Opportunities for media evangelism are exploding.    Millions in the poorest countries have joined the worldwide technological revolution.  

 This is IMM:  Sharing the good news of salvation through the most powerful communications tools in history -television and radio.

IMM, based in Madrid, Spain, is a primary producer and facilitator for media ministry resources, meeting the needs of missionaries and national churches worldwide.  Through programming, media development, engineering, and communications training, IMM is enabling leaders to influence their countries for Christ.

IMM is looking for:

Bookstores closed? Borders.com is never closed!

I meant to buy this:

and ended up with this:

and

and

and found out that Sony eBookstore also had this:

(which I could never justify buying unless it’s brilliant, because it’s so short, so I’m probably just going to borrow it)

and this:

for just a few bucks, which I might get.

But first, empty bellies must be fed!

Husband made the meal this year–pot roast and chocolate chip cookies. Thanks for my husband who can cook 4 things really well, for my family who doesn’t suck, for books and booklovers of all shapes and sizes, for my coworkers who are the only reason I bother showing up to work any more (even though sometimes they are the reason I don’t want to show up, thanks anyway).

What are you thankful for?

Firmer data, most recently in the form of the stronger than expected US consumer confidence and dovish Fed comments as reiterated in the Fed FOMC minutes will provide a buffer for risk trades, supporting the USDs role as the prime funding currency over coming weeks.  Nonetheless, any improvement in sentiment will have to push against the weight of position adjustment into year-end as investors book profits on risk trades.  The net effect could be an increase in volatility especially in thinning liquidity expected in the wake of holidays in Japan and the Thanksgiving holiday in the US.

This could make it difficult for many asset markets to sustain key psychological and technical levels.  Whether the S&P 500 can hold gains above 1100 could prove significant as could EUR/USD’s ability to hold onto gains above 1.50.  The expiry of last week’s EUR/USD 1.48/1.51 option may provoke a move out of its range but there seems to be little appetite for a sustained break above the 23rd October high around 1.5061.  Even so, an upside bias is more likely given the likely softer tone to the USD. EUR/USD looks well supported around 1.4865.

Position adjustment towards the end of the year has been particularly evident in FX markets.  For instance, the latest CFTC Commitment of Traders’ data revealed that speculative investors have sharply reduced net long EUR positions into last week whilst there was a significant degree of short covering of GBP positions.  It is worth noting however, that aggregate USD net short speculative positions actually increased, largely due to a sharp jump in net JPY positioning, suggesting that overall sentiment for the USD remains very negative.

It is difficult to see a strong reversal in USD sentiment into year-end and the Fed’s commitment to maintaining interest rates at a low-level for an “extended period” taken together with hints of extending asset purchase programmes suggests little support to the USD over the short-term unless there is a more significant increase in risk aversion and or profit taking/book closing into year-end.  It seems that the impact of improved risk appetite is winning for now, giving no respite to the USD.

Managerii de intreprinderi mici si mijlocii care vor sa faca schimb de experienta cu alte firme si vor sa gaseasca solutii la problemele pe care le intampina in activitatea pe care o desfasoara pot participa la intalnirile organizate in cadrul proiectului NETIMM – Crearea de retele de IMM-uri, implementat de Consiliul National al Intreprinderilor Private Mici si Mijlocii din Romania (CNIPMMR).

JAM3MEDIA have done it again winning Best in Show for the National Film Board’s Waterlife site, Golds and a couple Bronzes at the Digital Marketing Awards and an ADCC award for Happy Planet Shots.  Have a look at their blog for what they’ve been up to – http://blog.jam3media.com

JAM3MEDIA was created by Adrian, Mark and Pablo, grads of the Sheridan Interactive Multimedia.  Dennis, Salpy, and Nick are also IMM grads at Jam 3 – excellent talent!

JAM3MEDIA
http://www.jam3media.com/
Our focus is delivering incredible interactive work by combining the interactive directors, motionographers and sound designers with Jam3media’s elite team of developers and designers. The excitement is palpable, since the worlds of commercial and interactive production are set on a collision course set to be dominated by creative teams that will harmonize two formerly distinct industries into one.

