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Monday, July 2, 2012

On Magic Mike, Objectification, and Expressions of Sexuality

This is part of my series on the gender of the 2012 big budget blockbusters. Check out the others: The Hunger GamesPrometheus, MIB3, The AvengersBraveSnow White and the Huntsman, Ted and Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.

When I started this summer blockbuster series, I remember thinking, "Will I write about Magic Mike? Is it a blockbuster?" I certainly planned on seeing it, but I thought it looked cheesy and silly and I didn't really think it would be a big deal or have a crowd. Um yeah. I was so, so wrong.

As I wrote over at my Tumblr "Magic Mike is selling out DAYS IN ADVANCE. It sold out for Friday night by Wednesday afternoon. Plus, Tuesday, it was the first free screening that I’ve been turned away from in months!" Clearly something was happening, and as I could see from my own attendance at the film and my friends' Facebook posts, it made for mass "girls night out" this weekend. Dozens of women I know went with their friends in droves to see this thing.

In that vein, I figured I'd make this a friend affair. I'm going to conduct a discussion with two of my friends, Brittany and Maria, who I saw the film with, about our various reactions to Magic Mike

A: Hi friends, thanks for talking with me. Let's go ahead and jump right in. Tell me your general reactions to the film and your feelings about the gender situation. What stood out to you?

Brittany: If I had to sum up Magic Mike, I would call it a sad stripper movie. I have to admit, I feel a bit conflicted about the film. I enjoyed how campy it was, and how during the dance scenes, it was evident that the characters didn't take themselves too seriously. That being said, I do understand the criticisms that it's a problematic representation of men, and that it glorifies the Adonis body and serves to objectify males.

Maria: It's interesting, because the film is clearly marketed to and made successful by women, but the actual film is almost entirely male-oriented. While there is a female love interest, the main characters are male, the relationships explored in most depth are male, and it was written and directed by males. Aside from the fact that women are the ones going crazy over the bodies of these men, this is a movie entirely geared toward male desires. Even the stripping seemed to be less about what women wanted and more about what men would like to be.

A: Truthfully, I didn't expect much from the film. But I guess my biggest take away is similar to Maria' just felt like a pretty standard reinforcement of the masculine norm. I mean, it even felt like female nudity was thrown in for tha dudes.

Maria: There was more female nudity than male nudity! For a movie about male strippers, there was a dearth of male genitalia.

A: Yeah, I kept getting caught up on just how phallocentric it was. Over and over it came back to shows of masculinity from having a big penis/thrusting a penis/"rocking a cock," etc.

Brittany: That is a realistic representation of what a male strip club is like though. It is essentially just a lot of dry humping and thrusting to Usher.

A: And as for authentic expressions of sexuality, the strippers might have simulated oral sex on women in the club, but when we see Adam (Alex Pettyfer) actually hooking up with a girl at the beginning of the movie, the first thing she does is go down on him. I think it was allll about feeling so big and powerful and desired as a man.

Maria: I think the love interest as a character (Cody Horn) was telling, because although this is supposed to be about how women can become excited about men stripping, none of the women that actually enjoyed that were the main characters' love interest. And even the woman Mike (Channing Tatum) was interested in who was sexually adventurous is portrayed as an adulteruss and a heart breaker (Olivia Munn). In the end, the only woman worthy of his love is the one who rejects his whole lifestyle in the first place.

A: Truth--and he learned how "empty" his lifestyle was.

Maria: Exactly- it's like a double edged sword. Women, in order to be empowered, you have to enjoy expressing your sexual desires by fondling naked men- but once you do so, they're not going to be interested in dating someone as vapid as you.

A: I think that's pretty similar to the cultural narrative around female strippers--they're supposed to be desirable, but only at the club. They're not a girl you "take home to mom." It's like women are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Always.

Maria: I think in terms of the profession of stripping the movie was trying to have it both ways, and celebrate it for entertainment value, until in the end you learn basically that lifestyle will ruin you.

Brittany: I will say, that while I don't think Magic Mike broke any amazing cinematic ground, and it is definitely problematic in its representation of men and masculinity, as well as women and their expression of sexual desire, I worry that this film and its numerous problems often gets conflated with the inappropriateness or 'weirdness' of women and their expression of sexual desire.

A: Well, I'd like to talk about what Alyssa Rosenberg at Slate said on that topic, Brit. She feels the film depicts men as focused on female sexuality and saw the strip club setting as a safe way for women to be sexually expressive. She said, "The women get a chance to be sexually daring and to make the first move without consequences or judgment, and the strippers get both money and validation." Do you agree with Rosenberg's assessment?

Brittany: I think there are many ways to feel about and interpret this film. I don't want to say that the way it handled sexuality was inaccurate or incorrect for all women, because women express sexual desire in different ways. So I can see where Rosenberg is coming from, because, for the most part, there is a sense of safety (though it's often accompanied by seediness) at male strip clubs. You enter on your own terms, you can leave when you please, you are, for once, not the focal point of objectification, and I think it often feels like a relief and a release. (Though I realize that making someone else a sex object is not the correct answer.) I don't think that the 'pack mentality' of women fawning and grouping male strippers is a fair representation of women's interest in expressing themselves as sexual beings, and I don't think MM offers anything even remotely egalitarian, but I think what the ticket sales and general interest show is that women are looking for an outlet, and social acceptance and even camaraderie, around sexual expression and desire.

Maria: It doesn't seem to me that strip clubs are actually an authentic expression of female desire. It seems more like women feel like they have to be "like men" by going, but when they actually do attend, the experience is more about bonding with other women, whooing, being silly and getting embarrassed, rather than women actually enjoying the experience of having male privates in their face.

A: It's interesting, because I think that many women did use MM as a door opener to explore a sexual topic, but the result was just fairly objectifying. And I agree, Maria, that it doesn't feel authentic. I wish there was something which could serve as more of a bonding point without those other aspects. Let me ask this, point blank: Do you think the movie objectifies men?

Maria: Yes.

Brittany: Absolutely. Is it right? No? Did I enjoy Big Dick Ricky's (Joe Manganiello) fireman dance? Yes. Does this make me a bad person, or dare I ask, a bad feminist? I'm not really sure.

Maria: I think that there is this feeling that women will have achieved equality if it can also be acceptable for them to do the things men do-- but replicating that damaging societal dynamic doesn't feel like progress to me.

A: I read something earlier this week about the film and the author (forgive my lack of link!) was making the point that it's not sex negative to be against sexual objectification. She felt that there's a pressure amongst sex positive communities to usher something in just because it's "sexy"--when in reality we can parse apart the sexuality from the objectification. I think MM succeeded in objectifying both men and women, and that's something I have a problem with. Like your enjoyment of the sexuality expressed isn't wrong (Brittany) but we can view it within a wider context that is reducing people to their parts, if that makes sense.

Maria: Men are starting to spend more and more money on makeup, and I think that is certainly part of the fact that men are beginning to feel the same pressure to look a certain way in the way that women do.

Brittany:  I think objectifying anyone is wrong (though it's important to note that is happens to women, and has been ingrained in our culture and used as a tool against women to a much greater extent), but I also don't ever want to shame or judge someone for being sexually expressive or voicing their desire.

Maria: But I think that there is a way women can express their sexuality in films in a way that is empowering and women-driven, and MM is not that film. Women in it, as characters, were certainly not expressing their sexuality and I think the successs of this film is down to the fact that women don't have other, more revolutionary avenues to express themselves

Brittany: I think that's why it's important to create alternative narratives so a film, or book, can exist which doesn't harm or objectify people, but also allows for some (in a less academic term) sexy time.

A: Which would be great if WOMEN could actually exercise their voices via film on this subject.

Brittany: Amen, sister.

Maria: I think that the scene that really captured the essence of the film for me is when Adam is at a seedy party and another stripper tells him to touch his wife's boobs. So he touches this woman's boobs, but it isn't about her at all, and he looks at the husband and tells him he loves him. And it's safe for him to do that without seeming "gay", because he's got his hands on a pair of breasts. I think this is a film about how men would like to be idolized by women (and form relationships with each other) rather than anything to do with women really at all.

A: Yeah, I totally agree. Her body was something to be shared between them as an act of brotherhood. And the only sexually assertive woman in the film, Joanna (Olivia Munn) also objectifies and degrades other women and is portrayed as a generally bad person.

Brittany: I would have made a stripper movie where there were unions, health care options, and people of all sizes, races, and genders. And I'd call it Dry Humping Diversity.

A: I'll be there for the midnight showing of your flick, Brittany! All right--final comments on MM?

Brittany: Maria - I think you made a good point, there seemed to be a buzz that this movie was for women, but in the end, while I think many of the women (for better or worse) enjoyed the dancing stripper scenes, this movie was not about, or for women, at all really. It was more a celebration of masculinity, screwing, wealth, and being popular.

