Individualism vs. Teamwork

"There is more to building a team than buying new uniforms."
- Bryce's Law

INTRODUCTION

As you travel around corporate America these days, you hear a lot about "teams";
that groups, departments or whole divisions are trying to behave more as a team
as opposed to a group of individuals. Its the latest catch phrase du jour. I guess
someone finally figured out the power of teamwork. But just how much of this
represents sincere efforts? My corporate contacts tell me its mostly facade. They
contend they get some nifty new corporate shirts and some great pep talks, but
aside from this, little else. As much as corporations tout the need for teamwork,
most still encourage rugged individualism.

There is more to creating a team than simply saying you are one. New shirts and axioms
are nice, but in order for this to work, people have to think and act as a team. In other
words, success hinges on it becoming a natural part of the corporate culture.

CORPORATE CULTURE

Teachers, coaches, and drill instructors have long understood the value of teamwork. The
intent is to turn a heterogeneous working environment into a homogeneous environment
whereby everyone is working in a concerted effort towards common goals. But do corporate
managers truly understand teamwork? Not necessarily. Many still create competitive
environments in the hope that the strongest will rise to the surface. Teamwork is more
about cooperation than it is about competition.

This brings up an important point: Teamwork is taught. It means developing a disciplined
work environment where the participants must conform to a specific set of rules. Inevitably,
it means breaking some work habits and creating new ones. This can be painful, yet
necessary if you want to achieve the desired results. Basically, you are teaching
people how to live and work together as opposed to apart.

In the United States there is more of a natural inclination to teach individualism
as opposed to teamwork; perhaps this is because we are a nation based on
freedoms. For example, our public school systems have minimal dress and hair codes;
each student is allowed to look and dress as they personally see fit, many with some
very questionable taste. This is permitted as it is believed the individual must be allowed to
freely express him/herself. This may be fine, but it certainly does not promote a spirit of
teamwork. Compare it to other countries, such as Japan, where students are required
to where school uniforms and are given group assignments, such as the preparation and
cleanup of their daily lunch. In Japan, students are taught the value of cooperation
at an early age which has the added benefit of improving their socialization skills.

As mentioned, teamwork requires the establishment of a working environment conducive
to teamwork. It doesn't happen simply by making some platitudinous statements. A manager
must do more, much more; some suggestions:

1. First and foremost: Lead. All teams need a leader who can articulate goals and
   give direction. The team must trust and believe in its leader. Without such confidence,
   the team will not likely follow the leader, particularly in times of difficulty. The leader
   should also be wary of leading by democratic rule. Soliciting input is one thing, as is
   having assistants, but there can only be one ultimate leader to guide the team.

2. Institute uniform operating practices that everyone will be expected to conform to,
   such as operating hours of work, dress code, office appearance, speech and conduct,
   etc. Such uniformity stresses the equality of the workers. As another suggestion,
   downplay job titles and put more emphasis on work assignments instead. Job titles
   tend to emphasize a person's stature in a company and can be disruptive in terms of
   equality.

3. Establish standard practices for executing work assignments, thereby everyone is
   following the same methods, and using the same tools and techniques in their work
   effort. This improves communications, provides for the interchangeability of workers,
   and promotes the development of quality work products.

4. Make sure everyone knows their responsibilities and assignments and understands
   their importance. Nobody wants to be regarded as the weakest link and, as such,
   the manager must be able to communicate their importance and carefully balance
   the workload. Yes, there will be those workers who will undoubtedly excel over others,
   but teamwork is a group effort. If a weaker worker needs additional training, either
   give it to him or replace him.

5. Routinely check progress. Whenever applicable, keep statistics on both team and
   individual performance. However, it is not important to publish such stats. It is
   important for the leader to know the team's strengths and weaknesses, but it is
   nobody else's business.

6. Be on the lookout for conflicts in working relationships. Some people will simply not
   get along and it is up to the manager to referee such conflicts. Either have the people
   work out their differences, keep them apart, or rid yourself of them. You want harmony,
   not contention, on your team.

7. Allow time for the team to meet and discuss issues as a group. This keeps everyone
   in tune with common goals, problems, and the team's general progress. It also allows the
   team to socialize and form a camaraderie (a bonding of unity).

8. Recognize individual achievement but reward on a team basis as opposed to
   an individual basis.

CONCLUSION

Are we really trying to promote teamwork or is this nothing more than the latest
corporate fad that is being implemented more for public relations than anything
else? Let's hope for the former and not the latter. Teamwork is a powerful concept,
particularly when there is anything of substance to be done.

Shrewd managers intuitively understand the need for teamwork. Let me give you
an example from the world of entertainment. Jack Benny, the famous comedian of
yesteryear had a great appreciation for teamwork. His radio and television shows were
consistently at the top of the rating charts for a number of years. When asked what his secret to
success was, Benny simply said teamwork. To Jack, it wasn't important that he personally
got the best lines and laughs week after week. In fact, he was often the butt of many of the
jokes. Instead, he made sure his cast, guests, and writers all received the accolades they
deserved. It was more important to Benny that people said they had tuned into
"The Show" as opposed to tuning in to see "Jack Benny." He was right.

I realize there are instances in business when it becomes necessary to exercise
individualism, but these are becoming a rarity. Instead companies can find greater
glory as a team as opposed to a group of individuals.

"Individual glory is insignificant when compared to achieving victory as a team."
- Dot Richardson, M.D.
U.S. Olympic Softball Team
Two time Gold Medal Champions

For more information on corporate culture, see:

No. 28 - "Understanding Corporate Culture"
http://www.box.net/shared/ftmey3nh3i

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Excel Tips on Conditional Formatting

Excel can be very tricky to use. I learned a lot by taking an Excel training class in Buffalo NY.. However Allen Wyatt provides these great tips on his website for conditional formatting.

Adding Ordinal Notation to Dates If you use dates in your worksheet, you may want to add an ordinal indicator to the day of the month. This tip shows the best ways to achieve this result. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

Changing Coordinate Colors Want to change the colors used by Excel for the column letters and row numbers on a worksheet? You can’t do it directly in Excel; instead you need to make an adjustment in Windows itself. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Changing Font Face and Size Conditionally Conditional formatting does not allow you to change the typeface or font size used in a cell. Instead, you need to use a macro to accomplish your formatting goals. It’s easier to do than you think it is by using the information in this tip. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Conditional Formats that Distinguish Blanks and Zeroes Conditional formatting is a great boon to Excel users. One use is that you can use it to highlight cells that contain zero values. However, if a cell is blank, Excel also considers that cell to be equal to zero. This tip explains how you should perform your conditional test to get only those cells containing an actual zero value. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Conditional Formatting A few ways to use conditional formatting on cells in your Excel worksheet. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Conditional Formatting Based on Date Proximity Creating conditional formatting to turn cells different colors depending on the values entered. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Conditional Formatting for Errant Phone Numbers If you’ve got a bunch of phone numbers in a worksheet, you may want to check if they are all within certain bounds. You can use the Conditional Formatting feature of Excel to assist in this checking, as described in this tip. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

Conditional Formatting with Data Imported from Access If the information you import from Access into Excel isn’t interpreted just right, it can have consequences on your conditional formatting. This tip explains those consequences and how you can correct for any potential problems. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Conditionally Formatting for Multiple Date Comparisons The Conditional Formatting capabilities of Excel are very powerful. Getting them to behave exactly as you expect can be a bit tricky, however. This tip describes one common pitfall when setting conditions, and it explains how to get around it. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Copying Conditional Formatting Conditional formatting is a very powerful feature in Excel. If you want to copy conditional formatting from one cell to a group of another cells, you might be at a loss as to how to proceed. Copying the conditional formats is actually easier than you think, as this tip describes. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Counting Colors from Conditional Formats The background of a cell can be colored based either on direct formatting or on conditional formatting. Counting the number of cells that are directly formatted in a particular manner is not that difficult when using a macro. Counting the same cells if they are conditionally formatted is much more difficult, as described in this tip. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Highlighting Cells Containing Specific Text How to format cells containing specific text differently, so that they stand out from the rest of your worksheet. A great approach that makes certain cells easier to view. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Highlighting Values in a Cell Excel allows you, through normal editing, to overwrite formulas in a cell with explicit values. Wouldn’t it be nice to know where such overwriting occurred, however? You can find out by applying some of the techniques discussed in this tip. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

More than Three Conditional Formats Conditional formatting is a powerful feature of Excel, but it has traditionally been limited to three explicit formats. This tip examines ways around this limitation, along with a look at how the limitation was entirely removed in Excel 2007. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

