Six months ago I had more questions than answers about Agile.

Five months ago I had serious reservations about Agile.

Today, I can say that I am a believer. With only one reservation.

It wasn’t the overwhelming positive press about Agile.  In my experience, you can hear 100 things opposed to your point of view and cling to your beliefs even tighter. So the positive news didn’t hurt, but it didn’t change my mind.

The change was a result of a Scrummaster workshop and seeing it in action. The workshop dismantled three of my biggest misconceptions about Agile.

The First was that…

1. Agile is lax on Technical Rigor
   And the assumption is that where a process is lax in technical rigor, there’s poor quality. In nearly everything I’d read about Agile to that point, I’d seen the phrase “good enough.”

   Unfortunately, in my mind, “good enough” doesn’t have a positive connotation.The workshop turned that concept on its head by explaining that Scrum is a process.  What we bring to the process is up to us. Responsibility for technical rigor is put back squarely on the shoulders of the team who have to deliver working code and demo it to the customer at the end of the sprint.

   The emphasis here should be on the phrase “working code”. In Waterfall, we have milestones where we deliver documents, but there is never a chance for the customer to see working functionality until the end; when we may have completely misunderstood what they wanted.  Or the business environment has changed.

2. I would hate the process
   The role of Scrummaster did not sound appealing. I became a Project Manager in a Waterfall environment and that was what I was used to: working with teams to define detailed plans, then tracking those plans to completion. Would all that change?

   What I discovered was that the scope had changed from 12 months to 2 weeks. The Scrummaster still works with the team to plan the sprint and holds Daily Scrums to track status, but the focus is reduced to the window of a sprint – not 9 -12 months.

   What I viewed as a side benefit to being a Release Manager in a Waterfall environment (working with smart people, facilitating and watching as they solved problems) became the focus of my role as Scrummaster.  The key question: How can I help you remove any obstacles?

3. Agile can be used on any project
   
   My final misconception was the idea, fixed in my head because of my familiarity with Waterfall, that Agile should probably only be used on projects with bleeding-edge technology or products with critical time to-market constraints. Those type of projects could benefit from the quick turnaround time and “good enough” quality would be delivered.

   The workshop leader was adamant.  Scrum could be used on any project. I had heebie jeebies in reaction because it seemed like an extreme answer (and I tend to distrust anyone who seems to have drunk the koolaid without considering the other side). I questioned whether Scrum would work on a project that required high reliability.

   He reminded us that questions about reliability could be a part of the customer discussions about the functionality to be delivered in that sprint. The working code demoed to the customer must answer the question that the team asked when they made the sprint commitment: How do we know that it works?  The answer should include input from the customer.
   
   This would be a good place to draw this post to a close. It would be nice if I could say (as a former Scrum skeptic) that I have no more doubts.

   Unfortunately, I still have my doubts about whether Scrum can be used on projects that require high reliability. The good news is that as a result of this workshop and my experiences, I am far more likely to consider its use when time to market is critical.

I know there must be some of you who have seen Scrum used on projects that require high reliability? Leave me a comment or send me a tweet, my id is jgodfrey.

I’m left few Hershey Kisses and a pot of hot chocolate, but the Family Christmas Photos I talked about in this previous post are done – or at least the shooting is done, and now I’m left with about 15 shots to edit and submit to the printers by Friday, to try and ensure that the prints arrive to the clients before Christmas.

The reality of this shoot turned out to be much like the theory; it was a three-light setup, with the main and fill lights set to a 2:1 ratio. For the BG light (light C), I added a +1/3 FEC. This washed out the color a bit more than I would have liked, but it made the BG pop. I kept light C zoomed to 14mm with the diffuser panel down for as much spread as possible.

The overall turnout was about what the school and I had hoped for, and the folks who did come seemed excited, and I had good time myself. In retrospect, having more room between myself and the BG would have been better; my A & B lights spilled onto the BG more than I would have liked. A greater distance between the two lighting areas (A+B and C) would keep them from intermingling, which is something I’ll keep in mind for next time.

