Ex-Soldier Rob Lawrie Gets Fine But No Jail Time For Helping 4-Year-Old Migrant | NBC News

January 14, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

BOULOGNE-SUR-MER, France — A French court convicted a British ex-soldier Thursday of endangerment for trying to spirit a 4-year-old Afghan girl from a squalid migrant camp in Calais to family members in Britain, but dropped a tougher smuggling charge and handed him only a suspended fine.

The conviction appeared to be a symbolic punishment and a victory for Rob Lawrie, who apologized for what he called an “irrational” move. His case epitomized the clash between the heart and the law amid Europe’s record-breaking migrant influx.

What Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech Teaches About Powerful Presentations | Inc.com

January 14, 2016January 14, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Say you want to make a powerful presentation to your employees, your board, or your key customers. And say your goal is to share an inspiring vision–and stimulate meaningful change. What speeches should you study to prepare?

For sheer impact, it would be hard to top the “I Have a Dream” speech by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was delivered in the summer of 1963 during the March on Washington, a rally for civil rights and against discrimination. Roughly 250,000 people gathered on the National Mall, in front of the Lincoln Memorial. More than 50 years later, the speech remains potent and moving. What’s more, the speech–along with the entire March on Washington–led to important policy changes, most notably the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

What Genetically Engineered Animal Will Land On Your Dinner Plate Next? | Co.Exist

January 14, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

It took two decades for the first genetically engineered animal to get approved for your dinner. Now that AquAdvantage salmon—with DNA engineered from three species—is moving forward, more genetically modified meat is likely to follow. But it’s not clear how long that will take.

Outside the United States, bacon might be next. Researchers at Seoul National University tweaked a gene in pigs that makes them super-muscly, yielding more pork per giant pig butt. Now, the scientists hope to sell their modified pig sperm to farmers in China, where engineered food can sometimes move to market more quickly.

No apologies as Iran releases U.S. Navy sailors | USA Today

January 13, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The State Department expressed gratitude to Iran on Wednesday for releasing 10 U.S. sailors briefly detained after their two small boats drifted into Iranian waters but denied apologizing to the controversial Middle Eastern power.

“Absolutely ZERO truth to rumors that @JohnKerry apologized to Iran over Sailors. Nothing to apologize for,” State Department spokesman John Kirby tweeted.

Oil crashes to $30 a barrel | Money CNN

January 13, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The dramatic crash in crude oil prices just got even more stunning. Oil plummeted below $30 a barrel on Tuesday for the first time since December 2003. The latest wave of selling leaves crude oil down 19% this year alone. It represents an incredible 72% plunge from crude oil’s June 2014 peak of almost $108.

“The fundamental situation for oil markets is much worse than previously thought,” Barclays commodities analysts wrote in a client note.

Twitter Introduces Hashtag Ads | Small Biz Trends

January 12, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Twitter played a big role in making hashtag usage so widespread, and now the company is introducing an exclusive new ad format that utilizes the hashtag even further.

Called “conversational ads,” these ads are essentially promoted tweets. The Twitter hashtag ad will include call to action buttons with several custom hashtags the advertiser has created for their campaign. The buttons let you pick between hashtags under the tweet and then retweet the ad.

Tipping Point: Is It Time to Rethink Gratuity in Restaurants? | Entrepreneur

January 12, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

American diners really give it to their servers. In New York City and Los Angeles, tips at independent eateries average 22 percent of the check, a big jump from a generation ago, when 15 percent was the norm, according to restaurateurs. Waiters and bartenders often earn more than $50 an hour.

And that has to stop, say a growing number of restaurant owners. Bottom-line necessity and common sense are uniting small family-owned cafes with the country’s most expensive chef-owned dining rooms in a move to abolish tipping.

Planning for Growth | Lydia Mehit

January 11, 2016January 18, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

2015 was a growth year for CBPS. We connected with new referral sources for clients, celebrated one year in our new office and expanded our list of services. We are now formulating our plan for 2016 and beyond.

Sometimes you are so busy in your business that you don’t have time to step outside and view it. Stepping back from the business helps you gain clarity. In 2015, we took time to put a marker down and articulate where we wanted to go. Although things didn’t turn out exactly as planned, we still booked more work in 2015 than in previous years.

Continue reading “Planning for Growth | Lydia Mehit” →

4 Unconventional Pieces of Startup Advice from Peter Thiel | Page19

January 11, 2016January 11, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

So: you have a great new idea and you’re on the verge of launching your own business? Off you go! Be warned, though: few startups last more than a few years. What gives? Peter Thiel gives us his take on what’s big when you’re small. This might be a brave new world of enterprise, but traditional business smarts still matter.

This is why it is worth listening to advice from successful founders and entrepreneurs. Certainly, one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time is Peter Thiel, a co-founder of PayPal and now a prominent venture capitalist. He was the first outsider to invest in Facebook, and he manages Founders Fund’s $2 billion assets.

We read Peter Thiel’s bestselling book, Zero to One, and pulled out its most important tips for new startup founders.

Asking For Help Could Be The Biggest Boost Your Business Gets | Getentrepreneurial

January 11, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Running your own business can feel like it’s you against the world. Especially in the early days.

However, no one has to fly solo. Help is out there and it’s just a matter of knowing where to find it.

Cultivated properly and nurtured frequently, business mentors and friends can turn into some of the biggest assets you have, outside of your own staff. Their guidance, ideas and counsel can help your business grow and turn you into a better leader.

Here are some tips that have worked for me: