The controversy could not come at a worse. On the eve of the IPO of Facebook, advertisers have begun to question the effectiveness of ads on Facebook. These are the basic economic model of social network, which is preparing to raise more than $ 16 billion in stock.

The automaker General Motors has announced it was stopping its advertising spending on Facebook, said the Wall Street Journal. This is a budget of 10 million that will evaporate from the platform. GM plans to continue to promote its brands on Facebook, but particularly by exploiting its free services, like his fan page.

It was a risk contemplated by Facebook as a preparatory document for the IPO, filed with the policeman American markets. But it could weigh on growth prospects of Facebook, if other advertisers were to make the same choice.

But a few hours after GM's announcement, another U.S. auto giant has responded, defending the ads on Facebook. "All that matters is performance. Our Facebook ads work when they are combined, strategically, with attractive content and innovation, "the group said Ford on Twitter.

The marketing director of Ford, interviewed by Forbes magazine, believes that we should not "be considered as a simple Facebook ad network," which is broadcast on the same banner ads elsewhere. Before conceding that "it is still early days and measurement criteria are not set to 100%."  

Other observers have called on advertisers to be cautious before max out General Motors: "We do not know why GM commercials have been no results," said Tom Skotidas and founder of an agency marketing to social networks.

One explanation could be introduced by the recent change in its presentation of Facebook pages and profiles, with the launch of the Journal ("Timeline"). The counseling agencies that had established communication strategies based on Facebook tabs and landing pages have in fact seen their recommendations become obsolete overnight.

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What are the main beneficiaries of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and how do they perceive? The information is all there is to public. The Ministry of Agriculture has indeed publish on its website the names of beneficiaries and the amount of aid they received for the period 16 October 2010 to October 15, 2011. A bond required by the European Commission in March 2008 in the interests of transparency and legitimacy of the main EU budget. France, which is the largest producer of EU agricultural and therefore the largest recipient of aid, receives a budget of nearly EUR 10 billion. This fee is in two forms. The largest portion, nearly 8.5 billion euros, is awarded through direct aids per hectare (single premium rights or DPU). They fall under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF). To this must be added indirect support related to the development of dependent territories of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). An envelope that reaches 1.3 billion euros.

For a year, and for the sake of "respect for private life", the only data with regard to individual farmers but more the corporate structures of the type EARL (farm limited liability) or GAEC (farming groups in common ). They also relate to producer organizations, agribusinesses, communities, not to mention charitable organizations or associations.

Chief among the beneficiaries of the CAP, we find the poultry group Doux Breton which collects about $ 54 million of EU agricultural subsidies. "These are export refunds for chicken, it says the Department of Agriculture. Aid to offset the costs of production and processing higher in France than its international competitors on historical markets of the Middle East. The position of Brussels is to reduce them. "Second Beneficiary: Regional Committee for the conversion of vineyards in the Languedoc for more than 32 million euros. "They are restructuring aid which are managed collectively and are then redistributed to growers," says one rue de Varenne.

Modernization and research

On the third place, the Sugar Reunion (31 million) of Tereos. "They relate to specific incentives for overseas departments to maintain the historical purchase price of sugarcane paid to producers after the entry into force of the common market organization in 2006, says one in 29 million Tereos.Plus are redistributed to farmers, the rest is reinvested in modernizing the industry and research. "followed by the French Federation of Food Banks (30 million) under the European program to help more poor (PEAD). Finally, France Luzerne, cooperative of the Marne, receives 23 million euros of aid related to dehydrated alfalfa. "They are paid directly to producers in 2012," says one to the Department of Agriculture.

]]> http://hastingsjaycees.org/cap-list-of-top-recipients-released/feed/ 0 http://hastingsjaycees.org/amazon-is-needed-in-the-android-tablets/ http://hastingsjaycees.org/amazon-is-needed-in-the-android-tablets/#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:16:06 +0000 admin http://hastingsjaycees.org/amazon-is-needed-in-the-android-tablets/  

The output of the Kindle Fire turns to the correction for all other manufacturers of Android tablets. In February, just four months after its release, the tablet from Amazon in the U.S. represented over half of the market (54.4%), excluding iPad, according to data from comScore Institute released Thursday. His closest competitor was the Galaxy Tab by Samsung, whose share decreased from 23.8% to 15.4% in three months. Other models, such as Motorola Xoom, Asus and Toshiba AT100 Transformer, got only the crumbs.

These data, comScore estimated by using the number of tablets that connect to the Internet every month, have not been confirmed by Amazon. As usual, the maker of the Kindle Fire refuses to give precise sales figures, even if the indicators that are favorable to accumulate. His tablet is "being the best selling, most available and most desired" by customers on Amazon.com, he simply has to announce in the press release accompanying the publication of its quarterly results Thursday.