Digital Marketing awards
http://www.marketingmag.ca/dma/index.html
Innovation, excellence, leadership. It’s what the Digital Marketing Awards are all about. Produced by Marketing magazine, the DMA’s represent the best of interactive marketing in Canada. The Awards are judged exclusively by the industry with the mandate to inspire many but reward few. Those few are chosen for their creativity and for leveraging the interactive environment to its full potential.

ADDC
http://www.theadcc.ca/home_awards.asp
The Advertising & Design Club of Canada is a non-profit, non-political group dedicated to encouraging excellence in Canadian advertising and design. The Club’s overall goals are simply these: to inspire creativity, to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, to forge a sense of community and integrity among advertising and design professionals.

Hey everyone!

How amazing is this weather! Its so bright and sunny, the air is so clear and chilly! Wooo my favourite! Going to spend most of it indoors though, Orange wednesdays baby!!! Pizza Express and cinema… Feeling a horror film coming on!

Thank you to everyone who sent me lovely messages for yesterdays Daily Star spread. They were very sweet! Never been asked out on so many dates since my ‘looking for a normal bloke’ comment in my interview! Haha! Remember to keep txting into the Star to see me more!

Txt DSTAR then your message to 80088.

Just dropping you a quick note really to say that because of the postal strike, I have not been able to respond to your fan mail as fast as i’d like to! Thank you so much for the lovely gifts ive been sent to! I will respond to you, its just a bit of a nightmare in the post at the moment, especially in London!

If you want me to sign a photo do feel free to send it to my manager and I will try to respond ASAP! Here is where to send it to:

International Model Management
Unit 15,
Elysium Gate,
126- 128 New Kings Road,
London
SW6 4LZ

Look forward to hearing from you!

Love, FB.

X

SME, adica “Small & Medium Entreprises”. La noi se numesc IMM-uri (Intreprinderi Mici si Mijlocii). Iar pentru toata aceasta multime de initiative private, Uniunea ar cam trebui sa fie responsabila sa elaboreze un set de proceduri clare si orientate catre evolutie.

Va traduc un exemplu de initiativa adresata direct UE, care initiativa ma incanta in cel mai mare grad:

Cele 8 reguli de aur pentru membrii Parlamentului European.

(E.S.B.A.: http://www.esba-europe.org)

1. Lipsa masurarii impactului legislativ asupra IMM-urilor = absenta legislatiilor noi in UE

Masurarea impactului in business a noilor reglementari UE ar trebui insotita de un “test pe IMM-uri”, pentru ca UE sa se asigure ca nu incarca degeaba IMM-urile cu masuri administrative dificile.

2. IMM-urile sunt ANGAJATORI. Regulile mai simple si mai flexibile asigura job-uri mai multe si mai bune.

2/3 din populatia EUropei lucreaza in IMM-uri. Centrii EU de decizie trebuie sa ia in considerare particularitatile IMM-urilor atunci cand propun o noua lege europeana a angajarii.

3. Ganditi SI MAI MICRO: 91.8% din toate companiile din EU au mai putin de 10 angajati.

Politicile Uniunii Europene trebuie sa recunoasca pe deplin importanta micro-intreprinderilor si a angajatilor in propria afacere ca si sursa majora de locuri de munca si de bogatie.

4. Piata Unica Europeana: nu mai vorbiti despre ea, CONSTRUITI-O!

Definitivarea Pietei Unice Europene este de o importanta cruciala in facilitarea schimburilor transfrontaliere intre IMM-uri. Mai putin de 15% din IMM-urile europene beneficiaza direct de Piata Unica, pentru ca aceasta reglementare nu e suficient de practica.

5. ACUMULAREA de birocratisme inutile incetineste competitivitatea, crearea de noi locuri de munca si potentialul inovativ al IMM-urilor.