I’m also fascinated by the portable, popup backgrounds I’m seeing other photogs use. I’ll have to investigate them, as they appear to be just the right size for a single person, or small group, to fit on, and they are apparently very portable. That could end up working better for the next time around, since it would let me pull C light away from the BG and use it instead as a hair light.

At the end of the day we didn’t get rich, but we made enough so that after the split, there’s a good chunk ready to be donated in the school’s name to a family Christmas charity. And that’s the part that really counts – the school’s families got to make a memory, and in the process help other area families during the holidays.

There’s a new OS in town, but can it compare to our comfy slippers, or even the diamond in the rough? …..

http://www.viperlair.com/articles/editorials/vista/versus/

Photo: Brian Lincoln

I’ve got to give a shout out to one of the best- Brian Lincoln.  A Portland area photographer with a great eye, outstanding commitment, and killer equipment, I imagine.  Check out his website’s gallery, and especially his recent project on cochlear implants for deaf children.

Photos: Brian Lincoln

Storage units for any kind of goods need to be maintained very meticulously. They need to be well-organized to offer complete care of the article and ensure satisfaction of the customer

‘Tis the season and demand is high, so I’ll be back at it again following my engagement with a local school. This time the stakes are closer to home, which makes the stress level both better and worse. The gig? Shooting family portraits for my girlfriend’s very large extended family. Oh yeah. Oh my.

The setup is going to be in the living room of an aunt & uncle’s house, where the couch is in front of some large picture windows that look out into the back yard. It’s a nice setting, with good natural light, and the room is long enough (it stretches into the kitchen area) that I can get sufficient distance from the subjects to shoot without having to worry about using my widest angle, and then battling distortions.

The original plan called for a portrait of all the youngin’s, but that quickly grew (as these things tend to do) to include addition portraits of each family group. And I fully expect that once we’re there on-site, it will evolve to include some of those wacky family portraits that happen when everyone gets a bit goofy. Frankly, it ought to be a lot of fun, which equates to the lower stress level. On the other hand, this is a group that I simply have to impress – even more than the regular clients, due to the personal stakes. The stress meter goes back up!

Kidding aside, this should be a straight-forward shoot. I’ll be using essentially the same lighting setup from the first batch of Christmas portraits at the school; A & B lights in a 2:1 ratio, setup up stands with shoot-through umbrellas. C light is a bit trickier, since the BG this time is the wall/windows of the room. I can either stick it in a corner behind them, angled in for some hair light, or perhaps even stick it outside the window, shooting through the glass.

It’s the glass that will provide the most challenge – controlling reflections will be the primary struggle. In a large studio space this might not be so difficult, but in a living room, placement of lights is limited by the physical layout. Still, I’m sure that everything will fall into place.

I plan on using the 7D (to control the lights) and the 28-135mm. The length of the room should let me zoom a bit, compressing the scene somewhat.

To give data thieves one litter, it is necessary to safely remove all data. For the complete destruction of sensitive information, you have to really be careful. In times when you remove the data erasure programs, we are not careful, and you provide the necessary information. To overcome this situation forward, until you either take the backup of important documents can or you can hire a professional secure data destruction services company.

There are many companies around theThe world offer "data destruction services. They have the know-how for the clarification of the financial data of the company. This includes audit reports, budgets, receipts and payments, contract notes and much more. In the same capacity, the experience in the deletion of personal data that the security of your password, contact information includes, bank accounts, etc. also. For the summary to the requirements of different industries, they offer customized solutions.

For the safe destruction of data, theyuse a secure method of creation and destruction of sensitive files, documents, spreadsheets. They can easily verify that the data are cross has been canceled or not using, and then again. They do not compromise on its role and see that no information be deleted according to the customer. This sometimes legal, financial and sensitive information that may affect the business in long-term or result in breach of confidence.

If you are a professional and secure data destructionEnter company check their credentials. There are many competent services of businesses but few are well acquainted with the nuances of data destruction. If your data is an unreliable company, then there are higher chances of information is not secure or removed problem for which you must pay in future earnings

The Positive Leader

We value the humanity, humanity pays for that and loves for ever by heart. People requires honesty, welfare activities, improvement, regulation, safety, due care of the dependants, once the trust and assurance is received from the leader, the people gets ready for their sacrifice for the sake of nation. They gets motivation for devotion for their nation and country.

All the leaders or political leader or the ruling leader must understand that they are the trusty of the chair, and they have to see the welfare of the citizens of the kingdom.

Only few leaders are working like wise, if all are working, the whole earth, world, globe, becomes heaven and there can not be the scope for hell. People will not like to leave this earth.

Me pray to God, that they should give such a good, positive, powerful, constructive, welfare base understandings, feelings, attitude, and approach for the growth of Globe.

Change the mind change the life!

:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

Leader must learn, that he has to work for society and not for self, work for over all development and not self, interested, influenced area or group, should not be crazzy for the power and money, but should be crazzy for devotion, social work, social security, and improvement towards modernization.

Hope the world leader will do to save the Globe.

http://lovelylifestylekrishnakant.blogspot.com/

From: President Barack Obama <info@barackobama.com>
Subject: Thanksgiving
To: “Krishnakant Gandhi”
Date: Thursday, 26 November, 2009, 4:33 AM

Image is very important in the business world. And depending on your profession or career it can effect the way people perceive you. In order to have a good and respectable image it is vital that professionals invest in the way they dress. Believe it or not, you can use your image to build credibility and trust with your colleagues, clients and customers.

Listed below are a few tips on how professional women can create a wardrobe that reflects and good image and success:

Basic Suit

You should have a basic 3-button double-breasted or single breasted pant or skirt suit in your closet. Your suit should be in a basic color of black, navy or charcoal gray. These basic colors give you the options of mixing different colors and patterns as the seasons change. It also provides a classic and professional look that does not go out of style. We also recommend that the suit be made of wool material or blend. The wool allows the suit to last longer by keeping its shape with minimal color fading. Also, consider buying a tailored suit. Tailored suits, although more expensive than regular suits, have a more polished look. Or you can purchase a suit and have your local dry cleaner tailor it for you.

Dress Shoes

Shoes are very important accessories to a dynamic career outfit. They should be in a basic color of black, brown or navy so that they can match with any ensemble. Shoes should be leather because, leather last longer and can be maintained easily with polishing and buffing. Another great way to preserve dress shoes, is to keep them in a shoe box or on a shoe rack. Also, use shoe horns to put on the shoes and when you are not wearing the shoes, use shoe trees to keep its shape.

Dress Shirts

Dress shirts are an essential part of a professional wardrobe. We recommend that your dress shirts should be 100% cotton or cotton blend. The cotton keeps the shape of the shirt and reduces the effects of color fading and is a great year-round material. Do not limit your dress shirts to plain colors, you can have various designs to liven your wardrobe including polka dots, plaids, stripes, floral prints and geometric designs. The best way to preserve dress shirts is to either hang up or fold them after wearing.

Outerwear

Investing in a good coat is also another essential factor in a professional wardrobe. A knee length black wool or cashmere coat is a great classic piece for colder weather. During the lighter seasons, its great to have a trench coat, either knee length or longer. Trench coats are becoming a lot more popular and are being sold in different colors besides khaki. For a more elegant look, you can also consider purchasing a shawl in a basic color.

Linkedin is the one of the best social networks for professionals and has many unique features. Its the best network for connecting with other professionals so how do you make your profile stand out while still looking professional. Well here are our tips on how to make your profile stand out.

1. Review your personal marketing materials i.e resume, an elevator speech, and a contact list. Your online profile is similar to your professional resume which details job roles, duties and accomplishments. Spend time fine tuning the content before you sit down to create your online profile.  Be sure your contact list is updated with the individuals you really want to stay in contact with through social networking.

2. Complete your online profile as if it were an executive biography which includes past employers, education, organizations you are affilated with, and don’t forget – professional and personal activites you participate in.  This task improves your ability to connect with others.

