4 Best Practices for Tech Firms Managing a Contingent Workforce
Contingent workers have long played a vital role in the success of tech companies, but reports of poor treatment of contract workers have recently been highlighted in the news. Here are the four best practices for tech firms managing a contingent workforce.In February, Bloomberg News reported that contract workers for Apple faced some less-than-ideal working conditions. Workers hired for contracts that lasted 12-15 months said they felt like they were often under threat of termination, in addition to other complaints.Google has come under fire from its contract workers, as many of them have complained about being excluded from important meetings. Following these disclosures were the recent walkouts and the April 2018 shooting at the headquarters at YouTube — a subsidiary of Google. Those exclusions occurred even though those contractors outnumber “regular” Google employees.Contingent Workforce ManagementLooking at these issues with two tech giants shows that the industry’s contingent workforce strategies need some work. With the continued need for skilled contingent labor in the tech industry, workers can be selective in their job choices.Now is the time for firms to look more closely at their contingent workforce management guidelines.If you’re ready to reshape or make a few improvements in your company’s relationship with contract workers, here are four contingent workforce management best practices you can implement:1. Dress their desks for success.Research confirms the importance of suitable working environments in our ability to effectively do our jobs. The state of an employee’s workspace can dramatically impact his or her productivity, emotional state, and perception of co-workers.Most managers are aware that the office environment and working spaces have vital importance for well being when it comes to their regular employees. Many companies forget this fact when in contact with their contingent workforce. If you want all of your workers to be productive and feel at home, don’t let their desks or other workspaces seem like an afterthought.Make gig-workers, freelancer (your contingent workers) feel like they’re a part of your team. Provide an organized work area that’s stocked with the tools they need. Perhaps throw in some supplies with the company’s logo. Contingency workers want free logo t-shirts too. Show these workers their importance by setting them up for success.2. Help with quick connections.You’ve likely experienced the anxiety of meeting everyone during the first week at a new job. A manager or HR member probably eased that anxiety by introducing you to your new team so you’d feel comfortable.Imagine if you didn’t have that help. You don’t want contingent workers feeling like they don’t belong. Failure to establish supportive relationships can slow the process of contingent workers getting to work quickly and ramping up productivity right away.Make those connections for your contingent workers. Have someone in their department or HR introduce them to their team members. If you have remote workers, use video conferencing to help them get to know the team. You probably already have onboarding protocols for your employees that could easily be applied to contract labor. The more quickly you help them connect, the more ready they will be to contribute to the company.3. Invite them to meetings.It might seem inefficient to include your contract workers in office meetings. You may feel that inclusion in the meetings takes them away from the job you hired them to do. But consider the value of meetings for the rest of your team and the contingent worker.In meetings, contingent workers can see how their projects and contributions connect to those of the rest of the team. They learn how their work ties into the project they’re working on, and they get a chance to provide input. Being included as part of the regular office interactions in meetings fosters understanding and cohesiveness across the entire organization.4. Increase their involvement.The same logic applies beyond in-house meetings. Consider opportunities to include your temp hires in networking events, charitable causes, and conferences.These events can prove to be mutually beneficial for the contractor and your company. At a local networking event, we brought along a short-term hire to provide some sales support. Because this person was looking for full-time work in HR, the worker was happy to go along and network.And it paid off for both of us. That contingent worker connected us to a prospect that is now worth $1 million in revenue, and the worker landed a full-time job. To top it off, the company this person works for might be using our services in the future.So start including your contract workers in meetings, lunches, and other outings. You might be pleasantly surprised by the results.Gig workers are vital to the success of many companies.Though your freelancers, gig-workers and contingency workers account for only 16% of the workers in these companies — there are firmly established policies for managing these workers. Let these workers interact with your team and on your Slack — or similar channels. Remember their birthdays and holidays, just as you do with your regular team members.Conclusion:A little planning for these contingent workers can go a long way. By helping them feel welcome and incorporating them into the team, you can improve their well-being and help them assimilate more quickly. Providing for the mental well-being of these workers helps them be more productive and contribute to your organization more quickly. Why IoT Apps are Eating Device Interfaces Follow the Puck Tags:#contingent workforce#contingent workforce management#contingent workforce strategies#freelancer#Gig Economy Related Posts What it Takes to Build a Highly Secure FinTech … Kara Hertzog is Chief Operating Officer of Innovative Employee Solutions (IES), a leading nationwide provider of contingent workforce solutions, specializing in Payrolling and Independent Contractor Compliance services. Founded in 1974 in San Diego, IES has grown into one of the city’s largest women-owned businesses and has been named one of the city’s “Best Places to Work” for more than 10 years in a row. How OKR’s Completely Transformed Our Culture Kara HertzogChief Operating Officer of Innovative Employee Solutions (IES)