Este nevoie ca decidentii Uniunii Europene sa isi multiplice eforturile in a scadea birocratismul. Poverile administrative sunt cel mai mare obstacol al dezvoltarii IMM-urilor.

6. IMM-urile au nevoie de reguli financiare si investitori care sa le sprijine, nu vice-versa.

Uniunea Europeana este de departe zona cea mai puternic orientata catre depozite de economii financiare. Implicit, sectorul financiar ar trebui sa sprijine dezvoltarea antreprenoriatului si a IMM-urilor si sa ghideze inovatiile financiare catre economia reala, in dauna celor speculative.

7. Investind in inovatie, investiti in viitor.

Profitati de enormul potential inovativ al IMM-urilor prin crearea unui sistem eficient al proprietatii intelectuale, atat ca si costuri, cat si ca timp.

8. IMM-urile sunt numite “coloana vertebrala” a economiei; deci aveti grija de coloana vertebrala!

IMM-urile sunt o parte importanta a solutiilor de revenire din criza economica si un aliat puternic in a re-aduce economia Uniunii Europene la normalitate. Parlamentarii europeni ar trebui sa forteze implementarea “Small Business Act” la nivelul intregii Uniuni.

Acum vine si intrebarea mea:

ce credeti despre aceste idei, ne vor ajuta cu ceva pe noi, romanii?

———

Aceste reguli sunt preluate de pe site-ul European Small Business Alliance.

Como mi wishlist es pequeña y mi lista de lecturas pendientes no crece a pasos agigantados (nótese la ironía), mis hambrientas zarpas han saltado el charco en busca de nuevas y suculentas presas.

¿La culpa?. De Barnsdale11. Porque sus reseñas son el mal, pura tentación. Es casi imposible entrar en su blog Libro Joven y no salir con un nuevo título apuntado en la lista de la compra.

Lo único que me salvaba, pese a quedarme totalmente con la miel en los labios, es que prácticamente el 90% de libros reseñados son en inglés. Pero al final ni eso. Terminé cayendo. Y este es el resultado de mi primer ataque a las arcas de Amazon. Ángeles, demonios y otros seres, chicos malos y demasiado ÑAM!, amores ¿imposibles?, y mucho mucho más:

• Hush, Hush, de Becca Fitzpatrick
• Raven, de Allison Van Diepen
• Soul Enchilada, de David Macinnis Gill
• City of Glass, de Cassandra Clare

Vale, confesaré que la compra de ‘City of Glass’ ha sido puramente producto del ansia por leer el ¿final? de Cazadores de sombras, y antes de saber que la edición en español saldrá el próximo Enero. Pero bueno, desde luego no me arrepiento, porque le tengo unas ganas… >/////<. Necesito mi dosis de Jace y la necesito YA XD.

Markets are increasingly discounting stronger than expected Q3 earnings.  Further gains in equities and risk appetite may be harder to achieve even if profits continue to be beat expectations, which so far around 80% of Q3 earnings have managed to do. Measures of risk such as the VIX “fear gauge” have highlighted an increasingly risk averse environment into this week.  The negative market tone could continue in the short term.

The USD has found some tentative relief, helped by the drop in equities and profit taking on risk trades.  The fact that the market had become increasingly short USDs as reflected in the latest CFTC Commitment of Traders’ (IMM) report in which aggregate short USD positions increased in the latest week (short USD positions numbered roughly twice the number of long positions), has given plenty of scope for some short covering this week.

The USD has even managed quite convincingly to shake off yet another article on the diversification of USD reserves in China.  The USD index looks set to consolidate its gains over the short term against the background of an up tick in risk aversion.  The USD index will likely remain supported ahead of the main US release this week, Q3 GDP on Thursday, but any rally in the USD is unlikely to be sustainable and will only provide better levels to short the currency.

Given the broad based nature of the reversal in risk sentiment with not only equities dropping but commodities sliding too, it suggests that high beta currencies, those with the highest sensitivity to risk will suffer in the short term.  These include in order of correlation with the VIX index over the past month, from the most to the least sensitive, MXN, AUD, MYR, SGD, NOK, EUR, CAD, INR, ZAR, BRL, TRY and NZD. The main beneficiary according to recent correlation is the USD.

