China's Belt and Road aims to connect Europe, Asia, and Africa through a wide network of roads, highways, sea lanes and ports. Its jewel project, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), cuts through Jammu and Kashmir.
It has requested China to formally delete the project from the CPEC list.
Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said this at the weekly media briefing here on Thursday when asked about a US media report that alleged that China has hatched a secret plan to build fighter jets and other military hardware in Pakistan as part of the USD 60 billion project.
After the recent visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia, it was announced that Riyadh will be the third "strategic partner" of USD 50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The CPEC is the flagship project of the multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a pet project of President Xi Jinping aimed at enhancing China's influence around the world.
A media report on Monday suggested that Prime Minister Imran Khan's newly elected government plans to renegotiate the agreements with China.
China has already invited Afghanistan -- west to Pakistan -- to join the CPEC. Iran, which is located further west, has expressed interest in joining the project.
According to the report, not only the CPEC projects but local industries related to construction and a large workforce of engineers and labourers were also hit by the situation.
According to a Financial Times' report, Pakistan told China to give it more loans to keep the CPEC alive, the mainstay project of Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road connectivity initiative. It also said Pakistan borrowed some $4 billion from China in the year ending June 2018.
Talking about ways to restore peace in Kashmir at Rajat Sharma's show Aap ki Adalat, the former chief minister said that more trade routes should be opened between India and Pakistan to encourage trade.
"We have a problem there. We have a problem with CPEC, our problems are well known because it completely encroaches on our sovereignty and territorial integrity. And that is not acceptable," said a senior government official.
Sitharaman brought up the issue of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and made it clear that India will not "entertain any thought" of reviewing its stand on it, as it concerned its sovereignty.
His statement comes days after it was reported that Saudi Arabia and Russia were looking at extending a short-term pact to curb oil supplies with a view to check prices.


Florida residents yesterday set about cleaning up billions of dollars in damage wrought by Hurricane Charley, which killed at least 16 people and left thousands homeless.
Rescuers searched for victims among the debris of destroyed homes, and authorities could not say how many people were missing in the worst-hit Charlotte County on the state's west coast, which includes the devastated town of Punta Gorda.
Thousands of people were homeless, and more than a million people were without power, as state authorities launched a huge operation to get food and water to isolated districts.
Experts estimated the hurricane has caused up to $US11 billion ($15.4 billion) in damage - just to insured residential property.
Reuters reported the Florida Division of Emergency Management as saying Hurricane Charley's destructive rampage cost at least $US15 billion, according to preliminary damage estimates.
School officials cancelled classes for the next weeks, and warned that some school buildings might require extensive repairs.
President George W Bush cut off from a presidential election campaign trip to go to Florida. He flew to the devastated area in a helicopter with his brother Jeb Bush, the state's governor.
Florida authorities gave a new toll of at least 16 dead. State lieutenant governor Toni Jennings said most of the deaths were in traffic accidents or where people had been crushed by poles or had walked into water electrified by a fallen power line.
"We may find more as we go along, as this was a devastating storm," she told CNN television.
In Punta Gorda about 30 mobile home parks were flattened as Charley hit the coast on Friday and cut a devastating path about 320km long and 50km wide across the state.
Luxurious waterfront house were levelled, while smaller houses that lined the town's canals were blown into the water.
Bush flew over the ruined town where the streets were still littered the wreckage of vehicles, toppled power lines carried away by the 232kph winds.
The president said "people's lives have been destroyed" along with their homes and that federal aid was being rushed to the disaster zone as fast as possible.
"We choppered over and saw the devastation of this area," Bush told reporters in Punta Gorda.
"A lot of people's lives are turned upside down. We have ice and water moving in, trailers for people to live in are moving in. The state is providing security so that people can have peace of mind that their neighbourhood is safe."
Eighty percent of buildings and all three hospitals in the county sustained damage, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said.
The FEMA has expanded its disaster aid zone from four to 25 counties.
Thousands of National Guard, military and police were brought in from outside the state to help the rescue operation. Curfews were enforced in the county during the night to prevent looting.