Protecting Conditional Formatting If you have conditional formatting applied in a worksheet, the formulas in those formats may not be as secure as you would like. This tip explains the problem and shows you what you can do to guard the formulas. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

Removing Conditional Formats, but Not the Effects Conditional formatting is very powerful, but at some point you may want to make the formatting “unconditional.” In other words, you might want to remove the conditions on which the formatting is based, but still keep the formatting that you see for those cells. This can only be done via a macro, as described in this tip. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Shading a Cell Until Something is Entered Using conditional formatting, you can shade a particular cell (or cells) until a value is entered in the cell. This is a handy way for users to tell when something needs to be entered in a particular cell. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Shading Based on Odds and Evens Given a series of values in a range of cells, you may want to shade the cells based on whether the values are odd or even. Using Conditional Formatting you can make short work out of such a need. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Shading Rows with Conditional Formatting Conditional formatting can be used to shade every other row in a data table. This is handy for those times when it may not be that easy to follow the lines on a printout. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Sorting or Filtering by Conditional Format Results Conditional formatting is a powerful feature of Excel. You cannot directly sort or filter based on the results of this special type of formatting, however. Using the results of a conditional formatting test can be achieved, but the easiest way is to change the structure of your worksheet. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Understanding Color and Conditional Formatting Codes Using custom formatting, you can format a cell so that different types of values display exactly as you want them to. This tip explains how to create the custom formats and the pertinent formatting codes that are available. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Understanding Conditional Formatting Conditions An explanation of conditional formatting and how to employ it in your Excel worksheet. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Using AutoFormat The AutoFormat tool can save a great deal of time when formatting tables of data. This tip explains how to use the tool to get the best results for your data. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Using Multiple Test Conditions When creating conditional formats, you are not limited to only one condition. You can create up to three conditions, all for the same cell or range of cells. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

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The Meaning and Importance of Corporate Strategy

Corporate strategy is supposed to be the means by which an organisation achieves and sustains success. Yet, it rarely rises to that level, despite an abundance of corporate strategy theory and significant research from many organisations over the past few decades. The changes over the years are considered in the form of small, theoretical refinements, rather than large and significant steps required for further management transition (Papers4you.com, 2006).

What explains the relative failure of most organisations to create effective strategy? Part of the problem is that corporations and their managers have great difficulty clearly and consistently defining what corporate strategy is, and much of that struggle can be traced to their interpretation of the word strategy itself.

The original meaning of the word strategy derives from the Geek strategia, which is used in the military terms and represents the ability to employ available resources to win a war. This interpretation has generated problems when such concept is used in a business context because it implies the existence, even the necessity, of opponents. As a result, most managers believed that a corporate strategy implies a strong focus on competition, since competition takes place almost exclusively at the offering level, most organisations concentrate their strategic efforts on constantly improving the goods and services they offer. This overemphasis on the temporary success, however, can often obscure the kind of thinking and emphasis that would lead to sustained success, even a continuous repetition of temporary successes doesn't equate to sustainable strategy. In an effort to increase the value of single offerings, the organisation may be distracted from larger questions of structure, mission and objective (Papers4you.com, 2006).

In war, objectives can often be clearly defined, and so strategy is thought of as a means to a specific end. This view has persisted in the corporate world where strategies are conceived as plans to accomplish specific goals. Although corporate strategy can be very goal-oriented, especially in the early stages of a company's development, the very nature of goals implies temporary success. By contrast, sustainable success is not, and cannot be an end unto itself or a goal to achieve. Therefore, goal orientation becomes arguably inappropriate when success has to be indefinitely sustained.

Despite this, an overwhelming number of top executives and researchers make extensive use of objectives in their quest of lasting corporate success. Certainly, a number of factors contribute to this: the need of leaders with limited tenure to point to achievements, the tyranny of meeting the expectations of the financial markets and most management teams extensively rely on forecasting and planning. Still, the idea held by most managers that strategy itself is all about goal achievement only exacerbates the situation. Therefore, it is important for strategists to remember that the more specific an objective, the further away it may potentially lead the organisation from its optimal big picture.

So how strategy should be redefined? Clearly it cannot rely too strongly on objectives nor can it focus too heavily on competition. A more fundamental concept is needed to guide an organisation in seeing its big picture, and such concept should be customer. To create sustainable, long-term success, an organisation must first and fundamentally understand and relate to its customers. It is the ongoing encouragement of this understanding, based on neither specific competitors nor temporal objectives, which must be at the heart of any real strategy. And it is that from which all objectives should naturally flow.

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Retirement: What to Write on Retirement Card

Retirement – this is a time to pursue dreams by exploring new dimensions of life. This is again the time for some people to get mentally paralyzed with loads to stress and stressful thoughts about how life's going to be the next phase. Whatever way does retirement come in to one's life, its true that he or she deserves the best and the choicest wishes, as the person is going to get a transition into an entirely new phase of life. The most meaningful and aesthetic of all are those retirement wishes, where you use some really thoughtful words of inspiration and encouragement. Wish the person a life flooded by the waves of happiness and cool splashes of peace – a healthy life, both mentally and physically.

The evidences of the unfulfilled seniors have been observed to be more prone to health problems followed by severe mental depression – usually compounded as time passed by. A good wish with a thoughtful message works like panacea. What to write on a retirement card is the most talked about topic of debate, when it comes to retirement wishes. Here are some points that works like magic:

Write something that comes from your within – from the core of your heart. Your retirement wishes wordings must make the person feel his energy soared higher and spirits lifted to a great height.

Your retirement wishes wordings should give your wish fervor of inspiration and encouragement to flag on a new voyage in the next phase of life. Your wordings should be such that could sprinkle the grains of inspiration on the retired person to gear up a new journey of life even at the age of 60s.

If you are a co-worker of the person who's retiring from his or her job, it would be really appreciable if your wordings can reflect the memories of the past moments that you spent with him or her in the canteen and conference room.

Retirement quotations and thoughtful sayings on retirement can give your speeches and wishes a special dimension. A beautiful retirement quotes can make your remarks come to bloom and set a distinctive tone for your message that can bring one of life’s most significant changes.

Here are some of the really awesome quotes that you can start off your remarks with:

“It has become clear to most of us that we don’t want “our father’s retirement”; the only thing that needs to be retired is old ideas about retirement.

Our greatest fear and insecurity for our later years should not be about the Social Security system or about being broke but rather about being without purpose and meaningful work.” - Mitch Anthony, author of The New Retire mentality

“Age is only a number, a cipher for the records. A man can’t retire his experience. He must use it. Experience achieves more with less energy and time.” - Bernard Baruch, financier, statesman.

“When I was younger I could remember anything, whether it happened or not; but my faculties are decaying now and soon I shall be so that I cannot remember any but the things that never happened.” - Mark Twain, author

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Shaklee in Mexico

You can have a business thru Shaklee anywhere you may choose to. Mexico is a great place to have a Shaklee business. You can do it even if you live in the United States. This way it gives you more of a customer line. Shaklee in Mexico will bring you more money as well as more income. The products are healthy for you also. I do not know of anyone who would not want to use products that they do not have to worry about not being good for their families and homes as well as themselves.

There are many ways to make Shaklee in Mexico a great opportunity for your customers as well as yourself. By having a bigger customer base you will be able to do a lot more with your business. You could appoint someone over there to handle the business while you are still in the United States. You could also open up a store to sell your products thru or you could still sell door to door. Just like people in U.S. people in Mexico want to make extra money also. So you have people to buy your products as well as people to recruit into the business.

People in Mexico want to use these products just like everyone else. It would do wonders for your business if you were the person that they were buying their products from. Most people do not want to overrun their lives by selling too many different places because they think the work will be too hard. But Actually Shaklee in Mexico can have many added benefits. It gives you more people to sale to, it also allows you to help people and it also gives you the ability to broaden your horizon and meet new and exciting people.

Shaklee in Mexico as well as anywhere else you can think of can make your business better because of the extra productivity and expose. There are many things you can do with a Shaklee business and being able to expand your current business or even if you just start the business in Mexico the possibilities are endless. Everyone wants to spend less money on the products they need and with Shaklee they can do that and also they will have product that are good for the body as well. The extra expose to your business is great but knowing that you are helping people better their lives is better

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Exclusive Debt Leads

Exclusive Debt Leads – What it is and what are the benefits of it?