I grew up watching boxing. Occasionally, you would see a fighter like the young Mike Tyson who would go undefeated for years in a spectacular rise to the top. Floyd Mayweather has also shared the experience of going undefeated for a long time, remaining so to this day. Most fighters, however, suffered defeats on their way up the rankings.One of the ways boxers remain undefeated is to carefully choose their fights, gaining competence and confidence by first choosing competitors they know they can beat, and later stretching to take on more dangerous fighters as their skills grow.Selling is more like the UFC. No one makes it to the top of the rankings without suffering defeat along the way. Connor McGregor bit off more than he could chew by going up to weight classes to fight Nate Diaz. He lost. Rhonda Rousey lost in an unexpected upset to Holly Holmes. McGregor and Rousey are both tremendous fighters, even with losses on their records.Competing to WinUnlike a boxer, you can’t carefully choose which prospects you compete for to ensure that you go undefeated. Some of the opportunities that you pursue will be difficult opportunities for you to win. They will stretch you and your company.You also don’t get to choose who you compete against. It’s wonderful luck when the final two sales organizations competing for your dream clients business end up being you and a competitor you can easily beat. But sometimes you end up competing against the ferocious company that has your number and knows how to win.Sometimes you are going to lose even when that idea seems impossible. You are going to lose even when you do everything right. Sometimes, when you do a lot of things wrong, you are going to win.Keep FightingYou are not supposed to like to lose. As a competitor, you need a burning desire to win. You are allowed to be disappointed when you lose, but you are not allowed to allow that disappointment to take you out of your game.No one playing the game is undefeated. Learn from your losses. Make adjustments. Take the next fight. Essential Reading! Get my 2nd book: The Lost Art of Closing “In The Lost Art of Closing, Anthony proves that the final commitment can actually be one of the easiest parts of the sales process—if you’ve set it up properly with other commitments that have to happen long before the close. The key is to lead customers through a series of necessary steps designed to prevent a purchase stall.” Buy Now
A biographical sports drama about two female wrestlers led by superstar Aamir Khan has become the unlikely highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time. Related Items
Photo by Randolph B. Leongson/INQUIRER.netBack from his short sojourn overseas, national team coach Chot Reyes was back in the fold on Monday as he manned the third session of the Gilas Pilipinas practices at Meralco Gym.Attending for the first time is “23-for-23” cadet Matt Nieto as the young guns participated in the practices anew.ADVERTISEMENT Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC MOST READ Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. View comments Chot drops ‘disinterested’ Abueva, Almazan for 2nd leg: ‘They haven’t showed up’ Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH Read Next Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City NEXT BLOCK ASIA 2.0 introduces GURUS AWARDS to recognize and reward industry influencers
Joining the session are Ateneo teammates Isaac Go and Thirdy Ravena, CJ Perez, Abu Tratter, Will Gozum, J-Jay Alejandro, Joshua Sinclair, Arvin Tolentino, and Juan Gomez de Liaño.Eight members of the current pool were also in tow namely June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood, Troy Rosario, Jio Jalalon, Mac Belo, Kiefer Ravena, Kevin Alas, and Roger Pogoy.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSLillard, Anthony lead Blazers over ThunderSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutCarl Bryan Cruz was in attendance but was on street clothes.Gilas Pilipinas continued its preparations for the second window of the Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers. Kammuri turning to super typhoon less likely but possible — Pagasa Globe Business launches leading cloud-enabled and hardware-agnostic conferencing platform in PH John Lloyd Cruz a dashing guest at Vhong Navarro’s wedding 2 ‘newbie’ drug pushers fall in Lucena sting The Philippines faces Australia at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne on February 22, before taking on Japan at Mall of Asia Arena on February 25. Slow and steady hope for near-extinct Bangladesh tortoises LATEST STORIES
Sania MirzaIndian tennis ace Sania Mirza achieved a career-best rank of number five in the world as the new WTA doubles chart was released on Monday.Sania, who turned a pro in 2003 and overcame a career-threatening wrist injury in between, has entered the top-five for the first time in her career.Check out Bhojpuri songs on Sania MirzaSania and her Zimbabwean partner Cara Black could not go deep in the just concluded Wimbledon championships, but a second round appearance fetched her crucial 130 ranking points, enough to push her in the top-5.”Its been a long hard journey since my comeback to tennis from my third surgery when my career seemed to be over.. It is a very satisfying feeling to have bounced back from those despairing times and to be ranked in the top-5 of the world today,” Sania said.Her father and coach Imran Mirza said, “I’ve always believed Sania had the potential to be a top-5 player. I’m happy she has overcome heavy odds to justify her promise.”In the singles rankings, Ankita gained one place to be 285 as country’s best player.Meanwhile in the ATP rankings, Somdev Devvarman’s dropped 10 places to 135 as his poor run continued unabated.In the doubles, Leander Paes remained unchanged at number 13 and was highest ranked player from the country. Rohan Bopanna dropped three places to sit on the edge of top-20.