The excellent launch of Kindle Fire in the United States, the only country where it is sold to date, shows that the market shelves can extend far beyond the iPad. With its 7-inch screen diagonal (17.8 centimeters), its list of functions reduced to essentials (no 3G, no camera, no accelerometer), the Kindle is sold only Fire $ 199, two times less than the first iPad. At the point where we now ready to Apple intends to expand in this segment, by launching an iPad smaller and cheaper.

"Google has lost control of Android tablets"

Hollow, the success of the Kindle Fire also highlights the poor performance of other Android tablets before. Apple sold 35 million iPad last year, against 5,000,000 in 2011 for Samsung, its nearest competitor. The arrival of Amazon is not necessarily good news for Google. Fire Aboard The Kindle indeed deeply modified version of the Android system. "It's official: Google has lost control of the market for Android tablets," headlined the Thursday specialized site Business Insider.

For Amazon, this strategy is paying anyway. As there is already reached in the Kindle eBooks with classical Kindle Fire means it can sell more content in digital format, including films and television series. "Customers buy a lot of content, is seen particularly in North America with sales of cultural goods between the fourth and first quarter which is accelerating," explains the chief financial officer, Tom Szkutak.

Throughout the quarter, according to figures released Thursday, sales of cultural goods on Amazon increased 19% to $ 4.71 billion, while sales of other goods and electronics surged 43 % to 7.97 billion. The good surprise came from the profit, down 35% over the same period last year (130 million), but well above analysts' expectations. Friday, the action progressed over 15% at the opening of the NYSE.

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Airbus partners with Boeing. This is not a fiction but rather the reality since the last Summit Aviation held in Geneva in late March. On this occasion, the two rivals always have also announced their association with the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer to develop the use of biofuels. The day before, Airbus had announced to produce research-based biofuel … eucalyptus. A plant that will join other plants already used as a fuel, such as camelina, jatropha, algae, or even coconut. "We conduct research to develop sustainable aviation. So we decided, in collaboration with the airline Virgin Australia, to establish a sustainable chain of biofuel production in Eucalyptus in Australia for use in aeronautics, "said Frederic Eychenne, project manager new energy Airbus.  

Grown on arid land, the mallee, a species of eucalyptus, will be harvested and crushed every three to six years. The resulting biomass is then converted into hydrocarbon fuel can be used for airplanes. Through a pyrolysis process, the mallee is then transformed. "Overall, this is to burn biomass without oxygen (through a chemical process), to extract a basic product that will eventually be processed to obtain biofuel. He will then have to mix it with kerosene 'fossil' of 50% up to use it. Indeed, the chemical composition of biofuels does not currently use 100% for aircraft "Frederick develops Eychenne.

Boeing converges in the same direction Airbus

For its part, Boeing also aims to accelerate the commercialization of environmentally friendly fuels, accounting for 1,500 passenger flights on biofuel made during the last two years. Richard Mills, spokesman for Boeing on issues of biofuels in Europe, said: "Today, biofuels reduce carbon emissions in partnership with airlines. Overall, governments are beginning to express their interest and support efforts, which is essential to help us achieve our goal: that flights 1% biofuel use on average by 2015. "…. ….

The aircraft manufacturer is also studying, as part of its research program, the possibilities of using alcohol as fuel.

Biofuels more expensive than kerosene, lack of industry

Philippe Novelli, project manager at ONERA, the French aerospace equivalent of NASA, has also led the European study SWAFEA (Sustainable Way for Alternative Fuel and Energy Aviation), on the issue of biofuels in aviation paperless payday loans. He said by 2020, the processes under development are expected to be pure biofuels for aviation. Philippe Novelli adds: "To date, due to the lack of real industrial production, airlines pay biofuels about four times more expensive than kerosene. The prospects for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, however, are considerable: up to 85% for the best performing sectors such as BTL (Biomass to Liquid) produced from lignocellulose. "However, the obtaining of significant emission reductions of greenhouse gas emissions requires precautions regarding the conditions of biomass production, as outlined in the specialist ONERA.

Fuels in search of a certification

To date, there are two processes for receiving the seal of biofuels aviation authorities, ASTM International and the FAA: hydrotreated vegetable oils and synthetic fuels from biomass. Eucalyptus does not yet part of this approach where aircraft manufacturers support new biofuel for approval.

Side of engine (Saffron, Rolls Royce, General Electric or Pratt & Whitney), there is to date no formal terms of biofuels, in the sense that they are compatible with existing systems. Indeed, all biofuels are "drop-in", that is to say fully compatible with conventional reservoirs, which does not necessitate the development of new types of engines.

