Muay Thai at Achieve Health and Fitness – Video
Posted: August 25, 2012 at 1:22 am
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Muay Thai at Achieve Health and Fitness - Video
Body by Vi Challenge Video | Health and Fitness in Medina County – Video
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Body by Vi Challenge Video | Health and Fitness in Medina County - Video
Lance Armstrong’s personal brand will still live strong
Posted: at 1:22 am
Thursday night an exasperated Lance Armstrong announced he would stop fighting the U.S. Anti-Doping Agencys charges that he had used performance-enhancing drugs, prompting the USADA to move to strip the legendary cyclist of his seven Tour de France titles.
If the agency succeeds, the highest athletic achievements of the greatest philanthropist in sport will disappear from the record, but experts say Armstrongs personal brand and powerhouse Livestrong foundation are sturdy enough to survive the loss of his Tour titles.
Since founding the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997, Armstrong, a testicular cancer survivor, has helped raise $470 million for cancer research.
Hes aspires to inspire (and) for all the talent he had on the bike, his greatest talent was being a champion of hope, says Sunny Pathak, president of SOS Media and brand manager to several pro athletes. Thats the advice Id give him. Fight the fight you believe you can win.
Armstrongs foundation was responsible for the yellow LIVESTRONG bracelets that were ubiquitous in the mid-2000s, and which have raised roughly $100 million for cancer research on their own.
Corporate support for the Armstrong foundation was just as strong, with sponsors ranging from Nike to Budweiser, and with the LIVESTRONG name gracing the home stadium of Major League Soccers Sporting Kansas City Franchise. American Century Investments introduced a line of mutual funds titled LIVESTRONG Portfolios, which earned strong reviews from investment industry analysts earlier this summer.
Thursday afternoon all three companies announced they planned to maintain their relationships with Armstrong and his foundation, even if he loses his Tour de France titles.
The USADA may sanction Lance and attempt to strip his titles, but no one can take away what hes done for the 28 million people around the world living with cancer, an American Century spokesperson told The Associated Press on Friday.
That decision doesnt surprise McMaster University marketing professor Manish Kacker, who points out that sponsors gravitate to Armstrong not because he defeated other cyclists but because he triumphed over cancer.
Both Armstrong and Livestrong have a real track record in terms of raising funds for cancer, says Kacker, who teaches at McMasters DeGroote School of Business. There might be some people who will pull away from Livestrong, but the charity probably has enough momentum to continue moving forward.
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Lance Armstrong’s personal brand will still live strong
Saratoga: Personal Ensign showdown pits Royal Delta vs. It's Tricky
Posted: at 1:22 am
Tom Keyser
Its Tricky will make her first start since winning the Ogden Phipps on May 28 in Sunday's Personal Ensign.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. They have combined to win 15 of 24 starts, 10 graded stakes, and accrued $3.7 million in purses. One is the champion 3-year-old filly of 2011; the other is undefeated in three starts this year.
As far as head-to-head matchups in racing go these days, Sundays showdown between Royal Delta and Its Tricky in the Grade 1, $600,000 Personal Ensign Invitational Handicap at Saratoga is about as good as it gets. The Personal Ensign is a Win and Youre In race for the Breeders Cup Ladies Classic to be run Nov. 2 at Santa Anita. The Personal Ensign winner gets her entry fees paid and a $10,000 travel stipend.
[Complete coverage of racing at Saratoga: News, PPs, and video]
Royal Delta defeated Its Tricky in last years Alabama here and in the Breeders Cup Ladies Classic in November at Churchill Downs to secure the championship in the 3-year-old filly division. After dropping her first two starts this year one being the Dubai World Cup in March Royal Delta has come back with a blowout win in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill and a gutty neck victory in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap last month at Delaware Park.
Royal Delta, trained by Bill Mott, had a wide trip at Delaware and appeared to be laboring a little due to either an early move or dislike for the surface. Yet she fought back when Tiz Miz Sue came to her in the stretch.
Tiring but classy enough to hold on, Mott said, in summing up the performance. I dont think that filly was ever going to get by her, which is an interesting thing to find out. A lot of times a horse can blow by you if theyre full of run, but if they run to you and you can fend them off that shows you something.
Run at 1 1/4 miles from 1995-2011, the Personal Ensign has been shortened this year to 1 1/8 miles, something that is likely to bring Its Tricky and Royal Delta closer together.
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Saratoga: Personal Ensign showdown pits Royal Delta vs. It's Tricky
Enbridge lobbying of Harper government a 'success story'
Posted: at 1:21 am
It has been said that there are no true friends in politics ... but there are plenty of them.