Exclusive leads are by definition a lead that is exclusive to your company and no one else. A truly exclusive lead will help you increase ROI and have a better experience with sales altogether. The potential customer you contacted wont be an individual enraged by businesses constantly contacting them. Instead, your lead will be someone eagerly awaiting help from you. Debt leads are people who need help with their debt. This is obvious, but they cannot be looked at as just another number or just more revenue for you. Instead, they need to be taken care of because these customers have needs. Debt is a serious matter, in fact, the biggest issue in America today. Millions of Americans struggle with debt every year. At Underground Elephant we want our leads taken care of. We want people to look back and think, "I got through my debt problem." That's why we make sure each lead is handled with care. You may ask, "Why do you care what happens to your leads after you sell them?" We put ourselves in the mind set of the leads. Debt is scary and could be embarrassing for some leads. And if we were in that position we would want a company to fix our problems as soon as possible.

Being a debt lead isn't easy. Therefore, when you try to sell to a debt lead you need to put yourself in their mind set. For each person debt effects them differently. Maybe they feel scared, depressed, or mad but whatever the case they need help. By being our client, you will help our leads with their debt issues.

In the economy right now, Americans are struggling with debt more then ever before. With this in mind, lead generation companies are surging forward with more and more debt leads. With an increase in supply for many companies comes new competition. The industry is growing at a rapid pace and thriving off of the economy's downturn. The issue is debt consolidation companies don't know who to trust. There are way to many companies selling bad leads, reused or recycled leads, or aged leads as real time leads. This is a big problem in the industry today. Trust is what makes a business relationship, or any relationship for that matter. At Underground Elephant, we know all about trust. We have a business relationship with all our clients. We sell quality debt leads you can trust.