Cayetano: Senate, Drilon to be blamed for SEA Games mess MOST READ Wintry storm delivers US travel woes before Thanksgiving Private companies step in to help SEA Games hosting Laure scored 21 points, while Rondina had 19 but UST failed to get significant help from Dimdim Pacres, Caitlyn Viray and Kecelyn Galdones which turned their offence askew.On the other hand, La Salle had Aduke Ogunsanya who had 13 points, including the massive block on Laure that ended the match.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next La Salle proved on Sunday night that good, old fashioned teamwork and a winning mindset can silence the most explosive firepower in the league.Desiree Cheng unloaded a career-high 20 points on awkward but well-placed shots to power the three-time defending champion Lady Spikers to a 21-25, 25-23, 25-19, 26-24 triumph over University of Santo Tomas and into solo second spot in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.ADVERTISEMENT Bloomberg: US would benefit from more, not fewer, immigrants Panelo: Duterte ‘angry’ with SEA Games hosting hassles Trump tells impeachment jokes at annual turkey pardon event The Lady Bulldogs, who upped their record to 3-7, sent the Lady Falcons deeper in the standings at 1-9.In exacting revenge over the Tigresses who beat them via straight sets in the first round, the Lady Spikers also scored back-to-back wins they hope would carry them deep in the second round of eliminations.Fully aware of UST’s formidable edge in manpower, La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus instructed his wards to stick with the age-old system of containing their errors and firming up defense while doing a masterful job of shuffling his charges on the floor and keeping them fresh.In the third set, La Salle worked its way up from 9-12 with 10 unanswered points, tilting the complexion of the match decisively.La Salle’s back-to-back kill-blocks sealed the win after UST managed to extend the fourth set through belated efforts of its large-scale scorers Rondina and Laure.ADVERTISEMENT
View comments The veteran open hitter, better known for high volleyball IQ than power, typified the Lady Spikers’ maturity in recovering from an error-prone first set to systematically cut down the Tigresses powered by Sisi Rondina and Eya Laure.La Salle is now within striking distance of league-leading Ateneo with a 7-3 record while UST slid to 6-4.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSPalace wants Cayetano’s PHISGOC Foundation probed over corruption chargesSPORTSSingapore latest to raise issue on SEA Games food, logisticsFor a while, it looked like the Tigresses were on their way to duplicating a first round victory over the Lady Spikers, who got their acts going in a tight second set to gather much-needed confidence.In the other game, National University brushed off a late fourth-set charge by Adamson to prevail, 28-26, 30-32, 25-21, 25-22. Alas relishes all-star break with PH Cup playoffs nearing PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games PLAY LIST 02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games02:11Trump awards medals to Jon Voight, Alison Krauss LATEST STORIES Colombia protesters vow new strike after talks hit snag Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Google Philippines names new country director
Sunrisers Hyderabad mentor VVS Laxman has complemented Mohammed Nabi and Shikhar Dhawan for executing the side’s plans perfectly to win against table-toppers Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.”We know that Mumbai Indians is a very good side. They are the side in form. So, we had a certain game plan and certain strategy and even our combination was changed based on the kind of players they got in their line-up,” said Laxman.”Even today, it was fantastic to see (Mohammed) Nabi, the way he started off. The first two, three overs set the tone for the match. Important thing was we didn’t allow that momentum to shift. We did not allow Mumbai Indians batsmen to come back into the game. Overall, I think we executed our plans to perfection,” Laxman said.SRH won the match by seven wickets with 10 balls to spare. The Hyderabad team improved its chances to the play-offs with the win and it is now placed at fourth position on the points table with 15 points.SRH made major changes in team composition in the match yesterday (by dropping in-form Kane Williamson and including Nabi) and the changes were made keeping the opposition in mind, Laxman said.”It was more about left handers in Mumbai Indians line up. Some of them in good form, starting with Parthiv (Patel) and also Nitish Rana at number three.”But, when you have only four overseas players who can play, you have to work out what is best combination on that particular day, against the particular opposition keeping the conditions in mind,” he said.advertisementThe changes were also about trying out various options, he said.”This year, unlike the previous two years, we are spoilt for choices. Sometimes, it is good. This year we got various options and they can just walk in the playing XI and perform just the way Nabi did this evening,” he said.Replying to a query about conversations from the dug- out with captain David Warner when MI was batting, he said such a thing is quite common.”T20 cricket is so quick. Sometimes, some outside help may be useful to the Captain. It is not the first time it’s happening. This will not be last time it will happen,” he said.Yuvraj Singh’s hand got jammed into the ground when he was fielding and there is enough time for him to recover as the team would play its next match after four days, he said, also complementing him for going ahead with playing despite the pain.
Real Madrid won the Spanish league for the first time since 2012 with a 2-0 win over Malaga on Sunday.Cristiano Ronaldo scored two minutes into the match and Karim Benzema sealed the victory in the second half. That gave Madrid a three-point advantage over second-placed Barcelona, which rallied from two goals down to beat Eibar 4-2 at the Camp Nou.Madrid entered the last round needing a draw to make certain of avoiding its worst title drought since the 1980s and keep Barcelona from its third straight championship.Zinedine Zidane’s team won its 33rd league title. Players threw the former France great up and down as they celebrated the title at the Rosaleda Stadium.Ronaldo put Madrid in control early in Malaga, entering the area and rounding the goalkeeper before finding the open net following a pass by Francisco “Isco” Alarcon.Karim Benzema added to the lead in the 55th minute off the rebound of a close-range shot by Sergio Ramos.
India pacer Mohammed Shami on Friday backed skipper Virat Kohli’s rotation policy for the home stretch, saying it helps cricketers like him get ample rest for the long grind.”I fully support Kohli’s rotation policy. It gives rest to players like me to get ready not only for Tests but across formats,” Shami told reporters here.In the 16-member India squad named for the Sri Lanka Test series starting next month, the likes of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja were drafted in after not featuring in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand and prior to that Australia.Shami was part of the Australia series but played only one match in Bengaluru. He did not get a wicket in 10 overs.Both Shami and Umesh are played more in the five-day format with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah the first-choice fast bowlers in the ODI set-up.