EUR sentiment in particular appears to be weakening at least on the margin as reflected in the latest IMM report which revealed that net long EUR speculative positions have fallen to their lowest level in 6-weeks.  Whether this is due to profit taking as EUR/USD hit 1.50 or realisation that the currency appeared to have gone too far too quickly, the EUR stands on shakier ground this week.  EUR/USD may pull back to near term technical support around 1.4840 and then 1.4725 before long positions are re-established.

Il y a ce gars que je veux.

Mais que je sais pas si ça marchera ou c’est juste du niasage. De mon bord, je voudrais tellement que ça marche, c’est ce que je veux.

Il y a cet autre gars, que je sais pas si je veux, pis qui a l’air d’avoir de quoi, mais que je peux pas savoir, parce que c’est un gars pis que les gars sont complexes. Mais qu’il a de quoi, c’est sûre, peut-être pas CE de quoi.

Puis il y a ce gars, qui me veut, que je veux pas, qui m’énerve, mais que je me sens mal d’être méchante avec mais qui m’énerve beaucoup. J’ai envie de le tuer, aujour’hui spécialement. L-A-I-S-S-E-M-O-I TRANQUILLE!!!

J-HO

Definitivamente acabaré huyendo de las librerías como de la peste, tengo más peligro en una que McGyver en una ferretería ;P. Es entrar, y como lleve dinero, picar con algo. No falla. Pero claro, es lo que tiene que salgan novedades tan jugosas cada dos por tres que me hacen poseer una wishlist proporcionalmente interminable XD.

Esta vez han caído estos (y porque Willow no lo tenían, pero ya lo dejé el sábado encargado en el CI):

La mecánica del corazón (Mathias Malzieu)

El castillo en el aire (Diana Wynne Jones)

Ser yo es un asco (Kimberly Pauley)

–

Tres adquisiciones “pequeñitas, pero matonas” (y con pequeñito me refiero al número de páginas =P). El de ‘Ser yo es un asco’ lo tengo ya casi finiquitado y me está encantando ^O^. ‘El castillo en el aire’ por lo que he leído es un estilo a las mil y una noches, además de ser la secuela de ‘El castillo ambulante’ (si, se ve que a la autora le van tela los castillos XD), lo que lo hacía compra obligatoria jejeje. A ver qué tal, espero que Diana Wynne vuelva a envolverme en la magia especial de su escritura como ya hizo con la historia de Howl y Sophie ^///^. Y en cuanto a ‘La mecánica del corazón’, ¿cómo no llevármelo a casa después de ver esa preciosa portada? *_*, además de que solo he leído críticas favorables acerca de él. ¿Me enamorará a mí también?… Ya os contaré!.

The majority of US Q3 earnings have beaten market expectations resulting in a boost to risk appetite and further pressure on the US dollar. At the time of writing, 61 companies have reported earnings in the S&P 500 and an impressive 79% have beaten forecasts according to Thomson Reuters. This week there are plenty of earnings on tap and although a lot of positive news appears to be priced in the overall tone to risk appetite remains positive. This implies a weaker US dollar bias given the strong negative correlation between US equities and the USD index.

Aside from the plethora of earnings there are plenty of data releases on tap this week including housing data in the US in the form of building permits and starts as well as existing home sales. The data will likely maintain the message of housing market stabilisation and recovery in the US. There will also be plenty of Fed speakers this week and markets will once again scrutinize the speeches to determine the Fed’s exit strategy.

Highlights this week also include interest rate decisions in Canada and Sweden. Both the BoC and Riksbank to leave policy unchanged and expect a further improvement in the German IFO in October though at a more gradual pace than in recent months. There will be plenty of interest in the UK MPC minutes given conflicting comments from officials about extending quantitative easing. RBA minutes will be looked at for the opposite reason, to determine how quickly the Bank will raise interest rates again.

