Nike cuts ties to Livestrong

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/marketing/nike-cuts-ties-to-livestrong/article12188544/#dashboard/follows/


Nike Inc, the world renowned sporting apparel company is cutting all ties to the Livestrong charity which it helped create for athlete Lance Armstrong in 1997. Nike helped raise nearly 100 million for the charity and brought world wide attention to the Livestrong charity, formally known as the Lance Armstrong foundation. This started when Lance Armstrong confessed to be the ring leader in a massive doping scandal in the Tour de France. Nike cut all personal sponsorships with Lance and the separation from the Livstrong foundation is just the final step in getting as far away as possible from the doping scandal. The Livestrong foundation is also attempting to rid itself of the doping scandal by kicking Lance Armstrong off of the board of directors. The Livestrong foundation says it is still in good financial position and is extremely grateful to Nike for all their help.

I think that while Nike should be rather upset about the doping scandal and the loss of a major sponsorship with Lance Armstrong. The way that they handled the scandal was very well done with minimal press and fast action. The Livestrong foundation also did similarly well and while they will get some bad press in the short term, in the long term I believe that they will remain as one of the top cancer foundations.

Brazil to auction big oil find

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/latin-american-business/brazil-to-auction-biggest-ever-oil-find-in-october/article12095835/#dashboard/follows/

An oil platform in Rio de Janeiro

A plan to auction off the exploring and production rights to it's biggest oil find to date. The auction is set to be held in Brazil's capital, Brasilia, in the coming October. It holds between 26 billion and 42 billion barrels of oil. Brazil's government hopes to gain a large share of the oil produced as opposed to how governments did it previously. Previously, when governments auctioned off oil they asked for a small royalty. A separate auction for natural gas prospects is scheduled for the coming November.

This article was interesting to read because I am always reminded and amazed by the large amounts of oil that exists in South America. The media always puts emphasis on the abundance of oil in the middle east but there is actually a massive amount of oil in South America which is evident from this article and others.

Canada fails to act on the Artic

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/globe-politics-insider/in-the-arctic-canada-is-all-bark-and-no-bite/article12136811/#dashboard/follows/


America's Polar Star, a massive ice breaker ship, is planning on crunching through the ice up north this summer. This only serves as a reminder to Canada that they are far away from actually enforcing them selves in the arctic. Ottawa has stated numerous times that they are serious about pursuing a future in the Arctic, however they have backed down many times from doing so. While that happened the Americans and the Russians poured resources in the Arctic and Russia now has an impressive fleet of nuclear powered ice breakers; America has also started creating a fleet of ice breakers. Canada will have to act soon or otherwise lose the Arctic.

In my opinion the race for the Arctic should be higher up on Ottawa's priority list. We have one meager ice breaker which is almost 50 years old and pales in comparison to the Americans' recently refurbished ice breaker and the Russians' nuclear powered ice breakers. The Arctic could prove and has proven to be a valuable resource.

Netflix rearms for a Canadian onslaught

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/us-business/netflix-rearms-for-a-canadian-onslaught/article11922959/#dashboard/follows/


The battle for online TV streaming is over for now, and Netflix reigned victor. However many cable providers in Canada prepare for a counter attack as many companies prepare to launch their own online viewing websites. Rogers believes that all major broadcasters are planning on rolling out a Netflix competitor, themselves included. However Netflix has a few tricks up there sleeve in order to retain and gain customers such as: the Netflix original series House of Cards and Hemlock Grove, which were widely successful, as well they have expressed there determination in gaining online broadcasting rights and plan on bidding viciously for them.

In my opinion the war for online TV and movies was already won. Netflix has already made a name for itself in the US and this translates over to Canada. The unique original shows on Netflix will keep me hooked and many others. I also think it is a hollow victory for Netflix as they won the battle for an extremly difficult service to remain competitive in. I'm not talking about the other competitors trying to constantly cut a piece of the online streaming pie, but the free streaming sites which still excist and are very prominent. It is very difficult to compete with the free content that is available online. Therefor I look forward to see how Netflix plans on competing.

Toys "R" Us is making a play for brain games

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/why-toys-r-us-is-making-a-play-for-brain-games/article12213315/#dashboard/follows/


Toys "R" Us Canada is planning to launch a new store which will contain only educational or "learning" products in an attempt to capitalize on the fasting growing segment of the toy market. Toys "R" Us' specialty store, "Wonderlab", is set to open on Saturday in North Vancouver. The Wonderlab's shelves are set to carry anything from preschool learning tools to building blocks and far as electronic learning tools. This new expansion puts pressure on the smaller companies who already occupy the market such as Mastermind Toys. Mastermind Toys has recently expanded out of Ontario with a store in Calgary, which is set to open next month.