3. Start making connections by searching through the colleagues and classmates database or by name, area, and other criteria. Once you find them, send a connection request. Make it a warm connection, not a cold one! Personalize the invite to connect somehow, like referencing a project you worked on together, or that you have some interests in common.

When using Linkedin remember its a professional network, make valuable connetions, give recomendations and keep in contact with all your professional contacts.  Keep it clean, keep it simple and m0st of all keep it professional.

If you have any tips on how to make a Linkedin profile stand out please let us know,

The Think Tank Media Team

Happy Thanksgiving! – I’m thankful for so so much, but mostly for the true freedom I have in Jesus Christ. Laus Deo – Praise be to God!

outtake – I shot this group of grandkids with their Papa this morning. And let me tell you it’s tough to get 8 kids between 1 and 11 to be happy and look at the camera (all at the same time). But this pic just cracks me up! And we did get some good ones out of the shoot.

Thursday November 26, 2009 By Kevin Morrow

A couple years ago I set out on a mission to BE MYSELF. I really didn’t know exactly what I meant, but I knew it was something I needed to do. I felt like I was doing what other people were telling me, and not what I felt was right for me.

To be yourself you have to let a lot of things that don’t matter go. I have slowly realized this. I feel like a lot of people measure progress by time. Like four years from high school you graduate college and that is an accomplishment. I tend to see things a little differently. I think that your progress is really an uncovering of your self.

But it seems to me the more I hold on to things that are restricted by time, the more I am measuring my growth based on something that fades away. Every accomplishment will eventually fade away with time.

I have to ask myself, “What is self improvement really?” What does it mean to me?

My answer has to do with my mind and the reality that I experience. In order for me to do this I feel like I have to live my self image. Which at times has a lot to do with money. I look at money though and I see something that I would not want my self image to represent. As far as the the paper material.

I feel as if my self image is much bigger than I actualize. I know this to be due to how my mind sees reality. The thing is, if I put my self image value into material things that pass away, I am building a foundation on a spider web. Another way to put it it, “I’m skating on thin ice.” So what is the strongest foundation.

For me my strongest foundation has been that I know I can do better. I know I can be more loving in all aspects of my life. I feel that love is my real self image. But if I limit myself to something then I’m not open to other possibilities.

Also, when I identify money with my self image, something else shows up. The idea of loss. If I need money that means I’m lacking something, and when I have money that means it’s possible to lose it. This is where worry shows up.

A lot of people tell me that they are afraid to lose money, or they are afraid to lose their boyfriend/girlfriend, and this really makes me think. If I identify with money as my personal growth, I’ll limit myself from a lot of experiences.

I have told myself that I’m no longer afraid to be a what I know I can be. Instead of studying other people, I studied myself and then I compared my thoughts to those who were in positions I viewed as “high achievements.”

I have to ask myself what is it that I think I have to achieve? Me, and nobody else, what do I have to achieve? I had no answer for myself.

The only thing I know for certain is that I want to strengthen my faith in the higher power. In my mind I feel as though I don’t have to strengthen my faith. I feel like I just have to remember it.

Now I have come to a good solution within my mind. This is how I can live my life without being afraid. If I live my life out of unconditional love, remember my faith in the higher power/which in turn strengthens my faith in the higher power, I will have my real achievement.

Imagine I have no fear of money, therefore situations appear to mirror that reality in my life. This means to that however the money comes to me, I will not be afraid to lose it. I’m not afraid to lose it because I know that no matter what happens I will always have it. Why? Well because I’m not afraid to lose it.

If your not afraid to lose something, it must mean you have it. Either that or you don’t have it, or don’t care for it, but I used the first example as an illustration.

Worry and doubt are the opposites of FAITH

I’ve learned in my life that worry and doubt are the opposites of faith. The things I have faith in happening, actually happen in my life. This is something I rolled around my thoughts until the light bulb clicked.

There is a difference between me being a multimillionaire that thinks the money is who I am, and being a multimillionaire that knows the money is just a material tool. The more I feel the money is who I am, the more depressed I can get about the amount I have right now. But if I don’t look at it like that, I open myself up to infinite possibility.

