Sentosa Island Re-United

This was a great occasion of how people from my travels can have fun, people from all over the world. I guess a good network could make it better.

The Globalisation Game Warms Up!

The Linux Foundation is pleased to announce the opening of registration and call for papers for the 4th Annual Collaboration Summit which will take place April 14-16, 2010 in San Francisco.
Presented by platinum sponsors Intel and IBM, the Collaboration Summit is an exclusive, invitation-only gathering of the brightest minds in Linux, including core kernel developers, distribution maintainers, ISVs, end users, system vendors and other community organizations. It is the only conference designed to accelerate collaboration and encourage solutions by bringing together a true cross-section of leaders to meet face-to-face to tackle the most pressing issues facing Linux today.

Topics for this year’s Collaboration Summit will include high performance computing, legal issues and cross-community/cross-industry collaboration. The agenda will be finalized and posted on our website in the coming weeks. As in past years, this event is limited to only
300 people, and will fill up quickly.

The Annual Collaboration Summit will be co-located again this year with the CELF Embedded Linux Conference. The winner of the 2nd Annual Linux Foundation Video Contest will also be revealed at the summit, where the winning video and honorable mentions will be screened for
the event’s attendees.

Abstract:

Purpose – The paper aims to increase our understanding of an under-investigated research area of consumption, that is, cosmopolitanism as a consumer orientation.

Design/methodology/approach – About 16 informants, either Australians who had worked or studied overseas, or expatriates residing in Australia, participated in a qualitative research study. Analysis was an iterative process involving textual interpretation of interview transcripts and photographs supplied by informants.

Findings – Support is found for Thompson and Tambyah's idea that a cosmopolitan consumer orientation comprises dominant masculine and counter-veiling feminine traits. Contradicting Thompson and Tambyah, the study validates Cannon and Yaprak's idea that a cosmopolitan consumer orientation simultaneously embraces maintaining close ties to their cultural roots and seeking to consume products from other cultures. Additional aspects of cosmopolitanism are identified, including the benefits of expatriate enclaves and difficulties upon returning home.

Research limitations/implications – Theory validation arises as a consequence of finding partial support for past findings. Theory generation manifests as suggested modifications to extant theory and identification of additional aspects of cosmopolitanism as a consumer orientation.

Practical implications – Understanding cosmopolitanism as a consumer orientation has implications for understanding consumption of culturally distant products.

Originality/value – The paper offers foundations for future research into an increasingly significant aspect of consumption.

English Etiquette Elite

Cross cultural businesses have arrived on our door-step but have these companies been through our cultural awareness program in person. I doubt it, but we except excellent forward destined initiatives as fair comment and on most cases accurate. Our platform operates on most levels, this is our awareness and source for information without invitation, more as mission executives. is this a game of chess or actual precision engineering results from continuous progressive researchers.

Citrix XenDesktop & English Etquette Elite Network

Whether you’re considering your first virtual desktop solution or trying to salvage an existing implementation, Citrix XenDesktop™ is the clear choice on the market that offers the performance, scalability and manageability required to meet your business needs.

In a head-to-head comparison with VMware View, XenDesktop provides a host of benefits that View doesn’t offer — including clearly superior performance over any network and up to 10X lower bandwidth utilization. XenDesktop enhances IT visibility with built-in service level assurance tools for proactive problem resolution, scalable single image management and role-based application delivery for streamlined management. In this white paper, we provide a point-by-point comparison between the technologies and benefits offered by Citrix XenDesktop and VMware View that you should consider before choosing a VDI provider.

One of the biggest IT challenges most organizations face is the management of hundreds and possibly thousands of client devices. The resources required to deploy, support, manage, and maintain an efficient client infrastructure with a modern desktop environment are substantial. Desktop device configurations must be robust, flexible and remain agile across mobile devices, desktop computers, laptops, thin clients and now virtual desktops.Large scale desktop deployments also represent one of the most challenging projects an organization can undertake and success can lead to higher usage and productivity as well as a lower cost infrastructure and improved ROI on your hardware and software investment.

English Ettie Elite Etiquette has extensive expertise in the design and deployment of desktop solutions that range from large scale desktop upgrades though to complex server based computing and vitalization solutions. By utilising a combination of our deployment services with the latest desktop technologies, our customers will benefit from reduced deployment risk and more efficiency within their desktop environment. Your environment and desktop is the key to your future.

They build the future, we test it!

English Ettiquette Share a Point

The Digital Marketing Revolution

Between the buzz of social networking sites, the rise of the blogosphere, and the continued drive of online advertising, digital media and marketing through digital means has moved to a prominent concern and opportunity for most mainstream businesses. The effects of which can be seen in a continued shift of the top spenders on advertising away from traditional media.

Spending follows a shift in customer activity to online, mobile devices, game consoles, and other areas not easily reached by traditional advertising. Digital media and marketing allow advertisers to observe and reach the ever-elusive customers yet also drive greater accountability and return on their marketing investments. This shift in technology adoption, led by the Web and mobile devices has started to shift not only how consumers interact with businesses but with each other.