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Paragliding

Equipment
Wing
Parts of a paraglider
The paraglider wing or canopy is known in aeronautical engineering as a ram-air airfoil, or parafoil. Such wings comprise two layers of fabric which are connected to internal supporting material in such a way as to form a row of cells. By leaving most of the cells open only at the leading edge, incoming air (ram-air pressure) keeps the wing inflated, thus maintaining its shape. When inflated, the wing's cross-section has the typical teardrop aerofoil shape.
In some modern paragliders (from the 1990s onwards), especially higher performance wings, some of the cells of the leading edge are closed to form a cleaner aerodynamic airfoil. Like the wingtips, these cells are kept inflated by the internal pressure of the wing Wings Infos.
The pilot is supported underneath the wing by a network of lines. The lines are gathered into two sets as left and right risers. The risers collect the lines in rows from front to back in either 3 or 4 rows, distributing load as in a whippletree. The risers are connected to the pilot's harness by two carabiners.
Paraglider wings typically have an area of 2035 square metres (220380 sq ft) with a span of 812 metres (2639 ft), and weigh 37 kilograms (6.615 lb). Combined weight of wing, harness, reserve, instruments, helmet, etc. is around 1218 kilograms (2640 lb).
The glide ratio of paragliders ranges from 8:1 for recreational wings, to about 11:1 for modern competition models[citation needed]. For comparison, a typical skydiving parachute will achieve about 3:1 glide. A hang glider will achieve about 15:1 glide. An idling (gliding) Cessna 152 will achieve 9:1. Some sailplanes can achieve a glide ratio of up to 72:1.
The speed range of paragliders is typically 2060 kilometres per hour (1237 mph), from stall speed to maximum speed. Beginner wings will be in the lower part of this range, high-performance wings in the upper part of the range. The range for safe flying will be somewhat smaller.
Modern paraglider wings are made of high-performance non-porous fabrics such as OLKS from Gelvenor, with Dyneema/Spectra or Kevlar/Aramid lines.
For storage and carrying, the wing is usually folded into a stuffsack (bag), which can then be stowed in a large backpack along with the harness. For pilots who may not want the added weight or fuss of a backpack, some modern harnesses include the ability to turn the harness inside out such that it becomes a backpack.
Tandem paragliders, designed to carry the pilot and one passenger, are larger but otherwise similar. They usually fly faster with higher trim speeds, are more resistant to collapse, and have a slightly higher sink rate compared to solo paragliders.
Since 2000 Juan Salvadori in Argentina has been exploring a variant wing termed Paramontante that involves some firm beams. In April 2009 Pere Casellas has joined in a collaboration with Juan Salvadori for polishing the paramontante. Laboratori d'envol Paramontante
Harness
Pilot with harness (light blue) doing reverse launch
The pilot is loosely and comfortably buckled into a harness which offers support in both the standing and sitting positions. Modern harnesses are designed to be as comfortable as a lounge chair in the sitting position. Many harnesses even have an adjustable 'lumbar support'. A reserve parachute is also typically connected to a paragliding harness.
The primary purpose of parachutes (including skydiving canopies) is for descending, as when jumping out of an aircraft or dropping cargo. In contrast, the primary purpose of paragliders is for ascending. Paragliders are categorized as "ascending parachutes" by canopy manufacturers worldwide, and are designed for "free flying" meaning flight without a tether (for an example of tethered flight, see parasailing). However, in areas without high launch points, paragliders may be towed aloft by a ground vehicle or a stationary winch, after which they are released, creating much the same effect as a mountain launch. Such tethered launches can give a paraglider pilot a higher starting point than many mountains do, offering similar opportunities to catch thermals and to remain airborne by "thermaling" and other forms of lift. As free flight, paragliding requires the significant skill and training required for aircraft control, including aeronautical theory, meteorological knowledge and forecasting, personal/emotional safety considerations, adherence to applicable Federal Aviation Regulations (US), and knowledge of equipment care and maintenance.
Instruments
Most pilots use variometers, radios, and, increasingly, GPS units when flying.
Variometer
Vario-altimeter
Birds are highly sensitive to atmospheric pressure, and can tell when they are in rising or sinking air. People can sense the acceleration when they first hit a thermal, but cannot detect the difference between constant rising air and constant sinking air, so turn to technology to help. Modern variometers are capable of detecting rates of climb or sink of 1 cm per second, such is the case of the Flymaster B1 which uses extremely low noise electronics and complex algorithms to detect such minute changes in air pressure.
A variometer indicates climb-rate (or sink-rate) with short audio signals (beeps, which increase in pitch and tempo during ascent, and a droning sound, which gets deeper as the rate of descent increases) and/or a visual display. It also shows altitude: either above takeoff, above sea level, or (at higher altitudes) "flight level."
The main purpose of a variometer is in helping a pilot find and stay in the "core" of a thermal to maximise height gain and, conversely, to indicate when a pilot is in sinking air and needs to find rising air.
The more advanced variometers have an integrated GPS. This is not only more convenient, but also allows one to record the flight in three dimensions. The track of the flight is digitally signed and stored and can be downloaded after the landing. Digitally signed tracks can be used as proof for record claims, replacing the 'old' method of photo documentation.
2m-band radio
Radio
Pilots use radio for training purposes, for communicating with other pilots in the air, particularly when travelling together on cross-country flights, and for reporting the location of landing.
Radios used are PTT (push-to-talk) transceivers, normally operating in or around the FM VHF 2-metre band (144148 MHz). The "2 Meter" band is an amateur radio band, sometimes used for interpersonal communications, and Aviation Frequencies are usually 108MHz to 136MHz. Usually a microphone is incorporated in the helmet, and the PTT switch is either fixed to the outside of the helmet, or strapped to a finger.
GPS
GPS (global positioning system) is a necessary accessory when flying competitions, where it has to be demonstrated that way-points have been correctly passed.
It can also be interesting to view a GPS track of a flight when back on the ground, to analyze flying technique. Computer software is available which allows various different analyses of GPS tracks (e.g. CompeGPS, See You).
Other uses include being able to determine drift due to the prevailing wind when flying at altitude, providing position information to allow restricted airspace to be avoided, and identifying one location for retrieval teams after landing-out in unfamiliar territory.
More recently, the use of GPS data, linked to a computer, has enabled pilots to share 3D tracks of their flights on Google Earth. This fascinating insight allows comparisons between competing pilots to be made in a detailed 'post-flight' analysis.
Control
Speedbar mechanism.
Brakes: Controls held in each of the pilot hands connect to the trailing edge of the left and right sides of the wing. These controls are called 'brakes' and provide the primary and most general means of control in a paraglider. The brakes are used to adjust speed, to steer (in addition to weight-shift), and flare (during landing).
Weight Shift: In addition to manipulating the brakes, a paraglider pilot must also lean in order to steer properly. Such 'weight-shifting' can also be used for more limited steering when brake use is unavailable, such as when under 'big ears' (see below). More advanced control techniques may also involve weight-shifting.
Speed Bar: A kind of foot control called the 'speed bar' (also 'accelerator') attaches to the paragliding harness and connects to the leading edge of the paraglider wing, usually through a system of at least two pulleys (see animation in margin). This control is used to increase speed, and does so by decreasing the wing's angle of attack. This control is necessary because the brakes can only slow the wing from what is called 'trim speed' (no brakes applied). The accelerator is needed to go faster than this.
More advanced means of control can be obtained by manipulating the paraglider's risers or lines directly:
Most commonly, the lines connecting to the outermost points of the wing's leading edge can be used to induce the wingtips to fold under. The technique, known as 'big ears', is used to increase rate of descent (see picture).
The risers connecting to the rear of the wing can also be manipulated for steering if the brakes have been severed or are otherwise unavailable.
In a 'B-line stall', the second set of risers from the leading-edge/front is gently pulled down to put a crease across the lower surface of the wing (this will also distort the upper surface) acting as an 'air brake' significantly reducing airspeed. The combination of reduced forward airspeed and increased vertical airspeed destroys the laminar flow of air over the aerofoil, dramatically reducing the lift produced by the canopy, thus inducing a higher rate of descent.
Fast Descents
Big Ears, Rocky Point, NY.
Problems with etting down can occur when the lift situation is very good or when the weather changes unexpectedly. There are three possibilities of rapidly reducing altitude in such situations, each of which has benefits and issues to be aware of:
Big ears induces descent rates of 2m/s or so. It is the most controllable of the techniques, and the easiest for beginners to learn.
A B-line stall induces descent rates of 5m/s or so. It increases loading on parts of the wing (the pilot's weight is mostly on the B-lines, instead of spread across all the lines). There is not a risk of the pilot becoming disoriented as a result of using this technique.
A spiral dive offers the fastest rate of descent, at 10-15m/sec. It places greater loads on the wing than other techniques do, and requires the highest level of skill from the pilot to execute safely.
Big Ears
By pulling on the outer A-lines the wing tips of the glider can be folded in. This method drastically deteriorates the glide angle with only a small decrease in forward speed. The effectiveness of this technique can be increased by using the speed system at the same time.
To reinflate on a low performance glider (e.g. DHV1 rated) it is simply necessary to release the lines. On higher performance gliders (e.g. DHV1/2 and above) it may be necessary to help the reinflation with brief, deep pumps of the brakes.
Whilst big ears are in use, the loading on the remaining flying surface of the glider is increased and it is therefore more stable and less prone to collapse. However there is an increased increase of stalling because 'pulling the ears' increases the angle of attack and reduces the speed of the wing. So while 'ears' and speed bar is a good combination, 'ears' and brake is not - it is best not to use the brakes when the ears are 'in'.
B-Line stall
In a 'B-line stall', the second set of risers from the leading-edge/front (the B-lines) are pulled down independently of the other risers. This puts a crease in the upper surface of the wing, thereby destroying the laminar flow of air over the aerofoil. This dramatically reduces the lift produced by the canopy and thus induces a higher rate of descent.
The B-line stall should be initiated with the wing in normal flight (no speed bar; not accelerated). Grasp the B-lines on both sides above the line links and pull them down. There is no need to release the toggles while B-stalling. DHV 1/2 wings are very resistant to creasing; the pilot may have pull on the B-lines with sufficient force to almost lift themself out of the seat to get the wing to crease. Once the crease is in, it requires less effort to keep it in that it does to initiate it.
The sensation for the pilot when the B-line stall is induced is that the breeze is upwards rather than in your face. Pulling the B-lines even further down will not enhance the sink rate, but can lead to a more unstable flight position.
To recover from the B-line stall, release the B-risers so that the aerofoil shape of the wing is resumed. This will normally be sufficient to resume normal flight, but if the canopy remains in a stall push forward gently on the A-risers to lower the leading edge of the wing and reattach the laminar airflow to the upper surface of the wing.
Spiral Dive
The spiral dive is the most rapid form of controlled fast descent. With a little bit of practice you will achieve a sink rate of 15 m/s and more.
However, spiral dives put strong G-forces on the wing and glider and must be done carefully and skilfully. The G-forces involved can induce blackouts, and the rotation can produce disorientation. Spiral dives, as with all paragliding techniques, are best learned under expert supervision. Paragliding 'SIV' courses offer a chance to practice spiral dives over water with a rescue boat standing by.
The spiral dive is initiated by pulling the brake on one side and holding it down. Constant pulling on one brake narrows the radius of the turn and forms a spiral rotation in which high sink rates can be reached. As soon as the glider is in a spiral dive (clear increase of sink rate and turn bank), the outside wing should always be stabilised with the outside brake and the desired sink rate should be controlled with great delicacy.
Flying
Take off from a ramp, Tegelberg, Schwangau, Germany.
Launching
Paraglider reverse launch demonstration video
Reverse launch, Fiesch, Switzerland.
Paraglider towed launch, Mirosawice, Poland.
As with all aircraft, launching and landing are done into wind (though in mountain flying, it is possible to launch in nil wind and glide out to the first thermal).
Forward launch
In low winds, the wing is inflated with a orward launch, where the pilot runs forward so that the air pressure generated by the forward movement inflates the wing.
Reverse launch
In higher winds, particularly ridge soaring, a everse launch is used, with the pilot facing the wing to bring it up into a flying position, then turning under the wing to complete the launch.
Reverse launches have a number of advantages over a forward launch. It is more straight forward to inspect the wing and check the lines are free as it leaves the ground. In the presence of wind, the pilot can be tugged toward the wing and facing the wing makes it easier to resist this force, and safer in case the pilot slips (as opposed to being dragged backwards). These launches are normally attempted with a reasonable wind speed making the ground speed required to pressurise the wing much lower - the pilot is initially launching while walking forwards as opposed to running backward.
Towed launch
Paraglider launching in Arax, Brazil.