My relationship with basketball has helped heal my mind…

The best examples I can give come from my relationship with basketball. I use to identify who I was with how I could play basketball. This was very shaky with me because my self image definitely is bigger than the current situation looks like. The key though, is that it only appears that way if that’s how I’m looking at it.

Today it doesn’t make sense to me that I put my self worth into how I perform on the court. There will be on days and off days. Some days I will dominate the court and some days I may not. So where does my self worth rest? To me it’s in who I help, and how I contribute to the team, whether physically or mentally or both.

That is a big challenge to me. I don’t want to dominate other people, I want to help everyone be their best, and in turn be my best at the same time. I also have a different view of domination. I see it as will-power instead. The will to win, the will to overcome defense, the will to overcome mental lapses. That’s what I view what some call domination. When I play against someone, I want them to make me better.

I see myself in people I know…

A lot of people I know play college ball, play pro ball, and I up until this blog I haven’t played as I see myself. These are creations of my mind. Because I get thrilled when I see somebody I know playing college ball or pro ball, all I want to do is help them become better in any way I can.

I love to see people live their dreams, its fun. I know a guy right now who plays basketball in northern Cali, and I think that he has the ability to play in the NBA. Maybe apart of me sees myself in him or something. Maybe that’s what happens when I see anybody I know playing college or pro. I think to myself, if I were them I would want to know that other people believed in me.

I know a few players who lived in my same city who are playing overseas and or about to. It brings a smile across my face. Something that they may never know, but I know. I feel it within me everyday.

It may sound strange but this is my blog and I put it all out there. I had a conversation about rappers calling themselves the king of rap, or even the God of rap as Jay-z would say.The thing with that is, there can never be a clear winner, and they are claiming something that will fade away. What is the point?

And what good is being a King if you don’t help other people?
I’m not saying they don’t do these things, I was just throwing the idea out there.

Check this out, if I put my worth into how I can play basketball, then anytime I’m defeated I may feel as though I’m nothing. Instead I should remember that I am SOMETHING, and focus on what should be done to win the next game.

I’ve been there. I can play basketball with the best of players. But when I identify and look at my situation then depressed feelings come in because my current situation is not what it could be. These are all things of that past that I no longer do. But I’m using my past to illustrate how the mind shapes its reality.

These are all images in the mind. I play the game because it’s fun. To me it’s fun when everyone on the team is on the same page, and the highlights are flowing, and the defense is intense. I love the energy of the game. But if I think that’s who I am, I become vulnerable to things that are counterproductive to who I think I am. Unless of course I know who I am.

I only view it as self improvement when I’m identifying with things that are subject to change. If I base my self-image off of things like love, teamwork,making others better, and contributing to the overall good of all, then I feel a true sense of accomplishment. It seems that’s just who I am.

I could play for any team in the NBA and contribute to them mentally and physically and I know I would contribute in a positive way. Where I am mentally I can feel this as true reality. Even if I didn’t play, I know that mentally I could help any team just based on how I view reality.

When I say things like this, it’s like I’m remembering myself.
When I set out on this journey that’s what I intended to do. I felt like I knew there was a greater me waiting to be uncovered.

It’s like coming out of amnesia, the whole time people are telling you who you are or were, but you have to uncover who you are for yourself. And who you are is always there no matter what. Everything that’s not real fades away, while everything that’s real lives on. That sentence is deeper than it looks for those that view themselves as “thinkers.”

Thank you for reading.

-Kevin

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi There Everyone,

Great News I now have an official Facebook Fan Page!

Simply search for “Ashleigh Alexandra Louise Smith” on Facebook and Join my Fan Page today as that is where
photo’s and Video’s and News is being posted more regulary than at this blog.

So my advice is to join my facebook fan page and keep checking back here on a regular basis as the plan is to release
some exclusive photo’s and videos via this blog every now and again which will not appear on my facebook fan page and
then also put some stuff on Facebook which won’t appear here!

As you can see in the above video I sleep very well even when in noisy room’s, indeed
I reckon I could sleep through an earthquake I take after daddy like that : ) !