Steadily over the last ten years, civil aviation accounts for 2.7% of global carbon emissions, far behind the automotive industry, which accounts for 52%. The challenge is to meet the requirements set by the EU to all transport, including the requirement to use a minimum of 10% biofuels by 2020.

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The success of the magazine inspires XXI Francois and Jean-Dominique Siegel. The two brothers, son of the founder of VSD, Maurice Siegel, April 5 launch a new "magbook" magazine mid-mid-book, Tomorrow We. Their ambition is to make a "marker of social change."

In line with Current, relaunched in 1970 by the post-68 generation, or the U.S. magazine Wired, established in 1993 to decipher the impact of technology in society, they hope to re-register in the frame of the time. "This magazine is a showcase to build something new, Siegel says Francois. If the stock settles, we will develop a website, a platform for trade and a think-tank. "We Demainmise on this societal positioning to differentiate itself from other" magbooks "turned to the big story (XXI), Foresight (& Usbek Rica) or polar (Alibis).

Like the latter, We Demainsera distributed in large networks of library. On an initial run of 30,000 copies, most books will be reserved for rays of Fnac, Virgin, Relay and large newsagents, and those of Carrefour hypermarkets, Auchan and Leclerc no fax payday advance. The title is based on the publisher Le Cherche Midi and its distribution network Interforum (Editis). Tomorrow we will start at 12 euros, and will cost 15 euros, the same price level as other "magbooks".

Create a "label"

The project was fully funded by the GS Group, owned by Francois and Jean-Dominique Sylvain Attal and Siegel, who oversees GS Press, governed and publisher of the monthly Info-Driver and two television quinzomadaires for Auchan and Leader Price. Jean-Dominique Siegel Demainun We hope to do the "label" that will generate a new economic model. Without advertising startup, the title is meant to seduce "brands involved," for traditional advertising or through partnerships, but also to attract investors.

A decree and a decree signed by Xavier Bertrand were published in the Official Journal on Thursday, trying to implement a solution against excess fees the most excessive.

As expected, the Minister of Health proposes to anesthetists, surgeons and obstetricians in sector 2 (free prices) to limit their excess fees to 50% beyond the "tariff Safely." It also requires them to perform at least 30% of acts without overshoot. Nothing compulsory volunteers receive in exchange for partial support of their social contributions. In parallel, complementary health (mutual, private insurers, pension funds) are imposed the obligation to repay the overruns to keep certain tax advantages.

The device must be expanded in the coming days. Another decree to impose additional pay as overruns in other medical specialties. With one difference: the doctors involved will commit to not charge more than 20% above the tariff Safely, on acts alone techniques (imaging, minor surgery …). They can not in practice on clinical procedures and consultations.

Paradox: the device does not fully satisfied neither the doctors nor the supplemental insurers, not patients. While appreciating a "real breakthrough", the CSMF, the first organization of private practitioners, regrets that "practitioners of a sector is left out payday loans lenders." Even the tone of the union side, the Bloc, the majority among the surgical specialties. A sector physicians are those who do not have the right to introduce overshoot. They should stick to Safely rates. But Medicare itself recognizes that such rates, frozen for years because of funding, will not match the cost nor the time nor the level of expertise and legal risk of surgical procedures .

Mutuality French, meanwhile, feared windfall: many surgeons already practicing anesthetists or overruns "moderate". They could grow to the the 50% tariff beyond Social Security, and receive in addition to the lightening of their burdens. Conversely, in areas with a concentration of very large excesses (Paris, Lyon, Paca …), the Mutual fears that the track is "unattractive to practitioners" and therefore ineffective. For patients without supplemental coverage (less than 10% of the population), the problem will remain the same for them.

The solution is partial, imperfect, its success is not guaranteed. She still deserves to exist, after years of fruitless negotiations between doctors, health insurance and mutual agreements signed no tomorrow, and threats of intervention policies ever implemented.

]]> http://hastingsjaycees.org/imperfect-solution-to-the-excess-fees/feed/ 0 http://hastingsjaycees.org/the-hotel-mama-shelter-from-the-provinces-and-abroad/ http://hastingsjaycees.org/the-hotel-mama-shelter-from-the-provinces-and-abroad/#comments Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:36:06 +0000 admin http://hastingsjaycees.org/the-hotel-mama-shelter-from-the-provinces-and-abroad/  

After Paris, Marseille. The Mama Shelter, the boho hip hotel, launched in September 2008 by Serge Trigano, Philippe Starck and Cyril Aouizerate, will inaugurate a second location in ten minutes from the port of Marseille, April 12. "This opening has been delayed, admits Serge Trigano. But there's no hurry. We open where we want when we want! "He promises, however, an acceleration of openings, emphasizing that" the twenty-first century will be the century of cities for tourism. " The inauguration of a Mama Shelter is announced for the second half in Istanbul. Lyon and Bordeaux before early 2013. Negotiations are also underway for the opening in an old 1920s hotel, in the district of Hollywood, Los Angeles, "late 2013". "We have building permits for all hotels, except Los Angeles, who was responsible DG and CEO of Club Med between 1985 and 1997. The projects are in progress. "It is also seeking a second address in Paris and in Toulouse prospects.