User-generated content, social applications, mash-ups—things once simply labeled as "Web 2.0"—represent a Web incarnation of an overall shift in expectations many consumers have around technology and the expectations they have for interactions with businesses, brands and products; a shift towards collaboration in creating personal, interactive and social experiences.

Though advertising garners the most attention with respect to digital marketing, it is only one aspect of the overall marketing relationship, a relationship increasingly driven by interactions through software. Businesses must consider not only how they attract customers but how they engage and excite them as well.

This trend is not limited to the Web. From mobile phones to interactive TV to in-store experiences, customers increasingly expect these relevant, interactive and social experiences to be consistent across all of their devices, all aspects of their lives. Businesses cannot support these types of experiences through a series of isolated Web sites, mobile applications, etc. Connections must be made from back-end systems out to a myriad of end-points using a combination of software plus services. At the same time, many businesses are busy building ad platforms to better track and control advertising investments. Piece by piece, most companies are building marketing platforms, often unknowingly.

Read on to learn how Microsoft offers a unique ability to not only help provide the technology to support marketing platforms—from back end business systems all the way to advertising solutions— but the experience to help bridge the two worlds of marketing and information technology.

Microsoft offers a unique ability to not only help provide the technology to support marketing platforms—from back end business systems all the way to advertising solutions— but the experience to help bridge the two worlds of marketing and information technology.

Globalization & World Etiquette

Global Etiquette, reached from one standard, from one organization, from our network.

The People

Four countries make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland -- England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Residents of any of these countries may be called "British." Use "English," "Scot" or "Scotsman," "Welsh" and "Irish" or "Northern Irish" only when certain of a person’s heritage. While the four countries share many customs, each has its own set of cultural nuances.

In England, politeness, reserve, and restraint are admired. The English are courteous, unassuming and unabrasive and are very proud of their long and rich history.

Scots are passionate about their country, guarding its uniqueness and refusing to go along with English ideas. While cool and aloof externally, they are extremely sentimental about their family and their country. Overall Scots are free of class consciousness and social elitism, except in religion.

Generally, Protestants mix only with Protestants and Catholics mix only with Catholics.

Scots have a keen, subtle sense of humor and value generosity, respectability.

Wales has been part of the United Kingdom for more than 400 years, but has kept its own language, literature and traditions. Most residents of Wales are of Welsh or English heritage. Many immigrants from former British colonies and other parts of U.K. Welsh take great pride in their country and their heritage. The Welsh love to sing and talk and spend much of their free time at with their families.

Two-thirds of the Northern Irish have Scottish or English roots. The others are of Irish descent. Irish value friendliness, sincerity and nature. They dislike pretentious behavior and possess a strong work ethic. Family ties are very important in Northern Ireland.

Meeting and Greeting

* The British are reserved, which may cause them to appear cool and indifferent or overly formal. In fact, they are very friendly and helpful to foreigners.
* Shake hands with everyone present -- men, women, and children -- at business and social meetings. Shake hands again when leaving.
* Handshakes are light -- not firm.
* Women should extend their hand to men first.
* Use last names and appropriate titles until specifically invited by your British hosts or colleagues to use their first names.

Body Language

* The British are not back slappers or touchers and generally do not display affection in public.
* Hugging, kissing and touching is usually reserved for family members and very close friends.
* The British like a certain amount of personal space. Do not stand too close to another person or put your arm around someone's shoulder.
* Staring is considered rude.

Corporate Culture

* In Great Britain, punctuality is important for business meetings. Be on time.
* Brits prefer a congenial business relationship, but tend to get right down to business after a few moments of polite conversation.
* Business is best initiated through a well-connected third party.
* The Board of Directors is the source of power and the principal decision making unit in a company. Formal approval of the board is required for most decisions. Decisions may be slow in the making.
* Expect formalities and protocol to be observed in business, especially in London.
* Business organization traditionally is multi-layered with a vertical chain of command. A network of committees, formal and informal, exists in larger companies. Group consensus is preferred to individual initiative.
* In older companies, business still centers around the "old boy network" with prep schools, universities and family ties being of great importance. Newer companies are more progressive.
* Meetings should be scheduled well in advance.
* Meetings generally have a concrete objective, such as: making a decision, developing a plan or arriving at an agreement.
* Presentations should be detailed and subdued.
* Scots are known for being skilled businesspersons, priding themselves for being internationalists. They also are suspicious of "go-getters" and respect success only when it is achieved over time.

