Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The U.S. Is Outsourcing Away Its Competitive Edge






Today, many people are looking to high technology sectors — like alternative energy — to be the growth engine that revives the U.S. economy and gets it back on track. They're in for a shock. During the boom years, when all seemed well, capabilities that underpin innovation in a wide range of products were continuing to deteriorate.

As my Harvard Business School colleague Willy Shih and I described in "Restoring American Competitiveness," a recent article in the Harvard Business Review, the U.S. has lost or is in the process of losing the ability to manufacture many of the cutting-edge products it invented. These include the batteries that power electric and hybrid cars, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for the next generation of energy-efficient lighting, critical components of solar panels, advanced displays for mobile phones and new consumer electronics products like Amazon's Kindle e-reader, and many of the carbon fiber components for Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner.

The culprit is the outsourcing of development and manufacturing work to specialists abroad. The result: a damaging deterioration in the collective capabilities that serve high tech. This industrial commons includes not just suppliers of advanced materials, production equipment, and components, but also R&D know-how, advanced process development and engineering skills, and manufacturing competencies.

Making matters even worse is something that has been largely ignored: In addition to undermining the ability of the U.S. to manufacture high tech products, the erosion of the industrial commons has seriously damaged the country's ability to invent new ones.

The prevailing view of the past 25 years has been that the U.S. can thrive as a center of innovation and leave the manufacturing of the products it invents and designs to others. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This logic is predicated on utterly false assumptions about the divisibility of R&D and manufacturing and basic competitive dynamics.

In many cases, R&D and manufacturing are tightly intertwined. Unless you know how to manufacture a product, you often cannot design it. And, to understand how to manufacture it, you have to have manufacturing competencies and experience. The notion that you can design a product in the serene world of the R&D laboratory without any knowledge of the rough and tumble world of production is ridiculous.

To innovate, you need great two-way feedback. You need to transfer knowledge from R&D into production, but you also need to move knowledge from production back to R&D. The act of production creates knowledge about the process and the product design.

Yes, there are some instances where R&D and manufacturing are separable. But these are the exceptions. In the vast majority of high tech products (and even some low-tech products like apparel), knowledge about manufacturing helps you design products and get them to market quickly. What this means is that when manufacturing capabilities migrate from a country, design and R&D capabilities eventually follow. That's exactly what's been happening in many high tech industries in the U.S. over the past 20 years.

Now let's turn to a dangerous misconception of competitive dynamics that proponents of outsourcing propagate. Here's what they would have us believe: You focus on R&D and turn over the low-margin commodity manufacturing to contractors in Asia. You make out like a bandit because you have the intellectual property and your contractors have so much competition they cannot afford to charge you more. Markets are great.

Wait a minute. All this assumes your manufacturing partner is content to subsist on your table scraps. But what if they have their eye on the prime rib, too? Well, once they have learned to manufacture your product (and your ability to manufacture has eroded), they are in a much better position to move up the food chain into manufacturing and designing more sophisticated components and subsystems and, eventually, the entire product.

This is exactly what has happened in high tech industry after high tech industry. Unless business executives operating in the U.S. recognize the importance of manufacturing and grow wiser about outsourcing, the industrial commons — and the country's economy — will continue to decline.


Thursday October 1, 2009
by Gary P. Pisano


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Sunday, October 25, 2009

How do I make money on Twitter Account



You register as a publisher at Click here to Sign up and add your Twitter account information.

Then you can post Cost Per Click (CPC) ads into your Twitter timeline. When other users click on the ads you post, you get paid for each valid click. Click fraud is monitored in real time and is not tolerated.

You can also earn a fixed fee by posting Cost Per Thousand (CPT) followers ads into your Twitter timeline. You need to have the minimum number of followers specified by the advertiser in order to post a CPT ad.

In addition, you can include Cost per Action (CPA) ads in every email you sent, or post them in your forum post, blog comment, social network status update, wall post and make money from and every social conversation you have on the Internet! When other people complete an action, typically submit an email or zip code, you get paid.

Some ads are targeted to countries specified by advertisers and may not be available to you if you are not from the specified countries.


