Friday, August 31, 2012

World Banking Concept / Commentary: "Asian Pacific Rim Bank" (APRB)

Hello All,

Consider this entry a Johnny Come Lately or late to the party since much of this concept is already occurring from the last "BRICS" (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit was exploring a development bank to call their own. For its part the American World Bank has appointed its 12th President of Dr. Jim Yong Kim as of this past July 1st 2012. An Asian-American with a South Korean heritage to appease the BRICS demanding more accountability in global representation. The past 11 Presidents to the World Bank have all been white Caucasian males since its inception after WWII.

The IMF (International Monetary Fund) doesn't fare much better with its all past 10 Managing Directors being European men. At least until the appointment last year of the 1st Managing Director being the first European Caucasian woman as in Lady Christine LaGarde the former Minister of Finance in France. Christine LaGarde, did appoint as Deputy Managing Director a Mr. Zhu Min formerly the deputy governor of the Chinese Central Bank. Although the IMF purports of having 188 national state members all have been European Managing Directors. Talk about a continental nepotism as in a conflict of interest for such a prestigious global lending banking institution.

Article from "The Economic Times" dated March 7th 2012:

BRICS to explore setting up development bank

Article from "The New York Times" dated April 19th 2012:

BRICS Agitate for a Seat at the Table

Both of the articles above will give you the reader a glimpse as to this growing debate and fundamental initiative stemming from the predominant Asian's. Do take note of the very last paragraph from "The New York Times" article. Where a Mr. Xiang predicts roughly that the next global reserve currency will be the Chinese Renminbi or otherwise known as the Yuan in 20 years time. This coincides with my own sentiments on this very topic which I posted on this blog site on July 18th 2012.

Economic Analysis: China To Replace America As The Reserve Currency In 20 Years Time

As the IMF and the World Bank attempt to appease the Chinese rising power in the realm of economic clout. It is in my opinion "Too Little Too Late" for the burgeoning global banking bureaucracies to change or adapt quickly enough to satisfy the BRIC nations. Their loss becomes the blessing to the Asian National States if not to a lesser extent Brazil and South Africa.

My conceptualization below will strictly focus on the Asian Pacific Rim Nations and not the traditional BRICS. Both South America for the Brazilians and the continent of Africa for the South Africans may be united as emerging markets. However as a global regional bloc they are lacking in strength in regards to Chinese, Russian, and Indian economic Asian clout. The favor tips in the balance of Asia economically, politically, and historically in my view as the general consensus. 

Instead of a BRICS developmental bank I'll coin my concept with the place holder name of the "Asian Pacific Rim Bank" (APRB). As the name indicates the Chinese will be the ones to do the heavy lifting to get this enterprise off the ground. So in the beginning the Chinese State will garner greater influence if not a favorable bias for its own agenda. Not unlike the World Bank that was founded by the United States of America. Founding member Nation States from the Asian Pacific Rim should be developing or developed countries such as: Russia, Singapore, Pakistan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, etc.... Other more impoverished Asian Pacific Rim nations would be omitted such as Burma (Myanmar), Bangladesh, and North Korea for the obvious reasons of their 3rd world status. Due to their more higher need than to place capital outlay investments in order to launch such as an Asian developmental regional bloc banking institution.

Japan, would be offered a founding member status from the Chinese State. In order to provide at least economically speaking an extended olive branch of peace and mutual benefit. Taiwan, would be excluded due to the controversial lost province of its disputed national status. Hopefully in time the Chinese and Taiwanese come to some sort of understanding similar as to how the city of "Hong Kong" returned to the Chinese national fold.

China, for its part won't necessarily improve its human civil rights in the decades to come in this 21st century. This is not to say the Chinese Nation will not improve dramatically the economic consumer rights for its citizenry. That will gain a greater share of wealth and equity for the Chinese overall economic clout by its growing middle class. So it doesn't come as a surprise that Asian national states want to be properly represented culturally and have their own societal needs met head on. The "Asian Pacific Rim Bank" will follow the traditional missions of the World Bank and the IMF to a greater extent. Yet it may still have participation of the other two global banking institutions, but also have its proverbial cake and eat it too.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Tablet Computer Concept: "Clam Shell Tablet Computer"

Hello All,

As I write this conceptual entry today Sunday August 26th in regards to the breaking news from two days ago on Friday August 24th. Whereby "Samsung Electronics Co." currently owes "Apple Inc." $1.05 Billion U.S. dollars for its patent infringements for the smartphone and tablet devices. This was the recent ruling from a San Jose California court here in the States that Apple filed against Samsung.

