Rainbow Cake!

Rainbow Cake!

I Can Has Cute Panda!

I didn't realize pandas could get any cuter until I saw this mama with her baby =)

photo from fanpop

And check out these cutnesses =)

Look how the little ears grow =)

Pobrecita pandita.

Look at those cute fluffy ears! Are they just for looks or do thy help them hear better lol?

Should Every SME Become a Global Business?

We sure hope so. Yet according to Brendan Murtagh, speaking at the 28th annual Caribbean Accountants Conference, he said:

"I'm not suggesting every SME needs to become a global business, but to be the best they can be, they have to understand that there are going to be opportunities out there in the current climate whereby they can get together and leverage what they have together with other partners, and actually make a stronger, better business that's going to add to the economy as a whole. We are saying if you are going to recognize these opportunities, you have to step back and ask how are we going to do it?"

Read more here.

Note: IASB Issues Accounting Standard for SMEs

What makes us who we are

Glenn's Map
Click graphic to enlarge

Ethnicity is amorphous, and only

a small fraction of what makes us who we are.

Charo's Map

Make your map free at bubbl.us

"There are no races, there are only clines."

-Frank Livingstone, anthropologist

It has been illegal for the government of France to collect data on ethnicity and race since 1789.

Race and ethnicity questions serve to divide and exclude.

Colors are not races.

People are Tints and Shades of flesh color.

Original photo from National Geographic.

If there were black and white people, their offspring would be grey.

"Citing Blumenbach by name, Emerson agrees that races shade into each other imperceptibly."

-Nell Irvin Painter, The History of White People

The 'race' check boxes are not derived from physical science, but from political science with an underlying ideology of exclusion.

Makeup from brushesbykaren

Hair from headkandy

In 1997, the American Association of Physical Anthropologists urged the American governmnet to phase out the use of race as a data category and to substitute ethnic categories instead. Geneticists studying DNA ... were also concluding that race as a biological category made no sense. --Nell Irvin Painter

The book "Modernizing the U.S. Census" sums up the race and ethnicity question saying that the question will continue to have an amorphous answer and will soon be inconsequential.

Modernizing the U.S. Census

Chapter 7: Data on Race and Ethnicity

Modernizing the U.S. Census

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Modernizing the U.S. Census

Quality of Data on Race and Ethnicity

YouTube response explaining One Human Race

Here is the information I could not find on the US census website. The answers to the questions:

How many 'race' categories does the US feel are worthy of recognizing?

Why has the US been collecting data on race and ethnicity?

What do they do with the data?

From the webpage:

A Brief History of Census “Race”

Frank W. Sweet, author of Legal History of the Color Line

Changes in “Racial” Categories

A problem faced by the census today is that many Americans no longer take the “race” question seriously. This is a consequence of the 1960 switch to self-reporting. Having opened the door to self-classification, the bureau has been unable to stop millions of Americans from checking off the “other” category and filling in “human,” or something equally frivolous or non-racial. To discourage such lack of cooperation, the bureau has threatened criminal prosecution of anyone who fails to choose a government-approved “race.”
From 1790 to 1880, the census recorded only “color,” not “race.”

The word “race” first appeared in the census in 1900. From 1900 to 1940, the census asked each person’s “color or race.”

In 1950, the word “color” was dropped and the census asked only for the person’s “race”.

In 1970, “color” made a brief comeback. The census asked each person’s “color or race,” as in the 1900-1940 period. This was the last census to use the word “color.”

Changes in Stated “Racial” Goals

The earliest mention of the need to classify free Americans by “race” was in the late 17th century, long before the census (or the nation) was founded). At that time (1691-1723), the reason given was that: (1) Racial classification was necessary to prevent intermarriage, (2) Intermarriage had to be prevented to stop the birth of Americans of mixed Euro-Afro ancestry, (3) The existence of mixed-ancestry Americans would enable alliance between European and African involuntary forced laborers, and (4) Such alliance would overthrow English rule and turn colonies into free maroon communities.[19] In fact, Latin American colonies encouraged intermarriage (and consequent mixed-ancestry colonists) and yet were not overthrown.


In the 1830s, as a consequence of the Nat Turner incident, free African Americans came to be seen as a threat. The justification for “racially” classifying Americans on the census was to prevent African-American migration to the free states. Several Midwestern states’ constitutions forbade African-American immigration.[20] In fact, no evidence ever emerged that free African Americans were a threat.