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Saturday, October 24, 2009

Kentico Releases Free CMS for ASP.NET



Kentico Software released a free version of its product, Kentico CMS for ASP.NET. The Free Edition allows customers to build and manage Web sites, online stores, intranets and Web 2.0 community sites. Previously, Kentico has offered only commercial licenses of its software. The new Free Edition supports WYSIWYG editing, search engine optimization, news, blogs, RSS feeds, newsletters, forums, polls, online forms, a product catalog with shopping cart, an image gallery and many other features. It also comes bundled with three Web site templates - a corporate site, online store and personal site. Web developers can create their own web sites with custom design and they can extend the system with custom code. The Free Edition can be used for both commercial and personal sites without any license fees. It is intended primarily for smaller Web sites with up to 1000 pages and a single content editor. The users of the Free Edition are required to put the Kentico logo to the footer of their Web site. http://www.kentico.com/
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009

FTC Cracks Down on Blogs, Celebs



The Federal Trade Commission is modifying its policies to crack down on endorsements by bloggers and celebrities, as well as unrealistic advertisements. The current rules governing these fields have been on the books for almost 30 years, according to CNNMoney.

Slated for Dec. 1, the new policies will require bloggers to disclose any partnerships they have with advertisers, a rule which already exists for other types of product reviewers. This should be useful to consumers, since blog endorsements often seem like off-the-cuff praise on the part of the writer, when really the review is bought and paid for, often via free items from companies.

This news has many in the blogosphere worried, but the FTC insists it's not going to go after every tweet or casual post. The bloggers most likely to be targeted are the writers of established product review blogs, and then only after receiving a warning, according to the Associated Press.

The FTC will also require celebrities endorsing products to acknowledge their association with advertisers. This applies to celebrities pimping products on talk shows, blogs, and social networking sites.

And if you're sick of seeing "results not typical" on the bottom of the screen during commercials, the FTC has got you covered. Advertisers are now required to explain what results are typical for consumers.

The FTC's policies are technically guidelines, so advertisers who ignore them will not be breaking the law, but they could wind up getting sued or fined.
What do you think of these new rules? How will they affect the blogosphere?
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Monday, October 12, 2009

how could I be so heartless?


how could I be so heartless?

I really want to dress up for Halloween this year. I'm nineteen. I'm pretty sure trick or treating around these parts at my age would be boring and maybe a little bit degrading. I can't see myself happily taking candy from a fifteen year old, or even from an oldster with their judgmental "do you have a mental disability?" eyes.

So what's a girl to do? I don't live in a big city, so there aren't any Halloween parties to crash. I'm too young to get into most of those shindigs anyway. Am I damned to be the designated candy-giver? I can't accept that. I won't.

Sadly, around here there isn't much to do. I could dress up and go to the mall, movies, or bowling alley, but that doesn't seem in the Halloween spirit. Dorney Park has a "Halloween Haunt" thing for loads of mazes. One is of which is a circus - clowns galore. I'd like to go, but I'm almost positive Boyf's not going to take me.

In case you were wondering, I want to be one of these cute little buggers.

Hopefully I'll catch wind of something interesting. It's a shame that my ex-favorite holiday has become such a downer. All because I'm growing up. Curse you, age.
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10 No Fail Party Tips


We ran across these 10 Party Planning Tips that we love from fellow celebrity event planners Lara Shriftman and Elizabeth Harrison and we of course added to them. These are great little reminders to keep in your entertaining file. Enjoy.
Over Invite: Let’s face it sometimes guests flake. Maybe they had a bad week at work or they are so exhausted from running around with their children all week or they have unexpected guests in town; whatever the reason, no shows and last minute cancellations are bound to happen. Plus, some of your guests will leave early and some will arrive late; so, when you put together your guest list, invite five extra people for every 20 guests on the list. (You can play with this formula, but you get the idea!)
The Guest List: The key to a great party is having an interesting mix of people. Everyone likes to see their friends and mingle, but it is always fun to meet new people. Expand your social circle by browsing your email or asking your best friends or co-workers to invite a few friends. We have even hired actors to create a thrilling scene at our parties. See "Master Thespian!" in Twist Past Tips.
Money Matters: Once you have decided to have a party and selected a theme and the number of guests, it’s time to set a budget. Decide what is most important to you - is it crystal glassware? Flower arrangements to die for? Or insanely clever invites? Be prepared for overage by reserving 10-15% of your budget for anything you might forget and those last minute ideas that drive up the cost.
Location: Pick a fabulous location that your guests will love such as a new and trendy bar, maybe a friend's home that your friends are dying to see, a horse stable, an ice skating rink, etc. Be creative here. A classic location is your own home, so don’t rule out this location. Just make sure your house is in order before your guests arrive.
Timing is everything: Always give a start and end time to a party. If you keep the night open ended, people will trickle in all night long whereas if the invite states 7:00pm-10:00pm, guests are more likely to arrive early and stay longer because everyone will be there around the same time. Also, avoid having a long time frame or you will offset the flow of guests. For example, with a four-hour party, you will have a fantastically crowded 3 three-plus hours, but if you have a party that stretches from 8:00pm-2:00am, people will come and go all night long, leaving tons of downtime.
Thirst Quenchers: Make sure to have plenty of non-alcoholic beverages for the designated drivers, mommies-to-be and your other guests who aren’t in the imbibing frame of mind.
Greet Guests with a Cocktail: If we are having a party catered we always station servers at the entrance of the party with a tray of drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. We are always fans of having a signature cocktail for each occasion to give it some character.
Go Mini: If you are having a cocktail party, think small in regard to food…small bites that is. There is nothing worse than balancing a plate of food, silverware, and a drink. You want you guests mingling so pass bite-sized (1-2 bites is ideal) hors d’ oeuvres like tiny sandwiches or sushi.
Salty & Sweet: Diet is a dirty word and a party is a place you want your guests to indulge a bit. Offer a decadent balance of savory treats like Coconut Shrimp and French Fries and sugary treats like Mini Cupcakes and Candy.
Dress Rehearsal: You’re the host and your job is to look fabulous, so make planning your outfit part of the party planning check list. A week before the party, pull out what you are planning to wear and review - if you need to purchase anything you will have plenty of time. Lay out your outfit the night before the party as well and make sure you have everything you need right there and nothing is left to the last minute.