In flatter countryside pilots can also be launched with a tow. Once at full height, the pilot pulls a release cord and the towline falls away. This requires separate training, as flying on a winch has quite different characteristics from free flying. There are two major ways to tow: Pay-in and pay-out towing. Pay-in towing involves a stationary winch that pays in the towline and thereby pulls the pilot in the air. The distance between winch and pilot at the start is around 500 meters or more. Pay-out towing involves a moving object, like a car or a boat, that pays out line slower than the speed of the object thereby pulling the pilot up in the air. In both cases it is very important to have a gauge indicating daN to avoid pulling the pilot out of the air. There is one other form of towing; tatic towing. This involves a moving object, like a car or a boat, attached to a paraglider or hanglider with a fixed length line. This is very dangerous because now the forces on the line have to be controlled by the moving object itself, which is almost impossible to do. With static line towing a lockout is bound to happen sooner or later. Static line towing is forbidden in most countries and if not, should be avoided at all cost.
Landing
Landing involves lining up for an approach into wind, and just before touching down, laring the wing to minimise horizontal speed. In light winds, some minor running is common. In moderate to medium headwinds, the landings can be without forward speed.
Ridge soaring
In ridge soaring, pilots fly along the length of a ridge feature in the landscape, relying on the lift provided by the air which is forced up as it passes over the ridge.
Ridge soaring is highly dependent on a steady wind within a defined range (the suitable range depends on the performance of the wing and the skill of the pilot). Too little wind, and insufficient lift is available to stay airborne (pilots end up cratching along the slope). With more wind, gliders can fly well above and forward of the ridge, but too much wind, and there is a risk of being lown back over the ridge.
Paraglider in front of Mont Blanc
Thermal flying
When the sun warms the ground, it will warm some features more than others (such as rock-faces or large buildings), and these set off thermals which rise through the air. Sometimes these may be a simple rising column of air; more often, they are blown sideways in the wind, and will break off from the source, with a new thermal forming later.
Once a pilot finds a thermal, he or she begins to fly in a circle, trying to center the circle on the strongest part of the thermal (the "core"), where the air is rising the fastest. Most pilots use a ario (vario-altimeter), which indicates climb rate with beeps and/or a visual display, to help ore-in on a thermal.
Coring: The technique to "core" a thermal is simple: turn tighter as lift decreases, and turn less as lift increases. This ensures you are always flying around the core.
Often there is strong sink surrounding thermals, and there is often also strong turbulence resulting in wing collapses as a pilot tries to enter a strong thermal. Once inside a thermal, shear forces reduce somewhat and the lift tends to become smoother.
Paragliders in the air at Torrey Pines Gliderport
Good thermal flying is a skill which takes time to learn, but a good pilot can often "core" a thermal all the way to cloud base.
Cross-country flying
Once the skills of using thermals to gain altitude have been mastered, pilots can glide from one thermal to the next to go ross-country (C). Having gained altitude in a thermal, a pilot glides down to the next available thermal. Potential thermals can be identified by land features which typically generate thermals, or by cumulus clouds which mark the top of a rising column of warm, humid air as it reaches the dew point and condenses to form a cloud. In many flying areas, cross-country pilots also need an intimate familiarity with air law, flying regulations, aviation maps indicating restricted airspace, etc.
In-flight Wing Deflation (Collapse)
Since the shape of the wing (airfoil) is formed by the moving air entering and inflating the wing, in turbulent air part or all of the wing (airfoil) can deflate (collapse). Piloting techniques referred to as "active flying" will greatly reduce the frequency and severity of deflations or collapses. On modern recreational wings, such deflations will normally recover themselves without pilot intervention. In the event of a severe deflation, correct pilot input will speed recovery from a deflation, but incorrect pilot input may slow the return of the glider to normal flight, so pilot training and practice in correct response to deflations is necessary. For the rare case where it is not possible to recover from a deflation (or from other threatening situations such as a spin), most pilots carry a reserve (rescue, emergency) parachute. Most pilots never have cause to hrow their reserve. In case the wing deflation happens near ground, i.e. shortly after takeoff or just before landing, the wing (paraglider) may not recover (airfoil shape) even with pilot intervention and there may not be enough time for successful rescue parachute deployment. Those cases can result in serious bodily injury or death. In-flight wing deflation and other hazards are minimized by flying a suitable glider and choosing appropriate weather conditions and locations for the pilot's skill and experience level.
Sports/competitive flying
Some pilots like to stretch themselves beyond recreational flying. For such pilots, there are multiple disciplines available:
Cross-country leagues annual leagues of the greatest distance C flying
"Comps" competitive flying based around completing a number of tasks such as flying around set waypoints
Accuracy spot landing competitions where pilots land on targets with a 3 cm centre spot out to a full 10 meter circle.
"Acro" aero-acrobatic manoeuvres and stunt flying; heart stopping tricks such as helicopters, wing-overs, synchro spirals, infinity tumbles, and so on.
National/international records despite continually improving gliders, these become ever more difficult to achieve; aside from longest distance and highest altitude, examples include distance to declared goal, distance over triangular course, speed over 100 km triangular course, etc.
Competitive flying is done on high performance wings which demand far more skill to fly than their recreational counterparts, but which are far more responsive and offer greater feedback to the pilot, as well as flying faster with better glide ratios.
See also: World Air Games
The current world champion is Andy Aebi of Switzerland; he won the title in February 2009 at Valle de Bravo in Mexico. His predecessor was Bruce Goldsmith.
Safety
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Paragliders launching video in Arax.
Paragliding is perhaps often viewed as a higher-risk sport than it actually is. Nonetheless, there is great potential for injury for the reckless or ill-prepared.
The safety of the sport is directly influenced by the skill and sense of the pilot. It's important to note that almost all paragliding accidents are the result of pilot error. Paragliding equipment is very well built and, if properly cared for, will almost never fail. As an example, the average paraglider has around 30 lines connected to the risers, yet each one is strong enough to support the full weight of a pilot individually. Aerodynamically, newer paragliders that are not within advanced or competition categories are rated for safety and will tend to recover from most incidents on their own (without pilot intervention).
Given that equipment failure of properly certified paragliding equipment can be considered a non-issue, it is accurate to say that paragliding can be a very safe sport. The individual pilot is the ultimate indicator of his or her personal safety level.
In general:
The safe pilot will not fly at sites that pose an unreasonable challenge to his/her flying skills.
The safe pilot will not be influenced by the possibly negative examples set by others.
The safe pilot will only fly on days in which the weather is conducive to safe flight. Turbulence in all its forms is enemy #1 for a flying paraglider wing. Because paragliders have no solid support, their shape (and ability to fly) can be ruined by an errant down draft or the like. Therefore, turbulence or conditions conducive to turbulence generation is a primary factor in determining whether the weather is safe.
The following weather is to be avoided:
Excessive wind speed or gustiness. 15 mph (24 km/h) wind is fairly windy for a paraglider, and most pilots won't take off in much more wind than that. High winds will also increase the effect of mechanical turbulence. Gusty conditions will make take-offs and landings more dangerous and will make collapses more likely while in flight. The limit of 15 mph is fairly arbitrary, and also depends on local parameters. At some sites people fly safely at 20 mph winds, at other sites 10 mph may be too much.
A wind direction that will not allow a take-off (or landing) into the wind, or at least generally so. Tail-wind take-offs are to be avoided at all cost. Assurance that an [apparent] headwind is not actually a 'rotor' is also critical (rotors comprise a form of mechanical turbulence).
Excessively high atmospheric instability, indicated in part by overdeveloped cumulus clouds, or in worse situations by cumulo-nimbus cloud formation. Such conditions will contribute to turbulence. If cumulo-nimbus (thunderstorm) clouds are anywhere in sight, the effect of severe atmospheric instability may exist where you are.
Rain or snow. Because a paraglider wing is made from fabric, it has the ability to absorb moisture. Moreover, the weight (or lack thereof) of a paraglider wing is critical to its performance. Flying into heavy rain or snow will weigh the wing down and may terminate a flight quickly. A wet wing is also less controllable, less stable and will exhibit less tendency to recover into normal flight.
General safety precautions include pre-flight checks, helmets, harnesses with back protection (foam or air-bag), reserve parachutes, and careful pre-launch observation of other pilots in the air to evaluate conditions.
For pilots who want to stretch themselves into more challenging conditions, advanced IV (simulation dncidents en vol, or simulation of flying incidents) courses are available to teach pilots how to cope with hazardous situations which can arise in flight. Through instruction over radio (above a lake), pilots deliberately induce major collapses, stalls, spins, etc, in order to learn procedures for recovering from them. (As mentioned above, modern recreational wings will recover from minor collapses without intervention).
As always, fatalities and freak accidents can occur, but most properly-trained, responsible pilots risk only minor injuries, such as twisted ankles.
Learning to fly
Most popular paragliding regions have a number of schools, generally registered with and/or organized by national associations. Certification systems vary widely between countries, though around 10 days instruction to basic certification is standard.
Flying above Stubaital, Austria
There are several key components to a paragliding pilot certification instruction program. Initial training for beginning pilots usually begins with some amount of ground school to discuss the basics, including elementary theories of flight as well as basic structure and operation of the paraglider.
Students then learn how to control the glider on the ground, practicing take-offs and controlling the wing 'overhead'. Low, gentle hills are next where students get their first short flights, flying at very low altitudes, to get used to the handling of the wing over varied terrain. Special winches can be used to tow the glider to low altitude in areas that have no hills readily available.
As their skills progress, students move on to steeper/higher hills (or higher winch tows), making longer flights, and learning to turn the glider, control the glider's speed, then moving on to 360 turns, spot landings, ig ears (used to increase the rate of descent for the paraglider), and other more advanced techniques. Training instructions are often provided to the student via radio, particularly during the first flights.
A third key component to a complete paragliding instructional program provides substantial background in the key areas of meteorology, aviation law, and general flight area etiquette.
Tandem paraglider launch
To give prospective pilots a chance to determine if they would like to proceed with a full pilot training program, most schools offer tandem flights, in which an experienced instructor pilots the paraglider with the prospective pilot as a passenger. Schools often offer pilot's families and friends the opportunity to fly tandem, and sometimes sell tandem pleasure flights at holiday resorts.
Most recognised courses lead to a national licence and an internationally recognised International Pilot Proficiency Information/Identification card. The IPPI specifies five stages of paragliding proficiency, from the entry level ParaPro 1 to the most advance stage 5.
World records
FAI (Fdration Aronautique Internationale) world records:
Straight distance 461.6 km: Frank Brown, Marcelo Prieto, Rafael Monteiro Saladini (Brazil); Quixada Duque, Brazil; 14 November 2007.
Straight distance to declared goal 368.9 km: Alja Vali, Urban Vali (Slovenia); Vosburg Jamestown (South Africa); 7 December 2006
Gain of height 4526 m: Robbie Whittall (UK); Brandvlei (South Africa); 6 January 1993
Other records (distance/speed for out-and-return and triangular course) can be seen on the FAI site
Recently a flight of over 500 km was made by Nevil Hulett in excellent conditions in South Africa; Flight record
Pilot numbers
A multi-national contingent in the air in Bali
Numbers of actively flying pilots can only be a rough estimate, but France is believed to have the largest number, at around 25,000. Next most active flying countries are Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, and Korea, at around 10,000 20,000, followed by Italy, the UK, and Spain with around 5,000 10,000. The USA has around 4,500. (All as of 2004).
See also
Foot-launched Powered Hang Glider
Glider (sailplane)
Comparison between paragliders, hang gliders and sailplanes
Gliding
Hang gliding
Powered paragliding
Torrey Pines Gliderport
Parahawking
v d e
Extreme Sports
Board sports
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Motor sports
Motocross Snocross Rallying Drifting Motorcycle rally
Water sports
Rafting Whitewater kayaking Whitewater canoeing Free diving Scuba_diving
Mountaineering
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Free-fall
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Flying
Paragliding Hang gliding
Others
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References
^ US Pat. 2734706 - Filed October 17, 1952.
^ Walter Neumark, "The Future of Soaring", Flight magazine, 14 May 1954
^ History of Paragliding
^ Pilot Profile: David Barish, the Probable Inventor of the Paraglider
^ a b David Barish, The Forgotten Father of Paragliding
^ Jean-Claude Btemps: i invent le parapente
^ FAI Hang Gliding and Paragliding World Records
^ How many pilots worldwide?
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Paragliding
Paragliding at the Open Directory Project