Many people wrote "looters will be killed" on what was left of their homes, and at G and G Cut Rate Liquors in Punta Gorda, a sign on the front store window warned: "Looters and Fools Beware."
The town's residents were taken by surprise when the storm veered south from its predicted course. Many chose to stay in their flimsy wooden homes, which stood no chance against the fierce winds.
"Our worst fears have come true," the governor said Saturday after touring Punta Gorda for the first time. "Clearly, there was major devastation," he said.
"This was a beautiful, artsy village, and it's never going to be the same," said Mike Haecker, 55, surveying the tattered remains of the trailer home he and his wife evacuated before the hurricane hit.
Many hotels in the tourist city of Orlando were damaged, but major theme parks including Disney World reopened on Saturday, using their own generators.
Charley cut across the Florida peninsula from west to east, from Punta Gorda through Orlando and then Daytona Beach on the Atlantic coast.
From there it veered northward, up the coast to South and North Carolina and Virginia and was soon downgraded to a tropical storm.
Charley was the worst hurricane to hit the United States since Hurricane Andrew killed 26 people in Florida and neighbouring states in 1992.


Gain an unforgettable experience tutoring children in this beautiful and historic country!
Experience working in an international environment and living the Italian lifestyle!
BE AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TUTOR IN ITALY!
Terms of 3 to 12 months are available.


As always happens between rival states, the desire for political and economic supremacy gave rise to wars, though these were interspersed with long periods of peace. From the scant arithmetic of the Russian chronicles and histories, it is evident that the western neighbours, the Russian principalities and Novgorod, were the more aggressive, launching over thirty military campaigns against Volga Bolgaria and Kazan city, while the latter responded with only seven.
It is therefore no wonder that in 1526 the Austrian ambassador S. Gerberstein summed up his impressions of the Kazan Khanate with these words: "These Tatars are more cultured than others, for they work their fields, live in houses, engage in many sorts of trade, and they rarely fight...".
The confrontation of Moscow city and Kazan city states, equal in strength and influence, continued until 1552, when the troops of Ivan IV the Terrible, having broken the "eternal peace treaty" concluded with Kazan city by Grand Prince Ivan III of Muscovy, overcame Kazan city after a long siege and destroyed the state. Following the capture of Kazan city, the surviving citizens were driven out and forced to live in the surrounding villages.
Because of the decline in Kazan city economy after the expulsion of the Tatar merchants, the new rulers had to allow some of them to live nearby, in the place where the Old Tatar Settlement grew up, but they were still forbidden to live and trade within the Kazan city. In the fourth decade of the seventeenth century, almost a century after the conquest of Kazan city, the traveler Adam Olearyi recorded that the Kazan Kremlin was "occupied only by Russians, and not a single Tatar could live there, under penalty of death".
Nothing was left of Tatar architecture in Kazan city except the Suyumbika Tower, which survived by some miracle. The events that overwhelmed Kazan city changed its appearance, but not the soul or the memory of the Tatar people.


text:
tv Bloomberg Markets Balance of Power Bloomberg April 15, 2019 12:00pm-1:00pm EDT
world headquarters in your, i'm david westin. welcome to "balance of power." just a few minutes ago, we heard from the justice department that the redacted mueller report will be released this thursday morning. we be coming back to that in the program as we have a criminal law expert to discuss the mueller report. in the meantime, sean diamond from washington on narrowing trade issues with china. michael mckee unfed independence and mario draghi's extraordinary intervention, and from washington, tax day and health voters are feeling about it. various reports of steve mnuchin saying we might have to suffer some consequences from the chinese deal and this is a report we might back up on some of the agricultural tariffs. what is going on? : we are seeing everyone positioning themselves for the end game. prospectchin raise the that is unlikely to be popular
in the u.s. business community. that is that any enforcement of a deal would be two ways, and that means the chinese could choose to impose tariffs on the u.s.. at the same time we are seeing signs of donald trump trying to manage the politics and asking the chinese to shift their tariffs on u.s. agricultural products to other products. that is a move by the president to try to protect farmers who have been big supporters of his. david: there's also news coming out of your. let's turn to michael mckee. wehael: we have mario -- have mario draghi weighing in on the independence of the fed. michael: donald trump is trying to manage a lot of things. the president tweeting the stock market would be higher and the economy would be stronger, growth over 4%, if the fed had done their job correctly. we presume he means if they had not raised interest rates.
