be interpreted as aggressive, unless there is a mutual attraction or fondness.

? People often think that when people are lying they look away. It is true that people tend to avert the eyes or even cover their mouth when lying. However, people who lie also go to the other extreme and hold a gaze longer than those who are being truthful.

Before we learn to verbally, much of our information about people is received through facial expressions. McGill University and the University of British Columbia have concluded a study of four-month-old infants and found that they can differentiate visually between two languages, without hearing the language by interpreting facial expressions. This study shows that we receive detailed information through facial expressions at a very early age.

Numerous studies have also shown that emotional state is important in the interpretations of facial expressions. Dr. Joan Luby, assistant professor of child psychiatry at Washington University, completed a study showing that young children who have symptoms of depression interpret more facial expressions than the control group. They interpreted more internal feelings such as shame than other children but they were not biased to negative emotions. They recognized positive facial expressions as readily as their peers.

Adults with anxiety also have problems interpreting facial expressions. A recent study at the University of Illinois showed that adults with anxiety often misinterpreted facial expressions and were more likely to interpret facial expressions as negative. So the next time someone reacts negatively to you during a conversation, check your facial expression. You may be able to communicate more by smiling than you can verbally

Terry Doherty works all over the UK working extensively with individual and business clients helping clients to stop smoking, manage weight, manage stress, become more confident and helping change many other behavioural issues. Terry uses the latest techniques of hypnosis, NLP and life coaching skills for profound change. He can be reached at www.mind-works.co.uk

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Uvme – the Business Model

by Librarian on May 28, 2010

The uVme online skill games platform presents a very innovative business model which encapsulates many factors including the psychology of gaming ,social networking groups and the exponential growth potential of a sector on the internet namely casual gaming ,online games and skill games.The concept of a business model isn’t a new one and has been a term used as far back as the 1950s.In the 1990s it became more commonly utilised and these days the definitions of business models tend to founded upon economic and organisational theories.Any business whether the work from home kind or the larger corporate bodies will tend to follow similar intrinsic strategies although often each respective party doesnot actually realise it.Skill gaming as a business model is probably one of the more entertaining and interesting ones to follow given its meteoric rise and continuing growth are very topical.Normally, business models are used by companies to demonstrate how it operates as an entity across different parts of its structure.The component parts of business integration are as follows:InfrastructureOrganisational Structure and placementLegislative practicesOperational methods and processesPurpose and Mission Statement.Effectively , a well defined business model will describe the fabric of a business.From the model it will be demonstrated how the whole picture puzzle or should I say gaming puzzle is constructed.Moreover , the entire feel and ethos of a corporate or business should be conveyed so that any mission statement actually mirrors what it says on the tin , in other words it says what it does.If we look at the uVme proposition and breakdown the component parts you will be able to see that the gaming network is fundamentally strong , progressive and above all financially attractive – just so happens it is a lot of fun as well.At this point it may may serve well to go back in time and look at the evolutionary stages of the business model and see how modern day has changed the concept if at all.The shop retail outlet is probably the oldest form of a simplistic business model.Shop front , products , services etc.This model then moved on to the further attraction of customers by way of offering discounts or even ” bait and hook ” scenarios such as Razor and Blades.These methods in turn increasing the likelihood of people returning.How often have we seen items being given away for free but then the hardware to use the free product needing to be purchased….very commercial. Since the 1950s we have seen very many styles of business modelling. Household names such as McDonald’s , Dell computers , Nissan , Toysrus , Tesco’s , British Airways have advertised their wares in different ways and guises.However , one defining factor that today is so apparent is the use of technology and again even in recent years computers have had a massive input and involvment as to how products and services are sold.The business model has moved on with technology with new theories cutting their teeth in empirical analysis.Looking at the uVme model it is refreshing to see that it bridges both schools of thought , the old and the new.Its core capabilities are outstanding and can be demonstrated through the three main channelsGames PromoterOnline Skill Games PlayerBusiness Builders AssociatesThe infrastructure and network games platform can be seen very visually as its presence in the arena of international and world wide skill gaming grows exponentially.The product is simple , hands on user excellent , a great deal of fun and universal.In terms of its value weighted proposition it rates very highly.The target audience being worldwide funnels membership through the three areas mentioned earlier.Every aspect of the games network involves participation in the social networking sense and is building an international community of skill gamers , casual gamers and players.An example of this is the massively multiplayer games tournaments and challenges available online.The financial standing of uVme is sound , clear and transparent.Being a registered UK Limited company all is there for people to see.Both founder members Tom Brodie and Len Fitzgerald are at hand and very approachable.Well does a business model really matter ? The very essence of an organisation needs its plan of action , it needs to know how to grow and how to change direction when necessary. It needs to know how to adapt.uVme was created two years ago as additional channel of business to the very successful VWD Lottery platform.Yes a business model is important but the ability for a company to implement and monitor it is crucial.Plan to win and win to plan again.