In my opinion this was a smart move on Toys "R" Us' part because it is evident, without even doing any research, that parents are wanting there kids to have more educational toys and kids are starting to enjoy these toys more and more. As a kid I always loved going to Mastermind because the things you can buy there are much more interesting than a Hot Wheels track which breaks within the first 20 minutes after you open it. If Toys "R" Us can replicate the Mastermind mentality in there new stores then I think they will be very successful.

Apple hint's at 'game changers'

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/business-technology/apple-ceo-hints-at-game-changer-devices-pans-google-glass/article12220605/#dashboard/follows/


Apple's CEO, Tim Cook is looking into the future with apple, he hints at plans for more wearable computers. The Google created that category last year with the reveal of the Google Glass. However, Tim Cook is not impressed by Google's revolutionary new product which amazed millions with it's ability to integrate real life with someone's online life. Cook hinted towards the fact that Apple is working on creating a  wearable computer in the form of a wrist-watch. Recently Apple has been under fire due to their failure with the new Apple Maps and last quarter they reported their first profit decline in nearly a decade. Tim Cook said that Apple fans and investors should feel confident about the future because Apple has a couple more tricks up it's sleeve.

In my opinion Apple is showing the first signs of slowing down since the Iphone and the Ipod made Apple a household name. When Apple slows down they will certainly be trampled by the charging Google as they are attempting to revolutionize how we use social media. I recently switched from using an Iphone to using an Android phone because of the Slip up with the Apple maps. Certainly I'm not the only one.

Twitter pumps up the security after a series of high profile hacks

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/twitter-releases-new-security-feature-after-high-profile-hacks/article12065455/#dashboard/follows/


Twitter is an incredibly large social networking interface which gives the user the ability to interact with millions of people with simple click of a keyboard from nearly anywhere in the world. Many high profile individuals and companies have Twitter accounts to provide daily information to their fans/followers. Recently, however, some of these high profile "Tweeters" have been hacked which is forcing Twitter to increase the security. Twitter now offers the ability (you can change it in the settings page on your Twitter account) to require a 6 digit verification pin which is sent to your phone, before you log in. This stops hackers because the hacker would not only have to brute force your password but must also brute-force your 6 digit log in pin.

In my opinion this was a smart move by Twitter. Due to the mass use by the general population, Twitter has become the go-to source for information on certain high-profile companies or individuals. While this could pose to be a inconvenience for some, the added security is more than worth it for those whose Twitter accounts can not risk being compromised. I don't personally use Twitter, and I wouldn't even use the added feature if I did, but I know some people who are very happy with the newly added security feature.

Sports Check goes digital

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/tech-news/sport-chek-sprints-into-digital/article12098883/#dashboard/follows/


The new Sport Check store in Toronto is now equipped with state of the art touch screens. These interactive displays can be used as a replacement for traditional product display or to modernize product display. Such as when you tap on a piece of hockey equipment from Reebok a short video plays explaining the product. As well there is 31 by 2 meter wall showcases their collection of Adidas running shoes, when tapped on each shoe shows the price, the colours it is available in, and the athletes that use the shoe. The chief marketing officer Duncan Fulton stated how this was simply a test of concept. Fulton said that customers who usually only shopped once a month are now coming in 3-4 times a month. Fulton also says that he plans to create a bigger better store in western Canada based off of the same interactive concept.

In my opinion this is the best thing to happen to retail stores since the invention of the cash register. I had always imagined a sporting goods store, that required mass amounts of product to be showcased at one time, to convert to digital. I just can't believe it hasn't happened sooner. Simply reading about this makes me want to go visit the store and test the interactive abilities for myself. This is an incredible idea by Sport Check  and I can't wait for other stores to pick up on the idea.

Google and Facebook in a bidding war over Waze maps

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/business-technology/google-and-facebook-in-bidding-war-for-waze-maps-reports/article12125392/#dashboard/follows/

Google and Facebook have been reportedly starting a bidding war over the Israel based map navigation company: Waze. Waze, founded in 2009, uses satellite signals from members phones in order to generate map and traffic data, which can then be accessed by other users in order to gain up to date traffic information. Navigation services are now something that separates a successful company from an unsuccessful one due to the rise in smart-phone users. This leads to offers being rumored to be up to 1 billion (USD) in value.

In my opinion, this deal would make Google. While I don't see the 1 billion dollar value in it for Facebook, the deal could also have the potential to expand Facebook into new grounds in social networking. Google has been the leader in Navigation Services with close competition from Apple. The acquisition of Waze could be the deciding factor in the battle for Navigation supremacy. This would be a major success for Android phones as Apple Iphone users are fed-up with the sub-par navigation service offered by Apple. However we will have to just sit back and see what happens in the coming months.