the president tweets have drawn a lot of reaction from central bankers, not just in the u.s. but around the world. saturday said it is disturbing that the united states would be attacking its own central bank. he says, i am certainly worried about central bank independence in the most important jurisdiction in the world. extraordinary to hear that coming from another country's central banker, a region's central banker. the problem is people are concerned that if these tweets start to have impact on market psychology, even if the fed does not react, it could interfere with the transmission of monetary policy. the markets might not behave in the way the fed wants to. david: fed independence has not always been sacred. there was a time when it was more common for political branches dinner clean, and -- political branches to intervene. the concern was inflation.
to lbj whou go back wanted more growth and to pay for the vietnam world -- to the vietnam war and he pushed them down to the texas ranch and push them against the wall. there is a tradition of this but it stopped in the 1990's. the feeling was you would get better outcomes, including more stable inflation, the president's state out of fed does this. that kudlow said today this is just the president expressing his opinion. presidents have done that before. we will leave the central bank alone. see whether he listens to mario draghi after he is not listen to congress. it is possible. let's turn to nora davidson in washington. april 15 is tax day. it sounds like most americans do not feel they are getting a big break? spreadre seeing a huge in the number of people who actually got a tax cut, two
thirds of people, and the people who think they did, which is about 20% to 30%, which is a big political loss for republicans. they were hoping this would propel them through the midterms. now you see them during to run on this in 2020. you see bernie sanders talking about raising taxes on the to reverse a call all the 2017 tax cuts. david: give any sense of why the disconnect? ig? tax cuts are not b why is it that people are not appreciating the tax cut? laura: it was unpopular in congress. people were hearing from democrats and others who were observing that they are taking away popular deductions. he will not be getting as much of a tax cut. people were primed to not be that excited about the law. then people as they were filing, they found out their refunds
were smaller, in some cases they owed instead of getting a refund. 20 to 50 extra dollars in their paychecks throughout the year. they did not feel the tax cuts. thishey were expecting it spring and it did not come to fruition. even if they got the tax cut, it was frustrating for taxpayers to find they had to write a check. david: not much fun. laura davison, thank you very much. still in washington, shaun donovan. donnan. heard agriculture will not be a part of the negotiations between the eu and the united states. this is a redline for europe. we have heard chuck grassley say we have to agriculture in any eu/u.s. trade deal. shawn: it is a redline for congress. the question is when will congress get to weigh in? the administration has the power
to carry on a negotiation, and that negotiation is one the european commission has won a mandate from its members to do. that is a reminder that even as we wrap up these negotiations with china there are two other big negotiations coming. the japanese in town in washington to start talking on a bilateral trade agreement. the eu is a big economy. donald trump is engaged or promised to at least have a try and negotiations. those are likely to be the more difficult ones. they will take time. even as you wrap up the china talks, there are other big negotiations coming in those will be as contentious as the china talks have been. with japan and the eu, if you have to rank them, which is the harder one? shawn: there is no doubt the eu
negotiation is much harder. it is much more limited as well. the europeans have refused to talk about agriculture and other broad issues unless the u.s. will talk about things like government procurements and we are moving from what was a wholesale trade negotiation and the obama administration in the form of something called the transatlantic trade and investment partnership to what will be an error negotiation over industrial tariffs. hanging over all of that is president trump's threat to slap tariffs on autos. last week we saw things flareup on jets with boeing and airbus having a long-standing trade dispute. a lot more there is contentious than there is in japan. still have the steel and aluminum tariffs. now is time to get a check on the markets and for that we turn to abigail doolittle. abigial: we are looking at small declines.