Here's an article dated August 24th 2012 from The Wall Street Journal news site:

"Samsung Loses Strategic Gamble in U.S."

My concept today evolves the heavy Apple design of the iPad tablet into a variant form. In my opinion the evolution of the iPad came from its predecessor of the Mac Book laptop computer. Which the Mac Book is a Macintosh version of the PC laptop or notebook computer. Typically a brand new generation of an iPad sells for a base rate of $500 U.S. per unit here in the States. Where the iPad global phenomena is only a little over 2 years old. Before the iPad put the tablet computer on the map. There was the generic PC clone of the "Web Book" that retailed for around $200-$300 U.S. per unit.

My concept of the "Clam Shell Tablet" or if Apple Inc. were to adopt it I would call their futuristic version the "iPad Plus". Basically a "Clam Shell Tablet" design that evolves the singular tablet into a double tablet units joined at the hip like a regular notebook / laptop computer. Where the tablet merged the laptop / notebook keyboard / mouse into one overall computer screen. The "Clam Shell Tablet" would resurrect the clam shell design by linking two tablets screens together. For a greater range of computer screen real estate to be utilized. Whilst keeping all the bells and whistles of a current tablet computer like the iPad. Where today's iPad is the vanilla version, my clam shell design would be the double dutch chocolate flavor to the world for now at least. That the dual tablets would be configured in one being a master to the second slave unit joined together in under the hood circuitry.

A potential marketing publicity campaign here in the States if not in Europe for the "Clam Shell Tablet" design. Is "Moses" on the "Mount Sinai" holding the 2 tablets etched by "God" himself. In this case its a Moses holding a clam shell tablet computer depicting the two full screens to the camera. With a spoof stating where Moses destroyed the 2nd tablet he comes down from the Mount with one whole product name (ie a clam shell tablet).

Samsung Electronics Co. a division of the overall Samsung Group in South Korea had a chance to truly evolve the tactile design if not the technology of the tablet computer. According to the "Wall Street Journal" article I cited above. Samsung rejected an Apple licensing royalty deal of $24 U.S. per unit back into 2010. The leadership at Samsung is now biting the proverbial bullet for its gamble with patent infringements against Apple Inc.

I'm an amateur Futurist / Innovator with a sense of vision that can offer a simplistic clam shell design to the tablet computer.  Samsung Electronics Co., should've taken a better gamble by allowing their designers and computer engineers do what they do best. That being offering tried and true consumer products that differentiate it from its competitors. Next time follow the Spirit of Samsung and not entirely the politics of putting one over on your rival competitor by being a plain copycat. Apple Inc., computer designers if your paying attention I'll just say a hearty hello in homage to a great tablet computer offering so far.
 

Friday, August 24, 2012

Jewels of Truth Statements & Favorite Quotes of The Month

Hello All,

I hope the Summer heat isn't to the point that its unbearable. If so stay well hydrated and keep some handy protective clothing as in hats and sunglasses nearby. Nonetheless enjoy yourselves while this season lasts for the time it does before Autumn sets in a month or two away. 

It's that time of the month again where I share another trio of my original works from the "Jewels of Truth" series. On spiritual wisdom whereby this weeks topics will be on: Spirit, Invention, and Moderation. These three were originally written back in late August 2009 and are now seeing the light of day.


Without a further adieu enjoy the spiritual wisdom statements below.


975) The spiritual kingdom as an order of a living reality is the form that the "Holy Spirit" binds to in its fullest essence. Much of our own mortality as a grand experience of a lifetime is meant to be aware of our own souls worth. Those that are aware have been afforded a great gift and a tremendous opportunity to conduct their lives with meaning and a responsibility to each other. The dimensions of the "Holy Spirit" reach deep within the very fiber of our souls. That no sort of mortality can even muster sub-atomically at the rate of our sonic forms. The "Great Spirit" surrounds us with care when our intentions are in accord with its own life giving will. Otherwise we can sink as a soul into a depressing realm of shadow and self-loathing destruction. Taking not merely ourselves into the pit, but our loved ones as well.

