Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Yahoo CEO steps down over fake academic credentials

New York, May 14: Scott Thompson has stepped down as the CEO of Yahoo after it was found that he padded his educational record, ending his four months tenure in the company. Yahoo confirmed in a statement saying Thompson "has left the company". The shocking details of Thompson padding up his educational details came to light after activist hedge fund Third Point allegedly accused that the former lied about his educational details. Reports reveal that Roy Bostock, Yahoo Chairman and four other directors, who already announced their plans to step down later this year will now leave the board immediately. Activist hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb and two of his allies, turnaround specialist Harry Wilson and former MTV Networks executive Michael Wolf, are expected to fill their shoes. While Alfred Amoroso, a veteran technology executive, will succeed to Bostock's throne. The matter on Thompson's fake educational credentials was exposed in a letter written by Third Point's founder and chief executive, Dan Loeb to the Yahoo board. In his letter, Loeb said, "Stonehill College informed us that it did not begin awarding computer science degrees until 1983 - four years after Mr Thompson graduated." Reiterating that it was an "inadvertent error", Yahoo in its statement said, "Scott Thompson received a bachelor of science degree in business administration with a major in accounting from Stonehill college. There was an inadvertent error that stated Mr Thompson also holds a degree in computer science." The internet giant was on a downslide ever since former Chief Executive Carol Bartz was fired. Last year also saw Yahoo revenue going downhill by more than a fifth after Thompson, who is PayPal's former president joined on board as Chief Executive in January.

Monday, May 20, 2013

True leadership comes in pink tennis shoes and jeans

True leaders are mentors with a servant's heart. These are not just pretty words to fill out space. If you are NOT a true servant with a true passion for helping people you will not be a true leader in the real sense of the word. It is that simple. You may be doing well and have a list of people listening to your advices, but that alone does not make you a leader. People are not numbers you can just add on your email list or connection networks. They are people with dreams and goals like you. As a true leader, it should be your goal to lead people to where they want to be. Being a leader, is not something you have to be born with. You can develop the qualities of a leader by being a good follower. True leaders, however, are not average people, they must be above average. I mean by this, that if you are an everyday average person, you are most likely a follower, not a leader. Once you become a leader, your thoughts, actions, and achievements will be above average, because you will be reacting differently than the average person. So what does a leader look like? Look at the young girls that are shown in this picture. They are a true depiction of leadership in its purest form. I understand that we typically do not think of leadership in jeans and pink tennis shoes, but maybe that is part of the problem. We often expect to see leadership in a certain and we miss all of the magical leaders that have the potential of changing the world. We walk right by the ones that would most likely soar above any of the others because we have a narrow predetermined vision of what it be. The girls that you see here have decided to take the reality of their life, learn from it and focus on others so that they can make a difference for the generation that will walk after them. Before they were a decade old, they had already set their legacy in motion. Three of the four children that you see here have terminal cancer. Their dream of life and what they and their families thought that it could be have been shattered by the hard and cruel facts of reality. They could choose to get lost in that reality and lose their dreams, and yet they are finding the empowerment in the journey. That is right! They have chosen to NOT be a VICTIM but have made a decision to embrace empowerment. The journey is the part of life where we must consciously choose to capture the lessons from the darkest of our experiences and focus outward on other people. This is the trait of a real leader. This is where the reward happens. Not just a reward for you and the individual that you focus on but also with all of the people that they interact with. It is a true ripple effect. They are dedicated to raising awareness of childhood cancer, raising research dollars for it and identifying children in their county that are experiencing it so that they can teach them how to lead in jeans and pink tennis shoes too! In the last two years they have raised countless spirits, pulled a community together, inspired numerous other businesses to get involved and have raised over $75,000. Beyond that, they are inspiring a movement of people. They have a level of influence that most leaders only dream of. When they enter a room, it is like a magnet. People stop and are automatically mesmerized. Not because of their lack of hair or the hand tremors from the variety of medicine cocktails that they have to take daily. Not by far! They have a special twinkle in their eye and energy in their step. They chose to see the light in the darkest of closets and the good in the shadiest of people. They truly have a different perspective on life and appreciate and value all that come across their path. Like I said, a true depiction of leadership in its purest form. Excuse me. I must go now. I need to go and find a cute pair of pink tennis shoes and play webkins with the girls. If I am observant enough, I might learn a thing or two about leadership!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Shoe polishes contain alcohol. Leather is no different than your skin. If you put alcohol on it, the alcohol will dry it out and continual use will lead to cracking. There is more alcohol in liquid and hard waxes than in creme polishes, so use accordingly. In between polishing the shoes, a quick brushing will restore the shine and remove the dust and grime that accumulates when walking. If you have many shoes of various colors, you might want to purchase neutral polish instead of investing in so many colors. Use matching liquid shoe polish on the outside and upper soles of the shoes as well as the leather heels. You can achieve an even better shine with most waxes by applying them with a wet cotton ball or bit of cotton waste, squeezed almost dry. With the harder waxes (Kiwi, for example) an adequate finish can then be achieved with the brush alone. Softer ones require the buffing cloth and spit-shining--which really isn't worth the trouble once you've mastered the cotton ball method. On well-maintained shoes, a good shine can take as little as three or four minutes. Polishes build up on leather (and may cause a haze to develop) so it is best to occasionally use a saddle soap and leather conditioner to clean the leather.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