the dow, s&p, and nasdaq down a little bit more than .33%. more underperformance for the chips index, down 1%. investors waiting for more color , plus trade talk and trying to get a better sense for global economic demand. for what is weighing on the stocks, let's take a look at individual movers. 2.7%, amd down 2.4% and texas instruments down 2%. not clear what is behind the action but we do have that antitrust trial between qualcomm and apple in san diego today. a macro backdrop against the chip sector. this sector up 30% this year. investors could be taking profits between the s&p 500 up 15%. of 15% on the year is quite good. not helping the s&p 500, let's take a look at some of the bank stock. 75% -- sachs down point
down 3.75%. there is a drop in the investment banking backlog. citigroup down about .7%. basically an in-line quarter but investors seem to have wanted more. later this week we will have bank of america and morgan stanley. so far through the earnings season, the banks not faring well. that is causing the s&p 500 to stall. if we take a look at the bloomberg, we will see that over the time proved to the s&p 500 -- over the time the s&p 500 has been trading in a range, when they are the downside we see a big swing down. last year's upswing in that of volatility in the fourth quarter. this upswing has already been broken in march, very similar to silver in 2011. the bitcoin move higher may suggest consolidation is ahead. today, smalltalk for stocks. david: financials not helping much.
coming up, it is tax day and is the first taxed at under the new republican plan. our voters feeling about it? we'll ask our political roundtable. that is next. this is bloomberg. ♪
david: we turn to mark crumpton for first word news. mark: the justice department expects to make a redacted version of the mullet report public thursday. mueller wrapped up his investigation last month and submitted a 400 page report to william barr. barr said the special counsel do not find at criminal
conspiracy between russia and donald trumps the association during the 2016 presidential campaign. robert mueller did not reach a definitive conclusion as to whether mr. trump obstructed justice. the president is using this tax day to visit minnesota, a democratic stronghold he hopes to flip in 2020. at the white house, national economic council director larry kudlow pushed back against critics who claim the administration's tax cuts have benefited corporations more than the average american. kudlow also remarked on the presidents view of the federal reserve. >> no intention of going up against that independence. never has and never will. that has always been our view. the president has opinions about monetary policy. kudlow also said president trump stands by his picks for the federal reserve board. south korea thinks it is time for another summit with kim jong-un. comments moon jae-in's
come just days after his visit to the white house, where he tried to get faltering nuclear negotiations back on track. koreaent moon says south is willing to talk as soon as north korea is ready. more than 30,000 runners are taking part in the boston marathon. the 123rd running of the world's oldest annual race. today is the sixth anniversary of the deadly boston marathon bombings and the first on the anniversary falls on the same day as the marathon. three people were killed and hundreds were injured when two bombs exploded near the finish line. global -- global news 24 hours a day, on air and @tictoc on twitter, powered by more than 2700 journalists and analysts in over 120 countries. i am mark crumpton. this is bloomberg. david? , the: today is tax day first april 15th when citizens be paying under the new republican written code that cut taxes for corporations and individuals. a new poll says only 17% of the
american people feel the love of the tax cut. let's turn to our political panel. distinguished lecture at city university of new york and from philadelphia, the reverend joe watkins, a senior consultant with causeway strategies and a former aide to george h.w. but. what happened with republicans? people do not seem to be feeling that benefit? >> republicans have to do a better job of getting their message out. communication is not just a number, it is what people here. republicans have to do a better job of that. the president does a good job at that. he is skillful of getting his message out. do not be surprised if the president talks about what he did, the tax cuts he put into action a couple years ago when he is in minnesota today.