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A Radical Idea

by Librarian on May 27, 2010

Muhammad walked slowly down the muddy road in Bangladesh, his heart breaking as starved faces gazed at him pitifully, their blank eyes begging for help. Children who should be playing in the streets were laying helplessly, their life ebbing away from starvation. He knew that most of them would die from starvation. His heart was ripped by the looks of desperation on the faces of parents who knew their children were dying but could do nothing to help them. 

 

Bangladesh, caught in the grip of yet another natural disaster these parents could do nothing to stop, was losing more than a million people who were dying horrible deaths.

 

Muhammad’s eyes filled with tears as he remembered his own beginning. . .

 

By all accounts, Muhammad had every reason to make excuses for his lack of opportunity. Born the third of nine children in 1940 in a small village in Bangladesh (then known as British India) Muhammad was four when his family moved to the city of Chittagong – escaping a famine that claimed millions of people. When he was nine, his mother was afflicted with a mental illness. But even with the resulting family difficulties little Muhammad excelled at school – he had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. By the age of 21, he had received his Master’s Degree in Economics.

 

Over the next few years Muhammad continued his schooling and held government and teaching positions in both Bangladesh and the United States. Little did he know that his love of learning, his understanding of economics and his years of living in the U.S. would change the lives of millions of people.

 

And now here he was. . . Bangladesh was in the grip of a horrific famine that was claiming innocent lives.

 

An idea started to take root in his consciousness and soon his vision became very clear. Ask him what that vision is and he’ll tell you it’s the total eradication of poverty from the world. A huge vision, right? Yet it was a natural progression for Muhammad — his years of study and research in economics coupled with his deep understanding of both Eastern and Western culture gave birth to his solution.

 

What is the one thing the poorest of the poor cannot get? Credit — loans. Muhammad had the crazy idea of opening a bank that gave credit to those who could never receive it. It would be a bank that would empower the very poorest people by helping them become entrepreneurs.

 

 

And so, in 1976 Muhammad created the Grameen Bank which gives microcredit (small loans) to the poorest of the poor so they can launch businesses and lift their families out of poverty. Is it working? Oh, yes – it is – in a BIG way!! The World Bank recently acknowledged Muhammad’s radical idea: “this business approach to the alleviation of poverty has allowed millions of individuals to work their way out of poverty with dignity.”

 

Muhammad says, “Grameen is a message of hope, a program for putting homelessness and destitution in a museum so that one day our children will visit it and ask how we could have allowed such a terrible thing to go on for so long.”  

 

This amazing man has won many, many awards around the world because of his far-reaching, sustainable ideas. In 2006, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and was named by Business Week as one of “The Greatest Entrepreneurs of All Time.”

 

But Muhammad’s sharp mind and huge heart have not stopped with the creation of the Grameen Bank and microcredit. He has recently published a book entitled Creating a World Without Poverty in which he challenges and empowers businesses to make a difference in the world.

 

What would have happened if Muhammad had spent his time thinking about what he couldn’t do instead of imagining and acting upon what he could do? Just think of the millions of lives around the world that his simple but profound and revolutionary ideas have changed!

 

Have you ever caught yourself limiting yourself by thinking, “I can’t do that” or “I’m only one person” or “If I only had more money, a different upbringing, lived in a different neighborhood. . . I could do this or accomplish that”?

 

Your potential – like Muhammad Yunus’ – is unlimited. It doesn’t matter where you were born or who your parents are. It doesn’t matter what your past was like or where you find yourself today.

 

Take the word “can’t” out of your vocabulary and replace it with the word “can.” 

 

Exchange the word “problem” with the word “opportunity” and watch your world change!