PLANTATION, Fla. — The former NFL fullback entered the room with a wobble in his walk, and needed assistance climbing a podium so he could face a media throng and discuss his death-defying 16-hour swim to shore.Rob Konrad sipped from a bottle of water, his efforts to rehydrate ongoing four days after the episode. His wife sat at his side rubbing his leg in support, and tears welled in their eyes as he spoke.“Happy to be here,” he began with a wry smile. “I shouldn’t be here,” he said later, his voice cracking.The 38-year-old Konrad’s escape was a testament to willpower and world-class athleticism. The first reports of his adventure last week received worldwide attention.Even endurance swimmer Diana Nyad was impressed. “It’s an incredible story,” Nyad said. “Taking his life in his hands and deciding he was going to save himself, I admire him.”Konrad, who played for the Miami Dolphins from 1999 to 2004, had been around boats since his childhood on Boston’s North Shore. So he knew what it meant when he fell off his 31-foot Grady-White while fishing alone nine miles from land.“A boater’s nightmare,” he said.He swam to Palm Beach, covering a distance of 27 miles before ringing the doorbell of an oceanfront home for help at 4:30 a.m. Jan. 8.The U.S. Coast Guard last week provided a brief summary of the events. Konrad, still weak after several days in the hospital for treatment of hypothermia and dehydration, held a news conference to fill in the details.They were hard to believe, he and his wife agreed. “It was a miracle he made it home,” Tammy Konrad said.Her husband said he was taking his boat for servicing last Jan. 7 and decided to do a little fishing along the way. He had caught a large fish and was tending to the rod when a large wave hit, flipping Konrad into the ocean.His boat was on autopilot and headed east. There were no other boats in sight. Konrad wasn’t wearing a life preserver. It was 12:30 p.m. “I realized I was in some real trouble,” he said.Konrad quickly decided to swim toward shore, although he figured the trip would take more than 10 hours, and feared succumbing to hypothermia or cramps after two or three hours. The ocean temperature was in the low 70s — far from frigid, but a lot colder than his body temperature.So Konrad decided he’d better keep moving. He took off his shirt and began alternating between a breaststroke and backstroke.He said he’s not much of a swimmer, but Nyad figures his football experience made a big difference.“We’re not really talking about a swimming story. We’re talking about a survival story,” Nyad said. “I’m sure his background as an athlete — toughness, having resolve, knowing things are going to be painful — were the saving grace for him.”Konrad said he got bit “by a whole bunch of stuff.” A shark circled before moved along. “There was a lot of stuff glowing at night, probably some jellyfish,” he said.He could also see lights along the coast and pick out landmarks. As he tired, he gained emotional strength. “Five or six hours in I realized, ‘Maybe I can do this,’” he said.Twice he was nearly rescued. A recreational fishing boat approached to within 50 yards, but Konrad couldn’t flag it down. Then a Coast Guard helicopter searching for him flew overhead.“They had their lights on me and kept going. They didn’t see me. That was a difficult time.”But the ex-Dolphin kept swimming, thinking of his daughters, ages 8 and 10. “He had two angels on his back,” his wife said.“I was probably pretty delirious at the time, but I could see the lights getting closer and closer,” he said.Then the sound of the ocean changed. He could hear waves hitting the shore, and finally he reached land as well.“The problem was I couldn’t walk. My body was shaking uncontrollably. I crawled up on the beach and warmed myself up enough to be able to walk.”Paramedics were summoned, and soon he was en route to the hospital. His boat was found near Grand Bahama Island on Deadman’s Reef, the irony of the name not lost on Konrad. He had gone the other way.(STEVEN WINE, AP Sports Writer)TweetPinShare0 Shares
Arsenal Share on Pinterest Topics Emery has benefitted from a greater degree of slack but, at the same time, he has driven a positive feeling through his bold approach. Arsenal started poorly once again at home to Leicester on Monday night . They trailed 1-0 after 31 minutes and the deficit could and should have been greater.There are defensive holes in the team and it was not difficult to imagine how the Emirates crowd would have reacted last season. But Arsenal remained unafraid to express themselves in an attacking sense and the result was an eventual 3-1 win – in which Mesut Özil was the star turn, scoring the equaliser and helping to create the other two for the substitute, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.“The manager has imposed a new style and we are enjoying our time,” Iwobi said. “We are enjoying each other and the chemistry is good – it’s not just the people who are starting but those on the bench, as well. It’s a team thing and we are all enjoying it.“ The manager has just given me the confidence to express myself and to believe in my ability, which I have been trying to show. In training, too, he is always letting me try new things – be positive, be direct and prove it in the games. It is working for me so I just have to keep it going.“Do I feel like a better player than a year ago? I’d just say I am more confident. I feel that even if I make a mistake, I am able to go again. I think that is the difference between me last year and this year.”Emery suggested after the Leicester game that he could not always accommodate Özil and Aaron Ramsey in the same team. Increasingly, it feels as though it will be either/or of the No 10s in the lineup – it was Özil rather than Ramsey on Monday – and it has essentially left Iwobi in competition with Aubameyang, Danny Welbeck and Henrikh Mkhitaryan for one of the wide midfield berths.Iwobi got the nod on the left ahead of Aubameyang and Welbeck against Leicester, and he was a factor in the comeback, getting into dangerous areas towards the end of the first half. Emery’s double substitution at 1-1, however, would prove decisive and it was an illustration of his desire to find new ways to liberate the team. Aubameyang replaced Mkhitaryan to good effect but almost as eye-catching was the introduction of Mattéo Guendouzi for Stephan Lichtsteiner. Granit Xhaka dropped to left-back to allow Guendouzi to play in midfield and it was the kind of creative solution for which Emery is making his name in England.Enjoyment was the theme of the evening and nobody epitomised it more than Özil. Some of his touches were sublime and, in the build-up to the third goal, he pulled off a back-heeled flick, a dummy and a deft, outside-of-the-boot assist.