We need to maintain a well rounded focus as souls of the living "Holy Light" of God(dess). Not just to be pure beings of grace, but to realize the God given potential in our own personal midst. As Christ so famously stated, "Go Love one another as God the Father has loved you". This is our Divine inheritance now and forever into eternity. This is the power of being gods as stated in the New Testament in the book of "John" verse 10:34. Be like God the Father in how he adores his own creations in the plethora of life. Not to be a do gooder alone, but to live the essence of our divinity in a very real fashion. Amen.  ---Ivan Pozo-Illas / Atrayo.


976) The mother of all invention is to do common acts in an uncommon manner. That is to truly live by the fruit of one's intelligent labor of any person who invents. Well thought out utilization's that bring a sense of a real practicality, functionality, and a Imaginative response to life itself. These are but a few of the tenets of what it means to becoming an inventor of items of: purpose, processes, and modes of operation.

The eye of the beholder is keen with an inventor filled with a sense of wondrous opportunity. To build things that offer value to the many, and not just to one person. An artist by another name known as an engineer or an architect is what an inventor fulfills by their own vocation in life. A renaissance man or woman in purpose of deed is the reflection of a person filled with a myriad of inventions. That are noteworthy to a society at large in need of them for the ordinary to the extraordinary array of activities that may be sourced from them. An inventor is the lighting bolt to Zeus right hand of creation. Amen.  ---Ivan Pozo-Illas / Atrayo.


977)  For the sake of harmony and simplicity, just live a life in moderation. With some of the good and little to none of the bad in life. The moderate posture is the closest a mortal being can stand next to the sublime and soak in the joys and wonders of life. Such is not the case of those who horde to the point of a gluttonous sickness. Nor to those that surrender so much of their own Inner light. That they break their own backs in the process of enabling someone else.

An elegant life is a life worth living with all its simple wonders in practice and in purpose. Having the distinction to know this difference will yield unto you the greatest of riches known to any saint. Between balance and foolishness there lays a gulf of joy and travesty. It is for the wise at heart to ferret out the truth in a compassionate manner and live by it at nearly any cost imaginable. Be still to live such a holy truth gently not forcing it upon yourself or another without one's own free will in acceptance and permission. Be firm with the tenets of virtue for they will lead you home back to God(dess) in moderation always. Amen.  ---Ivan Pozo-Illas / Atrayo.

-------------------------------------

Without forgiveness Love would not be perfect! --- Carol Harquail.

What you can become depends upon what you can overcome. ---Anthony Douglas Williams. "Inside the Divine Pattern"

Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records. ---William Arthur Ward.

A gentleman is one who puts more into the world than he takes out. ---George Bernard Shaw.

Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it. ---Confucius.

Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. ---Psalm 119:18

Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself. ---William Faulkner.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Revenue Concept: "Alternative Facebook Revenue Streams"

Hello All,

Today I wanted to take this concept into a particular recent occurrence in the world of business finance. At least in how it relates in particular to the company of "Facebook" which had a rocky IPO launch. In many ways I'm an outsider peering into the realm of the social media giant itself. Aside from this truth I just wanted to contribute in creative thought to the struggle facing Facebook currently. In how to garner differential revenue streams outside of the classic two dimensional passive advertising clicks from users.

Below is my stab at Facebook's dilemma in how to address its fundamental pioneering model of social media. As to how a proven platform creates capital sources of income for itself in the long term. If I'm esteemed enough to get any official attention from the executives of Facebook or Mr. Mark Zuckerberg himself. Than keep in mind I try to balance these three key features for the future of Facebook. With a sense of social awareness in regards to privacy concerns and consented opt-in participation from the common user.

First, to create a Demographic Consumer Behavior Agency In-House unless it has already done so in a certain regard. Many in the consumer behavior tracking industry may balk that Facebook would enter into their domain. But, this is a given due to the sheer number of global users to Facebook nearing 1 billion members. At first this proposed internal consumer behavior tracking agency is for its own use in generating income for the company from its member base. If proven worthy it can scare the industry at large and muscle into the domain of other consumer tracking sentiment behavior agencies.

What this internal agency will do is act as a gate keeper to its commercial clients many of whom have Facebook fan pages. Taking aggregate consumer behavior metrics from such opted in corners of the corporate fan pages. That scales upwards the simplistic "Likes" system already in place. Used by a common metric of a data set by industry watchers of any of a slew of commercial brands in the marketplace. For example Facebook for its part will create what I'm coining as a "Facebook Alert System" for its commercial clients. This will be better explained in my second point of this broad conceptualization for Facebook's unique revenue streams to come into form.

There is also the case of the Internet TV phenomena taking us here in the States by storm. Many users are "Cutting the Cord" as it has been referred by others on the Internet. Basically mobile and other computer devices be they PC's or Notebooks are replacing the household television. Causing the cable and satellite provider companies to catch up to the consumer where they're congregating on the Internet. If Facebook for its part can create a social media platform demand to make Tv viewers world wide. To consider its site as a Meta Hub Portal for catching all Internet Tv channels and broadcasters as a jumping off point. A nexus of consumers of all ages will consider Facebook as the "TV Guide" of the Internet Age.

For its part Facebook does not need to become a broadcaster itself. Just a portal jumping board to all known and little known venues of Internet television. Whereby the aforementioned Facebook internal demographic consumer behavior sentiment agency will track all these incoming data sets. To later utilize it for its own purposes and/or repackage the data to become a social media "Neilsen" type agency all its own.

Second, to create what I term as the "Facebook Alert System" for its commercial fan page clients. As an evolution beyond the simplistic "Like" phenomena taking the Internet by storm. To capitalize on this trend to give Industry watchers something to ponder for themselves. The "Facebook Alert System" is a time sensitive opportunity afforded to opt-in consumers to a commercial clients fan page. Where based on hours and not the quantity of users to pull on the promotional offer. Facebook's Internal consumer behavior agency will track the metrics generated on behalf of its commercial clients for a fee.

The "Facebook Alert System" will have two tiers one being what I call as "Vanilla" and the other as "Premium" candidates. All new comers that consent to the opt-in alert system will supply the common fare consumer personal information. Beyond that comes the activity usage of the alert system itself like a flow chart come to life. Various sorts of Vanilla candidate offers will be made available on a time sensitive basis. Depending on the commercial client that will make these unique offers through their corporate branded fan page. Of which Facebook will provide the accounting and technical expertise in running such a mechanism itself. Offers will range from the tried and true: rebates (with proof of purchase), coupons (mobile use or print out), free samples, free trial periods, customer loyalty program enrollments, surveys tied to a raffle, etc...

That above is the Vanilla candidate entry level list for consumers that opt-in outside the privacy concerns for the most part in origin. For each offer that a Facebook user claims similar to the generic advertising click. Facebook gets paid a tiny fee via the alert system that it administers for its commercial clients. Now if that very same consumer Facebook user converts that promotional offer into an actual proven trackable sale. Facebook gets paid a higher fee yet still from its commercial client. This is where the Premium candidate list of consumer users is generated from sales that graduate the consumer to this tier. Those proven repeat consumer offers that themselves generate into somewhat reliable sales from its commercial client. Will offer upgraded incentives in value to the consumer from what was offered in the Vanilla candidate consumer list. Besides these secondary offers will be made in kind to the opt-in corporate fan page user. Exclusive sweepstakes / contests just for this pool of Premium list users. Meaning a higher chance for the user to potentially win a prize of some sort at any given time. Free branded merchandising offers tied to a confirmed sale, Extra supplemental points aside from the standard loyalty reward program from a commercial client (ie Airlines) on confirmed purchases. Extended free trial periods beyond those commonly provided via the Vanilla candidate pool of consumers. For every offer claimed by a Premium candidate consumer Facebook again gets paid a fee, perhaps higher than the Vanilla list. Since these are high quality consumer leads that have proven their purchasing behavior to the commercial client and Facebook that tracked the metrics themselves. Again for a converted sale from such a claimed Premium offer Facebook gets paid a higher fee yet still.

Third, capitalizing on what "Zynga" provided to Facebook making them a gamers platform all their own as an unintended consequence to Facebook's surprise. Facebook will take a page from "Zynga", perhaps even contracting them to fulfill a portion of this 3rd feature for Facebook itself. Converting a portion of a commercial clients fan page into an Interactive Gamification Zone. Where corporate branded games similar or vastly different from what Zynga has offered in the past. Is developed for its commercial clients which in turn Facebook collects a service fee for offering such a mechanism to its consumers. Consider it in many ways a subscription fee for utilizing such a gaming zone service branded to the commercial clients needs and wants.