The USD index managed a slight rebound at the end of last week but is likely to remain under pressure unless earnings disappoint over coming days. US dollar Speculative sentiment became more bearish last week according to the CFTC IMM data, with dollar bloc currencies including the AUD, NZD and CAD benefiting the most in terms of an increase in speculative appetite. GBP short positions increased to a new record but the rally towards the end of last week may have seen some of these short positions being covered. Overall any recovery in the USD this week may just provide better levels to go short.

Risk was firmly back on over the past few days as the majority of earnings came in stronger than expected; around 80% of S&P 500 companies have beaten expectations so far. Data releases in the US have also continued to beat forecasts, the latest of which was the September industrial production report. The dollar stood little chance of a recovering against this background and continues to languish around 14-month lows.

Sterling has been the star performer, perhaps a reflection of the fact that the market was extremely short (CTFC IMM data revealed record net short sterling positions last week) and some hints that the Bank of England may not extend quantitative easing was sufficient to provoke a short covering rally. Still the pound’s gains may prove short-lived until there are clearer signs of economic recovery and of a turn in the interest rate cycle.

There will be some key events and data over the coming week that will give further direction to sterling including a speech by BoE Governor King, MPC minutes, retail sales and preliminary Q3 GDP data. Overall, the data are unlikely to deliver much of a boost to the pound even though both retail sales and GDP are likely to deliver positive readings. Sentiment for the pound continues to swing in a wide range and though a lot of negativity was in the price a sustained recovery is far off. The risks remain that GBP/USD will push back towards support around 1.5902.

I still believe that there is little positive to be said for the euro too. The currency benefits from a weaker dollar but is hardly supported by fundamentals especially as a stronger euro damages one of the main engines of eurozone growth, namely exports. EUR/USD will struggle to make headway through 1.50 though once through here it could easily be carried higher. The most positive factor supporting the euro is the continued recycling of central bank intervention flows here in Asia and this may be sufficient to propel EUR/USD through 1.50 before hitting a wall of resistance around 1.5084.

The dollar itself may be given a lifeline from what looks like a softer tone to markets at the end of the week but overall sentiment remains very bearish despite attempts by various US officials to talk the dollar higher this week. The Fed’s Fisher hit the nail on the head when he said that the dollar’s long term value depends on policymakers “getting it right”. In the short term however, it’s all about risk and increasingly it will be about interest rate differentials, both of which will play negatively for the dollar.

Fără salarii şi pensii

„Putem fi în imposibilitatea de a plăti salariile şi pensiile” a spus preşedintele României, dacă „România nu reuşeşte să tragă cele 2 tranşe de la FMI şi de la UE” în lunile ce urmează şi dacă viitorul prim-ministru nu „e un om familiarizat cu instituţiile finciar-bancare”.

Politically correct, am putea spune, dacă am trăi în ţări vorbitoare de engleză. Sau în ţări cu o democraţie încetăţenită de sute de ani. Dar noi trăim în România, o ţară în care prima întrebare după ce am scăpat de comunism a fost „Ce ai făcut în ultimii cinci ani?”. Această întrebare i-aş pune-o domnului preşedinte acum, când afirmă că „Putem fi în imposibilitatea de a plăti salariile şi pensiile”, deşi de cinci ani este preşedintele-jucător al acestei ţări. Este aceasta o modalitate de a recunoaşte că nimic, dar absolut nimic nu merge în ţara aceasta? Este o confirmare a lipsei competenţei guvernului care tocmai a picat (cu tot cu componenta eliminată „strategic” cu puţin înainte de picajul (reuşit) orchestrat de parlamentarii ăia dornici de pensii mari care sug seva bugetului ţărişoarei) de a gestiona crizişoara care ar fi putut afecta ţara noastră subţirel, dar care se pare a izbit-o în plin, devenind totodată scuza ori pretextul oricărui neajuns, oricărei reduceri de personal, oricărei scăderi de salarii … şi iată, chiar imposibilităţii plăţii acestora.