Maria: I do think MM was entertaining for a significant portion of the movie, but I also think the environment of the movie theatre we went to see it in suggests how this could be a negative cultural phenomenon. Our male server acted like a sex object, flirted with all the middle aged women, and then got chastized as "only eye candy" by a female manager when he got our order wrong. I don't think that treating men as only sex objects helps women, and I think it might even harm them by giving men the excuse that objectification is something that happens to both sexes (which ignores how much more pervasive and engrained sexism and objectification toward women is, and the power differential that exists between men and women in our society.)

A : So it sounds like we're in agreement that the gender situation of Magic Mike isn't more progressive than the stuff we're typically fed. I, personally, would love a film that would display authentic expressions of female sexuality, and while heterosexual women and gay men might enjoy the male form displayed here, MM ain't nothing to write home about.

Maria: Agreed.

Brittany:  I agree. I just want an alternative. I want an answer to Magic Mike that celebrates sexuality and doesn't make people feel bad about themselves or their bodies, and at the same time doesn't promote a culture of sexual objectification of either sex. I just don't want the answer to be a Puritanical response. I want people to try again. And make it better. And less offensive.With costumes just as snazzy.

A: Snazzy costumes and I wouldn't mind if Channing Tatum stuck around either. Thanks so much for talking with me guys!

Maria: Thanks!

Brittany is an amazing dancer, singer and actress.  She is also a compulsive liar.  But on the real, she loves chocolate, cheese, feminism and dogs.

 Maria excels at looking skeptical, if not mildly irritated at all times.  She loves history, feminism, and judging people. She can see Sarah Palin from her house.

  1. I saw this movie last weekend with some friends (all female). Admittedly, I did not go because I thought it would be a cinematic masterpiece. I went because I wanted to see Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey dance shirtless.
    This is a pretty good analysis. I agree that the way sexuality and gender roles are illustrated in the film is problematic. What I'm more interested in though is the buzz this movie has generated among female viewers and the fact that it was the second highest grossing movie this past weekend.
    On the radio yesterday morning, I heard a male DJ say, "Between Magic Mike and 50 Shades of Gray, women are becoming dudes." My first thought was, 'no, women AREN'T becoming dudes because men don't have a monopoly on sexuality. News flash: Women like sex too.' If anything positive comes out of MM, I hope it's that Hollywood realizes that women go to the movies too and we like to see more than just rom-coms starring Katherine Heigl.

    1. good point AMC.. yes i agree, women aren't becoming dudes and men don't have a monopoly on sexuality. well said. also women do 'gaze'.

    2. Hi, Thanks for sharing an interesting discussion.

      "but I think what the ticket sales and general interest show is that women are looking for an outlet, and social acceptance and even camaraderie, around sexual expression and desire." Yes I agree. So do you think we women have found that, and has anything changed since you wrote this last year?

      "I think that there is this feeling that women will have achieved equality if it can also be acceptable for them to do the things men do-- but replicating that damaging societal dynamic doesn't feel like progress to me." Perhaps not but if men are objectified is that necessarily damaging. It probably is not down to us to decide this anyway as the market decides and is deciding men can and will be objectified. Beauty and sexy sells, whether male or female. The male nude, or semi-nude appeals to a wide market including gay men, straight men who admire and want to be like the model, and women who admire and perhaps desire him. I really don't think we need to repress a natural urge to gaze at men, whether in a photograph, film, or reality.

      "I think the successs of this film is down to the fact that women don't have other, more revolutionary avenues to express themselves" Absolutely! Again, has this changed? Is anything revolutionary happening?

      Personally I have been picking up on a gentle form of objectification of men in the online photo sharing sites such as Pinterest and also Tumblr. I've created an album and called it 'equity and gratification', but there are many more collections by women of male images with obvious titles such as 'beards are sexy' or 'beautiful men', and so on. These are men who are willing participants in seeing themselves as a face, a form, a body, an aesthetic ideal of style or beauty and masculinity... not necessarily in a stereotypical hyper-masculine expression we see in this film, but often quite a personal and creative one. Just as women participate in visual culture on a daily basis when they (purchase apparel) dress and style themselves, so do men. Just as female modelling professionals and actresses participate, in a highly visible and public way, in image culture and in self-objectification, male models and actors also participate. They may be regarded as sex symbols or sex objects. It need not be an evil and damaging thing, though it can and often has been. I believe and observe it is possible for women and men to look, and gaze, at each other with admiration and desire without destroying what we see or disrespecting the individual or their sex.

      If women will openly allow themselves this pleasure and demonstrate that it can be done respectfully, then, I believe, we are somewhere on the way to sexual equality and to a far more gratifying heterosexual media culture. I also believe this will flow on into our relationships. But it means women have to stop being so 'ethical', so empathetic, and afraid to do damage, or ashamed of their desires.

      On the left of politics, especially the creative left, while women are dressing in 1950s frocks and donning red lippy men are openly objectifying women and pin ups of the past. Burlesque has sent the message to men on the fringe that gazing at women is now socially acceptable. In this environment then, what choice have women got than to step up and be bold about what we want to see. What we want to look at. What we desire.

    3. Reality check. Men are not going to stop objectifying women. Women are not going to stop objectifying themselves and seeing themselves as something desirable. Why would they? It is after all a biological competition we are in. To think some other solution is going to come along and we'l wait for it to solve inequality is naive.

      If women are going to be equals with men, we need to show them we expect them to be desirable as they possibly can too. Be honest with yourselves. How many of you go out to a mixed group without removing most of your body hair? How many of you go out to an event without washing and styling your hair? etc. Do you see where I am going? How much care do you expect a man you are dating to take with his appearance? How much care would you like him to take? Less than you?

      Are women liberated enough to show fat, hairy, uneven featured, flawed skin, blemishes... (what are all those 'unwanted' words)... in public? On youtube? Because men are. Men are going out there and making comments about objectification of men by showing their irregular, too thin, too white, too hairy, too fat bodies to everyone on film or in public places. What woman do you know who ever did that? Are women liberated enough to parade themselves in all their natural unadulterated glory? Without waxing, or shaping, or surgery, or make up? Whether they were born beautiful or not? Whether they have 'let themselves go' or kept up their fitness and personal grooming to a very high standard? I'd say rarely if ever... Most women are ashamed of 'ugliness'.

      Do we really think this shame is going to be lifted by having a debate about what is fair and ethical. What is right? Nothing changes.

      Why is it men are not afraid to flaunt their flaws? Isn't it because they don't see it as an impediment to their success? Yet women do see flaws as an impediment.

      How will this ever change? You think it will change by women asserting their success in other areas? Well women are Prime Ministers and surgeons now but does the focus go away from their personal appearance and style? No. The standard of beauty for women is not going to fall any time soon. Accept it and deal with it.

      So question is. Do you want an older fatter hairier sweaty man to think he is in the running to pick up you, a lovely young fresh faced beauty? If not, then why does he think he has a right to gaze upon you as though he owned you? Why does he feel unashamed to walk about with his shirt off on the beach front walk in front of cafe's?

      Why do women send mixed signals? How many movies have you seen that feature a beautiful male protagonist forgiving the less than acceptable appearance of his love interest because she is intelligent, caring, and witty, and falling in love with her for that? I've never seen one movie, or read one story. Every video I pick up says of the woman she is beautiful (or similar).

      So lets not dream on about equality coming while we carefully skirt around the reality of the issue.

      Equality in heterosexual culture will not come unless we start looking to male beauty in just the same way female beauty has been worshipped.

    4. cont'd
      Lets clear the air.
      Maybe the outlet women are looking for is one that says:
      The stories are lies!
      Not all women of value are young and beautiful.
      Not all young and beautiful women are as good as they look.
      We know this of course (this is explored) but point is... maybe we want to flaunt our flaws???
      Maybe it would be empowering if we had a right to go out looking ugly as hell. Like the cat just dragged us up from the storm water drain. I've seen guys out looking like that. ON stage even.

      All women want to be treated with value and respect
      Yes we all know that

      but they/we are not.
      we know that too

      So lets also be clear here
      if we want to be empowered we need to say something quite difficult to say

      all women are not young and beautiful
      neither are all men young and beautiful

      the good thing is
      some certainly are!
      Some men are incredibly beautiful
      want to insert your favourite man yum words here
      delicious dads
      lovely lads
      whatever you like
      get it out there girls

      lets celebrate male youth and beauty
      just the way women's youth and beauty has been celebrated and oggled at for centuries!

      Anyone for some equality?

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Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders

8 yr old w/ Sore Throat & 2 Bumps on Uvula

My 8 year son started out with ear pain and a sore throat 2 weeks ago. He has swollen glands on his neck. He also had red eyes with some discharge that only lasted 4 days. The ears have gotten better, but the throat continues to cause on and off pain with swallowing. Today, I looked with a flashlight and everything is pretty swollen, including the uvula. Right above the uvula he has two bumps (swollen glands?). We pay all bills out of pocket, and wondering if I need him to see a dr, or if this is just a cold that needs to run it`s course?