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He-broke-up-with-me-because-i-was-too-tolerant




So, my boyfriend broke up with me this morning.

His reasons were that I was too tolerant of him and that I didn't have any expectations. He was breaking up with me because I accepted him for who he was instead of trying to change him. I didn't complain about things. I didn't get angry or set his stuff on fire (like his roommate's now ex-girlfriend). In other words, I was just too good.

*laughs slightly*

I feel like crying. Not over this situation but over the fact that I can't keep a relationship for more than a month because I'm too good.

Too good.

Too tolerant.

Too everything!

Why am I being punished for being a good girlfriend. I'm sorry that I don't text/call you every five minutes to accuse you of cheating on me. I'm sorry that I don't make you stay home with me when you want to go out and hang with the boys. I'm sorry that I make the effort to get along with your friends even when I know they don't like me. I'm sorry that I don't complain about your messy car, room, kitchen or etc. I'm sorry that instead of complaining about your piles of dishes in the sink,I help you do them.

I'm sorry for being the girl that just wants to stay by her man's side and support him in whatever he does.

I don't understand it. Some men complain about how women are always trying to keep them on some sort of a leash. But now that there is no leash and there are still complaints.

I don't get it.

My boyfriend..sorry ex-boyfriend..has had some rough relationships in the past. He was married and his wife cheated on him and from there, he jumped into several relationships that ended sourly. When we first got together, he said he wanted to take it slow. So, I agreed. I figure, you have to learn to be friends first anyway. But no..

I was too easy going.

I was too compromising.

"You're always compromising," he said. That was another reason he broke up with me. First of all, in relationships people compromise on some things. I didn't compromise on everything. We weren't in a relationship that long for me to compromise on anything (note: we had only been dating for three weeks). The things I compromised weren't huge. The one issue I didn't compromise on was sex. I said I wanted to wait a while. That I did not compromise on.

I just think for right now I'm going to stop dating. I keep meeting these guys who keep leaving me in the dust because I'm too everything.

Have you ever been too everything in a relationship? And if so, did your SO break up with you because of that?
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Treat a girl like dirt shell stick to you like mud





Please answer me one question, why are girls so desperate? I mean honestly, why is it that girls let guys that treat them like complete shit and want nothing to do with them follow around guys like lost puppies and how the guy talks to them that day dictates how they will feel. I've been there and it's not fun and it's not worth it.

Take this convo with a friend that I had today:

Me: So how are you?
Her: Eh
Me: Why?
Her: Because Doug doesn't seem happy
Me: Hmm
Her: I know you don't care
Me: Well I just honestly think that you're waaay too emotionally attached to someone who wants nothing to do with you
Her: Yeah...
Me: So why continue to torture yourself?
Her: Idk...
Me: Why depend on a guy for happiness when it's clear that he doesn't feel the same about you? You laid it all out for him and he changed the subject. I'm so tired of girls thinking they need a guy to be happy. Especially the ones that push them away the most.

She stopped talking to me after that. Yeah it was a bit harsh but I'm not going to lie to her and I'm not going to say things like "well maybe he's just afraid of being hurt" or "maybe he's just super busy" because the majority of the time (not always) it's a bullshit excuse because he doesn't want to deal with you and is waiting for a chick he digs more to come along.