Few issues have made politicians so popular as the oil and gas potential in Western Canada and the big plans for its future, including the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline through Alberta and British Columbia.
A search of the federal registry of lobbyists shows company officials and consultants for Calgary-based Enbridge have had dozens of meetings with ministers, deputy ministers, policy directors and MPs as plans for the Northern Gateway pipeline moved from the proposal stage to public hearings.
They've had communication with the chiefs of staff for the prime minister and the Opposition NDP and met with the clerk of the Privy Council on the day the Conservative government tabled the omnibus legislation that changed the environmental laws and review process that govern the project.
"Enbridge is the perfect example of a success story from lobbying," said Roger Harris, a former Liberal member of the B.C. legislature and former vice-president of aboriginal and community partnerships for Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines.
The federal registry shows 12 different lobbyists at work for the pipeline proponent in 2011 and 2012. A search of the five years prior to that, from the beginning of 2006 to the end of 2010, produces a list of 27 different lobbyists and 10 different consultant companies, including one representing the Clean Air Renewable Energy Coalition, comprised of Enbridge, Shell, ConocoPhillips Canada and a dozen other energy companies.
Enbridge's proposal for a 1,700-kilometre pipeline that would deliver bitumen from the Alberta oil sands to a tanker port on the B.C. coast is incredibly complex, involving three government jurisdictions, 50 First Nations, an oft-maligned industry and a vocal public campaign against tanker traffic off the West Coast.
"I can't imagine a project that's more complex, yet it (Enbridge) was able to convince the federal government, the Conservatives, of its value to the point that the federal government, who puts in place the regulatory process by which projects are independently evaluated ... (Enbridge) had them shamelessly out there supporting the project before their own process was even completed," Harris said.
The Conservatives even changed the environmental regulations that affect the project, he said.
"If they don't like the outcome of that science, they can change it themselves, anyway," he said of the Conservative government.
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Enbridge lobbying of Harper government a 'success story'
The Shifting Paradigm of Microsoft
Posted: at 1:21 am
By Rita Chattaraj - August 24, 2012 | Tickers: AAPL, GOOG, MSFT, NOK | 0 Comments
Rita is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited.
Microsoft(NASDAQ: MSFT), which has been ruling the personal computer operating system space for long now, is looking at changing the way the company functions - a shift in paradigm. Being restricted to the age old offerings will not help the company to cope up with the changing dynamics of the highly competitive consumer electronics space.For several years Microsoft had the software segment as its main focus point and it left the hardware part to a diverse ecosystem of OEMs likeDell,HP,Lenovoand many others. But now, with Surface tablet computers, Microsoft aims to capture a good chunk of the hardware side of the model too. The company is attempting to build an ecosystem of Windows-driven devices where both hardware and software will come from the tech giant.
Microsofts Master Blaster StrategyWith Surface, Microsoft is clearly following the path of anintegrated hardware and software offering ecosystem as displayed byApple (NASDAQ: AAPL). The iPhone maker is a living example of how successful this business model can be.In fact, this is not the first attempt of Microsoft to develop its ecosystem. The company has been attempting this for a long time, however it never tasted success. The Live Social Network didnt work out, nor did Bing, the competitor of the worlds largest online search providerGoogle(NASDAQ: GOOG). The general perception of Microsoft in the consumers mind was that it was old, slow at everything and not up to the art of the age. These thoughts were further fueled by the range of cheap plastic hardware as against Apples simple yet catchy and beautifully designed gadgets.
However, this time the companys plans may pay off big time and this might be just the beginning. The Windows maker has worked very hard on the form factor and the feel of the Surface tablets. The consumers as well as industry experts are pretty impressed with the trade dress of the device. So, finally we have something that actually can give Apple stiff competition. Slowly the giant can move to smartphone hardware too. For all we know, like Google acquiredMotorolaand is planning to use the phone maker to manufacture its own smartphones and tablets, Microsoft too can acquire a firm and go about its dream of enjoying hardware-software dominance in the electronics space.
Competitive strategies The Redmond-based tech giant aims to change the consumer perception about it - from being a super successful operating system maker to an equally successful hardware provider - and for this the company has chosen the tablets space as the first point of attack. So, how does Microsoft want to make it big in this market?Winning through losses!