In the 1850s, intermarriage was believed to produce mentally defective offspring. Census “scientists” published findings that mixed-ancestry children were usually born retarded or insane. And so, the justification for “racially” classifying Americans on the census was to prevent intermarriage and thus protect public health.[21] In fact, even cursory examination of the data shows it to be falsified, since many communities reported more insane mixed-race individuals than their entire population.


In the Jim Crow era (1900-1965), the elites in power argued the importance of preserving “White racial purity.” The justification for “racially” classifying Americans on the census was that it helped to prevent contamination of the White “race.”[22] In fact, liaisons between White males and Black females were encouraged while the reverse was often punished with death by public torture.[23]


Since 1970, U.S. society has tried to atone for slavery and the state-sponsored terrorism of the Jim Crow era by enforcing laws, regulations, entitlements, policies, and practices that favor African Americans. Since that time, “racially” classifying Americans on the census has been justified on the grounds that such classification is needed in order to fight “racism.”[24] In fact, no “anti-racist” or civil rights federal regulation or law enforcement over the past 30 years has ever used census data.[25]

-Frank W Sweet, A Brief History of Census “Race”

Multiracialism In America - Jane Junn

Choose one or more:
☐ Mixed
☐ Other
☐ Unsure
☐ Don't know
☐ None of your business

Snoop finds out what percentage of Native American, European and African he is.

Should I stop using the word "race"?

Unless you are a physical anthropologist, or discussing the word itself, the word 'race' should be avoided.

Replace the word 'race' with ethnicity. True, the meaning is different, but conversations about human differences usually revolve around ethnic differences.

The term 'race' equates to the noun 'breed'. Humans do not want to be thought of as breeds.

Nell Irvin Painter
Professor of American History, Princeton
Speaking about the History of White People

Using the term 'race' runs the risk of sounding uneducated, and worse, the risk of sounding racist.

‪NYTimes.com - Being Multiracial in America‬

‪Mixed‬
Listen at 3:20

Learn More about 'race' and ethnicity at understandingrace.org

Serious Racial Problems at Department of the Interior

Statement by Blacks in Government (BIG)

Dept of Interior Emergency Meeting Requested to Address EEOC & Judge’s Findings

From Bureau of Ocean Energy to U.S. Fish and Wildlife the U.S. Department of the Interior's Mismanagement Exacerbated by Institutionalized Favoritism

With the completion this month of the review of the U.S. Department of Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [EEOC], dated June 6, 2010 the extent of human resource mismanagement at the Department has been further documented. Taking sharp issue with current Interior policies, EEOC has found continued under representation of minorities and policies that re-enforce ‘personality driven’ human resource management.

The Blacks In Government Interior Chapter [BIG] points to its recent White Paper findings as further collaboration of this review showing a Department wide problem driving diversity and diversity of opinion out of management, out of employment and delivering bad public policy decisions adversely affecting all Americans. BIG sees the recent oversight failures contributing to the Gulf oil spill crisis as a direct consequence of ‘good old boys’ out of touch with commonly held American values.

Citing a 1948 Executive Order by President Harry S. Truman; the 1964 Civil Rights Act; the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972; and President Carter’s Reorganization Plan mandating the same standards for Federal employment as those in the private sector, EEOC has issued a stinging rebuke to current Interior diversity practices at the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service. Secretary Salazar was hand delivered the BIG White Paper report documenting many of these concerns last fall.

BIG leadership is deeply concerned that Secretary Salazar has not appointed a new point person on workforce diversity since Robert Stanton left that role last fall. It has been filled by an ‘acting director’ for half a year. Equally disturbing, senior Interior staff seem to be out of touch with the sensitivity and urgency of stopping the flow of talent out of the organization and leaving weak management in place over critical American assets, like oil industry oversight.

Despite assurances from the department, not a single new accountability standard to increase diversity has been implemented or discussed with BIG’s leadership. The accountability standards currently in place are the same as those in place as a ‘check off’ on a form.
As further confirmation of inaction by key personnel, BIG points to the case of Stewart v. Department of the Interior where “intentional race discrimination” was found at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement on May 8 of last year.