Dining and Entertainment

* Summon a waiter by raising your hand. Don't wave or shout.
* Most business entertaining is done restaurants or pubs over lunch. The host, the one who extends the invitation, pays the bill.
* A British business associate may invite you to watch cricket or to the regatta. Both are prestigious events. Wear your tweed sport coat or blue blazer.
* An invitation to someone's home is more common in England than in the rest of Europe.
* Do not discuss business at dinner in someone's home unless the host initiates the conversation.
* In England, when invited to someone's home, arrive at least 10-20 minutes after the stated time. Never arrive early. In Scotland and Wales, arrive on time.
* A male guest of honor is seated at the head of the table or to the right of the hostess. A female guest of honor is seated to the right of the host.
* Wait for your host to begin eating before you eat.
* Host or hostess always initiates first toast, which is usually only given at a formal dinner.
* At a formal dinner, do not smoke until after the toast to the Queen or until otherwise indicated by the host.
* Keep your hands on the table at all times during the meal -- not in your lap. However, take care to keep your elbows off the table.
* When finished eating, place knife and fork side by side on the plate at the 5:25 position.
* You should leave a very small amount of food on your plate when finished eating.
* The guest of honor should initiate leaving a party.
* When the host folds his napkin, this signals that the meal is over.
* Leave a dinner party shortly after dinner ends.
* Write a thank you note to the hostess.
* It is considered impolite to ask for a tour of your host's home.
* Entertain anyone who has entertained you, but don't try to impress British guests with an extravagant dinner. The Brits prefer understatement.

Dress

* People in the larger cities dress more formally, especially in London.
* Men and women wear wools and tweeds for casual occasions. Slacks, sweaters and jackets are appropriate for men and women.
* Avoid striped ties that are copies of British regimentals.
* Men's clothing often expresses affiliation rather than style. Ties are important symbols. School, army, university or club ties are worn.
* For business meetings, men should wear dark suits and ties. Women should wear suits, dresses or skirts and blouses.
* Do not wear a blazer to work. A blazer is country or weekend wear.
* For formal events men may wear black ties, business suits, morning coats or tails. Inquire which is required. Women generally wear cocktail suits or dresses.

Gifts

* Gifts are normally not exchanged in business settings.
* When invited to someone's home, always bring a small gift for the hostess. Give flowers, chocolates, wine, champagne or books. Present the gift upon arrival.
* Gifts are opened upon receiving.
* It is polite to send flowers in advance of a dinner party. Do not send white lilies, which denote death.

Helpful Hints

* Men should open doors for women and stand when a woman enters a room.
* Always hold the door for a person following behind you.
* Honor rank when entering a room. Allow higher rank to enter first.
* Don’t insult the royal family or show great interest in their private lives.
* Respect the British desire for privacy. Don’t ask personal questions, such as where a person lives or what a person does for a profession or job. Don’t talk about money.
* Do not violate a queue. It is considered very rude to push ahead in a line.
* Do not shout or be loud in public places and don’t use excessive, demonstrative hand gestures when speaking.
* Staring is considered impolite.
* Do not be too casual, especially with the English language.
* The English avoid speaking in superlatives. "I am quite pleased," means they are extremely happy.
* Never try to sound British or mimic their accent.
* Humor is ever-present in English life. It is often self-deprecating, ribbing, sarcastic, sexist or racist. Try not to take offense.
* In Scotland, kilts are worn by men at formal occasions (i.e., black tie, weddings, etc.). Don’t make jokes about or ask a Scot what he wears under his kilt.
* In Northern Ireland, religion and politics have created conflict in for many years. Avoid these discussing topics if possible.

Especially for Women

* The 'Old Boy Network' is alive and well in the United Kingdom. However, women are becoming more common in managerial positions in the United Kingdom than in most EC countries, especially in service industries and public sector jobs.
* Foreign women will have little difficulty conducting business in Great Britain.
* Don't be insulted if someone calls you love, dearie, or darling. These are commonly used and not considered rude.
* It is acceptable, but may be misconstrued, for a foreign woman to invite an English man to dinner. It is best to stick with lunch.
* If a woman would like to pay for a meal, she should state this at the outset.
* Crossing your legs at the ankles, not at the knees, is proper.

Creative Commons & English Elite Etiquette

To share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work
To remix – to adapt the work

Under the following conditions:

Attribution – You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).

Share alike – If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one.

Creative Commons has been described as being at the forefront of the copy left movement, which seeks to support the building of a richer public domain by providing an alternative to the automatic "all rights reserved" copyright, dubbed "some rights reserved." David Berry and Giles Moss have credited Creative Commons with generating interest in the issue of intellectual property and contributing to the re-thinking of the role of the "commons" in the "information age". Beyond that, Creative Commons has provided "institutional, practical and legal support for individuals and groups wishing to experiment and communicate with culture more freely."

Creative Commons works to counter what the organization considers to be a dominant and increasingly restrictive permission culture. According to Lawrence Lessig, founder of Creative Commons, it is "a culture in which creators get to create only with the permission of the powerful, or of creators from the past". Lessig maintains that modern culture is dominated by traditional content distributors in order to maintain and strengthen their monopolies on cultural products such as popular music and popular cinema, and that Creative Commons can provide alternatives to these restrictions.

Cracked the Merchants in Style?

The fastest computer could be a mission to elude the so called shoppers paradise in monitoring who buys what, where and when. These people are paid in the form of conducting surveys and are either living off the HI-So promise or deluding the truth behind powerful marketing techniques. What ever the reason we have cracked the market with our very own marketing sound guru who has smacked the market up with a song called citrus on the D&B theme. Music educates us in various powerful ways as citrus delves through the backside of marketing at the top end with a question, 'Is it true?'