“I get the privilege to play with Mesut every day,” Iwobi said. “He is a world-class player. He gives me advice in a different way. He jokes around but he always tells me I can do more. He also gives me the confidence to express myself.” Share on Facebook Alex Iwobi says that Unai Emery has removed the fear of failure at Arsenal, which has allowed the club to piece together a run of 10 consecutive victories in all competitions.The atmosphere towards the end of the Arsène Wenger years was tainted by negativity, which was not all down to the former manager – rather the broader situation around him and the yearning for change among a large section of the fanbase.One of the consequences was an extreme lack of patience. If the team fell behind in matches, the players would not want to make mistakes and, invariably, they chose not to take risks. The result could be inertia; an inability to make comebacks. news Share via Email Unai Emery
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Nova Scotians will have an opportunity to hear from one of Canada’s top neurosurgeons and innovators at the 2007 Nova Scotia Export Achievement Awards. Dr. Ivar Mendez will be the guest speaker at the annual awards gala on Thursday, May 10, at the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax. Dr. Mendez is one of the founders and chairman of the Brain Repair Centre in Halifax, as well as a professor in the surgery (neurosurgery), and anatomy and neurobiology departments at Dalhousie University. He is also the director of research with the surgery department and the director of the only cell restoration laboratory in Canada. The awards, presented by Nova Scotia Business Inc. and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, are designed to honour exporters’ growth, innovation, partnerships and business volume, and to recognize contributions exporters make to the economy. “The success of the Nova Scotia Export Achievement Awards over the past 23 years is a testament to the collective strength of Nova Scotia’s exporters,” said Peter MacKay, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. “Canada’s government is committed to the growth of Nova Scotia’s export industry.” Dr. Mendez will share his career experience as one of Canada’s leading innovators in science. As part of his address, he will offer insight into brain repair as a technology of the future. “We are honoured to have Dr. Ivar Mendez as our guest speaker for this year’s Export Achievement Awards,” said Stephen Lund, president and CEO of Nova Scotia Business Inc. “Dr. Mendez has a world-class reputation as an exporter of knowledge by using his skills internationally to continue breaking new ground in science.” “The Nova Scotia division of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters is pleased to partner with NSBI in recognizing the excellence of Nova Scotia’s exporters,” said Ann Janega, vice-president of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Nova Scotia. “Our Nova Scotian manufacturers are applying innovative techniques to compete in the world-wide knowledge economy. Dr. Mendez will offer a unique perspective on Nova Scotia’s export industry.” For more information on the awards and to purchase tickets, visit www.exportachievementawards.com. Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) is Nova Scotia’s private-sector-led business development agency. NSBI is the investment attraction arm of the province and helps businesses in Nova Scotia meet growth potential through advisory, export development and financial services.
Harare: Zimbabwe’s late President Robert Mugabe will be buried on September 15, according to a government statement. Mugabe, 95, died on September 6 in Singapore where he had been receiving medical treatment since April. He ruled Zimbabwe for nearly four decades until November 2017 when he was ousted, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that a funeral service for Mugabe will be held on Saturday in the National Sports Stadium, before his burial the following day. Also Read – Saudi Crown Prince ‘snubbed’ Pak PM, recalled jet from US The Ministry did not indicate where Mugabe, who has since been declared a national hero, will be buried. According to the country’s tradition, national figures are buried at the National Heroes Acre, a hilltop in the capital Harare although families may opt for another burial place. The government has said that it will send a high-powered delegation led by Vice President Kembo Mohadi to Singapore on Monday to help with the repatriation of Mugabe’s body. His body is expected to arrive in the country on Wednesday.
The UCLA Longevity Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing and extending productive and healthy lives through research and education, will honor UCLA Chancellor Emeritus and Professor Albert Carnesale and his wife Robin Carnesale; singer, songwriter and composer Randy Newman; Lockton Insurance Brokers President and CEO Timothy J. Noonan; and film, stage and television actress Eva Marie Saint at the 2014 ICON Awards gala, June 5, 2014 at the Montage Beverly Hills.Actor, comedian, author and musician Paul Reiser hosts. Award-winning jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell will perform. Dr. Louise Horvitz and Patricia Dunn Grey co-chair.“The ICON Awards were created to recognize individuals who have become legends in their fields and serve as role models for healthy and active living,” said Gary Small, MD, Director, UCLA Longevity Center.Robin and Albert Carnesale will be honored with the ICON Award for Visionary Leadership in Healthcare. Albert served as chancellor of UCLA from 1997 to 2006, and is currently a UCLA professor. Robin Gerber Carnesale shared her husband’s vision and actively participated in university life, while also serving as CEO of RGA, Inc.The ICON Award for Artistic Excellence will be presented to singer, songwriter and composer Randy Newman. His many honors include Grammy, Emmy, and Academy Awards.Academy and Emmy Award-winning actress Eva Marie Saint will receive the ICON Award for Artistic Excellence. Saint studied at the Actors Studio in New York and began her career in “live” television and theatre.The ICON Award for Visionary Leadership in Business and Philanthropy will be presented to Timothy J. Noonan, President and CEO of Lockton Insurance Brokers, LLC. Noonan is an advocate of public service and community involvement.Founded in 1991 as the UCLA Center on Aging, the UCLA Longevity Center, represents the best of UCLA. Calling upon the talents of faculty, researchers, and students, it demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary collaboration to address real-world challenges. Through cutting-edge research and innovative programs, the Center’s endeavors are improving lives every day. The UCLA Longevity Center has distinguished itself as a pioneering leader in the field of longevity and aging well. For more information, please visit www.longevity.ucla.edu.Source:PR Newswire
BILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN DENIS O’Brien has diluted his holding in Aer Lingus, selling around €4.7 million worth of shares in the airline.The Cork-born tycoon now owns just over 2.4% of the company after reducing the amount of shares he owns from 16,808,822 down to 12,758,822.According to a market statement released by Aer Lingus earlier this week, the deal was executed on July 31, when the share price was around €1.33.The airline also awarded a total of 532,355 shares to departing chief executive Christoph Mueller, under the company’s Long Term Incentive Plan.The award to Mueller, who announced last month that he will leave the airline in May 2015 after five years in charge, was recommended by the remuneration committee of the Aer Lingus board in August.The German has been credited with a major turnaround in fortunes at the airline, although in recent months he has come up against industrial relations woes and a larger problem with pension provisions at the airline.Bernard Bot, who recently joined the carrier as chief financial officer from TNT express, was also provisionally awarded 401,548 shares in the company “in respect of the performance period ending 31 December 2016.”Read: Mueller calls time on Aer Lingus career>Read: One-fifth more long haul passengers for Aer Lingus last month>
By AFP https://the42.ie/4620391 LIVERPOOL STRUCK LATE through Divock Origi to move back top of the Premier League with a thrilling 3-2 win at Newcastle on Saturday and keep their hopes of a first title for 29 years alive but suffered a major scare after injury to Mohamed Salah.Liverpool lost Salah to a head knock that will make him a doubt for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final, second leg against Barcelona.Newcastle had twice come from behind through Christian Atsu and Salomon Rondon to cancel out goals from Virgil van Dijk and Salah.However, Jurgen Klopp’s men piled the pressure back on Manchester City by moving two points clear of the champions thanks to Origi’s header four minutes from time.The title remains in City’s hands as they have two games remaining to Liverpool’s one.However, in a recurring theme of a thrilling title race, Liverpool dug deep late on to continue asking questions of the champions.12 – Liverpool have scored more Premier League goals via substitutes this season than any other team (12). Impact. #NEWLIV pic.twitter.com/SGn7fmmHXm— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 4, 2019 May 4th 2019, 9:42 PM Short URL Faced with a difficult balancing act to strike between keeping Liverpool’s hopes of the title alive and preparing for Barcelona’s visit to Anfield in midweek, Klopp made four changes to the side beaten 3-0 in the first leg at the Camp Nou in midweek, while Roberto Firmino again missed out due to a minor groin tear.Trent Alexander-Arnold was one of those recalled and the England right-back was to have an eventful evening at both ends.The visitors’ showed no signs of tiredness early on as Salah twice fired off target at the back post, but Newcastle were orchestrators of their downfall when the opening goal arrived on 13 minutes.Alexander-Arnold’s corner found Van Dijk completely unmarked as Rondon slipped and the PFA’s Player of the Year powered home his fifth goal of the season.Newcastle had barely ventured over the halfway line in the first 20 minutes, but levelled with their first serious attack.Matt Ritchie’s driven cross was turned goalwards by Rondon, whose shot was saved on the line by the arm of Alexander-Arnold.2 – Liverpool are the first team in Premier League history to have at least two defenders provide 10+ assists each in a single campaign (Trent Alexander-Arnold 11 & Andy Robertson 11). Outlets. #NEWLIV pic.twitter.com/2NaayZJAen— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 4, 2019 Liverpool edge 5-goal thriller but victory comes at a cost Mo Salah was stretchered off amid a dramatic win over Newcastle. Liverpool players celebrate. Image: EMPICS Sport Image: EMPICS Sport 174 Comments 
Subscribe Saturday 4 May 2019, 9:42 PM 68,875 Views Source: The42 Rugby Weekly/SoundCloudSubscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here: Liverpool players celebrate. Share15 Tweet Email A penalty and a red card would likely have followed for the Liverpool defender had Atsu not put home the rebound.All of a sudden Newcastle looked the more dangerous side as Ayoze Perez turned Van Dijk before smashing off the crossbar.However, an enthralling first 28 minutes took another twist when Alexander-Arnold made the most of his reprieve to still be on the field with his second assist of the night.His cross found Salah inside the area, but the Egyptian still had plenty to do as he cushioned a finish into the far corner on his weaker right foot to move two in front of teammate Sadio Mane and Sergio Aguero in the race for the Golden Boot.Mane could have made it 3-1 before the break when he was denied by Martin Dubravka and Daniel Sturridge, deputising for Firmino, also blazed over a golden opportunity early in the second period to Klopp’s dismay.Moments later that miss looked to be all the more costly as Liverpool did not clear their lines from a corner and the ball broke for Rondon to fire sweetly past the helpless Alisson Becker.Worse was to come for Liverpool as Salah was caught on the head by Dubravka as the Slovakian goalkeeper raced from his goal to punch the ball to safety.He was stretchered off, his hands over his face to applause from both sets of supporters.Without two thirds of their prolific frontline, Liverpool would have been forgiven for thinking their chase of City was up.But, not for the first time this season, Origi, who scored a 96th minute winner against Everton in the Merseyside derby in December, came off the bench to score a vital late goal as he got his head to Xherdan Shaqiri’s free-kick.© – AFP 2019Gavan Casey and Murray Kinsella are joined by Andy Dunne to discuss all the week’s rugby news.: Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article