Most viruses or colds usually last 5-10 days, so it is difficult to explain his continued sore throat.  As long as he is not running a fever, is not having any noisy breathing or difficulty breathing, and as long as he can tolerate a regular diet, it is probably not serious.  However, if his symptoms continue it would be prudent to have him see his doctor.

For more information:

Go to the Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders health topic, where you can:

Response by:

Allen M Seiden, MD Allen M Seiden, MD
Professor of Otolaryngology, Director of Division of Rhinology and Sinus Disorders, Director of University Taste and Smell Center, Director of University Sinus and Allergy
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati


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Commercial Construction Plan Review & Inspections

All commercial construction activity, in Auglaize County, subject to compliance with the Ohio Building Code is to be submitted to Miami County Department of Development.

Effective January 20, 2017, the Board of County Commissioners for Auglaize County established a Certified Building Department.  On March 3, 2017, the City of Wapakoneta, City of St. Marys, Village of New Knoxville, Village of New Bremen, Village of Cridersville, Village of Minster, and the Village of Waynesfield were certified as sub-departments of Auglaize County.

Village of New Bremen Mayor interviewed by Radio Bremen of Germany

Last month, prior to the inauguration of the United States 45th President, Donald Trump, a German reporter from Bremen, Germany contacted Mayor Pape.  The reporter was seeking how American communities, with German backgrounds, were honoring the day and overall perception of a Trump presidency.

Strategic Planning Meetings Begin

The first series of meeting for the Strategic Planning committee began on January 11th at the Lockkeeper’s House.  Mayor Pape convened the meeting and welcomed everyone.  The village retained Poggemeyer Design Group (PDG) to update New Bremen’s 2002 Plan and the appointment of a planning steering committee, representative of the entire community, was the first order of business. The mayor thanked all present for agreeing to serve on the committee.

Village seeking applications for seasonal staff

The Village of New Bremen is accepting applications for 2017 seasonal positions. For returning seasonal employees, $0.25/hr is added to the base rate for each additional year of service.

Swimming Pool-most positions are needed Memorial Day until the end of summer.

Village of New Bremen Income Tax Regulations

Who must file a return?
The Village of New Bremen requires all residents working outside the city limits and residents not fully withheld upon. Any person or business located outside of New Bremen and performing services inside the Village of New Bremen must file a return. Anyone who receives income from rental properties, partnerships, self-employed business ventures, etc., must file an annual return regardless of any tax due.

Strategic Planning Meeting for the Community

On November 10th, Mayor Pape hosted a community strategic planning meeting at the James F. Dicke Auditorium at New Bremen High School.  Fifty-six invitations were sent seeking attendance from community members (clergy, schools, business or landownership).  Nearly 45 people attended to learn more about the strategic planning efforts for the Village of New Bremen.

Seeking nominations for AMP Scholarship

Each year, AMP communities are encouraged to submit nominees for scholarships offered by AMP.  The one-time scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors.  New Bremen is seeking a nominee to represent New Bremen.  Two types of scholarships are available:  Lyle B. Wright (applicant must receive electric from the Village of New Bremen) or Richard H. Gorsuch (applicant must have a family member who is employed by the New Bremen electric department).

Employment Opportunity: Utility Office Clerk

The Village of New Bremen is seeking applications for the position of Utility Office Clerk. The successful candidate must have experience in municipal fund accounting, advanced in Microsoft Word and Excel, experience in Microsoft Access is preferred (but not required), ability to analyze and resolve situations, be highly motivated, a self-starter with excellent communication skills and the ability to multitask. The candidate must have an associate’s degree in accounting or equivalent experience.

Cider Time 2016

Cider Time has been an annual New Bremen tradition since 1956.  In the early years, businesses were encouraged to decorate their windows for the season, with judges voting on the best window display.  A contest was held at the Amstutz Hatcheries Building (on the corner of Main & Monroe) for the largest pumpkin, largest ear of corn and most perfect ear of corn.  Other event activities included a record hop for teenagers with dancing in the streets and a firing demonstration of a small muzzle loading cannon.

Annual CIC Photo Contest

The New Bremen Community Improvement Corporation will be sponsoring its annual photo contest with the goal of finding an image that can be used in the annual CIC Christmas card as determined by votes cast by the community.

“We’re looking for an identifiable New Bremen landmark or scene.” said New Bremen Mayor, Jeff Pape.

A few years ago, village officials decided to discontinue the publication of a quarterly newsletter. Since that time, we have felt that residents are no longer getting needed information pertaining to public improvements, village projects, added features at our parks, or upcoming events in the community.

Video of the New Bremen community

Recently, New Bremen native, Justin Luedeke provided an invaluable gift to the Village of New Bremen, a video of the community.  Justin Luedeke is the president of AeroView Solutions, an aerial drone videography company located in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Thank you Justin, for this amazing view of the New Bremen community.  We hope the viewers of this video enjoy it as much as we do.

Click here to view the New Bremen video on YouTube.

Summary: Region Workforce Development Summit

Approximately 125 people representing business, education and economic development convened at Fort Piqua Plaza on Thursday, March 17th for the first Workforce Development Summit.  The day’s event was sponsored by the West Central Ohio Development Council, a group comprised of economic development directors from 6 counties (Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Mercer, Miami, and Shelby).

The event, titled ‘Winning the Workforce War’ was organized in order to learn how businesses, communities and education centers are winning the regional and national war for talent.

Local Welding Program Reaches Milestone

Recently the partners of the West Central Ohio Workforce Development Initiative (WCOWDI) celebrated reaching a milestone.  After 12 sessions, the welding program has now exceeded 100 candidates who have benefitted from improving their skillset.

The celebration was held at the Tri Star Dennings Building in St. Marys.  When asked about their experience in the welding course, all of the candidates stated the program exceeded their expectations.

New Bremen CIC Annual Luncheon

The New Bremen Community Improvement Corporation will be holding an annual luncheon on Wednesday, April 20th at the Fellowship Hall, Faith Alliance Church, New Bremen.


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Course code GSBS6003
Available in 2017
2017 Course Timetables

This course analyses the challenges and opportunities presented by the globalisation of markets and production for both domestic and multinational firms. The environment for global business is divided into three aspects; social and cultural; government and political; economic and technological. The course develops analytical frameworks encompassing economic and management theories; government policies; national differences in political, economic, legal and cultural systems to assess the challenges and opportunities presented by an increasingly integrated and interdependent global economy. Topics include the comparative economic, political, social environment of developed, emerging and transitional economies; cross-cultural management; managing geopolitics and international risk; assessing nongovernmental organisations and the regulation of the international economy such as the WTO and IMF; the costs-benefits of foreign investment; critiques of globalization.

WebLearn GradSchool

  • Trimester 1 - 2017
  • Trimester 3 - 2017

Sydney Elizabeth Street

  • Trimester 1 - 2017
  • Trimester 2 - 2017
  • Trimester 3 - 2017

Newcastle City Precinct

  • Trimester 1 - 2017
  • Trimester 2 - 2017
  • Trimester 3 - 2017

UoN Singapore

  • Trimester 2 - 2017 (Singapore)

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Analyse international business environments and assess international risk.

2. Demonstrate understanding of alternative theories, assumptions, debates, and contemporary developments in the area of international business.

3. Apply theories, models and concepts to issues relating to international trade, economic integration and country attractiveness for foreign direct investment.

4. Critically discuss issues relating to decision-making and international investment.

5. Write a critically reflective case study analysis on country attractiveness for investment.

6. Work independently and collaboratively to analyse the international business environment and communicate the outcomes of a multi-stage project orally and in writing.

This course includes the following topics:

  • Globalization and International Business: Drivers, Opportunities and Threats
  • Culture Differences and International Business
  • National Differences in Political Economy - political economy & international geo-political risk
  • Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Country Attractiveness
  • The Global Trade and Investment Environment - politics of international trade; the world trading system; the World Trade Organization.
  • Competing and managing in a Globalizing World - International business strategy and organization; market entry.
  • Regional Business Environments and Regional Economic Integration.

Replacing Course(s)

This course replaces the following course(s): GSBS6480. Students who have successfully completed GSBS6480 are not eligible to enrol in GSBS6003.

This course replaces GSBS6480. If you have successfully completed GSBS6480 you cannot enrol in this course.

Assessment Items

Case Study / Problem Based Learning: Individual Case Analysis

Report: Group Project - Written Report

Formal Examination: Final Examination

Presentation: Group Project - Oral Presentation

Contact Hours

Newcastle City Precinct, UoN Singapore, Sydney Elizabeth Street and WebLearn GradSchool

Face to Face On Campus 3 hour(s) per Week for Full Term


text:
Be a Supporter!

rated 3.99 / 5 stars
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Puzzles - Sliding

Credits & Info

Apr 12, 2006 | 9:55 PM EDT

If you liked this, check these out!