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Making Money in Panama

Panama Investment Climate and Expatriate Talent

Panama has business friendly laws that attract foreign investment and foreign talent to this tropical paradise with world infrastructure. Panama ranks first in Latin America in foreign investment per capita.

Panama is taking advantage of the previously undeveloped parts of the Panama Canal Zone to promote assembly and export facilities and to upgrade its ports and container shipping infrastructure. These improvements will help especially when the "third lane" canal expansion is done in 2014 and some of the world's biggest ships will be able to pass from ocean to ocean.

As the business climate prospers so do entrepreneurs. A number of online English publications are run by expats and the owner and the editor of the most prominent English language newspaper in Panama City are long term expats.

Doing Business in Panama

It is perfectly legal for an expat to come to Panama, open a business, employ people, make things or provide services, make money, and prosper. It can also be difficult to do business in a foreign location. Panama lays few restrictions on doing business in the country. However, doing business in Panama is a lot easier for a Latino expat from Caracas, Bototá, or Barcelona than an English speaker from Chicago or Saint Louis.

Although business prospers in Panama the pace of life, and business, are different in this climate. A Venezuelan fleeing life under Hugo Chavez may well have better intuition into doing business in Panama City than even the son of Cuban refugee who was raised to do business in the Cuban community of Miami.

An example can be found on the Doing Business website. This business site ranks countries for ease of doing business. Panama ranks 81st out of 181 economies ranked. Panama ranks eighth in doing business across borders. Panama ranks twenty-eighth in getting credit for doing business. Within the Western Hemisphere Panama ranks eleventh overall out of thirty-one countries. Panama ranks seventy-third in dealing with construction permits. This means that there is a lot more paperwork and waiting to get a project going, make changes, and deal with paperwork in general. Panama does especially well in foreign trade related matters because of the Panama Canal and the Colon Free Zone. In other areas a foreigner will probably want a Panamanian partner for a hands on business.

So, if doing business in Panama could be a chore what are the options?

Doing Business Offshore

Not all expats living in Panama do business in Panama. It is perfectly legal in Panama to set up an offshore corporation, do your banking through your corporation, buy goods in Japan, and have them delivered to Australia. The nice thing about having an offshore entity in Panama is that money earned outside of Panama is not taxed in Panama. Because of the asset protection features of vehicles, such as a Panama Private Interest Foundation, foreigners will own an offshore corporation headquartered in Belize through the foundation and bank in Belize. This is living in Panama but it is not making money in Panama.

Investing in Panama

Since capitalism is the order of the day in Panama it is perfectly OK to let someone else deal with social security and workman comp issues while you purchase commercial real estate and have a professional property management company collect rents and handle all details. When the thriving economy in Panama drives the price of your commercial real estate to higher levels you can sell and reinvest in a new, promising location. The new Panama Metro Line 1 will start construction this coming fall. Anyone interested in commercial real estate investment would do well to consult the map provided by the Metro Authority for a hint as to look commercial locations.

Investing in Growth and Recovery in Panama

Every so often in life a good deal comes along. Those who recognize it and catch it in time do very well and those who miss out complain forever. One of those opportunities presents itself right now in Panama. The expensive end of the real estate market in Panama took a hit when the recession, stock market crash, and collapse of real estate markets took a bite out of pocketbooks the world over. Panama was doing well and, in fact, never had a recession with a growth rate that bottomed out at about 3.3 percent.

What happened in Panama was that North Americans and Europeans walked away from down payments on high rise condos. People whose hedge fund investments evaporated before their eyes had the mortgage on their second home in Panama repossessed. All of this happened a couple of years ago and buyers are coming in to pick up the deals. In some parts of the capital city prices on really depressed real estate have gone up as much as a third in the last year.

If you are in Panama to visit and are thinking about investing here or are retired and looking for a little more income a look at someone buying distressed properties might be in order. These distressed properties are brand new and are only distressed in the financial sense. They are in good shape and will sell readily. Over the next three to five years we can expect to see substantial appreciation the recovering high end properties in Panama. Of all the way of making money in Panama this idea may well be the best yet.

There are a number of ways of making money in Panama and while in Panama. The most efficient may well be to pay attention to Panama's economy, the housing and real estate market, and other investment opportunities

involving capital and not running a business in Latin American, unless you grew up in San Jose, Mexico City, or Bogotá.

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When Opportunity Knocks… in Panama

Everyone has a story about, "if I had just." If I had just bought a certain stock is one of them. If I just bought property before the real estate market caught fire in Southern California is another. In the USA the "if I had just" should also include selling before real estate markets collapsed. In the little country of Panama the "if I had just" will occur with a lot of people in three to five years after the real estate market corrects back to its pre-recession levels. What opportunity knocks it is time to act. Now is probably the right time in the little Central American Republic that connects the oceans by way of the Panama Canal and connects North and South America by way of the Isthmus of Panama.

A Little Perspective and a Little History

Numbers and Geography

Panama is the country of just over 3 million people living on the land bridge that connects North and South America. It is covers 75,990 square kilometers and is bordered by Costa Rica to the West and Colombia to the East. To the North lies the Caribbean Sea and to the South lies the Pacific Ocean. The peculiar geographic "twist" of Panama is such that folks walking along the Bay of Panama in Panama City at dawn watch the sun come up over the Pacific Ocean!

History

Today's Panama Government is democratically elected but that was not always the case. Just twenty years ago the military dictator, Manuel Noriega, was deposed by a US military invasion. Since Mr. Noriega has languished in a federal prison in Florida, Panama has flourished into a prosperous little nation without a standing army and more colonels waiting to take over. Panama's Balboa is tied one to one to the US dollar and United States paper currency is used in all transactions as Panama does not print paper money. It just calls the greenback a Balboa.

Since the fall of the dictator Panama has written a number of laws onto the books to give incentives for investment in Panama and to entice retired North Americans to live in this tropical paradise. Both have been successful. The building boom in Panama slowed but did not cease while the rest of the world suffered through the worst recession in three quarters of a century. The country is full of "pensionados" too. North Americans and Europeans have taken advantage of discounts to retirees and the fact that property rights for foreigners are no different than for Panamanians. They have moved and bought in Panama in droves.

Since "Norte Americanos" tend to buy or build more expensive homes than Panamanians the deluge of North Americans not only stimulated the housing market but set it on fire! Condos went up by the Bay of Panama and gorgeous homes were built in El Valle, Cero Azul, Boquete, and in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. Then came the recession.

The recession slowed business in Panama but the GDP only dropped to just over 3% in 2009 and is expected to end 2010 above 5%. What got hit in Panama when the recession hit Canada, the USA, England, Spain, and the rest? The high end of the real estate market got hit! Prices dropped. Folks who had put 10% down on a condo on the 30th floor walked away. That was a year or so ago.

Today and Going Forward

The weather is always great in Panama. Rainy season or dry it is warm. There is no record of a hurricane every striking Panama. The Panama Canal was built where it is because of the fact that the narrowest part of the Isthmus of Panama has never had a serious earthquake. The Panama Pacific is known as the Tuna Coast because of the exceptional fishing. World records are still being set off the Hannibal Bank near Isla Coiba the ferries to Isla Taboga and to the Pearl Islands still pause for photos when they spot whales.