Stay on target It’s hard to believe, but Fortnite isn’t Epic Games’ first round at the rodeo. They’ve been knocking out genre-defining releases since Tim Sweeney started the company in his parents’ house in 1991. Their last huge hit was, of course, the Gears of War series which started on the Xbox 360 in 2006. Although Epic no longer makes the games — Microsoft owns them — they’re still chugging along, with a fifth installment set to drop this month. The gritty, violent action of humans vs. Locust is always a thrill, and you can take it offline with these killer Gears of War toys.NECA Dominic Santiago Action FigureOne of the things that made the Gears games so successful was the feeling of connection you have with the supporting cast. These aren’t just AI grunts there to soak up bullets for you — they’re three-dimensional characters with their own stories and needs. The bond with Dom Santiago was the juice at the core of the first games, starting with his bold breakout of Marcus from the Jacinto Maximum Security Prison and through his sacrifice in the third game to blow up a fuel tank and take out the Locust and Lambent that had Delta-One pinned down.Get it at AmazonOld Man Marcus Fenix Funko PopThe lifespan of most of the characters in the Gears franchise isn’t terribly long, but it’s nice to know that protagonist Markus Fenix sticks around long enough to go gray. In the fourth game, Markus stepped out of the lead role to let his son JD handle the rough stuff, and the grizzled, aged version of Fenix quickly became our headcanon. Apparently the fifth game will also have the creaky bugger in a supporting role, and we’re here for it. Funko nails the look in their classic style with this Pop! that’s ready to fend off the Locust hordes.Get it at AmazonAugustus Cole FigureHey, it’s the Cole Train! We couldn’t do a roundup of Gears of War figures without representing former Thrashball star turned bad-ass Locust fighter Augustus Cole. After Cole joined the military, it’s canon that his popularity led to a spike in enlistments because he’s just that damned cool. This NECA figure from their first series of Gears toys stands a little under four inches tall, so he can fight alongside your G.I. Joes if you want him to. Cole comes with a sweet Lancer and super-detailed armor and accessories.Get it at AmazonReplica LancerWhen the list of all-time iconic shooter weapons is created, the Lancer would have to land on there somewhere. The massive rifle with a chainsaw bolted to the front is just so deeply satisfying to use at any range, and if you have some spare cash sitting around and want to own a replica of it sculpted from the original 3D models used in the game, here it is. This beast weighs nearly 13 pounds and boasts a number of cool features like removable clips and sliding handles, and if you put in some C batteries you get vibration and chainsaw noises to boot.Get it at AmazonGears of War Construction SetLego obviously isn’t going to go anywhere near a franchise as gory as Gears of War, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get your build on with officially licensed products. This 100-piece kit is based on the classic metal-frame Erector sets from Meccano, and it depicts a wild chase across the rooftops of Halvo Bay as Garron Parduk pursues a Locust grenadier. The detailed little figures come with their own weapons and you can create lots of different layouts with the materials and stickers provided. Cool stuff in a style we don’t see very often.Get it at AmazonTicker FigureThe Locust have all sorts of nasty gimmicks they use to wage war, and one of the most memorable are the Tickers. These creatures were discovered in the Hollow and weaponized by strapping tanks of Imulsion to their backs. They’re used both as mobile land mines, being sent out on suicide missions to take out vehicles, as well as against infantry. NECA has produced a bunch of cool figures from both sides of the war, and this is a fun one. It even has hidden wheels so you can slide it along the floor more realistically.Get it at AmazonStorm Collectibles Marcus Fenix FigureStorm Collectibles is notorious for their super detailed and weighty 1/12 scale figures, standing about half a foot high with lots of cool stuff. Their take on Marcus Fenix comes with two head sculpts — one from the classic trilogy and another with his aged-up visage from the newer ones. You also get a passel of weapons — two different kinds of Lancers, plus a Gnasher shotgun and a snub-nosed pistol. Lots of poseability on display here as well, so Fenix can hide behind cover and get the drop on his foes just like you do in the game.Get it at AmazonNECA Locust Drone Exploding Head FigureOne of the most satisfying things that can happen in a shooter is landing that perfect headshot, and now there’s an action figure that captures that magical moment. This NECA take on the Locust drones that you mow down in bulk has an insanely weird explosion of gibs coming from his neckhole to capture the moment that you put a round through its skull. If you want, you can swap it out for a normal non-exploded head, but why would you ever do that? This is one of the goriest action figures we’ve ever seen, and that’s saying a lot because we’ve seen a lot of action figures.Get it at AmazonMcFarlane Toys Kait Diaz FigureWe first met Kait Diaz in Gears of War 4 but she’s going to be stepping into the lead role for the upcoming fifth installment, so start stocking your shelves in anticipation. From the masterminds at McFarlane, this take on the former Outsider turned Gear is brilliantly sculpted with lots of articulations and a custom display base for cool poses. She’s also loaded for bear with a customized Gnasher shotgun and pistol. We’re very curious to see how her story plays out in the new game and how she’s connected with the Locust leadership.Get it at AmazonFunko Brumak FigureStanding 6 inches tall, this take on the lumbering Brumak will tower over all of your other Funko Pops, which is as it should be. When you first meet the massive predator, which is believed to have been bred from modified apes by Locust scientists, it looms nearly 40 feet above you as its massive arm cannons chew up the terrain. Dom and Marcus have to take one out during the Lightmass Offensive and it’s one of the series’ most overwhelming boss battles. Now you can replicate all of that terror and triumph at home with this stompy little buddy.Get it at AmazonPlay Arts Kai Marcus Fenix FigureWe know there’s a lot of Marcus on this list, but what are you gonna do? That’s who gets the toys. This is the biggest one of the lot, and it pulls no punches. Square Enix’s Play Arts Kai line brings to life characters from some of the greatest geek culture franchises around the world, and their take on the Gears of War hero is beefy and thick while not sacrificing movement. Clad in deep, weathered black, the texture of this one is out of this world. It comes with alternate hands, a Lancer MK2 and, coolest of all, a knife that fits in his boot sheath.Get it at AmazonMore on Geek.com:The Best ‘World of Warcaft’ ToysThe Best ‘Persona’ ToysThe Best ‘Stranger Things’ Toys Toy Tuesday: The Best ‘South Park’ ToysThe New Lego UCS Imperial Star Destroyer Is Nearly Four Feet Long 