Author Comments

*I had to rename the game to CuberXtreme because some company thinks that people may confuse it with their trademark product. The changes to the Newgrounds file and the new website should be up soon.

Remove all the colored cubes from each stage, set up crazy combo chains, learn the secrets of all the special cubes, and unleash the power of your pet sprite!

Go to for additional and more difficult stages after you beat the Newgrounds stages!

CuberXtreme is my first puzzle game and second submission to Newgrounds. It was a lot of fun making it, especially with the new improvements to Flash 8. I hope you'll enjoy playing it!

Rated 4.5 / 5 stars

Holy shit man, this is awesome. I loved it.

Rated 4.5 / 5 stars

challengingly fun puzzle

what a good puzzle for brain teaser! good idea of adding new rules to an original idea and great graphic and animation jobs. really enjoyed playing it.

Rated 4.5 / 5 stars

good game

i agree with spak it was kinda hard but to beat training 1 push the lower green block on the left side down then the blue on the left down then the last green on the left down now push the lonely blue all the way right to get rid of the three blue and push the solo green all the way left to get rid of the other three green ^_^

People find this review helpful!

Rated 4.5 / 5 stars

An awesome and so totally addictive game.

The learning curve, as was mentioned, was way too steep, but it keeps people like me attached and wanting more. It wasn't a puzzle game I could finish in a couple of hours, and that's an automatic plus from me. I'm still working on the final exam, in fact.

Just a couple of notes, the graphics were incredible and of professional quality, but the music became annoying after a couple hours and it would be nice to have an option to switch it to something else after awhile since, obviously, you'll be sitting there for awhile trying to figure it out!

Seriously awesome game, and I'll be playing it until there aren't any more levels to conquer. Way to go.

People find this review helpful!

Rated 4.5 / 5 stars

probably a problem with me not the game

my computer froze up after every level when i pushed spacebar. it seems like other people aren't having this problem. it might have to do with my version of flash player i can't remember if i have the latest one or not. in any case, the parts i was able to play were real fancy and good.


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Be a Supporter!

Reincarnation: ROA

rated 4.43 / 5 stars
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Adventure - Point 'n Click

Credits & Info

Apr 27, 2009 | 9:58 AM EDT
  • Frontpaged April 27, 2009
  • Daily Feature April 28, 2009
  • Weekly 4th Place April 29, 2009

If you liked this, check these out!

Author Comments

Yo peeps.

I'm pretty excited to finally get this on newgrounds. I had it up on my sponsors site for a week now and it gives me great joy to finally release it here. It's probably a good thing it was up for a week there, because I got a lot of good feedback.

Ya'll notice at one point in the game there is a maze. I've put a button in at this point to skip the maze but I would at least recommend attempting it first before using the button.

Thanks for the front page and all the awards guys. Working on the 3rd one right now and hopefully gte that to ya in a couple of months. I'm not sure why some of you guys are gettign a black screen. You may have to update flash or try a different browser. The code for this game isn't that advanced where it wouldn't load or anything.

Rated 2.5 / 5 stars

Vents are too much

It's a nice game and everything, but you should be aware that for such a short game we wouldn't go mapping on paper the vent part like you suggested to a player ...
Also, I thought the final death was too quick.

People find this review helpful!

Rated 4.5 / 5 stars

Excellent fun but...

it wish it was longer.

Rated 3.5 / 5 stars

pretty funny

the vent levels were a little much. would have been impossible to do without the walk through

LiLg responds:

impossible? No. All you have to do is map them out on a piece of paper to beat it without the walkthrough.

Rated 5 / 5 stars

very nice

good work got stuck a few times tho

People find this review helpful!

Rated 5 / 5 stars

Fun but a bit short

I loved the voices and animation but i wish the game could have been longer

People find this review helpful!


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 UPDATED: Man's body recovered from Connecticut River | New Hampshire
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UPDATED: Man's body recovered from Connecticut River

HANOVER -- New Hampshire Fish & Game Dive Team members recovered the body of a 20-year-old man from the Connecticut River where he went for a swim Wednesday with his brother and friends.

Authorities are withholding the man's name, pending family notification. Police said he was a foreign student who attended college in Texas.

The man, who police said was in Hanover to attend his older brother's graduation from Dartmouth College, was last seen about 6 p.m. Wednesday after jumping from a rope swing from the Vermont side of the river. He surfaced once, "then disappeared beneath the surface of the water," according to a news release.

His body was located Thursday morning in about 18 feet of water. Hanover police and fire assisted in the recovery.

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April 27, 2012

Saints To Join Draft Party Tonight

The Saints will join in the NFL's draft fun tonight with the 89th overall pick, late in the third round.

The draft, which restarts at 6pmCT, will go through the second and third rounds tonight.  The fourth round begins tomorrow at 11amCT through the conclusion of the draft, when the Saints are set to pick in each of the last four rounds.

Look out tonight for these Louisiana football program prospects: LSU products including WR Rueben Randle, CB Ron Brooks, and S Brandon Taylor, McNeese State DB Janzen Jackson, Louisiana-Lafayette CB Dwight Bentley and TE Ladarius Green.

Pay attention to a trio from the University of California, including LB Mychal Kendricks, DL Trevor Guyton, and OG Mitchell Schwartz, all could be off the clock tonight, and all could be targets for the Saints.

In our final full Saints mock draft, we picked the Saints taking Guyton.

These interior linemen could be available targets at 89: Georgia's Ben Jones, Michigan's David Molk, BYU's Matt Reynolds, Wake Forest's Joe Looney, Utah's Tony Bergstrom.  Though we expect the Saints to pick defense considering the looming bounty scandal suspensions, interior offensive line is one of the Saints' needs.

Other players the Saints hope will drop: North Carolina LB Zach Brown, Penn State DT Devon Still, Georgia CB Brandon Boykin, Texas LB Keenan Robinson, Miami LB Sean Spence, Boise State DT Billy Winn, Coastal Carolina CB Josh Norman, Florida State CB Mike Harris, Boise State S George Iloka, Arizona State CB Omar Bolden, Utah State LB Bobby Wagner, Washington DT Alameda Ta'amu.

NOPF News Archive


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Mulalo Ralulimi
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Open letter to Julius Malema

24 April 2014, 05:30
Open letter to Julius Malema

by Gayton MacKenzie

Dear Julius Malema

I wronged people in this country two decades ago when I took part in heinous crimes. I have been trying to repay my debt to society for most of the years since. First, by successfully exposing corruption in jail then by speaking to millions of school kids across this country to dissuade them from a life of crime.

I am now dedicating my life to Patriotic Alliance, which puts ending gangsterism, but more importantly the conditions that lead to gangsterism in communities, at the top of its agenda. We must get our young people into the mainstream economy.

I see this open letter as part of repaying my many debts to society. If I did not speak up to warn the people of South Africa, but especially our youth, against you, it would mean I have no love for this country.

Julius, you and I are not “revolutionaries”. We both know that. We both shop at the same Louis Vuitton and Gucci shops. We both have watches worth hundreds of thousands. We wear more money on our wrists than a miner at Marikana will ever hold in his hands.

This week you had the audacity to say that you wear Louis Vuitton to “inspire the poor”. But the poor get nothing out of you wearing flashy clothes.

For people like us to call ourselves revolutionaries is an insult to history’s real revolutionaries. Patrice Lumumba is rolling in his grave. Thomas Sankara wants to get out of his grave and take back his words that have found their way onto your whisky-swilling tongue.

If simply wearing a beret makes you a revolutionary then my mum and all her friends have been revolutionaries for far longer than you.

You have spent more money at any of your own lavish parties than Kenny Kunene ever did. But Kenny never spent public money. It was his own money that he worked for openly. He never earned his money through misdirected tenders to shady companies that were hard to track.

You bankrupted the ANC Youth League. You bankrupted Limpopo. You bankrupted yourself. Now you want to bankrupt what’s left of South Africa.

The difference between you and me is that you use politics to take money from the poor. I give money to politics. I am not seeking a position through politics. My name is not even on any list. But you are trying to get to Parliament at all costs. Unlike what you may read about me, I never received any government money.

I never received any tenders. I was never a beneficiary in any BEE deal. But you have never worked an honest day in your life to earn your own money. You don’t know what that feels like. You don’t know what it means.

When the doors of government’s treasury were slammed in your face you went immediately to the poor with your cap in hand, promising them the world, when you needed their money to pay for your tax problems.

You want to nationalise the mines, but that will take huge amounts of public money to sustain, with no guarantees of profit. You will have to take money that we need right now to build houses and schools for poor people and you will have to gamble with that money to build mines. Nationalisation is not woodwork.