Ginny Dye, Sandi Valentine & Suess Karlsson are a team of writers who all share a passion to empower and motivate everyone who they touch through their writing. Their stories are a gift to the world! Learn how to create the success you dream of, overcome obstacles and challenges, and live a life of grace and love. Please visit us at http://www.firefliesfortheheart.com

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In Business, Consider the Importance of Being Earnest

by Librarian on May 27, 2010

In a recent interview on the National Council for Women’s Business and Education website (NCWBE.com), Tess of VirtualAssistantForums.com, was asked what personal quality was most important in launching her business, and her answer was, “sincerity.”

Her internet forum is a huge success, in less than a year, so her advice to business owners must be taken seriously.

Considering the aggression and nearly diabolical cleverness that seem to be the foundation of business in America today, “sincerity” is an odd value to name in the context of business success. Our image of the corporate world is that of a merciless, out-of-control monster, a colossal machine demanding that we play by its rules or perish, a harshly competitive environment where the rewards can be out-of-this-world and the losses can be devastating in like measure.

How could it be that sincerity figures in this equation?

We have come full circle. In a capitalism driven to cutthroat competition, it is the meek that attain true USP (unique selling point)! Want to be different, to stand out from the crowd? Set new criteria! Set your standards by ethical values instead of just by ROI.

The admission of sincerity as a tool for success marks a major evolutionary step for commerce in the US. Perhaps we’re beginning to recognize that a foundation in honesty is more important than luck, connections or huge marketing budgets. We’re coming back around to grounding our work and lifestyles in values of profound meaning, not overlooking but going far beyond mere profit.

Smart businesses today thrive on sincerity not only because betrayal lurks everywhere but also because we so desperately crave to trust and be trusted. When we can find a service-provider, vendor, employee, associate, partner or other colleague whose sincerity is unquestionable, negative aspects of the relationship are minimized. You’ll put up with a great deal before you sever relations with someone you know you can trust.

And so sincerity becomes a sought-after commodity, a reputation for the business owner that pays off well in a general economic climate of suspicion. Though business owners of Tess’ enlightenment are few, they’re a growing breed. Their dedication to creating a better world is impressively determined. They will not compromise their mission to live sincerely. Their businesses are transparent, and thereby profoundly trusted. The increase in income is only one of the benefits.

Unfortunately, you can’t teach sincerity; you can’t take a class and get certified as a sincere person. Yet you would prefer to be able to trust anyone with whom you’re doing business, right? So the reverse is also true: if your services are recognized as sincere, you’ll attract more clientele.

If you wish to impress upon the world the sincerity of your intentions (and thus of your business), there are a few things you can do. Here’s a short list of practices that will orient you to the sincere life. Try these three steps, in order.

Mean it

This is the hardest part and also the most rewarding. When doing planning of any kind – whether for the startup of your business, or for a marketing or annual plan or even an idea scratched out on a napkin – are you starting from something you can really feel sincere about? When in the midst of operations, pause to consider – am I being honestly sincere? Am I pretending to be sincere when my mind’s really on something else?

Be mindful

Being sincere requires focus and listening skills. You can practice this on a continuous basis as you go through your day. Use stoplights, or the phone ringing, or any regularly occurring event as your private signal to switch your attention to listening. It’s simple, and your ability to concentrate and respond appropriately will increase dramatically.

Please don’t forget that listening includes – even emphasizes – listening to yourself. By listening, you become mindful of realities and possibilities both within and outside of yourself. When you are mindful, you are sincere.

Leverage

There will be significant response to your sincerity. Perhaps it will be slow starting, but it will come. You’ll get the customers/clients/audiences or whatever it is you’re seeking. Be sure to listen carefully to these people, and be prepared to leverage any new opportunities. Sincerity must be continually practiced; it can’t be put aside when your marketing campaign is over.

Notice that it matters less what we are doing than how sincerely we are doing it.

An example: Joe’s sincere goal is to get rich quick. He registers for every opportunity possible. He spends a lot of money, but he sticks with it and in the end his dreams are more than realized.

Another example: Tanya sincerely wants to do something helpful and also live comfortably at home with her two cats. She’s found her niche as a Virtual Assistant, where she can be of real support to her clients while working in her living room, and she couldn’t be happier.

One more: Carlos sincerely loves cars. He also sincerely loves his wife and child and wants to provide well for them. His tactic as a car salesman emphasizes his intimacy with automobiles and his empathy with other young professionals who have families. His selling record is widely admired.