david: when you do polls of voters, tax cuts do not rank highly, do they? they talk about health care. joe: it is important to talk about was on the minds of voters. the president is smart enough to say to himself, i after mind people of what they elected me to do and what i accomplished. talking about taxes and tax reform is something you can say he accomplished during the time he has been elected. he gets to check that off. david: going to the democrat side, you cannot get too happy too quickly. goldman sachs said it is more likely than not president trump will get reelected. they project economic growth of 2.5%. even if people do not feel it the money in their paycheck, if the economy is growing, does that redound to the presidents benefit? it should, buty
the president has to communicate that. cry may be down, but if you do not feel safe the numbers do not matter. are reports red state taxpayers benefit more than blue state taxpayers. it is not surprising, but it is a talking point the president should be able to promote. now republicans know how we felt about obamacare. people love the affordable care act but they hated obamacare. it is lot about messaging and if the president had more message discipline, if there was not chaos in the white house, you would be able to control the narrative more than he is now. to democrats want to hit on the economy or not? can they avoid the economy in still speak to people around the country that they're getting left behind? basil: it is all about the pocketbook. what democrats are going to have to do is talk about the gains
that have been made from obama to trump because trump owns the economy. the real question is do you feel like your prospects can do .etter that is why we have been winning on the message of raising the minimum wage and democrats have pushed companies they're on their own without legislation. democrats and republicans say we are doing ok, but we could be doing better. it is a bit more an aspirational town that democrats have to promote. david: as we look forward to 2020, would you think the campaign is going to be fought on what the analysis will tell you make sense were on the presidents cup? -- the presidents gut? the presidents gut tells him he has to go after immigration.
this really on a tear with good not sure how many people in his own administration support him. is he going to fight the battle on sanctuary cities? joe: he trusts his gut and i think he is always going to do that, even more than people around him or advisors. he knows what matters is moving those numbers, especially with his base and keeping his base close to him. theof the ways to galvanize bases to talk about immigration in the terms he does. while it is difficult for republicans across the board in terms of moving the immigration forward, the president wins every time he talks about sanctuary cities and illegal immigrants trying to cross the border and all of the things he is doing to stop it. he will always trust his gut and do not expect him to take down the rhetoric in the coming months. he will probably ratchet it up.
opportunity is an where the president's policy could backfire. syracuse university just did a study to show that sanctuary cities provide more legal services to immigrants he is saying should come in. if he does not want to create a movement around this particular issue and mobilizing people to the streets, this is probably not the policy he should be promoting. david: joe, this is the part i do not understand. we heard them over the weekend saying we will ship them to san francisco. suppose you do that, what keeps them in san francisco? what prevents them from moving to spokane? joe: basil raises a good point. a lot of these tweets and comments are not meant to be policy driven. some republicans have questioned originality -- question the legality of trying to move illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities.
that being said, the president realizes the power of galvanizing his base by making those comments and he understands the new cycles. the new cycles are fast. today's news is not necessarily next week's news. for right now, it helps to galvanize his base and gets his message and puts his opponents on the defensive. to basil andhanks joe watkins. thanks to have you here. the nation's number one maced management -- the nation's number one waste management firm is buying the number four firm. it is our stock of the hour. this is bloomberg. ♪
"balanceu are watching of power." i'm david westin. we are looking at trash collector waste management, who
agreed to buy rival waste disposal in a $3 billion deal. the merger combines the number wasted number four u.s. management companies. here with moore's romaine bostick. romaine: you do not think about trash collection much. this will be a $57 billion a year industry this year. -- in terms oft the revenue side, this deal will only increase revenue about 10% to 15%. what it does for waste management, which already operates in every u.s. state, it will pick up key states that operate there, primarily in tennessee, places like minnesota. these are areas waste management has been lighting behind -- has been lagging behind and it will give them a foothold. david: you have the number one and the number four, antitrust attorneys get nervous about that. laura: -- romaine: the next
largest competitor controls 18%. two analysts have said they expect private investiture's will be in the cards. i should point out that advanced disposal did a deal, a much smaller company, they tried to do a deal in 2012 and the justice department force them to do divestitures to get that deal done. morgan stanley says chicago will probably be the key market where waste management will have to give up control. toid: you say stock is up point 75% already. the rising tide in this business is extraordinary. -- 2.75% already. the rising tide in this business is extraordinary. romaine: recycling is a growing part of the business. it is kind of a conglomerate of everything we throw out or want to recycle in some capacity. it has found a way to be at the
top of that and have more pricing power. it will be interesting. this is a company that has been inquisitive to the hilt. this company goes back to the 1960's and 1970's. hundreds of acquisitions built this into what it is today. it will be interesting how much further they can go. david: romaine bostick, making waste management something to follow. many thanks to romaine bostick. coming up, a man who served in the diplomatic corps under u.s. presidents is here to talk about the reelection of is literally -- the reelection of israeli president benjamin netanyahu. that is next. this is bloomberg. ♪
comcast business built the nation's largest gig-speed network. then went beyond. beyond chasing down network problems. to knowing when and where there's an issue. beyond network complexity. to a zero-touch, one-box world. optimizing performance and budget. beyond having questions.
