Market Opportunities Unlimited (MOU) Blog

Chile's Earthquake Shifts Earth's Axis - Implications for your Business

So more magnitude 8 earthquakes...will cause greater shifts?

I really hope that our scientists are not thinking of intervening in this process.

Like it or not, natural disasters are a natural part of earth's renewal.

But there are opportunities amidst disaster...

What are your disaster mitigation strategies?

Maybe if you haven't considered it...your important data should be stored in other countries/continents besides your own.

You may want to consider virtualization: Resource virtualization is to decouple (separate) the user’s perception of hardware and software resources from the actual implementation of these resources.

E.g.:

1) Platform virtualization, where the operating system is separate from its underlying resources (data, application and machine).

2) Memory virtualization, where RAM resources from networked systems are aggregated into a virtualized memory pool, so that it can be used more efficiently.

3) Storage virtualization, where logical and physical storage are separate. See diagram here.

4) Application virtualization, whereby applications can be run on alien machines not originally made to run these applications. E.g. a computer software program that runs from a removable storage device like a USB flash drive.

5) Data virtualization, where data is presented as an abstract layer, separate and apart from underlying database systems, structures and storage. (See diagram here).

6) Database virtualization, which is the decoupling of the database layer, which lies between the storage and application layers within the application stack. (See diagram here).

7) Network virtualization, which is the creation of virtual private networks which address space concerns within or across network subnets. (See diagram here).

Maybe, instead of a local workforce, you should consider a global workforce...which can be contracted and expanded, seamlessly, via the Internet, now made possible by intermediaries such as Elance.com, oDesk.com and LimeExchange.com.

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If Biblical prophecy is to be believed, then earth is in for more natural and man-made disasters that will increase in magnitude and effect.

...More severe floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, drought, famine...more wars and rumours of wars.

It is said that in the next 10-15 years, water resources will be so limited, that water will become more valuable than money.

China is preparing - they're clearing forests and building more dams...

How is your country preparing?

...How is your business/company preparing?

Please take the time to read the articles referenced in our "Sources Include" section, below.

...What are your thoughts? :)

(I would like to thank filipaopereire , MoxNewsDotCom and Anglosearch for the use of their YouTube inset videos above).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Virtualization classifications and definitions, Wikipedia.org, accessed March 10,2010

2) Article, "Disaster risk reduction", PracticalAction.org, accessed March 10,2010

3) Article, "China's Water Scarcity" -WikiAnalysis, WikiInvest.com, accessed March 10,2010

4) Article, "Signs of the End-Times", End-times.info, accessed March 10,2010

Cable & Wireless Worldwide to Stretch Its Wings

Our First Underwater Salvage Job
Originally uploaded by Boogies with Fish

Telecommunications company, Cable & Wireless Worldwide, will officially separate from Cable & Wireless PLC, in a demerger agreement, on March 26,2010.

Background

Cable & Wireless PLC will be demerged (split) into two separate entities: Cable & Wireless Communications and Cable & Wireless Worldwide, on March 26,2010.

The UK-based company (Cable & Wireless PLC) will then become known as Cable & Wireless Communications.

The other entity, Cable & Wireless Worldwide, will encompass all Cable & Wireless operations in the Caribbean and in Asia.

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This will give Cable & Wireless Worldwide (of which Cable & Wireless Jamaica is a part) more autonomy in exploring and capitalizing on global market opportunities.

[Flickr photo entitled, "Undersea Cables (Sydney Harbour)", by angusf].

As a result, we heard yesterday, that Cable & Wireless Worldwide will be expanding into Cuba. They will do so via an undersea cable link from Jamaica to Cuba.

(Flickr photo, entitled, "Undersea cable cross section", by nectarous).

This is great news for the struggling company and we wish them all the best in their endeavours.

(I would like to thank:

1) Boogies with Fish for the use of his Flickr inset photo, entitled, "Our First Underwater Salvage Job", which shows a diver repairing undersea cable.

2) Angusf for the use of her Flickr photo entitled, "Undersea Cables (Sydney Harbour)", showing undersea cables in Sydney Harbour, Australia.

3) Nectarous for the use of his Flickr photo entitled, "Undersea cable cross section". It shows one cable cut to expose smaller, yellow-brown copper cables which house fiber optic cables. These cables transmit high-speed data, voice and video between and amongst countries).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Discussion: (CW-L) Cable & Wireless PLC, - Demerger Summary,
via Interactive Investor (www.iii.co.uk), accessed March 5, 2010.

2) Television Programme, "Business Day", via Television Jamaica's Nightly News at 7:00 p.m., March 4, 2010

3) Article "Cable & Wireless Set for Cuban Expansion -Source"
by Kathy Gordon, DOW Jones Newswire, via ADVFN.com, February 28, 2010

4) Press Release/Announcement, "Result of Court Meeting and General Meeting", February 25, 2010.

Congratulations, Joan Gordon-Webley: Converting Solid Waste into Money!

Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility
Originally uploaded by World Bank Philippines

You know, I am continually impressed with the Executive Director of Jamaica's National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) - Mrs. Joan Gordon-Webley.

[Yes friends, the NSWMA collects our garbage. :)]

She is one of the government's few heads of agencies who's serving her public customers well, as well as
earning new revenues for the Jamaican government.

She not only ensures the cleanliness of Jamaica's parishes, but when there is a problem, she proactively seeks to solve it.

Additionally, she readily makes herself available to the media, when her agency comes "under fire" from (is criticized by) the public.