Now to piggyback onto what the "Facebook Alert System" provided with its Vanilla and Premium candidate offers consumer list. This Interactive Gamification Zone will introduce games that after certain objectives are reached in game play. The consumer Facebook user will receive faux currency or tokens, perhaps the Facebook currency that is already in place for the games hosted on its site. If not the Facebook currency than a custom corporate branded faux currency for game play purposes. These rewards collected by the Facebook consumer user that has opt-In to a commercial clients fan page. Since that's the only manner in order to gain access to these hopefully quality games of all types. Since a cheesy game will garner shitty results for its commercial clients.

Here again comes Facebook's internal consumer sentiment behavior tracking agency to repackage data sets for its commercial clients. For either a fee or as part of the service contract for this feature of the Interactive Gamification Zone. Facebook users collecting these tokens or faux currency will redeem them for consumer offers provided by the commercial client. Again following the similar pattern of the "Facebook Alert System" feature set. For every offer a consumer redeems from their personal pool of tokens Facebook collects a fee from its corporate client. Mimicking the traditional getting paid for clicks per advertisement seen. If that consumer offer claimed from within its commercial clients fan page game is redeemed into a trackable converted sale. Than again Facebook gets paid a higher fee for the conversion of the offer into a bonafide sale.

These are very unique endeavors I can envision that Facebook can utilize for its own sake in regards to revenue streams for its capital income outlays. For my part consider this my own humble manner in giving my gratitude to Facebook for its social media platform. That has had a positive impact in my life. I may be naive in placing this directly on Facebook's lap without any sort of recompense. Well as the story goes I do this in all sincerity and not in hubris as what goes around comes around.

Be well Facebook for all our benefit.

Monday, August 06, 2012

Jewels of Truth Statement: "On Conflict Resolution"

Hello Readers,

Today I wanted to share with you another more recent "Jewels of Truth" statement as "Food for Thought" for your own personal consumption. Consider this statement in the series numbered at #1314 written just yesterday August 5th 2012. On a simple 4 step process to defuse conflict where ever it may erupt between people of a sound reasonable mind. May you find the statement reading below intriguing if not practical for your own common needs.


1314) For those peace makers in this often unfair world of our own making. I offer up a simple four step strategy to end conflict through dialogue seeking an amicable resolution. This is of course assuming the one or more parties are earnest for a sense of a justified closure from their shared troubles. Except for those that rather seek to wreak havoc for its own sake not caring for the consequences they are showering down for all involved. They are the antithesis to peace by means of a reasonable sound form of a compromised settlement. They are the spoilers without regard to merit or just cause.

First, when two or more persons or groups of persons seek to redress their grievances. Find a common cause to unify them all as reasonable in their posturing. Second, through continued discourse reveal to all involved how each person or party has a just cause. Meaning how each person or group is holding a facet to the truth in seeking a satisfactory end to any form of disagreement. Knowing the topic on hand is paramount through rudimentary forms of researching topics or backgrounds of the interested parties in question. Third, reveal to all involved their own faulty positions with a civil respectful tone of dialogue. By chopping down the degrees with the eye of a sage how and why such an error in judgment is unsound to maintain. Fourth, now finally bring the culmination of all that has been stated in prior discourses to a close. Finding a solutions based compromise that can be equally or as near to equally shared by all involved in acceptance. This is when the reputation or character of the persons or groups will be tested as either trustworthy or as unreliable.

Where an unbiased person puts their own motivations to the background. So as not to influence an outcome that is unfair for those seeking to end a disagreement or other forms of hostility. As with any person of a sound mind there will be times that negotiations will break down. Where those involved will cause petty bickering by rehashing past sour histories. This is where an experienced diplomatic person will need to moderate accordingly so as to separate the past from what is at hand in the present moment. Whenever talks get heated without an end in sight a simple rule of thumb is to call for a recess or a "Time Out". Cooler heads do prevail than hot headed irrational ones that will only cause more harm than a justified resolution. For grievances are valid when people are mistreated by circumstances they have befallen into by the misdeeds of others. Peace is an expensive commodity for any noble creature of the soul. For it is way better than the alternative of a misguided end to an outlet of misfortune that brings unwelcome misery to all concerned.