The Mama Shelter in Marseille will be slightly smaller than that of Paris (127 rooms, 172 against), and Philippe Starck, who signs the design again, opted for lighter colors. The rooms, dark in Paris, will be in shades of pink, yellow and blue in Marseille. The first prize will be 69 euros per night, 10 euros less than in Paris. The goal is to reach the first year an average price of 100-115 euros, and an occupancy rate of 50-60%.

Two stars

Attracting a fashionable clientele, a mix of tourists and businessmen, both French and foreign, Mama Shelter is a separate product. All rooms are equipped with an iMac. 95% of sales are on its website. With an average price of 129 euros and an average occupancy rate of 80.5% last year, the institution does, however, that both stars and the residency status of tourism paydayloans. "To save water, we have showers in every room, says Serge Trigano. We are denied today the third star in the new hotel classification because we did not have a bath! "

Since opening, the first price is 79 euros. "We adjust our prices more aggressively: they increase gradually as the occupancy rate also increases," says Serge Trigano. Thus, one room originally proposed to 109 euros can cost up to 149 euros for a client last minute.

Last year, the Mama Shelter has increased its turnover by 14% to 14 million euros, thanks to increased traffic and activity of his restaurant, which represents 50% of sales. It is "500 to 800 covers per day. Even in our wildest dreams we never thought to attract so many people. " Since January, sales of Mama Shelter increased by over 10%.

"Investors were apprehensive at first, says Serge Trigano. Decide to open a hotel in the twentieth arrondissement of Paris, by focusing as much on his restaurant on the rooms, it was a gamble. But the great sagas hotel (Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton …) are often stories of families. The results exceeded our expectations. "Holding today 54% stake in the company with his two son, along with three associates, Michel Reybier (27%), Cyril Aouizerate (11%) and Philippe Starck (8%) he works with the family at Mama Shelter. His son Jeremiah (35) is CEO. His other son, Benjamin (35 years) is in charge of marketing. Residing in Los Angeles, he prospected for brand development in the United States.

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They are few policies with which we can talk about management. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who before the policy has worked in marketing, communication and management, talk forever about human relationships at work. Young job seekers, future trainees … failing to have stemmed the unemployment, the former Prime Minister gives good advice on how to pass a job interview: ask the right distance, to help engage the recruiter to know you, know not to get choked by the employer too talkative, manifesting his "want to want" suggests the likes of Johny.

And Jean-Pierre Raffarin also gives an interesting perspective on the art of interviewing the wrong spot, "he talks too much and is too hasty cash advance to savings account." Raffarin knows whereof he speaks and knows well. Author of an autobiography, I will walk always affect (Flammarion), he can create a climate in an interview even if we found a little worried when we arrived. A few days before the meeting of the candidate Sarkozy Villepinte, we question the assessment of managerial policies based on criteria. He does not believe it. In politics "you are good you stay, you're bad you're leaving," but adds "the problem is that voters sometimes has a very special notice."

EU leaders breathed a sigh of relief Friday after the success of the voluntary exchange of Greek debt, 85.8% subscribed by private creditors. Within the euro area, this is Nicolas Sarkozy, who hosted the agreement with more enthusiasm. "I am pleased that we have found a solution to the Greek crisis plaguing the financial economic situation of Europe and the world for months," welcomed the French president, traveling to Nice election. "With Angela Merkel we worked day and night to find a solution," he recalled. "Today, the problem is solved, and the page of the financial crisis is beginning to turn" it was welcomed.

In Berlin, the reaction was more cautious. According to the spokesman of the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel is "encouraged" by the agreement. "It would be a big mistake to give the impression that the crisis is resolved," warned the German Minister Wolfgang Schauble Finances.Pour "an important step was taken, but we are not out of the woods."

The agreement sealed between Athens and its private creditors will erase 107 billion euros of debt, a total of 350 billion. This is a historic debt reduction. It must allow the Greek debt, which now reaches 160% of GDP, reaching 120.5% in 2020, a ratio similar to that of Italy.

"This agreement allows more to protect Europe from Greece to help that Greece itself" summarizes Jacob Kirkegaard, a researcher at Washington. Photo credits: Kostas Tsironis / Bloomberg