The NSWMA used to have a lot of problems with workers who'd bun the dump at Riverton City in Kingston, to retaliate against decisions made by the management of the NSWMA.

Since she took up the position as Executive Director of the NSWMA, nearly two (2) years ago, incidences of fires at the dump, due to labour disputes, have decreased substantially.

She has also been able to mobilize her workers, so that when there is a fire...caused by incendiary materials in the dump, they actively work at outing the fire, instead of having it burn for days on end.

(You have to understand that the Riverton City Dump is in the vicinity of densely populated residential areas of Riverton City, Patrick City, Washington Gardens, Cooreville Gardens and Duhaney Park in Kingston.

The burning of the dump causes respiratory illnesses in it's nearby residents, in addition to being a traffic hazard for persons driving on Spanish Town Road, a major thoroughfare beside the dump).

(Picture of a Solid Waste Facility in Kampala, Uganda)

Both she and her workers have found novel ways of using the materials at the dump to out fires...thus decreasing her need for help from the Fire Services.

But one thing that has really had me applauding how this lady works, for us as Jamaicans, is her tenacity for making the right decisions, in our best interest.

E.g. last night she announced on television, that the NSWMA will be manufacturing compost - organic compost for the organic farming niche. She says there's a market for it and named the Coffee Industry Board as one of her first customers.

...She revealed that there is a demand for organically-grown Jamaican coffee - renown as one of the best coffees in the world.

This venture will allow her to make new revenues for the NSWMA, that she can reinvest in the agency, as the government's coffers are too limited to properly finance the operations of the agency.

The NSWMA will also be building a well at the National Heroes Circle (which houses the remains of our National Heroes), which is a dust bowl (meaning, pure dust)...

The water from this well will be used to water the grounds, so as to keep the dust levels down, as well as aid in the maintenance of the park.

...Thus decreasing the need to use Jamaica's limited water supply to do the above maintenance operations.

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Congratulations to you and your team at the NSWMA, Mrs. Gordon-Webley!

...May you continue to:

1) Act in the best interest of Jamaicans

2) Show other government agency-heads how Jamaican agencies can be run as profitable business entities, whilst giving us the public, great customer service!

Thank you!

[Friends, please read this article: "Solid
Waste Big Business- Gordon Webley", which provides additional insight into the business mind of Mrs. Gordon-Webley.

I would like to thank:

1) World Bank Philippines for the use of their Flickr inset photo entitled, "Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility".

It shows how the town of Teresa in Rizal Province, is helping improve the quality of Laguna Lake, the Philippines' largest body of water, through its Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility (ISWMF)

2) Sustainable sanitation for the use of her Flickr photo, entitled, "Solid waste in Mulago, Kampala".

It demonstrates Kampala's efforts at recycling plastic bottles. The company "Plastic Recycling Industries" is active in that business. (Kampala is the capital of Uganda, a country in Africa.)]

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Television Jamaica's Nightly News at 7:00 p.m., February 22,2010

2) Article, "Solid Waste Big Business- Gordon Webley", Jamaica Information Service, May 14,2009

National Commerical Bank Increases Service Fees

absolutely no atm fees
Originally uploaded by TheTruthAbout...

National Commercial Bank (NCB) Jamaica announced today, that it will be increasing its service fees.

They cite rising prices (inflation) and the Jamaica Debt Exchange Program as reasons for the increase.

[The Jamaica Debt Exchange (JDX) Programme, involves the Jamaican Government inviting holders of Jamaica Government bonds (mainly banks) to swap their high interest bonds for those with a lower interest rate, so that overall interest rates can decrease in the economy.

This was a necessary condition of the IMF deal with Jamaica, whereby they loan the Jamaican Government US $1.3 billion, to shore up its Balance of Payment deficit.

The JDX Programme is expected to save the Jamaican Government some JMD $40 billion, annually, on its domestic debt-servicing costs.

The National Debt Exchange Programme has been 98% subscribed].

However, Finance Minister Audley Shaw is reportedly saying that NCB is wrong to have increased their fees.

Well, what will be the end result?

Will Minister Shaw insist that NCB roll-back their fee increases, or will other banks - namely the Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica, follow suit given that their major competitor is doing this?

Let's wait and see.

( I would like to thank TheTruthAbout... for the use of his Flickr inset photo entitled, "absolutely no atm fees").

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Power 106 FM News at 12:00 p.m., February 10,2010

2) Article, "IMF Approves $1.27 Billion Loan for Jamaica", IMF Website, February 4,2010

Seems Like Olint Liquidator's The Only One Getting Paid

Day 166 of 365
Originally uploaded by Christopher Saccaro

Please read our previous post for a background to this post:

Following the meetings held today, Olint Liquidator, Joseph Connolly, revealed that:

1. Some US $12 million has been recovered, but the chances of recuperating other monies are limited


2. His team will be involving the USA in investigations, as US $4 million of the US $12 million recovered, have been located in US accounts.


3. He couldn't help most Jamaicans, as their investments were with Olint companies other than Olint TCI.

(Seems like Mr. Connolly and his team are the only one's being paid).

However, one investor felt that the Jamaican Government should:

1. Extradite Mr. Smith to Jamaica so that he can answer to charges here.


2. Force National Commercial Bank (NCB) to reveal all Mr. Smith's transactions on his NCB accounts.

(I would like to thank Christopher Sacarro for the use of his Flick inset photo, entitled, "Day 166 of 365").

Gillian

Sources Include

Television Jamaica's News at 10:35 p.m., February 8,2010