Will you be the one to look our old women in the eyes and say that they can’t have their houses today because you want to invest in mines that will perhaps give us profits in ten years’ time? Our minerals will not crawl out of the earth by themselves. And we know that any profits will first have to survive going through your sticky hands before they reach the rest of us.

Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla upgrade was wrong on all fronts. But you also took taxpayers’ money to demolish a R3 million house in order to build a R16 million house in Sandton. Your own EFF commissar Andile Mngxitama criticised you for this very thing three years ago. Does he think you are no longer that man? None of us should be that naive.

You have insulted so many of our people. You insulted MaMbeki. You insulted Baba Buthelezi. You insulted Naledi Pandor. You had to apologise to all of them. Now you have insulted MaKhumalo, Jacob Zuma’s first wife.

She is a grandmother and you thought it funny to sexualise her and ask us to imagine her in a bathing suit. Is the only old woman who you respect your own grandmother in Seshego?

You speak to no one with respect. Anyone who disagrees with you must know that a choice insult is already on its way from you. When the Public Protector went for you, you had nothing good to say about her. When the same Public Protector went for Jacob Zuma and Pansy Tlakula, you hailed her work. How stupid do you think we are?

Most of your erstwhile comrades in the ANC remain too scared to say anything against you, because they know that they stole with you, right alongside you. You know all their secrets.

You get two kinds of politicians in this country: the ones who come from prison and those who must still go to prison. You belong to the latter. I may be an ex-thief, but you are a present-day thief. You, particularly you, cannot be calling all white people in this country thieves.

I have a serious problem with you telling our young people that they must take the mines and take the land. All you can think of in your choice of language is “Take, take and destroy.” You are inculcating an attitude of taking instead of contributing and working. Our youth do not need that. No one needs that. Our youth need to be empowered educationally and financially to grow this country.

You are the modern-day Nongqawuse. There was no one there in 1856 to warn our people against that false prophet. Somebody needs to have the courage to warn us against you. I’m not scared of you. But I am scared of what will happen to this country if our young people don’t realise what you are before it is too late.

For most of my younger years I was surrounded by conmen and thieves. But you are the biggest thief I ever met. You, truly, are the Con-mander in Thief.
I wish Kenny would take South Africa into his confidence over the real reasons why he left EFF.

Yours truly
Gayton McKenzie, Patriotic Alliance President
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text:
Spat breaks out between new mayor and Malamulele task team

2017-01-09 07:24
Malamulele (File, Lucky Nxumalo, City Press)

Malamulele (File, Lucky Nxumalo, City Press)

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Polokwane - A spat has developed between the informally constituted Malamulele Municipality task team and the new council over the axing of the acting municipal manager and the mayor’s new R1.2m car.

The team has told the mayor and her council to report back to them about the recent axing of acting Municipal Manager Dickson Mushwana and the new car.

The task team previously claimed that they have fought for the betterment of the municipality and the mayor and that her council should report to them.

The team was meant to meet Mayor Joyce Bila and her executive committee on Friday but the task team sought a postponement as their chairperson was unavailable.

"We fought for this municipality to benefit the people of Malamulele, not to enrich people and help them buy luxury cars, but today there is corruption," task team chairperson Hosi Busa Nxumalo said at a community meeting at the Malamulele boxing gym on December 27 last year.

At the time, he also pointed to factionalism within the council.

‘The task team’s work is over’

The team sent the mayor an email on December 29 demanding to see her in Malamulele Stadium together with her council.

"We hope to have a meeting with the mayor and her council and are hoping that we won't disturb her busy schedule," reads the email.

A councillor who spoke on condition of anonymity said they won't be having any meeting because they believe the team's work is over.

"We don't report to the Malamulele task team because we believe their task was to fight for the municipality, and now we have the municipality they must dissolve."

ANC regional secretary Khathu Natshifhefhe concurred: "The work of the task team was to fight for the municipality and now it is available [sic] it must be dissolved, and we allow the council to take over and run the municipality."

The ANC Youth League released a statement saying, "some of the people within the ANC are using the Malamulele task team to fight their battles and to discredit the good work that the mayor has been doing".

Malamulele task team secretary Dr Jan Nkuna said that the team would not be dissolved because it was constituted by the community and only they had the right to remove them.

The Lim 345 Municipality will soon be renamed Collins Chabane Municipality after the late former Minister of Public Services and Administration Collins Chabane, who hailed from the region.

The municipality was formed out of a merger between Malamulele, Vuwani and Hlanganani areas.

Read more on:    polokwane  |  local government  |  corruption  |  service delivery

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Moving on from football

I’m not sure which was a bigger disappointment, having to watch the Ohio State game with the wife for a full four quarters or West Virginia’s nearly equally inept showing against the Hurricanes from Miami.

Of course, the news wasn’t good late Tuesday night either as the WVU men’s basketball team lost its first Big 12 game in disappointing overtime fashion at Texas Tech. The Mountaineers, who lead the NCAA in forced turnovers at nearly 26 a game, only made the Red Raiders turn it over 13 times.

The worst part about Tuesday evening was how Kansas State got absolutely robbed inside Allen Fieldhouse as Kansas extended its home winning streak to 50.

Many moons ago when the Celtics and Lakers had their heated rivalry, it always amazed me how Kevin McHale could seemingly go from the 3-point line to the basket while taking just one dribble. Jayhawk guard Svi Mykhailiuk certainly topped that after taking the express train from outside the arc, getting away with a no-brainer travel and hitting the game-winning floater.

I guess I know how the Kansas State fans feel because I was hoping to pull off a three-peat in our football picks this year, but came up short.

Evan Bevins finished 12-10 in our bowl picks, but his three-game lead was just enough as my 14-8 effort, equaled only by fellow scribe Ron Johnston, left me at 281-71 while the Marshall University grad Bevins went 282-70. Steve Hemmelgarn finished eight games back in third place.

Wednesday night was supposed to be the home opener for defending Class AAA state mat champion Parkersburg South and second-year head coach Shaun Smith.

The Patriots, who will compete next weekend at the Winner’s Choice in Fairmont, opted to cancel Wednesday’s tri with Independence and George Washington.

“We mainly canceled for precautionary reasons,” admitted coach Smith, whose squad also didn’t go to the Powerade. “There was only a few of them that had any sort of (skin) ailment.”

When it comes to skin conditions, coaches know it’s nothing to mess with. The good news is wherever the Patriots picked it up earlier this year it seems to have just about run its course.

As it currently stands, the West Virginia Duals will be comprised of eight teams as it looks likely this will be the last year of the event. The normal two-day competition will be held Saturday inside Memorial Fieldhouse.

In the current coaches’ rankings, the Patriots sport six top-ranked grapplers in Tucker Windland (106), Luke Martin (126), Zane Hinzman (152), T.J. Lambiotte (170), Hunter DeLong (182) and heavyweight Louden Haga. Justin Allman, who will be out to defend his 195-pound state title, hasn’t competed yet this season but is expected to make his debut Saturday.

“It’s had a lot of good teams over the years and everybody likes a little change in their schedule,” admitted PHS head coach Chris Way, who has top-ranked grapplers at 120 with John Martin Best and 138 with Jared Donahue, of the W.Va. Duals.

Contact Jay Bennett at


text:
Revenge of the 1980s Nerd In First DESPICABLE ME 3 Trailer

Still from "Despicable Me 3"
Credit: Illumination Entertainment

The first trailer for Illumination Entertainment's Despicable Me 3 has been released, featuring Gru, Lucy and crew against a new, 1980s-themed villain voiced by South Park's Trey Stone.

Take a look:

Despicable Me 3 is due out in theaters June 30, 2017.

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KURTIS WIEBE Hopes Building Buzz Follows Him to SNOW ANGEL

There's a lot of buzz in the industry about writer Kurtis Wiebe, thanks to the critical success of his two new Image series, Green Wake and The Intrepids.

Now the writer has a new graphic novel out from Arcana called Snow Angel, described as a crime noir. The entire story was inspired by an image drawn by his collaborator, artist Tyler Jenkins, featuring a woman sitting in a chair with a dead body at her feet and cops busting in.

In Snow Angel, the girl in the chair is revealed as Angela. When she was just a young girl, she witnessed a murder at the hands of her father. Now she's working to win her father's approval, and the violent yet emotional journey she takes is what gives Snow Angel its heart.

The release of Snow Angel was a long time coming, tied up in publishing limbo since Wiebe wrote it back in 2009. But now that it's available, Newsarama caught up with Wiebe to find out more about the project.

Newsarama: Kurtis, there have been a lot of "hit-man or -woman" stories over the years. What makes Snow Angel unique?