Google goes Hollywood

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/marketing/google-goes-hollywood-with-the-internship/article12208787/#dashboard/follows/


Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn are staring in the new film "The Internship". The premise is that two middle aged salesmen go and try to get jobs at Google which is notorious for having incredible working conditions. Vince Vaughn came up with the idea after seeing a segment on TV which showcased the amazing working conditions that Google offered his employees. Vince later approached Google with the idea and Google agreed to assist with the technical aspects (getting the details on how the company looks right). Although Google's executives felt that they had little say in the matter. "The movie would get made with or without a company's input," said Igielko-Herrlich."You have to embrace the production if you hope to soften whatever bad things they might have in there".

In my opinion Google took the right move investing and going along with the idea for this movie. Google has done incredibly well with creating an image and it becuase of things like this. They new that the movie would be made with or without Google's consent so they took the opportunity to promote their idea/image as well as the field of computer science. I will definitely watch the movie.

Yahoo searches for the fountain of youth

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/yahoos-search-for-the-fountain-of-youth/article12213907/#dashboard/follows/

Yahoo recently purchased extremely successful blogging site, Tumblr for 1.1 billion USD. This acquisition was part of Yahoo desperate attempt to claw back some market share; part of that plan is targeting the younger audience. Tumblr has been extremely successful at doing that will nearly 300 million unique visitors monthly. This is not the first time Yahoo has spent a truckload of money in an attempt to acquire the next big thing. In 1999 Yahoo Geocities a social networking site that could have very likely turned into a "facebook". However after spending nearly 3.6 billion USD on the acquisition, Geocities was shutdown in 2009. Yahoo is also attempting to acquire online tv website Hulu for upwards of 600 million USD. However the actually price remains undetermined.

In my opinion Yahoo has an incredible ability at predicting the upcoming trends and determining what concepts are going to be successful before they are proven so. However once they acquire a perfect website that fits the concept that is trending, Yahoo "chokes" and fails to progress it and untimely falls behind to a competitor that has the know-how to progress it. If Yahoo wants to stay afloat then they are going to have to do something dramatically different with Tumblr (and possibly Hulu) then what they did with their previous acquisitions.

Harvard dean resigns

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/harvard-dean-who-authorized-faculty-e-mail-searches-resigns/article12198967/#dashboard/follows/


The first African-American dean of Harvard and the first female dean of Harvard, Evelynn Hammonds, recently resigned as dean of the prestigious school after a cheating scandal. The cheating scandal which suspended 60 students and placed 60 others on a disciplinary probation after an investigation into cheating on a take-home exam on a government class. Hammonds was under heavy fire due to here drastic actions during the investigation. She authorized the scanning of the subject lines of 16 faculty members emails. She apologized to the faculty last month. Hammonds will be remaining on staff as a professor.

In my opinion the scanning of the subject lines of emails was both, not as big of a deal that the faculty and the press make it out to be, and that the scanning was entirely pointless. The scanning was done to find evidence towards the cheating under suspicion that a faculty was behind the cheating. At an ivy league school you can't expect an email that has any regard to cheating to have a subject line that suggests that they are cheating. So in my opinion Evelynn Hammonds took an unnecessary step in trying to solve the mystery.

Woman prove to be better board members than men

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/careers-leadership/female-board-members-better-than-men-on-complex-issues-study/article10289451/

A recent study shows that women would make better board members due to their ability to solve complex problems faster and better than their male counter-parts. This study suggests that companies with an unequal ratio between genders means that they are short changing their investors. Women account for only 10% of all board members in Canadian companies. This may be due to numerous reasons such as sexism. The study also suggests that men make decisions based on rules, regulations and tradition. However there is good news for investors whose companies have mostly males on there board as both men and women directors scored well on the test.

When I first started reading this article I thought that the women's rights activists would be all over this, but as I read deeper into the article I got less interested as I felt that the article lead away from what the headline suggests. The headline suggests that a company would be better off having nearly all or all of their board members female. However what the study said was that if you take a random man and a random woman that the critical thinking/problem solving skills of the woman were usually better.

North Korea warns foreigners to leave south

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/north-korea-warns-foreigners-to-leave-south/article10930720/

The Korea Asia-Pacific Commitee was quoted saying that they ask that foreigners to evacuate South Korea to avoid being dragged into a "thermonuclear war". However Pyongyang has yet to show any signs of preparing it's 1.2 million man army. The South has simply shrugged off this threat just like they did previous ones. Traffic and Offices operated as usual, and schools catering to foreign students continued without interruption. It has been obvious that the North is nothing but harsh words. The saying "It's bark is worse than it's bite" comes to mind. This is not the North's first threat to the rest of the world and they have been quoted saying that they: "will turn Washington D.C. into a sea of fire". The west responded similarly to South Korea by not caring.

In my opinion, North Korea is all talk and have no real plans of launching any nuclear weapons in the near future.I do not know if they are so secluded from the rest of the world that they think that if they start global thermonuclear war that they have a snowball's chance in hell at surviving. Either that or they have no plans what so ever and are just releasing their anger in terror threats.