To finish for today here’s a quick video clip which daddy made by accident when he
was trying to take a picture of me on his mobile phone..

So Remeber to go to Facebook and search for “Ashleigh Alexandra Louise Smith” in the Manchester Network (England)
and join my Fanpage today!

Keep checking back as I have some important and amazing news coming very soon!

Hugs

Ashleigh

The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 640

“Phnom Penh: Cambodian families lose between US$35 and US$40 million because of the global economic crisis, resulting in unemployment for 20% to 30% of the workers in the garment and construction sectors, and in tourism. As it is mainly the poor who are facing the impact, the United Nations released a report offering suggestions that can help reduce those impacts.

“In the statement, the UN said that what Cambodia can do to reduce the impacts of the global economic downturn becomes more an emergency topic, as the basis of fast economic growth in the past in the garment industry and in tourism is suffering from the recession of the global economy. 20% to 30% of the workers in the garment and construction sectors and in the tourism industry lost their jobs since late 2008, making them lose between US$35 and US$40 million to be sent to their homes. Impoverished people, mostly women in the garment sector, suffer from the declining economy.

“From a small village in Kompong Cham, 30% to 40% of the people had left their village to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap to find jobs, but now they gradually return home. After two years in Phnom Penh, Mr. Chun Phon and Rany, his wife, lost their jobs at a construction site. They had earned about US$150 per month and could send about US$100 back home to support their children in the village. Rany said, ‘The money that we can now find is just enough only to survive.’

“Such cases are occurring all over the country, while foreign investment for construction projects is decreasing, buying orders for garment products drop, and the number of tourists is declining also. This downturn is not only a challenge for individuals, but also for the growth of Cambodia to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

“The most serious impact from the economic downturn is happening to poor people and to people living near the poverty line, especially those having debts to repay face more difficulties. Such cases happen mostly in rural areas, from where many vulnerable people migrate to the cities to seek employment. Women are among the most vulnerable people, suffering from the impact of this crisis. After they lose their jobs in garment factories or in the construction sector, because of the lack of other professional skills, most women who continue to live in the city have no choice but to work in the entertainment service industry. The report pointed out that also the children of those women suffer under the burden of the impact of the economic downturn.

“The UN had conducted a study to learn more about the impact of the global economic downturn in Cambodia, as well as to identify different measures to reduce the impact on human development already achieved, and to restart development to alleviate poverty, and to be prepared for the future. This report estimated the impact caused by this crisis at the national level as well as the impact on individual Cambodians. The report mentioned policy choices that can help to minimize the impact, including equal rights to receive incentives through lower taxes, structural reforms to improve the competitiveness of the country in the world, and reforms to develop mixed systems for national social protection, to lessen the impact of the economic downturn in the short term, and to bring sustainable and equitable growth back in the long term.

“The UN Resident Representative for Cambodia, Mr Douglas Broderick, noticed, ‘A social safety network is no longer considered as a luxury, as before, where only rich countries had the ability to maintain such networks. Such networks are also related to the success of not-so developed countries.’ However, he remarked, ‘On average, the expenses for safety networks in developing countries are from 1% to 2% of the GDP, but the resources allocated at present in Cambodia are less than 1%.’

“The global economic downturn creates also opportunities to accelerate reforms to prepare for the future, and to improve the competitiveness of Cambodia in the world. Recent events encourage such reforms. The UN vows to cooperate with the Royal Government of Cambodia to accomplish the country’s development goals. The global economic downturn poses new obstacles and political challenges, but provides also opportunities that cannot be overlooked.