The Department quickly issued a final order on June 17, 2009 adopting remedies ordered by the EEOC’s Administrative Judge Martin. In that finding “AJ Martin strongly encouraged the Agency to institute a panel selection system which requires the full complement of all protected classes be represented, for all selections, regardless of grades…to help ensure the absence of discrimination in future selections and provide evidence of the Agency’s proactive and preventive measures.” As of today, the Agency continues to operate status quo, not in compliance.

The White Paper

P&G Extends Reach to Some of the Most Populous Countries in the World

The U.S. and Europe are in a slump so Procter and Gamble plans to target India -- where consumers remain a tough sell -- for its international expansion push.

Read more here.

P&G India here. P&G India: brands.

Photo credit: P&G Ariel, India

Qatar Airways Sets Its Skies Overseas

Guess who's flying the skies with big global expansion plans? Qatar Airways, considered the world's 5-star airline.

Over the next three years, Qatar Airways will be expanding its global network of destinations from 89 to 120, beginning with this week’s launch of new routes to Sao Paolo and Buenos Aires and new routes to Phuket, Hanoi, Budapest, Bucharest, Brussels and Nice beginning this fall.

Full press release on these last six destinations can be found here.

Win a trip business class ...
QATAR AIRWAYS MONTHLY SWEEPSTAKES
Enter here.

CEO Akbar Al Baker's (pictured) message: here.

Photo credit: here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Is Our Global Economy Still Fragile?

Norman J. Ornstein (pictured) is a resident scholar at American Enterprise Institute (AEI). He writes this commentary:

Threat of Another Economic Stumble Is Real

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Most Liveable Cities in the World

Wednesday we posted about the top two most desired destinations adults prefer to live worldwide. Today we look at the Global Liveability Report.

According to the GLR, Canada (Vancouver) and Australia (Melbourne) are considered the most liveable in the world.

More comments about the ranking here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

I'm Thinking About Raising Some Chickens In My Backyard

PRESIDENT'S CORNER

By Norris McDonald

Rooster

My garden is giving me great joy this summer. I have everything growing back there and I am feeding about 6 other households on my suburban block.

Maybe if I am successful with chickens, I might get ambitious and go for a couple of pigs. That way I could use the organic waste generated in the house.

Organic Fence & Garden in March

But is it legal to raise livestock in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.? Yes it is.

In the Washington area, the District alone has an outright ban on farm animals, but suburbs such as Montgomery, Prince George's and Fairfax counties allow pigs, chickens, goats and other livestock under certain conditions.

Organic Garden in June

I'm going to name my rooster Rooster and maybe get 3 hens. I'll produce my own eggs and use the egg shells to fortify my garden plants with calcium. Three hens and a rooster should generatte about a dozen eggs a week I hope. And I think they will be 'free range.' I will let them run around in the garden. I already put up a deer fence. It wouldn't take much more effort to make it chicken exit proof. All organic of course. The garden fruits and vegetables, the animals and the fence.

Learn Who's Doing What in One of the World's Most Populated Countries

My latest installment for Small Business Trends/American Express OPEN Forum: Global Sophistication: Selling in China is All the Rage

Snippet:

2. Starbucks. Big plan at the moment: Step up expansion into huge markets in China. Why? When you over-expand locally and entrench the marketplace, there’s nowhere else to grow but outside your own borders. China is it for Starbucks. Their plan is to open thousands of cafes in China and achieve great success in one of the largest markets in the world.

Tip for small businesses: When local sales begin to weaken, retrench and take steps to rejuvenate sales with a global strategy.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

CNN Invites Nominations for 2010 CNN Heroes

Do you know an everyday person who is changing the world? Your nomination of a 2010 CNN Hero could help the person that inspires you achieve even greater recognition and success. The Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2010 each receive $25,000 and will be honored on our Thanksgiving night global telecast, "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute."

Help us share your Hero’s story with the world -- click the link below and submit your nomination today! July is the last month to nominate someone for consideration.

How to nominate a CNN Hero

Top Two Most Desired Destinations Among Adults Worldwide?

The U.S. and Canada are the No. 1 and No. 2 desired destinations among adults worldwide who would like to migrate -- in other words, relocate -- permanently to another country if they could, but each nation attracts potential migrants from different backgrounds.

Why?

The United States and Canada attract potential migrants for various reasons -- personal, political, or economic -- but opportunity is the common, overarching theme. People may see moving to these countries as a chance to reunite with family members who have already moved, to find jobs, or to provide better lives for their children. Immigration policy and migrant policy, too, could play a role in the talent each nation attracts. Health and social services available to them as newcomers, and their future benefits as citizens, may be yet another factor.

Young, Less Educated Yearn to Migrate to the U.S.

Illustration credit: Gallup

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Blacks Will Not Own Offshore Oil Rigs Now

African Americans do not own energy infrastructure in the United States [except maybe Nigerian-born Kase Lawal]. Of the roughly 4,000 oil production rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, none of them are owned by Blacks. The BP Gulf Disaster will put more pressure on large and small firms alike to operate in the Gulf of Mexico as a result of the BP accident. The possibility of Blacks getting into the offshore oil business in the Gulf of Mexico just became impossible.

AAEA will continue to examine this issue as we address mitigation of the disaster.

Smaller oil companies could never handle the costs BP is paying out as a result of the Gulf oil disaster. Some smaller firms include:

Plains Exploration & Production Company
Noble Energy Inc.
Kerr McGee
Ocean Energy
Unocal
Cobalt International Energy
ATP Oil
Gas Corporation

[See list of Current Deepwater Operators]

Although a federal judge lifted the moratorium this week on drilling in deep water in the Gulf of Mexico, it will become more expensive and have much tighter regulations and some companies and investors will not think it is worth the effort. The rising cost of insurance premiums, longer estimated time frames for completing projects and the potential lifting of a $75 million cap on oil spill liability make the independents' role uncertain. Shareholders are not going to want small exploration and production companies in the deep water because it is cost-prohibitive and the risks are too great. (WSJ, 6/22/2010)

ISO 9001 for Small Businesses: The Essential Tool of the World Economy

A new edition of the handbook, "ISO 9001 for Small Businesses," has just been jointly published by ISO and the International Trade Centre (ITC).

Its aim is to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to understand and implement the standard which gives the requirements for quality management systems.

ISO 9001 is used in some 176 countries by businesses and organizations large and small, in public and private sectors, by manufacturers and service providers, in all sectors of activity.

Learn more here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Miss Emma

Miss Emma, originally uploaded by musiquedance.

A few of the founders of MokaFive.

How To Save Yourself Serious Time On International Business Travel

Travel tips for folks who need to fly, especially internationally.

Tips For Business Travel
by David Lavenda, Fast Company

Five years ago the author was quoted in a similar article, “Globetrotter’s Tips To Boost Performance on Long Business Trips.”

Care to add your own international business travel tips? We welcome your comments.

Additional resource:

• Investigate international business travel tips. The practical aspects of international business travel can make or break the success of your trip.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Develop a Structured Export Strategy

Here's what U.K. based Dawson Precision Components (DPC) practices:

“There’s no point in competing on price with the Far East. We do get offered some ridiculous things where you couldn’t buy the material for the price of the job.” While it did lose one contract recently to a low-cost rival, he says it quickly won the work back based on the inferior results produced by the competitor. “We’re happy to focus on precision and quality."

Read more about this company's experience in the export market here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

CIW Slavery Museum, National Mall

Connect to Fritz Meyer's photos

CIW Slavery Museum, National Mall

Enter China With Eyes Wide Open

Insightful piece with James McGregor of APCO Worldwide. He's a journalist turned consultant, and has been following the China story for 20 years.

Take a look at his interview, "Q&A: Doing Business In China," conducted by Emily Rauhala at The New York Times.

Illustration: James McGregor and his book, "One Billion Customers: Lessons From the Front Lines of Doing Business in China."

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Darryl Willis and Christopher Pleasant

The Blacks of BP and Transocean

Darryl Willis, left, is Vice President for Resources at BP America and is the head of BP Claims Process. He testifies on Capitol Hill and is the face of BP's TV claims commercials. Some are praising Mr. Willis' performance and critics complain that they 'send out a black man' when they get in trouble. There is also criticism that while Mr. Willis is describing how claim payments are moving smoothly, numerous people in the Gulf area are complaining about the slowness of the BP claims process. Now that President Obama has established a $20 billion dollar escrow account to speed up the claims process, it will be interesting to see what happens with Mr. Willis. let us just hope that claims are paid swiftly. Livelihoods are at stake.