Recently, there have been rumors that the Surface tablets will be available for a starting of $199. Initially everyone felt this was just a rumor to test the reaction of the OEMs, but as time passes and Microsoft is still not denying the claim, there are chances it will turn out to be true. If this is really the case, then the Surface RT will not only be battling with the iPad, but alsomay turn out to be fatal for the Nexus 7 from Google andAmazonsKindle Fire.
So, does this mean the Surface RT will have lower tech specs than the iPad? No. Under the hood the Surface RT will be as strong as the iPad, but still available at just $199. What Microsoft is trying to do is pretty clear the Windows maker is going after market share and not profits. Microsoft wants to penetrate the tablet market by providing superior tablets at extremely competitive prices even if it needs to face losses. This way, no one will buy the iPad since the two devices will have the same specs while the Surface will be cheaper and again no one will buy Android-based tablets since the prices will be the same whilethe Surface will be superior. Microsoft is thinking of leveraging the success from its other business parallels to its newly formed hardware business so that it can snatch from Apple and Google their share of the consumer electronics sector.
Now, focusing just on the tablet market will be an incomplete effort on Microsoft's part. The company also needs to put stress on the smartphone hardware market. However, the Windows maker has no plans as of now to manufacture handsets. Rather, it plans on carrying on with the OEM model here byleaving the handset manufacturing toNokia(NYSE: NOK), but with good chances of moving into the handset manufacturing in the near future. Through Nokia, Microsoft aspires to knock down theApple andSamsung-Google dominance and give users something new and exciting. While Surface will ensure Microsofts success in the tablet market, Nokias Lumia will ensure the success in the smartphone space.
Departing thoughtsMicrosofts plans are definitely not ordinary and these involve huge challenges and a lot is at stake. Shifting its focus from software to hardware and repositioning itself in the minds of the users is no kids play. The Windows maker knows this very well that if, for whatsoever reason, Windows 8, Surface or Lumia fails, it is going to be doomed and this is why every step it takes needs to be well planned. But, like I say, no risk, no gain and know risk, know gain. Microsoft is taking a risk for which it can get rewarded greatly. It has the right combination of expertise, experience and goodwill to drive this strategy to success. And, in due course of time, if it decided to acquire Nokia also, it will not be a surprise for anyone. Rather, the move will actually fit in with Microsofts aspirations like a glove. I am very much bullish on the Windows maker and have a feeling it will surely stir up things in the tech space.
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The Shifting Paradigm of Microsoft
Mitt Romney's fundraising success traced to project that sifts through personal information
Posted: at 1:21 am
WASHINGTON Mitt Romney's success in raising hundreds of millions of dollars in the costliest presidential race ever can be traced in part to a secretive data-mining project that sifts through Americans' personal information including their purchasing history and church attendance to identify new and likely, wealthy donors, The Associated Press has learned.
For the data-mining project, the Republican candidate has quietly employed since at least June a little-known but successful analytics firm that previously performed marketing work for a colleague tied to Bain & Co., the management-consulting firm that Romney once led.
The head of Buxton Co. of Fort Worth, Texas, chief executive Tom Buxton, confirmed to the AP his company's efforts to help Romney identify rich and previously untapped Republican donors across the country. The Romney campaign declined to discuss on the record its work with Buxton or the project's overall success.
The project shows that the same strategies corporations use to influence the way we shop and think are now being used to influence presidential elections. The same personal information that we give away, often unwittingly when we swipe our credit cards or log into Facebook, is now being collected by the people who might one day occupy the White House.
There are no records of payments to Buxton from Romney's campaign, the Republican National Committee or a joint fundraising committee. Under federal law, companies cannot use corporate money or resources, such as proprietary data analysis, for in-kind contributions to campaigns.
The effort by Romney appears to be the first example of a political campaign using such extensive data analysis. President Barack Obama's re-election campaign has long been known as data-savvy, but Romney's project appears to take a page from the Fortune 500 business world and dig deeper into available consumer data.
Buxton said he's working for the Romney campaign because he wants "to be on the winning team."
He once worked with a former Romney business partner to provide insights, for example, about where Petco should open a new pet-supply store to maximize profits. In addition to Buxton, the data-mining project was described to the AP by a Romney fundraiser who spoke on condition of anonymity because the fundraiser did not want to face repercussions for describing internal campaign processes.
Businesses use those kinds of analytics firms to answer key questions for clients, such as where to build a retail store or where to mail pamphlets touting a new product. The analysis doesn't directly bring in campaign contributions, but it generates the equivalent of sales leads for Romney's campaign.