to getting answers. "activecore, how's my network?" "all sites are green." all of which helps you do more than your customers thought possible. comcast business. beyond fast. david: this is balance of power. i'm david westin. we go to mark crumpton. mark: the eu has given a
go-ahead to start trade talks with the united states. both economies want to rebuild relations a week after threatening each other with billions in tariffs over and aviation dispute. the u.s. has accused the eu of not acting in good faith and delaying the start of talks. meanwhile, the eu once negotiations in part to avoid tariffs president trump threatened on foreign automobiles and parks. iran'srrorism label for revolutionary guard formally took effect today. it is the first-ever ever designation of its kind in it adds a layer of sanctions to iran's elite military unit. the label makes it a crime for anyone in or subject to u.s. jurisdiction to provide it with support. actress lori loughlin and her pal -- and her fashion designer husband and other parents are pleading not guilty to the college admissions bribery scam. they were indicted on charges of mail fraud and money laundering conspiracy. her husbandn and
are accused of paying 500 thousand dollars in bribes to get their daughters admitted to the university of southern california. felicity huffman and 12 other parents have agreed to plead guilty. violent thunderstorms swept over the u.s. northeast, leaving 200,000 homes and businesses without power. virginia and pennsylvania were the hardest hit. fierce winds brought down trees and power lines across eight state. severe weather is also blamed for the deaths of eight people in the southern united states. global news 24 hours a day, on air and @tictoc on twitter, powered by more than 2700 journalists and analysts in over 120 countries. i am mark crumpton. bloomberg. david? andd: edward to jerry served -- edward to jerry and -- edward djerejian served under a presidents, including as ambassador to israel. we welcome him from houston texas.
mr. ambassador, welcome back. good to have you. amb. djerejian: good to be with you again. of the things that happened is an election in israel. we now have benjamin netanyahu for a fifth term. he said things during that campaign that could give pause to international forces, including what will go on with the golan heights. if he sticks to that, what will that mean for the region? amb. djerejian: it is basically moving away from any prospects for peace between israel and the palestinians. acts arelateral contrary to international law. the international community recognizes the principal position of the non-acquisition of territory by force and the geneva conventions have all frameworkules and a
for what an occupying power can do for not new -- not do in occupied territories. these are important political moves on the part of israel and the trump administration in recognizing jerusalem as israel's capital and moving the embassy there. that was one major move by the trump administration. the other, giving cognizance to israel's sovereignty over the bowl and hides, shutting off aid to the palestinians. this is a complex of decisions being made in washington and jerusalem that i believe are distancing the prospects of peace. david: from your knowledge of israel, and the region generally , would another prime minister of israel have gone forward to say the things prime minister netanyahu said without at least the tacit approval of the united states government?