Panama City is a Latin American business and banking center. The night life on Calle Uruguay goes on until dawn as does the actions in casinos all over town. While building projects shut down all over Latin America a 46 story high rise continued ascending in the barrio of Obario on the edge of the banking district, the bancaria.

Panama is one of the most biologically diverse nations on earth. Birders come from all over the world just to walk the Pipeline Road or look for Quetzals at the foot of the 11,000 foot extinct volcano, Volcan Baru.

The combination of a tranquil life style in a tropical paradise with preserved nature all around continues to attract visitors and retirees. The vibrant life in the capital city brings tourists and business from all over Latin America. Panama's growing business community brings investment and personnel from the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Panama's easy residency requirements continue to attract retirees looking for a warm and inexpensive location for their later years. Many of the same folks are attracted by the discrete banking and offshore corporation laws in Panama.

Opportunity Knocking

Panama has gotten head start on much of the rest of the world in its economic recovery. Business is growing, a new Metro is in the works and property values are heading up.

A unique opportunity presents itself in Panama. Inside of a stable economy that did quite well despite a world wide recession there was a major correction in the high end of the real estate market. The North Americans stayed home for a couple of years as did many Europeans and Asians. The folks that were driving prices for the 30th floor condos on the Bay of Panama in the city or the luxurious beach front homes on the Pacific in Coronado weren't buying. Prices dropped, some walked away, losing down payments, and some defaulted on mortgages due to problems at home, not in Panama where the economy stayed afloat.

As of this writing property values are heading back up as fast as 35% a year in some locations in Panama. The knocking sound you hear is opportunity telling you that an investment in a well conceived enterprise buying reposed mortgages in Panama will thrive for the next three to five years!

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Holiday Inn Riyadh-Olaya

The capital of Saudi Arabia and its largest and richest city, Riyadh is the capital of business and finance in the Middle East. Oil no longer dominates the economy in the way it once did, and the financial district of Olaya is rich in conglomerate and corporate companies. Well equipped meeting rooms in Riyadh-Olaya are therefore a much-needed commodity. We at Holiday Inn Riyadh-Olaya offer superb conference facilities in the city centre, within easy reach of King Khaled International Airport, the shopping malls Exhibition Centre and major companies.

Our facilities include a fully-equipped and staffed business centre, seven meeting rooms seating up to 450 delegates, a roof-top pool, fitness centre and accommodation to suit all budgets. These range from standard rooms to executive suites and a luxurious roof-top penthouse. Every type of business service is on offer, including projectors, Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, audio-visual equipment, air-conditioned rooms and a dedicated meetings host service.

Holiday Inn Riyadh-Olaya – the perfect business location

The financial district of Riyadh-Olaya is dominated by the main thoroughfare of King Fahd road. The wealthiest business area in the city, it is lined with major companies and organisations, with glittering skyscrapers, malls and business towers on both sides. A popular haunt of both tourists and business visitors, it links directly to the airport at its northern end. We at Holiday Inn are located just off King Fahd road, making us the ideal choice for business meetings and conferences, especially for foreign delegates.

Although it grew rich on its oil reserves, Riyadh's increasing diversity into other areas of commerce means our conference facilities have to cater for every type of business visitor from across the globe. Riyadh is a staunchly religious city, with over 4,500 mosques. Non-Muslims are expected to abide by the rules, meaning alcohol is not tolerated in the streets. However, inside the hotel you will find things much more relaxed. Although we don't have a bar as such, there is a licensed restaurant, mini-bars and Western luxuries like spa treatments, pool and a gym - all for mixed use.

Out and about in Riyadh-Olaya

Many people say King Fahd road is the most beautiful in Saudi Arabia on account of its fabulous high-rise architecture, as there are few heritage buildings left in the city today. The Kingdom Centre is the tallest building in Saudi Arabia and houses the second-highest mosque in the world. There is also the beautifully designed Al Faisaliyah Centre, the first skyscraper to be erected in Saudi Arabia and said to be based on the design of a ballpoint pen. Other landmarks include the Al Anoud Tower and the Ministry of Interior building.

If your delegates prefer things a little less glittery and high-rise, the Al-Dira district has been rebuilt in a style reminiscent of the traditional mud-brick buildings of old Nejd. Along with the al-Masmak fort and King Abdulaziz's palace, it makes an interesting cultural excursion.

For superbly equipped meeting rooms in Riyadh-Olaya, we at Holiday Inn have everything you need, with guest rooms and business facilities that cover every need from informal break-out sessions to international business conferences.

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Everything You Should Know Before You Do Email marketing

email marketing is an effective way to introduce your company's new offering to your potential buyers. Buying an email lists for email marketing is the fast and easy way to plan and execute your marketing campaign. Email list vendors can help you to get a list of businesses who have bought products or services similar to yours.

Before you buy email lists, choosing an email list company is very much important. A good email lists vendor can help you out to choose the best suitable list for your email campaign. Marketers should do a thorough analysis of the email lists before purchasing it. Selecting your target audience based on different parameters like their buying history, budget, demographic area etc. plays an important role in selecting the list.

All the email lists are not opt-in (permission based), opt-in email lists are very important in your marketing campaign's success. If you roll out email campaigns without permission, it can not only spoil your business's reputaion but also can invite some leagal issues. So please make sure your email list is an opt-in list. Definitely quality email lists will bring in high ROI.

Marketers should ask the list vendor about the source of the data, deliverability guarantee and frequency of the list updation. Once you select a target martket, suggest the vendor to provide the email list based on frequency, budget and recency of their purchase of the products/services you offer.

Keep all these things in mind before you make a decision to buy an email list. It's worth taking some precious time anlysing the list and list vendor. If you follow this, your email marketing campaign can yield amazing results and high ROI( return on investment).

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Gas Leak Detectors save lives and cut costs

There are a large variety of devices to choose from and typically they are designed either as panels or sensors. Purchase a gas leak detector for your business and enjoy a device that easily meets your businesses specific leak detection needs. A good sensor can operate as two devices in one.

A sensor can remain as a singular unit that detects a large variety of toxic or poisonous gases; it can also monitor gases from any part of your business. Use your sensor as the detection hub of your company - hundreds of devices can be linked together and operated from a panel. Your mechanical engineer will be able to assist you in selecting the optimum solution. It's vital to get the right technical advice as gas detection is a serious business.

These sensors are universally compatible with most voltages - functioning with RS-485, 4-20mA, 0-10V and 0-5V (most sensors are unfortunately limited to two relays). Certain outputs can be in operation at the exact same time, and in any voltage combination. Sensors can be specified for specific gas leak detection and certain devices can effortlessly integrate infrared gas sensing technologies. This includes semiconductor gas detection solutions, as well as electrochemical and catalytic sensors Refrigerant gas leak detectors are specifically designed to detect the deadliest of gases; this includes but is not limited to ammonia, halocarbons, hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide.

As far as combustible gas detection goes, your device can be set to detect VOC (volatile organic compounds) as well as a variety of toxic gases: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, acetone, benzene, ethanol. Whatever gas you are deploying, there should be a detection system to effectively detect it for you. For example, you can source a gas leak sensor to detect other gases such as butane, hydrogen, propane, methane and liquefied petroleum (LPG). The cost is far less prohibitive then you might have thought and most dectors are simple to install. The sensor board itself only requires a new form of device calibration whenever a brand-new gas is to be detected.

On a day to day basis, new innovations and technologies are being deployed by the gas leak sensor companies - this translates to better units for your business. Being able to quickly and accurately pinpoint a possible flammable gas leak is essential. Anyone who is either the owner or operator of a business is responsible for both collogues and property safety, as well as the need to comply with strict gas detection regulations.

A gas sensing solution that can effectively monitor dangerously high concentrations of flammable gas is an essential in every business where gas is in use. Invest in the best gas sensing equipment if you wish to address issues such as the need to continuously and painstakingly monitor the liner production of your companies' gas; for those who wish to further extend the detection capabilities of their current monitoring systems; and for those who need to control a massive installation that can include multiple units connected to one monitoring system. Expect only the best from your gas leak detector.

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Lowered export tax rebate rate adjustment strategy urgently fan industry

Fans since June 2007 the export tax rebate rate from 13% down to 9%, the United States and overseas areas of environmental electrical Asia and Africa marketing manager Li Songmao almost no day with overseas trading partners not to negotiate. "Southeast Asia every year about 300 million order, the dealer yesterday, there was still negotiating with the hope shared by the two sides down four percentage points, but the other side does not always make any concessions." Lisong Mao's voice in the slightly with his fatigue. "I am afraid that was left to us to bear this loss."