Şi mă refer anume la salarii. Nu la pensii, pentru că la pensii cotizează toată lumea. Şi săracii (la propriu) pensionari, au oricum parte de cea mai mare păcăleală, atât cu „jocul” legilor pensiilor, cât şi cu REALITATEA pensiilor pe care le primesc după o viaţă de muncă. Un pensionar care a ieşit în 2004 la pensie are jumătate din pensia celui care a ieşit în 2009, la aceeaşi perioadă de timp muncită şi la aceleaşi salarii, grade etc. Asta e dreptate? Ce s-a făcut în ultimii 5 ani?

Dar să revenim la salarii, despre care discutăm. Avem bugetarii şi avem angajaţii la „patron”. Bugetarii au resimţit criza în funcţie de oraşul şi „bugetăreala” în care se află, recte militarii, care nu pot protesta – din plin, educaţia şi sănătatea, care deşi protestează nu sunt băgaţi în seamă – din plin, administraţia publică – la nivel de ameninţări cu reduceri drastice de personal, din locurile oricum vacante, dar pe care niciun dornic nu le ştia a exista. Patronii (cei mici), cu toată strategia şi cu tot „sprijinul” primite de la stat, au cam dat-o în bară anul acesta – forfetară, pentru solidaritatea cu bugetul, taxe şi impozite la greu, că doar de aia au dreptul să funcţioneze. Patronii (cei mai măricei) resimt stagnarea pieţei, lipsa cererii pentru produsele pe care (eventual) le mai produc, precum şi ajutoarele „date” de stat după nişte criterii absolut transparente – însă transparente DOAR guvernanţilor sau scepticilor adepţi ai teoriei conspiraţiei.

Vă întreb, cu scuzele de rigoare, de ce „putem fi în imposibilitatea de a plăti salariile şi pensiile”?

Over recent days trading has been characterised by dollar weakness, stronger equities, rising commodity prices and most recently an increase in US bond yields, the latter driven by some slightly hawkish Fed comments. Whether the tone of stronger attraction to risk trades continues will largely depend on US Q3 earnings however, with many earnings reports scheduled this week.

Given the plethora of Fed officials on the wires over recent days and the mixed comments from these officials there may more attention on US CPI on Thursday than usual but the data is unlikely to fuel any concern about inflation risks. Instead there will be more interest on the Fed FOMC minutes on Wednesday which will once again be scrutinised for the timing of an exit strategy.

Over the week there is plenty for markets to digest aside from earnings reports. US consumer and manufacturing reports will garner most attention. The key release is US September retail sales (Wed) where some payback for the “cash for clunkers” related surge in sales over the last month is likely to result in a drop in headline retail sales, though underlying sales will likely post a modest rise.

Fed speeches will also be monitored and speakers include Kohn, Dudley, Tarullo and Bullard this week. Recent comments have hinted that some Fed members are becoming increasingly concerned about the timing of policy reversal and further signs of this in this week’s speeches may give the dollar some comfort but this will prove limited given that the Fed is still a long way off from reversing policy.

Even if the market believes the Fed is starting to contemplate the timing of reversing its current policy setting it is unclear that the dollar will benefit much in the current environment. Sentiment remains bearish; speculative dollar sentiment deteriorated sharply over the past week according to the CFTC Commitment of Traders (IMM) data, to levels close to the lowest for the year.

Moreover, the correlation between interest rate differentials and currencies is still insignificant in most cases suggesting that even a jump in yields such as the move prompted by last week’s comments by Fed Chairman Bernanke should not automatically be expected to boost the dollar. Once markets become more aggressive in pricing in higher US interest rates this may change but there is little sign of this yet

In contrast the euro continues to benefit from recycling of central bank reserves and recorded a jump in speculative appetite close to its highest level this year according to the IMM data. Reserve flows from central banks may contribute to EUR/USD taking aim at its year high around 1.4844 (last tested on 24 September 09) over coming days.