The project relies upon a sophisticated analysis by powerful computers of thousands of commercially available, expensive databases that are lawfully bought and sold behind the scenes by corporations, including details about credit accounts, families and children, voter registrations, charitable contributions, property tax records and survey responses. It combines marketing data with what is known in this specialized industry as psychographic information about Americans.
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Mitt Romney's fundraising success traced to project that sifts through personal information
Blue Knights honor a legend
Posted: August 24, 2012 at 4:18 pm
By Chad Garner
cgarner@sentinelandenterprise.com @CGARNER23 on Twitter
Some coaches burst onto the scene and leave in a blink of an eye.
Others dedicate their lives to teaching and coaching high school students and athletes about the values needed for success in life.
The late Richard Stachowicz -- a born coach and educator -- was that special role model and major influence in many people's lives at Lunenburg High School for 39 years.
Stachowicz, a highly successful boys' varsity basketball coach and physical education teacher who passed away on July 13, 2010, after a battle with Parkinson's disease, will permanently be a focal point in a place he called home for so many years, as Lunenburg High School will officially name the court at Lunenburg Memorial Gymnasium the "Richard A. Stachowicz Court" and unveil the dedication at the first home game of the upcoming boys' varsity basketball season.
"It absolutely is emotional in a lot of different ways," said Stachowicz's son Mark, 44, overcome by emotion. "I shared him with every kid in Lunenburg. He coached a long time, and we all had an investment with what he did. To see an award for that, that the community appreciated what he did and respected what he did, it's a small thank you. This validates the sacrifices we made as a family to do that. It's a nice honor; it validates everything he put in."
The unveiling is a can't miss-event
"It's going to mean a lot," Mark Stachowicz said. "He took so much pride in what he did. I won't have dry eyes, I can promise you that. He was something special for what he did. It was never about him, but it's nice to see that this is about him."
Jeremy Kullman, who played for Stachowicz on the varsity team for three seasons before graduating in 1992, will always remember his late coach as an unbelievable motivator.
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Blue Knights honor a legend
What Would Your New Identity Look Like?
Posted: at 4:18 pm
One of the more creative aspects of life coaching is implementing or designing exercises that will help nudge a client closer to answers or clarity on her goals. I have been known to tweak some Ive learned from others, to invent some on the spot and also to get ideas that I fine-tune and develop more slowly.
In the latter category is one I call Witness Protection. Just as it sounds, it is based on imagining oneself having to enter the Witness Protection Program and being given the chance at reinvention. The idea is to dig into your existing life with questions along these lines: Aside from having to sever significant relationships in your life, what would be most challenging? Does the idea of being yanked out of your current life and thrust into a new one bring up excitement or dread?
With the recent release of the movie Hit and Run where a character risks his new identity to help his girlfriend get to Los Angeles, I thought it would be timely to mull this and see what emerges from the exercise.
The idea for this first came to me when I was an avid viewer of the USA Networks In Plain Sight. I was initially drawn to it because I loved the sassy, smart main character of Mary Shannon (so well played by Mary McCormack), a deputy U.S. marshal based in Albuquerque. But as time went on I became intrigued by the way each character handled bungled? embraced? -- the transition into Witness Protection.
What would be your greatest challenge? What would you do?
OK, Ill go first.
How would I make a living? Well, I write in this life. Would that still be possible in a situation where Im trying to keep my identity hidden? Clearly there would be no column that includes my picture. But I wonder if even my writing style would tip off someone, some linguistics expert hired to track me down because I testified against the wrong person. Public writing might have to go. Maybe I could keep it to local features for newsletters or the like.
And then theres coaching. Could I still do that? Again, there would be no website promoting my work that contains my photo. No professional events where coaches gather. No conferences. No advertising my services. What if another coach Ive met through my networking and columnist duties in this life made contact?
Part of me thinks Id resign myself to a mundane money job to pay the bills and then just read myself into a frenzy. The UPS guy would be at my house non-stop delivering packages from Amazon as I went from Virginia Woolf to Philip Roth to Anais Nin. There would be the poetry of Hafiz and Mary Oliver and then maybe Id enter a Janet Evanovich haze.
Did you see what happened there? I didnt learn a darned thing about what Id do to earn a living. That became secondary as I let the fantasy go forth into a stream of consciousness place. What did I learn that I can apply to my current life? That while I am fairly well read, I want to be really well read. I am jealous of voracious readers. What is stopping me from being one? Carving out more time for it. And to boot, when I do it feeds my writing. Win-win.
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What Would Your New Identity Look Like?
Health and Fitness with James Applin – Video
Posted: at 4:17 pm
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