Wiebe: First and foremost, Snow Angel is an emotional story about a young woman desperately trying to gain the respect and admiration of her father. It’s really a universal theme, something that everyone has struggled with in their younger years, but it just so happens that the main character’s father happens to be a drug cartel enforcer.

It adds a level of complication to the story because in every way Angela tries to impress her father, she goes about it in an entirely wrong way. The violence is really just part the world these two live in.

Nrama: Who is Angela as a character, and how does she get involved in this world?

Wiebe: Angela is the main character; we see the world through her eyes and feel the story through her journey. Her involvement comes at a very young age when her father brings her along on a job where he’s exacting revenge on behalf of the cartel he works for in Colombia. Why he does that is revealed later in the story, but from that moment, Angela believes in order to be the daughter he needs, she has to become part of the world her father lives in.

Needless to say, she has perhaps interpreted the situation a little incorrectly.

Nrama: What are Angela's strengths and faults? And how do they come into play in the story?

Wiebe: Like her father, Cesar, she is headstrong and brazen. They serve as both strengths and weaknesses, as she doesn’t have the experience of life behind her to deal properly with the situations she gets herself into. Her brashness gets her into trouble and that plays a heavy role in the story. On a few occasions, Angela is nearly killed for her inability to read a problem and charge headlong into it.

Really, she’s so desperate to impress she puts her own life on the line, sometimes without realizing it.

Nrama: With these two characters having such a dark side, was it difficult to find a way to get readers to relate to them? How do you think we can identify with them?

Wiebe: I think the complicated relationship between parent and child is something people can identify with. Not everyone has a cold-blooded killer for a father, but everyone has a parent that they’ve struggled to identify with and please. We all have this desire to make our parents proud, and that is the access point to this story.

If it was just a father daughter hit team, it’d be hard to connect and care.

Nrama: How did you come up with the ideas behind this story, and what themes are you exploring in it?

Wiebe: The original idea came from a poster that Tyler illustrated for Smoke Films. They were a new production company looking for some promo material for their website and after they saw it, they wanted more. It was a picture of a woman (now Angela) sitting in a chair, smoking a cigarette with a dead body at her feet and cops busting in.

I started off by watching the documentary Cocaine Cowboys and was inspired by the story of Griselda Blanco, this powerful matriarch of the 1980’s drug trade. I started thinking about what led her down that path and I thought that could be a very interesting story.

Nrama: Why did it take awhile for this to be released?

Wiebe: I believe it was just part of Arcana’s publishing schedule. They’re a smaller company and so obviously have to stagger the books they release. Snow Angel was finished in winter of 2009, and it was just a waiting game from that point.

Nrama: What does Tyler bring to the story? How does his style fit?

Wiebe: Being that it was his art that inspired the entire book, I’d say his style doesn’t fit the story, it is the story. Tyler was really able to encapsulate the gritty, moody atmosphere that was important to portraying this bleak world. His excellent use of heavy black inks and his ability to really nail facial expression brought the story to another level.

He also used a great color palette that complimented the emotional resonance of each particular scene. It’s so subtle you barely notice it, but it really anchors each scene in the story.

Nrama: How can readers get their hands on Snow Angel now?

Wiebe: From what I understand, it should be available from any local comic store or from online book retailers like Amazon. All my friends that ordered on Amazon have received their copies already.

Nrama: Where else can readers see your work?

Wiebe: I have two current series with Image that wind up in August. Intrepids is a six issue miniseries about a group of orphans fighting mad scientists and Green Wake is a horror mystery series in the vein of Twin Peaks. Green Wake has been turned into an ongoing series, so it’s one you’ll be able to follow as long as it sells!

Nrama: Anything else you want to tell readers about Snow Angel?

Wiebe: If you enjoyed Snow Angel, Tyler and I have an as-of-yet unannounced series coming through Image Shadowline in January which we are both extremely excited about. Stay tuned!

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19 Mar 2016

Hillary Clinton Pleasantly Surprised After Finding Old $20,000 Donation Check In Coat Pocket

NEW YORK—Smiling at her good fortune following the unexpected discovery, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was reportedly pleasantly surprised Friday upon finding an old $20,000 donation check in her coat pocket. “I was just headed out the door and was digging around for my keys, and I just happened to find a 20-grand check I had completely forgotten about crumpled up in there,” said Clinton, who noted the $20,000 contribution was stuffed way at the bottom of her pocket, and speculated that it had probably been down there for about eight years. “Sometimes, I’ll find a few $1,000 checks in my pants pockets or in the couch cushions, but finding $20,000 is actually a nice little pick-me-up. It’s just a delightful way to start the day.” Clinton added that she would probably use the unexpected find to treat herself to something nice, like a round of harsh anti–Bernie Sanders attack ads in Wisconsin.


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Author and lecturer Srikumar Rao says he teaches executives and entrepreneurs how to boost their effectiveness, shape their careers in line with their desires, and use their vision to create companies where people want to work. He developed his "Creativity and Personal Mastery coursework on Long Island, as a business course for LIU Post.

Originally from India, where he earned his MBA, Rao, 64, worked as a marketing executive in the United States while earning a PhD in marketing from Columbia University. He later headed into academia.

"My epiphany was, Why don't I create a course that will take the teachings of the world's greatest masters, strip them of religious, cultural and other connotations, and adapt them so that they are acceptable to intelligent people in the postindustrial society," he said. He has since taught his business courses at Columbia, Northwestern, Berkeley, and the London Business School, as well as at companies such as Google, Merrill Lynch and Johnson & Johnson.

Rao also teaches classes and presents workshops in Glen Cove through his company, The Rao Institute, with a new session beginning in January. His most recent book is "Happiness at Work: Be Resilient, Motivated and Successful -- No Matter What."

What's the biggest dilemma most executives face?

The level of stress in their lives and the fact that they're on a fine curve oscillating between elation and despair. It's happening faster with globalization; competition is anywhere. Who would have thought that a computer company like Apple would completely upend the music industry? The only way you're going to survive is if you can surf the waves when it comes, learning on the 2-foot waves first so when the tsunami hits, you'll look back and say "What a wonderful view."

How do you help executives shape their careers?

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If you have it in your mind that you're building the cathedral of your life and that's what you're dedicated to, you don't become complacent. Because that's a grand vision that's pulling you on.

What's an example of how people can invest in the process versus the outcome?

A CEO of a major corporation would put in for bids and noticed his employees were very busy thinking, "We've got to win the bid, we've got to crush the competition." After taking my program, he said, "Let's simply think about putting forward the best bid that we can. If we lost the bid, what would we regret not having done?" By not focusing on winning, they actually won more bids overall, over time.

What would you say to the person who says spirituality has no place in business?

Many companies do well according to certain financial metrics, but I look at things from a much bigger perspective than just finances: Is this a company that people want to work at, is it a company people genuinely feel allegiance to and say "Hey I want to belong there, it feeds my soul as well as my pocketbook and it is doing good in the world."

What are some tips to eliminate workplace stress?

First, recognize that things are under your control. You have actively constructed your circumstances with your mental models. If you want a meaningful, purposeful life, it's in your hands and nobody else's. If you're overwhelmed, breathe deeply for two minutes, all the way down to the bottom of your belly. You will find that you bring a much clearer head, and you don't get sucked away by your emotions. The next thing is, every time you're being pulled away by any strong emotion, by anger, by lust, by fear, don't get carried away by the agitation, just witness it: "(I'm) becoming agitated because I have a deadline and haven't completed the work yet." So you're not judgmental, you're not saying it's good or bad, you're simply observing it. And then, don't be in a hurry to label a situation as bad that might become good. The moment you say "this is terrible," the suffering begins.

NAME: Srikumar Rao, CEO, The Rao Institute LLC in Commack

WHAT IT DOES: Personal and professional development seminars offering "radical transformation" for executives and entrepreneurs

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EMPLOYEES: 2 full time, 5 part time

REVENUE: $400,000 to $500,000


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New York Mayor Bill de Blasio will translate his campaign pledge to battle income inequality into hard numbers this week when he unveils his opening proposals on the city's $70 billion budget.

Taken together, de Blasio's first State of the City speech Monday and the budget draft for 2014-15 he releases Wednesday are the opening steps of a bargaining process that runs through June, with the mayor's office, the City Council, the five boroughs, nonprofits, lobbyists, labor unions and other interest groups all jockeying over spending.

"There's a time to campaign . . . and then there's a time to govern," said Harvey Robins, a former operations director under Mayor David Dinkins. "You could run excellent campaigns, but where the rubber meets the road is the choices you make."

In previewing Monday's speech, de Blasio has spoken of working "to make this one city, where everyone rises together," and vowing to take on "big challenges with bold, progressive solutions."

But the mayor also said last week that the budget would uphold "fiscal stability" -- a signal to both those seeking funds and those fearing wholesale giveaways to the 152 labor unions with expired contracts.