“Phon and Rany are so worried about what to do in the future. Rany said, ‘We do not have rice fields, and now we only have little money… we need it for everyday expenses and for our children.’” Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #5057, 26.11.2009

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Thursday, 26 November 2009

Areyathor, Vol.16, #1420, 26-27.11.2009

• Cambodia and Laos Signed a Border Agreement [during the visit of the Laotian Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, both sides decided to consider many temporary border markers as final border markers]

Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #346, 26.11.2009

• [Twenty one] Japanese Investors Visit Cambodia [to study the potential of the economy and of investments in Cambodia]
• Corruption of Tens of Thousands of Dollars Disclosed at the Chamkar Doung Royal University of Agriculture [lecturers, civil servants, and staff of this university had came to the headquarter of Deum Ampil to discribe the corruption of the rector, Mr. Chan Nareth, accusing him of being involved in corruption, taking US$300,000 to US$400,000 each year]

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #2108, 26.11.2009

• [Former Tuol Sleng prison chief] Duch’s Lawyers Suggested to Include Armed Conflict [between Cambodia and Vietnam] into the Case 002 [but not in Duch's case, claiming that Duch was not involved in war crimes]
• [Philippine President] Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Promised to Find Justice for the Victims of the Massacre of 52 People [related to elections]

Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.3, #1820, 26.11.2009

• [Chairperson of the Commission on Economy, Finance, Banking and Audit of the National Assembly] Cheam Yeap: The Government Is Preparing a Law to Collect House and Land Taxes
• The Government Should Reduce Advisers, but Should Keep Contracted Teachers [according to the Sam Rainsy Party and the Cambodian Independent Teachers' Association - the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports ordered to reduce the number of contracted teachers by 50%, more than 10,000 teachers, in 2009 and 2010]

Koh Santepheap, Vol.42, #6815, 26.11.2009

• The Court Hearing of the Tiger Head Group That Planted a Bomb in Front of the Ministry of Defense Is Delayed until 3 December 2009
• During a Two-Days Crackdown on Hectic Wood Transports, Three Cubic Meters of Wood and an Old Car Were Seized [Kompong Chhnang]

Phnom Penh Post [Khmer Edition], Vol.1, #54, 26.11.2009

• Prosecutors at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal Asked to Jail [former Tuol Sleng prison chief] Duch for 40 Years for His Serious Crimes [where 15,000 people were killed]
• The Kompong Thom Authorities Delay Using Force to Evict Disabled People from the Kraya Commune [to take the land for a Vietnamese company]

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #5057, 26.11.2009

• Cambodian Workers Lose Up to US$40 Million Due to the Economic Crisis
• Five Foreigners [three Thais and two Chinese] Are in Debt because of Losing while Gambling in a Casino – They Were Detained in a House in Poipet [three suspects were apprehended and two others escaped]
• The President of the National Assembly, Samdech Heng Samrin, Asked Luxembourg to Expand Investments in Cambodia [the export of Cambodia to Luxembourg amounted to more than US$10 million in 2008 while the import was only about US$7 million]

Sereypheap Thmey, Vol.17, #1820, 26.11.2009

• A Committee Demands the Release of [11] Villagers [arrested in a land dispute in Kraya commune in Kompong Thom; while local authorities plan to arrest 20 more villagers]

Have a look at the last editorial – you can access it directly from the main page of the Mirror.
And please recommend us also to your colleagues and friends.

Back to top

Image is very important in the business world. And depending on your profession or career it can effect the way people perceive you. In order to have a good and respectable image it is vital that professionals invest in the way they dress. Believe it or not, you can use your image to build credibility and trust with your colleagues, clients and customers.

Listed below are a few tips on how professional women can create a wardrobe that reflects and good image and success:

Basic Suit

You should have a basic 3-button double-breasted or single breasted pant or skirt suit in your closet. Your suit should be in a basic color of black, navy or charcoal gray. These basic colors give you the options of mixing different colors and patterns as the seasons change. It also provides a classic and professional look that does not go out of style. We also recommend that the suit be made of wool material or blend. The wool allows the suit to last longer by keeping its shape with minimal color fading. Also, consider buying a tailored suit. Tailored suits, although more expensive than regular suits, have a more polished look. Or you can purchase a suit and have your local dry cleaner tailor it for you.

Dress Shoes

Shoes are very important accessories to a dynamic career outfit. They should be in a basic color of black, brown or navy so that they can match with any ensemble. Shoes should be leather because, leather last longer and can be maintained easily with polishing and buffing. Another great way to preserve dress shoes, is to keep them in a shoe box or on a shoe rack. Also, use shoe horns to put on the shoes and when you are not wearing the shoes, use shoe trees to keep its shape.