Down from the state announced a variety of goods including electric fans, including after the export tax rebate rate, and Li Songmao facing the same situation, many enterprises in export profits to be substantially reduced, and even some enterprises have negative profits.

At the same time, there are indications that other home appliance companies will face sooner or later reduced rate of export tax rebate policy changes, how to adjust the product mix, profit margins of export products, not just the problems faced by fans enterprises should also be aroused the attention of other household electrical appliance enterprises.

The export of low value-added products Memorial

As to reduce trade surplus, an important means of international payments balance, the export tax rebate rate down is a common problem facing the industry. Chinese home appliance branch CCCME said the Secretary-General on the rule Pu, originally there are many home appliances are in the export tax rebate rate adjustment program, but after many discussions by the authorities finally retained only the larger export , while exports lower profit fan. According to Customs statistics, during the first half of 2007, fans of the total exports of about 99 million units, is the largest home appliance industry exports products. However, the export of such a large scale in export value was only 1.026 billion U.S. dollars, the average export unit price to each fans 10.36 U.S. dollars. Pu in the rule that products with low added value is the fans down the first directory to include one of the main. At the same time in the governance of Pu said: "The reduction in export tax rebate rate on the fan pattern of total exports mainly reflected a sharp decline in export growth, while the overall export volume will continue to rise in the coming years."

The Ministry of Finance adjusted the 2831 total, including steel, textiles and chemical products industry, the export tax rebate rate. Although the appliance industry only fans "misfortune", but the people who pointed out that China's export of large home appliances, is an important reason caused the trade surplus, including refrigerators, air conditioners, television sets, including many types of household electrical appliances, sooner or later will face the export tax rebate rate down situation.

In governance Pu pointed out that some SMEs may be unable to afford to tax reduction in the loss of profits, large companies can raise prices or to actively adjust the product structure, the export of high value-added products to shift the focus from short term policy for dealing with the export tax rebate rate in the long run is to help improve business competitiveness in overseas markets. Concerned also that the reduction in exports after preferential margins, some lack of competitiveness of small enterprises will be eliminated, but also help to improve the brand concentration of various industries, promoting industrial development pattern of maturation.

Fans, however, enterprises also have their own reasons that are hard, Lisong Mao that the current global fan industry is trying to lower costs, in order to be more price advantage. Some of his resignation, said: "Chinese fan company raised prices, and can not influence the global market, dealers will be forced to choose cheaper supplier."

Fan export business suffered heavy losses

During the interview, most of the fans enterprises that had in recent years, appreciation of the RMB to the damages caused by export enterprises have been very, rising raw material costs has increased the burden on enterprises, the tax rebate rate cut at this time range, no doubt is worse. The "tax rebate rate down suddenly," "down range is too large", "slash export profits," almost all the fans of concentration of complaints.

Lisong Mao said: "The export tax rebate rate down very suddenly, companies did not get the message in advance

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Canadian Firearms Program Assignment Help & Custom Essay Help

Canadian Firearms Program Assignment Help & Custom Essay Help

The Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) was an ambitious multi- jurisdictional program started

in 1995 to minimize the various acts of violence using firearms in Canada resulting in loss of life and property. The aim of the program was to mandatorily issue licenses and register all the

firearms and related accessories before a prescribed date to minimize firearms related crime and

suicides and assignment help. A national database was to be built based on the collected data which could trace the whereabouts about the firearm and their possessor for essay help and custom essays. The program was to be implemented in the

following three stages:

• Licensing phase: Focus on licensing of all firearms owners as of January 1, 2001.

• Registration phase: Focus on registration of all firearms as of January 1, 2003.

• Ongoing operations phase: focus shifted from licensing and registration to solidifying

management practices essay help, risk management assignment help , client services and quality assurance.

When the concerned bill received Senate's consent in 1995, the estimated cost of the program

was pegged at $ 119 million to be offset to the tune of $ 117 million by the registration fees

resulting in a cost of $ 2 million for the taxpayers. However till 2005, the program had cost

nearly $ 1 billion with only S140 million as the registration fee. Such a immense cost overrun

placed the whole program assignment help under the scanner and a thorough review of the program was the result (Department of Justice Canada, 2003).

Issues with CFP

Is the CFP actually required? Does it actually help in bringing the crime rate down? As per

criminologist Neil Boyd, researchers have used various types of statistical analysis to reach the

conclusion that gun control helps in reducing gun related homicides and suicides. According

to the Government of Canada's Firearms Centre website, as on September 30, 2005, around

90 % of the firearms had been registered in the Canadian Firearms Information System (CFIS).

However, there is a section of people who believe that those who actually conduct crimes on

regular basis would not get their firearm registered on a voluntary basis. They also believe that

CFP has not done anything significant to control the crime but has given way to a thriving black

Marketing assignment help and essay help for illegal firearms trading and smuggling.

Besides that there were a lot of significant implementation issues which can be summarized as

shown below:

Ø Poor program delivery structure : One of the biggest flaws was the absence of a full time

CEO which was an absolute must keeping in mind the complex nature of the task. Since

there were multiple parties involved, hence vested interests of various stakeholders led to

unnecessary delays and cost overruns. A ‘split path' management structure was adopted

with a ‘consensus approach' to project management. Under such circumstances, the decision

making process became complex and time consuming with the need to accommodate various

diverging views and opinions of the various decision making bodies involved. Due to high

amount of time consumed in framing rules and regulations, less amount of time was made

available for putting the framework into operation. Ultimately a full time CEO was put in

place and operations assignment help, were also simplified (Department of Justice Canada, 2003).

Ø Opposition to the CFP: A majority of the firearms owners initially were apprehensive of

the very concept of CFP since it involved fee payment for registration along with other

operational issues like form filling and sharing personal information. Hence a lot of time,

manpower and advertisement assignment help had to be devoted to address the people and explain them the

need of CFP (Department of Justice Canada, 2003).

Ø Non participation of several jurisdictions: There were several jurisdictions which decided

not to implement the CFP or to implement it in limited ways. This resulted in deployment

of manpower and financial and dissertations resources to make the necessary infrastructure available in such jurisdictions which resulted in cost overruns. Perhaps it could have been better to take inputs

from various jurisdictions and may be address their respective concerns before getting the

bill passed and getting the required funds sanctioned (Department of Justice Canada, 2003).

Ø Complex IT system: Since the old database was integrated into the new system, it gave

rise to a lot of operational assignment help hassles since different databases used different systems of

recording data. Hence the result was a complex IT system which required lot of training to

manpower and time and cost overruns. An operational problem encountered was relating

to the differences in name storage which increased the number of sensitive cases leading to

unnecessary time delays (Department of Justice Canada, 2003).

Ø Lack of communication: There were multiple communication gaps during the

implementation of the CFP program. There was clear communication gap between the

various internal groups/departments of the CFC resulting in poor coordination. Initially

keeping in mind the complexity of the task at hand, a lot of departments were created which

normally worked in isolation and the CFC started working as a coherent unit only after a full

time CEO was appointed. There was lack of smooth coordination between the federal and the

provisional governments due to differences in opinion regarding the utility of the CFP. This

resulted in time delays and cost overruns (Department of Justice Canada, 2003).

Ø Confusion amongst users resulting in high rates of user errors: The complex nature of the

program along with frequent changes at the initial stages created confusion regarding fees,

registration process including form filling. The initial license application forms were too long

and confusing which resulted in high error rates and hence increased the processing time.

Sometimes there was lack of standardization of the processes followed at various processing

sites across the country which also contributed to the confusion (Department of Justice

Canada, 2003).

Ø Licensing and registration fees: There is a general observation that levying of the licensing

and registration fees was an impediment in achieving higher compliance rate. The waiver

or reduction of fees would result in higher compliance rates being observed. The firearm

possessors also feared the future costs associated in renewing their licenses might escalate

which acted as a deterrent for registration (Department of Justice Canada, 2003).

The various steps that could have been taken for making CFP more successful are as follows:

1. A full time CEO should have present from the very beginning assignment help and university online assignment help

2. The budget of the program should have been finalized taking the opinion and

participation of the jurisdictions in mind.

3. Significant public assignment help and custom essay help opinion should have been gathered and concerns addressed.

4. The IT system should have been handled better with better training and allocation of

resources.

5. A pilot should have been run to identify the possible glitches.

6. Implementation given to a single body with greater emphasis on internal and external

Communication assignments

7. Better budget allocation and planning assignment help

Since money to the extent of $ 2 billion has already been spent on the program, scrapping the

program is not a good idea. Hence immediate steps should be taken to make the CFP more

effective and achieve higher compliance rates.

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