Take this synopses from the book "He's just not that into you"

"He says:

Oh sure, they say they're busy. They say that they didn't have even a moment in their insanely busy day to pick up the phone. It was just that crazy. All lies. With the advent of cell phones and speed dialing, it is almost impossible not to call you. Sometimes I call people from my pants pocket when I don't even mean to. If I were into you, you would be the bright spot in my horribly busy day. Which would be a day that I would never be too busy to call you.

She says:

There is something great about knowing that my only job is to be as happy as I can be about my life, and feel as good as I can about myself, and to lead as full and eventful a life as I can, so that it doesn't ever feel like I'm just waiting around for some guy to ask me out. And most importantly, it's good for us all to remember that we don't need to scheme and plot, or beg anyone to ask us out. We're fantastic.

For ages women have come together over coffee, cocktails, or late-night phone chats to analyze the puzzling behavior of men.

He's afraid to get hurt again.

Maybe he doesn't want to ruin the friendship.

Maybe he's intimidated by me.

He just got out of a relationship.

Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo are here to say that — despite good intentions — you're wasting your time. Men are not complicated, although they'd like you to think they are. And there are no mixed messages.

The truth may be He's just not that into you.

Unfortunately guys are too terrified to ever directly tell a woman, "You're not the one." But their actions absolutely show how they feel"

And there it is. If he likes you he will make a relationship happen. If he doesn't, he'll come up with a million excuses that he knows any woman would fall for because every woman wants to think of their man as deep and emotional.

Now really, I'm not trying to bash guys. Guys can be really amazing. I'm with an amazing guy right now actually. But really girls, wake up and snap out of it. Not every guy you fall head over heels for will want to sweep you off your feet so stop wasting your time with these guys that are trying as hard as they possibly can to scrape you off of them.

Why do you think girls are attracted to men that treat them like dirt? Have you ever been?
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I am waiting for you


Oookay, I'm getting a little.....suspicious of this whole "New Megan" addiction.

So first off we started with the Fox addiction.
The ratio of Fox posts to Non-Megan Fox posts (may I be smited for naming her) was about 9:1 on mancouch.
And thus all the women (and there seems to be a LOT of women on mancouch) started getting upset, because frankly, a lot of us don't get it.

Yeah, she's hot but.....ehhh...she lacks something.

And thus there was the Fox retaliation movement, at the time whence mancouch refused to post anything Fox-y for a week.

Then we decided this wasn't enough and declared mutiny against Miss Fox and have since been trying to elect a new sexalicious leader to worship.

This does not make sense in my mind.
Why, you ask?

Because as readers we have naturally selected to read and discuss Miss Fox because she captures our attention, and thus we have perpetuated the cycle.
And by trying to choose a new obsession, we're just focusing even MORE on her because we're trying to top her, which to me can't happen, for numerous reasons.

A) Her body is just about proportionally perfect to suit most everyones needs.

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looking me





She makes hot faces Now I'm not saying that I'm defending Miss Fox, I'm saying that it will be very difficult to stop writing about her at all as our main lady.

There are only 2 flaws I can see in her.

- She kind of very subtly looks a little manly.....and knows it too.
"I am pretty sure I am a doppelgänger for Alan Alda," she told reporters. "I'm a tranny. I'm a man. I'm so painfully insecure. I'm on the verge of vomiting now." :( Poor Megan.
- She's too perfect. That's why a lot of people can't get into her, because she doesn't really have any physical flaws. It's like seeing a Madame Tussade wax model walking down the street.

And what if we do elect a new queen? What then? Do we all start scouting out articles on said lady of fame and start submitting and posting those? What does it even mean to replace Megan Fox?

Mancouch readers, I want to ask you, do you really think Megan F0x will be obliterated from Mancouch? Do you really think that we can effectively replace her with any of the candidates that have been presented? Or are you just reading these posts for the hot lady pictures?

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Pretty little girls





Why is Everyone Hating on Gwyneth's Outfit? Go Fug Yourself is hating all over this outfit that Gwyenth Paltrow wore to the Stella McCartney show. I don't get it! I think it's gorgeous and definitely on trend.

The blazer has shoulder pads but not excessive, Lady Gaga ones. The jeans are kind of acid-washed/stonewashed (early 90's is big now!) but they're not egregious. And the shoes are polished and chic! The whole thing looks gorgeous with her hair, too.

What do you think? Do you understand the critiques?

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