The unions, which cover most of the city's 300,000 employees, are clamoring for pay hikes and retroactive raises. De Blasio's predecessor, Michael Bloomberg, warned that granting the back pay could blow an $8 billion hole in the budget.

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Maria Doulis, of the nonpartisan Citizens Budget Commission, said that the scale of de Blasio's spending ambitions would hinge partly on how conservatively he and his team forecast future revenue, which depends largely on the health of the economy.

"If you're expecting more revenue, you have more resources to do policies and programs -- assuming, of course, your assumptions are proven to be correct," Doulis said.

The city's Independent Budget Office has forecast a $1.9 billion surplus for 2015, but that figure does not factor in potential labor-settlement costs.

While Bloomberg handed over a budget he boasted was balanced, de Blasio never fully bought into that notion, calling the open labor contracts "a huge asterisk."

Thomas L. McMahon, a former general counsel to the City Council and now a lobbyist, said the budget will likely suggest how much de Blasio wants to set aside for labor contracts.

The city's budget -- bigger than that of all but a few states and which by law must be balanced -- pays the salaries of cops, firefighters and teachers, keeps parks open, delivers food to senior citizens, shelters the homeless, contributes to the pensions of retirees, keeps inmates in jail and much more.

Much of it -- 63 percent -- is funded by taxes: income, property, sales, business. De Blasio has repeatedly vowed not to raise property taxes, one of the few in which the city can set rates on its own.

Budget watchers expect de Blasio's fiscal plan will reflect the assumption that he'll get Albany's green light to hike taxes on people with incomes above $500,000, which would raise $530 million a year to fund universal full-day prekindergarten and after-school programs for middle schoolers.

"If you don't build it into your budget plan, you could be sending the reverse message: that you don't think this is happening, or there's a low probability of it happening," said Douglas Turetsky of the city's Independent Budget Office.

If de Blasio loses the fight, "then you have to adjust accordingly," he said.

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Randy Mastro, a former top deputy mayor in the Giuliani administration, said the budget would show de Blasio's preferences on a broad range of municipal matters.

"You're going to want to see whether he's cutting police or fire, or whether he's increasing education, what he's done to charter schools," Mastro said.

De Blasio has also pledged to stop using fines levied against small business as revenue boosters. Less aggressive enforcement could mean the standing estimate for 2014 -- $811 million in collections of fines -- about $500 million of which from parking violations -- would have to be lowered.


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Ten years after the invasion of Iraq, it's clear who lost the war that followed. But it may be years before we know if anyone won.

Topping the loser's columns, of course, is Saddam Hussein, with the world better for it. Yet, despite his demise, America is also the loser. The goals the Bush administration set for the war were never achievable, and the costs were greater than most Americans realize, not just in lives and money squandered but in reputation lost.

Iraqis were freed from Hussein, but a botched American occupation led to a civil war that killed more than 100,000 civilians and forced millions to flee the country. Despite elections, Iraq still has a government that arrests and tortures political opponents and runs a secret police state.

Indeed, in the near term, the biggest winner from the war looks to be Iran, whose influence on Iraq has grown while America's has shrunk.

A decade later, it's painful to recall the certainty of many top U.S. occupation officials that they could remake the country. This attitude was most prevalent among those with no Mideast experience, who would accuse anyone who tried to contradict them of "ignoring the good news."

More than 4,000 American lives were lost, and countless billions of dollars wasted because U.S. officials misread Iraq and mismanaged the war's aftermath. An occupation that embraced willful blindness was bound to fail.

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Ditto for an invasion based on illusions. The Iraq war was justified by White House claims that Hussein was secretly building nukes and was in cahoots with al-Qaeda. The Bush team ignored plentiful prewar evidence that neither of these claims was true.

President George W. Bush and several senior officials believed Hussein's fall would trigger the rise of friendly democracies in Iraq and throughout the region. "The Bush Doctrine could help undo dictatorships not only in Iraq, Iran, and North Korea, but also in ... China and Saudi Arabia," wrote William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard, the favored journal of Bush administration officials. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, the intellectual architect of the war, told me in a November 2002 interview that postwar Iraq would resemble post-World War II France.

Of course, the real Iraq proved wholly different from White House expectations. In 2007, Bush's troop "surge" calmed the sectarian slaughter and prevented a humiliating U.S. defeat. But far from providing a model for regional change, Iraq became the nightmare example that Arab democrats sought to avoid.

Contrary to White House dreams, the war transformed Iran into the major power broker in Baghdad; Iraq's newly empowered Shiite leaders depend on co-religionists in Tehran for political support against their Sunni minority and neighboring Sunni states.

As for Iraqis, the cost of the war was brutal. I think often of Yasser Salihee, an Iraqi journalist colleague killed by a U.S. soldier who mistook him for the enemy. Or Salam Hamrani, who had to flee the country because his life was threatened for helping U.S. troops finger Shiite militiamen who were killing his Sunni neighbors. Or Dr. Riyadh Adhadh, who ran and won in provincial elections but spent eight months in jail because the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is suspicious of Sunnis. These cases are typical of thousands.

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Go inside New York politics.

Hundreds of Iraqis remain under death threat because they worked for the U.S. military, contractors, or civilian officials and still haven't received promised U.S. visas. Tens of thousands of educated Iraqis, the cream of the middle class, including thousands of endangered Christians, have fled from persecution by newly empowered Islamists.

Joint U.S.-Iraqi programs that might have helped endangered Iraqi democrats expand their reach are faltering, as America tries to put the Iraq war behind it. The Obama administration blew the chance to leave a follow-on troop presence in Iraq that would have facilitated these programs and maintained some U.S. influence in Baghdad.

Yet Iraq still has the opportunity to move forward - largely because of oil.

A decade after the war, Iraq oil production is finally stable and expanding. The country is producing the largest amount in three decades, nearly 3.35 million barrels daily. The International Energy Agency predicts Iraqi production will double by 2020, setting up Iraq as a rival to the Saudis, perhaps lessening its dependence on Iran.

Oil, of course, can be a curse for a "petro-state" such as Iraq whose economy is almost totally dependent on oil revenue. That revenue is the perfect lubricant for dictators.

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But this wealth at least gives Iraqis, a talented people whose educational attainment used to be high, the chance to rebuild their shattered state. Whether they can finally emerge from the culture of dictatorship remains uncertain.

There's no sign American companies will get a lion's share of Iraqi oil contracts - contrary to the widespread belief that Washington went to war for oil. But, by keeping global oil prices stable, an increased Iraqi oil flow will undercut the regime in Tehran, which depends on high oil prices. It will also help Baghdad offset Iranian pressures.

A small victory, but hardly recompense for American losses.

In Iraq, we destroyed our reputation for competence, and our global moral stature. Iraq also distracted U.S. attention from cementing the 2003 victory over the Afghan Taliban.

A decade after the invasion, we are still toting up the staggering costs of this war.

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Trudy Rubin is a columnist and editorial-board member for the Philadelphia Inquirer.


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Senators Make Deal to Avoid Government Shutdown
Lawmakers freed up to act on gridlocked legislation
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Sep 26, 2011 4:37 PM CDT
Updated Sep 26, 2011 6:33 PM CDT
In this Sept. 23, 2011, photo, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Congress is once again allowing shutdown politics to bring the federal...   (J. Scott Applewhite)
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(Newser) – Ending weeks of political brinkmanship, Congress finessed a dispute over disaster aid tonight and advanced legislation to avoid a partial government shutdown this weekend. The breakthrough came hours after the Federal Emergency Management Agency indicated it had enough money for disaster relief efforts through Friday. That disclosure allowed lawmakers to jettison a $1 billion replenishment that had been included in the measure—and to crack the gridlock it had caused.

Senate passage of the legislation was expected within hours. There was no immediate comment from House Republican leaders, although their agreement seemed a formality after the party's Senate leader signed off. The events assured there would be no interruption in assistance in areas battered by disasters such as Hurricane Irene and last summer's tornados in Joplin, Mo., and also that the government would be able to run normally when the new budget year begins on Saturday. The agreement also spelled the end to the latest in a string of political standoffs between Democrats and Republicans over deficits, spending and taxes that have rattled financial markets and coincided with polls showing congressional approval ratings at historically low levels.

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NJ Gay Marriage Bill Advances to Christie's Desk
New Jersey governor promises to veto it
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 16, 2012 5:51 PM CST
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie answers a question in Trenton, N.J., Monday, about gay marriage.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

(Newser) – Gay rights advocates are celebrating in New Jersey, even though their victory will be short-lived. The state Assembly today passed a bill to legalize gay marriage 42-33, with every Republican in the chamber voting against it, reports the Star-Ledger. Because the state Senate already passed it, the legislation now goes to the desk of Gov. Chris Christie, who has promised a "very swift" veto, notes AP.