Though very different, Joe, Tanya and Carlos share a simple tool for realizing their dreams: they don’t pull any punches! They are all creative people who proudly build their individual utopias, based on the sincerity of their desires, which they communicate openly and unabashedly.

How about you? Do you enjoy the sincere life? Do you reap its benefits?

Mary H. Ruth operates Virtual Writing & Communications Solutions, offering writing/editing, administrative and marketing support for businesses and professionals. Please visit http://www.asthemoonclimbs.com. This article may be distributed or reprinted in its entirety only, along with this resource box.

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The 10 Biggest Disappointments of the Decade

by Librarian on May 26, 2010

There have been some amazing, life-affirming occurrences over the last ten years. But you don’t want to hear about those, do you? Thought not. Here’s the most crushing letdowns of the decade…

10. The Y2K Bug: Crappest techno-crisis ever (1st January 2000) The disappointments started early this decade. For years there had been rumblings about an impending IT meltdown due to the widespread (and rather short-sighted) abbreviation of years into two digits. As media scaremongers counted down to the apocalyptic ’00 switchover, the Millenium Bug hype ramped up considerably and, as I remember it, people began stockpiling tins of analogue food and steam-powered hair straighteners in a desperate bid to stave off the annihilation of civilisation. Now, I’m no apocalypse-yearning Luddite, but I was looking forward to a little post-millennial excitement – maybe some light looting, or the eradication of global credit card data. Plus I had a massive stack of unread books to catch up on. Alas, the year 2000 arrived and what did we get? Problems issuing bus tickets in Australia. Rubbish.

9. Firefly gets cancelled: What a gorram disappointment (December 2002) Joss Whedon’s quietly awesome sci-fi series was doomed from the start when Fox TV’s executive idiots decided to air the initial episodes in the wrong order before unceremoniously cancelling it. It wasn’t necessarily up there with the best shows of the decade, but many lesser products have inexplicably clogged up our TVs season after season, year after year (*cough* Lost, *cough* Prison Break). But not poor old Firefly, which ran for less than one of its intended seven years. That’s nearly three quarters of a decade of Cap’n Reynolds and crew’s wisecracks, bar brawls and bank robberies we missed out on. Instead we got the useless Dollhouse.

8. Indiana Jones 4: Further proof that George Lucas hates humanity (22nd May 2008) George Lucas, the bearded Dark Lord of Disappointment, spent his early career lovingly crafting wonderful escapist fantasies that defined our childhood years and captured the budding imagination of an entire generation. During the 1990s, however, he completed his journey to the Dark Side by single-handedly engineering 20th century cinema’s most gut-wrenching disappointment: The Phantom Menace. This decade, after further defecating over our childhood dreams with two more intergalactic kicks to the scrotum, he turned his Mephistophelian hand to overseeing the destruction of his other much-loved creation: Indiana Jones. Nuclear blast-proof fridges, long-lost son clichés and alien conspiracies: this was not the joyous, whip-cracking Indy of old, but a cynical, hackneyed, CGI-spattered sham. Why do you hate us so much George?

7. Windows Vista: Bill Gates validates Mac owners’ smug faces (30th January 2007) The monolithic Microsoft Corporation has taken a lot of criticism over the years. All of which seemed fully justified after the release of their latest operating system which managed to be even crapper than the previous one. Security flaws, hardware compatibility problems, draconian digital rights management – the list goes on and on (and it does, at length, on the Wikipedia page entitled “Criticisms of Windows Vista”.) However, the most disappointing thing about Windows Vista was that it justified the annoying self-satisfaction of Apple Mac owners, making them infinitely more irritating and punchable.

6. Duke Nukem Forever: Duke Nukem Never (2000 onwards) 13 years. That’s how long we’ve been waiting for the triumphant return of the wise-cracking, decidedly non-PC video game action hero. After announcing the game way back in 1997, the developer, 3DRealms, subjected long-suffering fans to a hilariously protracted trickle of screenshots, rumours and bold proclamations of revolutionary content, with the odd teaser trailer thrown in to keep their increasingly tenuous hopes alive. You may wonder what on earth they were using to develop this game. The Antikythera mechanism? Windows Vista? However, such ponderings – amusing though they are – were rendered irrelevant in May of this year when 3DRealms announced they were shutting down and that development on the eight-time winner of Wired.com’s annual vapourware awards had finally ceased. Or maybe not? Rumour has it that DNF is still on the cards. Time to let it go people…