Dress Shirts

Dress shirts are an essential part of a professional wardrobe. We recommend that your dress shirts should be 100% cotton or cotton blend. The cotton keeps the shape of the shirt and reduces the effects of color fading and is a great year-round material. Do not limit your dress shirts to plain colors, you can have various designs to liven your wardrobe including polka dots, plaids, stripes, floral prints and geometric designs. The best way to preserve dress shirts is to either hang up or fold them after wearing.

Outerwear

Investing in a good coat is also another essential factor in a professional wardrobe. A knee length black wool or cashmere coat is a great classic piece for colder weather. During the lighter seasons, its great to have a trench coat, either knee length or longer. Trench coats are becoming a lot more popular and are being sold in different colors besides khaki. For a more elegant look, you can also consider purchasing a shawl in a basic color.

Anthony Bolton the legendary Fidelity fund manager wrote an exclusive article reviewing the past decade
and making predictions for the next one. His wide ranging piece covers the future of commodities, emerging markets, growth in the West and fund management.

Given the great man’s surprise return to fund management with a China fund, Credencis reproduce below exclusive extracts:-

Emerging markets

The stars of the past decade have been the emerging markets – Asia ex Japan has risen from 5% to 14% and the Rest of the World from 5% to 13% – so that these markets (which include some no longer categorised as ‘emerging’) account for over a quarter of the investible universe today. These shifts have resulted from a combination of currency and share price movements as well as new companies coming to the market and the inclusion in the index of some new markets.

Having an exposure to emerging markets over the past 10 years has been a significant advantage and, given the ongoing impact of the financial crisis on the developed world, I expect the relative growth of the emerging markets to
continue.

Shifting sectors

It’s not just different markets that have waxed and waned but also sectors. In the UK, basic resources, oil and gas between them accounted for just 13% of the market a decade ago – today that has more than doubled, largely at the
expense of healthcare and telecoms. The increased weighting of commodity shares reflects their strong performance
in the last bull market and strong bounce this year. However, I am less optimistic about these sectors looking forward and think the best areas will be companies that can show above average growth in a low growth world. Being in
the right sectors has mattered in the last 10 years and will continue to do so.

But the winners in a bull market are rarely the same as the leaders in the previous cycle.

Impact of the financial crisis

I guess any review of the last 10 years is not complete without some reference to the financial crisis. This was the sixth banking crisis I have experienced in my 38 years in the business and I’m sure it won’t be the last. We are fortunate to have governments in the West who have learnt from the past and acted quickly and decisively to address the situation.
My concern is that, in solving today’s immediate problem, they have saddled some of the world’s leading economies with a longterm cost in the form of interest payments on a much increased level of government debt. I believe that
this will result in lower growth rates in the West than would otherwise have been the case.

How professional fund management will evolve

Looking forward, I would be surprised if the next 10 years were as disappointing as the last 10 for the world’s stock markets as a whole. However, even if they are not, I think investors’ recent experience will lead during the next decade to a blurring of the edges between hedge funds and the traditional longonly world.

The Ucits III framework is already pushing in this direction. As my two successors on the Fidelity Special Situations and Fidelity Global Special Situations funds demonstrate, the fund manager of the future will need to be skilled in being short of shares as well as long.

How to run money

I think that there are three things an investor must do:
• be organised
• focus on the different and unusual
• and know what you are not interested in.

Credencis offer bespoke investment advice in an ever changing financial climate. We are situated near to Derby, Leicester, and Nottingham.

Credencis

“Live for today, Invest for tomorrow”

Project management is becoming a very popular discipline. But it is not a new discipline because the principles of project management have been practised since the beginning of times. A study of this discipline starts with an understanding of what a project means.

Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) defines a project as a temporary endeavour undertaken to produce a unique product, service or result. From this basic definition, we can outline three basic characteristics of a project:

1. A project is temporary i.e. it has a beginning and an end
2. A project has an end result or  primary objective (product, service or result) that is unique
3. A project is progressively elaborated

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