"Today, the Legislature has brought us to the promised land," said the leader of the gay rights group Garden State Equality. "We know the governor won't let us enter, but we finally behold the view of our dreams and we will never turn back." Click to read about how New Hampshire legislators are considering a repeal of that state's gay marriage law.

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David Davis

2 Stories

UK Lawmaker Resigns to Protest Civil Liberties

Tory aims to tweak Brown's ruling Labour

(Newser) - A British lawmaker resigned from Parliament today to protest what he views as a government assault on civil liberties, especially a recent law that extends to 42 days the length of time that terror suspects can he detained. David Davis of the Conservative Party hoped to call attention to the... More »

Murdoch Set to Finance Editor in UK Election

Sun editor will run in special vote on terrorism laws

(Newser) - With the personal backing of Rupert Murdoch, the former editor of Britain's biggest-selling tabloid is set to run in a special election triggered by yesterday's surprise resignation of a top Tory. Kelvin MacKenzie, who edited Murdoch's Sun for more than a decade, is preparing to contest the seat vacated by... More »

2 Stories


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Experimental hemp production expanding in Kentucky

April 6, 2015 9:54 PM

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Kentucky's hemp production is taking deeper root as experimental projects expand in the second year of testing its potential as a cash crop.

Spring planting season is expected to include at least several hundred acres of industrial hemp, Adam Watson, the state Agriculture Department's hemp program coordinator, said Monday. Statewide hemp plantings totaled about three dozen acres last year, he said.

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Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 - Canon

SYDNEY, 20 September 2011: A study from Canon entitled, ‘Change or Be Left Behind’ has highlighted the crucial role that technology plays as Australian organisations go through changes in their business. When asked what will be the single biggest change their organisation will go through in the next ten years, 43 per cent of business leaders overwhelmingly said that technological advancements were top of the list. This was over and above other areas such as general company changes (19 per cent), people changes (18 per cent) and wider economic/legislative changes (18 per cent).

The two part Canon-sponsored research study[1] sought to understand attitudes and trends in how Australian businesses view change, pinpoint key barriers to change, the role that technology plays in the process and what the formula for good change is. Split via two audiences, the first survey spoke with 300 senior Australian executives responsible for change, while the second questioned 700 general business workers, not responsible for change in Australian organisations.

The over-riding theme from the study was that despite agreeing change was important (86 per cent[2]) and that their business will be left behind if they don’t address it (73 per cent[3]), just 39 per cent[4] of Australian organisations embrace it and under half (49 per cent[5]) take a pro-active stance on change. A healthy proportion of respondents didn’t believe their business had the right tools to deliver change (40 per cent[6]), but agreed that technology played a very important role within the change process (95 per cent[7]) and increased their competitive nature.

Craig Manson, director, Canon Business Imaging said, “If we look at everything that’s ‘changing’ within Australian business, technology change is by far and away the biggest thing that organisations will go through in the next ten years. But this is not about implementing technology for technology’s sake. Organisations need to take the time to look at how their business is evolving and growing, working out how technology can align with the business, changing it for the better and making it more competitive.”

The critical driving force behind change

Not only will technology be the biggest change organisations go through, it was also ranked highly among both sets of respondents as the main reason behind why change occurred in Australian businesses in the first place. Each survey group was asked to rank three of their top driving forces behind change. Fifty-nine per cent of business leaders ranked technological advancements as the biggest driving force behind change, with financial (54 per cent) and people considerations (44 per cent) placed second and third respectively. Employees allocated technology in fourth place (44 per cent), behind reasons such as increased competition (56 per cent), financial considerations (55 per cent) and the need to work smarter and increase productivity (51 per cent).

Technology also plays a massive role towards increasing the pace of change, with 84 per cent of respondents agreeing.

Of those who voted technological advancements across both surveys as their top reason for driving change, the following were cited as reasons why:
- The business gains better efficiencies and is more competitive (47 per cent)
- Market forces dictate that technology is a crucial element of driving change (30 per cent)
- The speed at which it can drive change for good (23 per cent)

Owen Coppage, CIO, AGL Energy, a Canon customer which has implemented a major change project, said, “Change is disruptive, but if you manage the people aspect it can be seen as a positive. Hard dollar savings are great, but it’s productivity and efficiency improvements that really add the value to our business. One of our key requirements when undertaking projects at AGL is having a change manager as part of the implementation team.”

For more information on the research study, please see: www.canon.com.au/business/change

Contact Profile

Canon is the world’s leading imaging brand that actively inspires with imaginative ideas that enable people to connect, communicate and achieve more than they thought possible through imaging solutions for business and consumers. Canon’s Australian R&D company, CiSRA, develops and exports digital imaging technologies for use in Canon products worldwide. Canon has ranked among the top-four US patent recipients* for the past 19 years, and had global revenues of around $US45 billion in 2010. Canon Australia also operates Canon Finance Australia, which offers one-stop shopping for customers wanting leasing or finance services. For more information, visit www.canon.com.au, www.facebook.com/canonaustralia, www.twitter.com/canonaustralia, www.youtube.com/canonaustralia
Anna Barnes
P: 02 8281 3802
W: www.canon.com.au

Canon, change, research, business, technology

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23rd March 2017

Iran seizes two US navy boats

Latest Update: January 13, 2016 | 179 Views

WASHINGTON: The Iranian military seized two US Navy boats and are holding them in custody on the Irans Farsi Island in the middle of the Gulf, US officials told NBC News.

Officials said it is unclear whether the 10 American sailors who were aboard one of the small riverine boats had strayed into Iranian territorial waters before they were captured.

Officials said the Americans were on a training mission when their boat experienced mechanical difficulty and drifted into Iranian-claimed waters and was seized by the Iranian coast guard.

Secretary of State John Kerry has been on the phone with Iranian officials in Tehran attempting to gain the release. One senior official told NBC News the Iranians understand it was a mistake and have agreed to release the Americans in international waters within hours.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told The Associated Press that the boats were moving between Kuwait and Bahrain when the US lost contact with them.


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Labour turns its guns on Osborne's infrastructure failures

New figures show that just seven of the 576 infrastructure projects planned by the coalition have been completed.

When Nick Clegg recently conceded that the coalition had cut infrastructure spending too fast after coming to power, he took care to assure us that all was now well. "I think we've all realised that you actually need, in order to foster a recovery, to try and mobilise as much public and private capital into infrastructure as possible," the Deputy PM said.

While one welcomes the government's belated conversion to the merits of counter-cyclical spending (a rare concession to its Keynesian critics), the early results are not encouraging. Labour will use an opposition debate today to highlight new Treasury figures showing that just seven (1.2 per cent) of the 576 infrastructure projects planned by the coalition are "completed" or "operational" and that most of these are road schemes began under the last government. In addition, just 18.2 per cent of the projects are said to have "started" or to be "in construction" or "under construction".

Clegg himself has previously expressed frustration over the timelag between projects being announced and completed. He remarked in a speech to the LSE in September 2011: "A key blockage is actually within government: Whitehall. Identifying projects and funnelling cash to them can take time – I understand that. These are big investments, and you have to get the detail right. But failure to deliver major infrastructure projects on time and on budget is a perennial problem in the UK."

The government's failure to improve its performance on this front is a matter of concern to the Lib Dems, with some blaming George Osborne's preference for Treasury "guarantees" over direct spending. In her column today, the Times's Rachel Sylvester reports that "Clegg and other senior Lib Dems are convinced that the Government needs to loosen the public purse strings and spend even more on infrastructure to stimulate the economy".

After Clegg claimed that the coalition's capital spending cuts were "no more than what Alistair Darling spelt out anyway", Labour will also point to OBR figures (see below) showing that the government has spent £12.8bn less than Darling planned.

Public Sector Gross Investment - OBR forecast of Labour plans

Public Sector Gross Investment under the Conservative-led government

The last time Rachel Reeves cited these figures, George Osborne accused her of "not being completely straight", a remark which earned him a rebuke from the Speaker.

But even if one discounts the numbers for 2012-13 (which is still ongoing), the data shows that the coalition spent £6.1bn less in its first two years than Labour would have. Little wonder that the Lib Dems are urging Osborne to finally loosen the fiscal taps.

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls visits a social housing project with shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Rachel Reeves. Photograph: Getty Images.

George Eaton is political editor of the New Statesman.

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Police shoot man in parliament

A man carrying what appeared to be a knife was shot by armed police after entering the parliamentary estate.

From the window of the parliamentary Press Gallery, I have just seen police shoot a man who charged at officers while carrying what appeared to be a knife. A large crowd was seen fleeing from the man before he entered the parliamentary estate.

After several officers evaded him he was swiftly shot by armed police.

Ministers have been evacuated and journalists ordered to remain at their desks.

More follows. Read Julia Rampen's news story here.

Armed police at the cordon outside Parliament on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Getty

George Eaton is political editor of the New Statesman.