Christopher Pleasant, left, a subsea supervisor with Transocean, presented testimony before the Deepwater Horizon joint investigation hearing on May 28, 2010. Chris Pleasant, the man in charge of the blowout preventer and other well systems on the sea floor, said he was part of lengthy discussions about fluid losses during a negative pressure test about four hours before the accident. Drillers were "unsatisfied" with the negative test, which returned 15 barrels of mud, rather than the ideal of no mud released. And yet, the top drilling official on the rig, an Offshore Installation Manager and BP's well designer on shore testified previously that they believed the pressure tests were successful and no cause for concern. Mr. Pleasant was under oath and appeared to be very straightforward in his testimony. That might not serve him well professionally going forward.

AAEA is concerned that of the more than 4,000 offshore oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico, none of the leases are held by black-owned companies. We appreciate that professionals such as Messrs. Willis and Pleasant work for major oil companies and drilling rig firms, but Blacks should be lease holders and rig owners as well. Blacks in Government (BIG) have also raised the issue of few to no blacks in MMS management positions overseeing offshore drilling.

So cool I had to share this lol!



From Org Junkie

Global SMEs Drive Innovation and Competition

Did you know?

Small and medium enterprises (also SMEs, small and medium businesses, SMBs, and variations thereof) are companies whose headcount or turnover falls below certain limits.

More importantly:

In many sectors, SMEs are also responsible for driving innovation and competition. Globally SMEs account for 99% of business numbers and 40% to 50% of GDP.

The term small and medium businesses or SMBs is predominantly used in the USA.

Read the official Wikipedia definition of an SME here. I like the global flavor to the piece.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Native Americans Oppose Arizona Anti-Immigrant Law

The problem is that indigenous North American's were not successful sending the English back to the UK. The English massacred, stole and coerced for the land now called the United States. The least the US can now do is allow the flow of people to the US the same way they allow the flow of money and goods to the US. The US believes in freedom. We need to live up to our beliefs. No more double standards. The US is addicted to cheap labor; it was founded on slavery. The US subsidizes US corn growers and ships the corn to Mexico, putting Mexican corn growers out of business. Mexicans are looking for an honest day's work for for an honest day's pay. Every anglo that says lock down the border should go work in agriculture - in the sun, spraying pesticides, with no vacation, no sick time, no health care and no 401k.

-Glenn Robinson

http://immigration.change.org/blog/view/native_americans_oppose_arizona_anti-immigrant_law

Wilma Lewis

Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management

From 2001 to 2007, Wilma Lewis, left, was a partner at Crowell & Moring LLP, where she specialized in complex civil litigation and internal investigations. Lewis, a former United States Attorney for the District of Columbia (1998-2001) and Inspector General at Interior, was confirmed Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management by the U.S. Senate on August 7, 2009.

From 1995 to 1998, Lewis was the Inspector General for Interior. Before serving as IG, Lewis was an Associate Solicitor at Interior from 1993 to 1995, managing and supervising the Division responsible for handling equal opportunity compliance, administrative law, personnel, torts, contracts and ethics matters.

From 1986 to 1993, Lewis worked in the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, where she was lead counsel on behalf of the United States in a wide assortment of civil cases in both federal trial and appellate courts, and subsequently served in supervisory and management positions in the Civil Division.

Lewis is a graduate of Harvard Law School, where she received her Juris Doctor degree in 1981. She was awarded her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, with distinction, by Swarthmore College in 1978, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

The assistant secretary ensures that the lands and natural resources of the 256-million-acre National System of Public Lands, including the National Landscape Conservation System, and 1.7 billion acres of the Federal Outer Continental Shelf are managed to meet the needs of the American people. The office also provides oversight on federal royalty management, regulation of active coal mining and reclamation, and restoration of abandoned mined areas. Production of federal energy includes renewable resources, coal, oil, and natural gas.

Mineral resources include metals such as gold, industrial minerals such as potash used for fertilizer, and construction minerals such as sand and gravel. A focus of the office is balancing the nation’s need for clean, affordable energy, minerals and other public land resources with a strong program of stewardship and environmental protection while achieving value for American taxpayers. Management goals are accomplished by engaging America’s local communities, partners, volunteers and youth.

Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Lewis grew up on the island of St. Thomas, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands. (DOI, WhoRunsGov)

The Internet Picture Show

More than 26 percent -- 26.6% percent to be exact -- of the world's population is now online. There are more than 1.8 billion Internet users. Online growth has been 399.3% from 2000-2009.

Learn more about the history and growth of the Internet here.

Chart source: www.internetworldstats.com - January 2008
Copyright © 2008, Miniwatts Marketing Group