Related Posts At best, blockchain has been a trial-and-error technology. For every successful cryptocurrency, there are a dozen cases like Civil, which had to cancel its initial coin offering after failing to gain traction on a plan to use blockchain to verify user-submitted news content. Although 84 percent of global companies are dabbling in the decentralized ledger technology, the truth is that 92 percent of blockchain projects have failed. Firms have found the technology’s promise to verify data in a decentralized way appealing, but they’ve struggled to implement it effectively. Those that get beyond blockchain’s technical hurdles have found it difficult to engage users, while others have learned the technology isn’t as secure as once thought.Still, blockchain’s business value wouldn’t be headed for the $2 trillion mark if some firms hadn’t gotten it right. As West Virginia gears up to apply the technology to a first-in-the-nation absentee voting system this November, states and voting rights groups would do well to learn from the business community’s rollercoaster experience with the technology.Better Elections or BustFrom a theoretical standpoint, it’s obvious why governments and political groups are interested in blockchain. A secure way to share and verify data online could drastically cut election security concerns while boosting turnout. But to turn blockchain into a real-world voting aid, they’ll need to:1. Make it rewarding.Although rewarding people for voting with even small gifts like food has been illegal since 1948, nobody can fault advocates for trying to improve America’s abysmal voter participation rate. Just 55 percent of eligible Americans made it to the polls in 2016, putting the U.S. in 26th place out of 32 rated OECD nations. With a proven track record of driving social actions for its brand partners, Sweet, a social marketplace and loyalty platform that currently uses internally driven blockchain technology to reward users with a digital token called “Sugar,” may be the solution. Earlier this month, Sweet announced it had joined forces with nonpartisan nonprofit Rock the Vote to get the word out about the 2018 midterm elections. Users earn Sugar for educating themselves on current events and sharing election-related content on social media, which can be spent in Sweet’s Rock the Vote Rewards Marketplace.2. Start small.Although JPMorgan Chase scaled up its blockchain-based interbank exchange this past September to include 80 global banks, it debuted the model last October with just a handful of participants. The financial giant’s goal is to reduce the time and number of middlemen involved in bank-to-bank transactions. If the larger trial proves successful, JPMorgan plans to support currencies other than the U.S. dollar and open the network to additional financial institutions.Sweden seems to be modeling that same approach in its electoral application of blockchain. This past summer, the Swedish municipality of Zug put blockchain-based voting to the test. Although Swiss media hailed the experiment a success in terms of administration and voter privacy, Zug officials noted that turnout could have been higher. With Sweden expected to become the first country to launch its own cryptocurrency, expect to see it apply blockchain to its elections on a wider scale. 3. Don’t assume it’s secure.Because blockchain uses a decentralized network of nodes to confirm data with one another, the model was supposed to be incredibly difficult for hackers to manipulate. So when a hacker cracked a smart contract used by the ethereum blockchain in mid-2016, owners of Ether, the token associated with Ethereum, woke up to quite the shock: $55 million in virtual currency had been stolen from the system, never to be recouped. Such attacks have made security experts skeptical of blockchain-based voting initiatives. To prevent vote manipulation and data breaches, West Virginia will use a three-tier security system for its blockchain voting app. Users will first submit a photo of their government-issued identification before being asked to record a video of their face. They’ll then be able to cast a ballot, which will be scrubbed of personal data and documented on an indelible public ledger. 4. Dream big. If the business community has done one thing well with blockchain, it’s thinking up creative use cases. Walmart and IBM have announced plans to use it to track foods from suppliers to shelves, Sony hopes to use it to protect creative content in a digital rights management scheme, and Brooklyn Microgrid is implementing it for sustainable energy transactions. Nonprofit civic advocates aren’t short on ideas, either. One of the boldest is from Democracy.Earth, which wants to create a blockchain-based social network where users can spend “vote tokens” to indicate their preference on any number of private and public issues. A homeowner’s association might use the platform to vote on maintenance standards, while local governments could crowdsource and vote on ideas for municipal ordinances. Unfortunately, though, the startup has yet to figure out how the minted tokens could act as currency without giving disproportionate voting power to wealthier users. Blockchain isn’t the magic bullet some in the business community first thought it would be, but it’s hardly just hype, either. Private companies have learned where it works and where it doesn’t through trial and error, just like states and election advocates will. In the midterm elections and beyond, they’ll need to start small, prioritize security, and get users accustomed to the technology before their vote depends on it. The stakes to get it right are great, but so are the opportunities to build a better democracy. Tags:#Blockchain#Cryptocurrency#data security#election Brad AndersonEditor In Chief at ReadWrite Brad is the editor overseeing contributed content at ReadWrite.com. He previously worked as an editor at PayPal and Crunchbase. You can reach him at brad at readwrite.com. Blockchain – Impending Revolution in Glob… AI: How it’s Impacting Surveillance Data Storage How Data Analytics Can Save Lives Leveraging Big Data that Data Websites Should T…