August 2011 Birth Club

Do you ever go to the website Zulily? You can find shoes there at discounted prices, and there is just a standard shipping fee. Last week they had See Kai Run shoes (I did not check today, but they could still be there). You just have to look on day one to have access to all available sizes (most popular sizes sell out quickly). My brother has four boys (and a shoestring budget), and I am pretty sure that most of the shoes when they were younger came from Target or sales racks of department stores. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Converse Lures 'Rebel Consumer' with Musician Collaborations

Rock stars from Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones to Nirvana and even Justin Bieber and the guys of LMFAO have all rocked out in Chuck Taylors. Made of canvas and rubber, the century-old American brand's shoes have epitomized countercultural cool for decades. "They really haven't changed in 103 years. They're basically the same exact shoe," said Converse archivist Sam Smallidge. First stitched outside of Boston in 1908, Converse was born as a basketball shoe, though it quickly outgrew its place in the sportswear market and the Chuck Taylor emerged as a piece of American pop culture. Even in these tough economic times, sales have been on the rise. "I think everybody on the earth, it seems like, has had a pair of these at one point in time," said Converse CEO and President Jim Calhoun. However, in the last decade, Converse found itself struggling, filing for bankruptcy and failing to compete in a saturated sports market. "I think we tried to go down a sports performance path when there were other brands, frankly, that were spending more money and were better at it than us," Calhoun said. Ironically, it was Nike, one of the biggest sports performance companies in the world, that bought up and bailed out Converse. Calhoun said the company now sells about 200,000 pairs of Chuck Taylors each day around the world. "That's the best-selling shoe of all time and continues to really be our iconic product," he said. But the shoe that once boasted a "Made in the USA" stamp isn't made in America anymore. Factory employees claimed their bosses slapped, kicked and verbally abused them. When asked about the reports, Calhoun called the incidents "unfortunate" and "unacceptable." "We take workers' rights as seriously and it's as much a priority as delivering great products and experiences to our consumers," he said. While Calhoun said the company has made progress on fixing the problem, Converse's critics say the company is still falling short in rectifying factory workers' complaints. "We don't take a passive approach. We don't wait for the problems. We proactively monitor our factories," Calhoun said. "But I'd be less than sincere if I said no problem will ever happen again." Despite the controversies and financial problems, the company is now betting its future on a return to its musical roots. Converse began inviting musicians, including Pharrell and, most recently, the Gorillaz, to cut original tracks to build social buzz around the brand. They've also built an empire on special shoe collaborations with U2's The Edge, Metallica and Lupe Fiasco. The goal is to win back that "rebel consumer" of hard-to-woo hipsters. QUIZ: Celebrities' Wild Kicks: Who Wore Those Sneakers? Converse also recently built a 5,200-square-foot state-of-the-art recording studio in Brooklyn called Rubber Tracks. "The idea around the studio was to build a place to say thank you, thank you to all the artists who have done all this great work in our shoes over the years, and a way for us to give back to the community," said Converse Chief Marketing Officer Geoff Cottrill. So far, 150 up-start acts, short on cash with big dreams, have been invited to record on Converse's dime. The recording sessions are free for these garage bands and bedroom musicians, but the artists are invited to post their music on the Converse Facebook pages, one of the most significant apparel brands in social media. "We're not measuring every single band that comes in here and how many shoes they're going to sell," Cottrill said. "We truly believe in the idea of doing good things for our consumers. Good things will happen to us in return."