5. Large Hadron Collider gets switched on: Nothing happens (10th September 2008) You can’t blame them for the hype, I suppose, for the LHC is nothing if not utterly esoteric. Therefore, in order to justify the staggering costs, and to let us simple folk in on the whole thing, they cranked up the media buzz generator. The popular press excitably proclaimed that humanity was on the cusp of discovering the unifying theory of everything ever in the history of everything (ever), while doomsaying nutjobs predicted that we were about to be sucked into a black hole of our own making. And dammit, it worked. It was an exciting time: absolutely baffling, yet pregnant with the wondrous possibilities of human endeavour. The LHC looked like a Bond villain’s lair for Christ’s sake. They had made particle physics sexy. But then they switched it on. And there was no black hole, and no instantaneous scientific epiphanies, and our MTV-addled, instant-gratification-seeking brains just switched off. And then it blew a fuse.

4. The Matrix sequels: The Wachoswkis disappear up their own rabbit holes (May/November 2003) Thanks to the deluge of dire movie sequels, cinema historians will look back on the Noughties as “The Decade That Imagination Forgot”. But while most were pointless, cynical continuations of past-their-prime or previously-concluded franchises (see number 8), the Matrix sequels were of a much more disappointing nature. The original movie ended the 90s in a hugely satisfying synthesis of existential angst, visual flare, innovative action and intellectual depth that seemed to herald the exciting cinematic future of the approaching millennium. But instead of delivering on this promise, the Wachowski’s blew it. Twice. The first movie’s inventive action was replaced with tired and overblown CGI exercises; the playful deconstruction of notions of reality gave way to annoyingly oblique cod-philosophy and heavy-handed religious mysticism; and what did we get in place of the original’s effortless cool? That ridiculous rave scene.

3. Bush’s re-election: Rest of the world slaps forehead (November 2004) OK, vote-tampering aside, in some ways it almost made sense. I mean the Democratic candidate… umm… hold on… John Kerry (I just Wikipedia’d it), was hardly a memorable candidate. But from every other logical (and illogical) standpoint it was utterly confounding. Bush? Again? WTF America? There’s a saying where I come from: vote for a fool once, shame on… shame on you. Vote for a fool twice, umm… everyone… everyone will be really, really disappointed.

2. The financial crisis aftermath: Time for a change? Erm… no (2007 onwards) When the financial crisis struck in the latter part of the decade, bombarded by grandstanding political bluster about economic reform, I found myself gripped by a fleeting moment of delusional optimism, during which I almost believed that our perfidious, vote-pandering leaders were actually capable of instigating tangible, positive change. “Finally,” I thought, “the world has accepted that our global economy is a ridiculous sham, our benevolent leaders will surely rip it down and in its place we shall build a progressive, sustainable and just system ushering in an era of peace and harmony that will last for aeons”. Embarrassment and disappointment soon followed. To use Homer Simpson’s neologism, the economic crash was a quintessential “crisitunity”. It provided a real opportunity for genuine change. We could have slapped the smug look from the bankers’ jowls and told them stick their damned derivatives and reckless greed. But with our hands greased by impotent political rhetoric, public apathy and the hegemonic influence of the banking sector, the chance slipped through our fingers. Instead, we allowed the bankers to go about their greedy business, risking global economic security in the ceaseless pursuit of growth and profits. This time, however, with us footing the bill. As Homer would say: D’oh!

1. No contact with alien life forms: Seriously, this is getting boring (2000 onwards) We know you’re out there you little green bastards. A simple “hello” would have sufficed. We’d spent the previous decade with Mulder and Scully pretty much proving your existence, stamping the notion of your imminent arrival onto our collective consciousness on a weekly basis. And you don’t even have the decency to turn up. Here’s an idea for you: give up the covert cavity probing, grow some balls – or the extra-terrestrial anatomical equivalents – and stop disappointing everyone. You better show up next year with a good excuse and some sweet gadgets or you’ll make Arthur C. Clarke look like a right dick. And that’s not cool.

Article from: http://blog.knowyourmoney.co.uk/

For more articles like this, please visit http://www.knowyourmoney.co.uk/ and our blog site http://blog.knowyourmoney.co.uk/.

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