Friday, May 3, 2013

and even fits the children's shoes herself

Having been brought up wearing Start-rite shoes Myleene was already a fan of the brand. She said: 'My first pair of shoes were Start-rite shoes and my daughter's first pair of shoes were Start-rite shoes.' Since having her two daughters Ava (five this year) and Hero (turning one this year), Myleene knows all too well the worries that every parent faces in trying to do the best for their children. She said: 'There are so many things parents think and worry about when bringing up their children, what they are eating, if they are warm enough, if they have a good education, but feet always seem to get forgotten. 'We talk about feet from a fashion perspective but never from a health perspective. These feet are going to carry our children through life so we need to look after them right from the start. 'By ensuring children wear shoes that properly fit their feet you can help prevent problems in later life.' The range contains brand new styles for 2013, as well as the return of popular styles from last year, all featuring Myleene's signature linings of leopard print for girls and tartan for boys. Stylish: Donning a summery white dress with red heels, Myleene looked picture perfect at the launch The Girls Carmen shoe - a popular style from last year and one often worn by Myleene's daughter Hero, will be making a return. Priced between £34 and £49, there are shoes for all occasions. Whether they are intended to be worn to a Princess-themed tea party or a day out at the park, Myleene has ensured each has a flourish of her flamboyant style. I dont actually understand why shes so hated -- Quiet Life, uk, United Kingdom, 17/4/2013 9:05=======People have their reasons for disliking her so strongly, and even though you may not understand the views of others, consider this: Far more people may not understand why anyone cares one bit for her (except those who can¿t see beyond some half-naked woman posing to have her picture taken and published around the world--No wonder Graham left). But everyone is entitled to their opinion aren't they? There is no law saying everyone has to love Myleene Klass is there--because they certainly do not. Does that answer your question Myleene? I dont actually understand why shes so hated! What has she done so wrong?! Anyway i love her childrens range of clothes and shoes. Yes some of it is expensive but when it comes to shoes i would rather buy ONE decent pair of shoes for my toddler than half a dozen pairs of very cheap shoes that could be both uncomfortable and damaging to her feet. Go ahead and red arrow but the only reason people could possibly dislike this women is down to the green eyed monster, and if you dont like her stuff then you dont have to buy it do you?!

Bella Bella team faces long trek to take part in Sun Run

They live about 400 kilometres north of Vancouver in a remote coastal fishing village, but the hearts of the seven brave students and their two chaperones beat as one with their fellow urban runners who will lace up running shoes for the Sun Run next Sunday. There is no Staples store in Bella Bella to help with signs and posters. There is no glitzy department store to outfit them in snazzy apparel and there are no trained specialists in 10-kilometre runs. But that hasn't made them hesitate. Not for a moment. Like so many practical northerners, they have rolled up their sleeves and come up with their own unique means of finding a way down to take part in one of the biggest community runs on the planet. Lately, students have been bagging groceries in the town's one store to raise money for their first foray down to the big-city run. They take turns. Sometimes it's just a few nickels and dimes. But they are grateful for every penny. For getting here is no easy journey. and taking two ferries. Kindergarten teacher Sharon Wilson, who is one of two chaperones accompanying the seven students and taking part in the run themselves, estimates it takes 11 hours one way in travel time, not including stops along the way. They can't wait. They began training by getting ready for the Terry Fox run in September. They started out small, running perhaps just 20 minutes a day. The weather wasn't great. But then, as Wilson reminded the students, neither was it always great when a Canadian hero named Terry Fox ran his epic Marathon of Hope in 1980. During a phone call to Bella Bella with Wilson, she pauses when asked why the students and chaperones want to take part in the Sun Run. The answers are both simple and complex at once. Like many first nations communities, Bella Bella has a high diabetes rate. Hence there is a need and desire to adopt healthier lifestyles. As well, the community is fairly isolated with little in the way of extracurricular activities for young people, explained Wilson. Basketball is the big sport but not everyone likes basketball. Then comes the simplest answer of all: some of the kids are just great runners, she says with a laugh, taking joy in the whims of her young proteges. The trip is almost as much an exposure to the outside world as it is a leap into one of the biggest community runs in the world. The group plan to try to visit Stanley Park, perhaps cycling around the seawall. Then in a stop in Nanaimo, they hope to go bowling and take a dip in a wave pool. Such things don't exist in Bella Bella. "There is the ocean here but it's nothing like a wave pool," said Wilson. And "we don't have anything like a seawall." But the main thing is the run. As they take practice runs through the town, there are thumbs-ups and smiles. It's a sure sign this community which has seen hard times with a flagging fishery is on the right track.