in the past the u.s. government has tried to rein in the israeli government on some of these more extreme actions. amb. djerejian: previous american administrations have taken a position that supports the fundamental approach toward arab-israeli peace. people in washington and in ministration say that while everything else has failed and we will start something new, we do not know what that is because the trump administration has now been in power for two years. we have heard about the deal of the century. thedy knows, outside of small group, what that deal is. it is difficult to hypothesize as to what the administration is planning. having said that, let's set the record straight. many efforts in past administrations since 1967 have
failed to bring about israeli/palestinian peace. jimmy carterget brokered the israeli-egyptian peace treaty in 1979 based on the principle of land for peace. we constructed the madrid peace conference under president 41 and secretary baker under the principal position of land for peace, which led in 1994 to the second is really peace treaty with an 8 -- the second israeli peace treaty with a neighboring state, jordan. it has not been a total failure, as some in ministration folks have been saying. any approach toward israeli-palestinian peace must be based on the principle of land for peace. that is emboldened in un security council resolutions 242 and 338. what i am concerned about, and i, like most outsiders, i have
no knowledge of exactly what the deal of the century contains, is that any american approach that is not based on the principle of land for peace, a territorial settlement raised on the 1967 line, the palestinian refugee issue being taken into consideration, and there are various ways of dealing with that issue in terms of rehabilitation, reconstruction, and resettlement, and jerusalem as the capital of a future palestinian state and israel's capital, and security and economic arrangements. this has been the basic parameter for any structural approach toward arab-israeli peace and especially israeli-palestinian peace. i do not think an economic peace based on economic incentives, or a security peace, based on security arrangements alone, outside of a political context based on these principles, is
going to work. one of the most important relations israel has had in the middle east for some years has been with egypt. a peace treaty with egypt has prevailed through difficult times. we had the arab spring and there were two changes in regime in egypt, with el-sisi in charge now. we have bloomberg talk to -- talk to the egyptian minister of investment about was left and if we are past the arab spring. this is what she had to say. >> el-sisi has put a plan in egypt in terms of moving forward with a bold economic reform -- a lot ofaged by social safety nets. david: has president cc -- has president el-sisi move us past the aftermath of the arab spring? amb. djerejian: every arab
leader since the arab uprising of 2011 have been painfully sensitized to this incredibly important need to make forward movement on social economic reforms in their countries. the greatest threat of all of these regimes comes from within. the inability of the regimes in power in the arab world to address the fundamental needs of their people. economic reforms are critical. economic reforms have been tried in the past and have not succeeded well in various countries. president el-sisi has now embarked on a new set of reforms. we have to see how effective they are and how much political will is behind these reforms. that at no questioning the time of the arab uprising, i called it the arab spring, the
so-called arab spring, i said this is a tectonic shift in the political landscape of the arab world, because it was spontaneous. ,eople, especially youths demonstrated in the streets with slogans like enough. we have had enough of a lack of local participation, but not systemic corruption. enough high youth unemployment, etc.. in manyve seen so-called spontaneous revolutions were uprisings, the aftermath has been the reestablishment of the status quo. that status quo has to be changed. aree leaders, like sisi, compelled, and must try institution -- instituting socioeconomic reform. david: it is fascinating. i was thinking there was an uprising for more political participation. i wonder if you think there's more political participation in
egypt than before? look at saudi arabia, where you have mohammed bin salman, who is interested in implementing economic reform. is there more political participation? amb. djerejian: what you are seeing in the arab countries and regimes is the emphasis and the focus on economic and some social reform, but not political reform. i do not think any of these regimes are committed to structural political reform and when i took call, let's not even zation, word democrati but broadening political participation. i do not see that happening. tunisia is a glimmer of hope, has been a glimmer of hope because you had come into these yet, where the arab spring -- and islamistnisia party come to power, and when when the vote went against the party, they left power peacefully.
the situation is still not stable, but at least that was a glimmer of what should be happening in the arab world and the middle east. , theical participation broadening of political participation, i do not think is the primary focus of the current regimes in the arab world. economic and social reforms are something there are compelled to do. david: throughout your long and distinguished career in the it was an corps, unspoken premise of u.s. foreign-policy that you needed to get to political reform. maybe actions do not comport with that, but ultimately for stability you needed a local reform. as we look around the world, it is not just the middle east. look at china. a lot of economic reform and progress. is there a different paradigm that is in competition with what the united states has
historically put forward? amb. djerejian: let's called authoritarian stability. you maintain the political is whatn place, which we as americans would not consider to be truly democratic systems like we have here and in europe, but more and of dictating model what the economy should be. china is a special case of the communist party, and authoritarian political structure, that ever since deng forward has been moving on a try but entrepreneurship and private capital sector. there is a tension between structures andc enterprise and authoritarian governments. as we know in the united states model isrope, the best
the marriage between a democratic form of government and private entrepreneurship and .rivate capital that promotes innovation and economic growth. david: mr. ambassador, thank you so much for your time. that is retired ambassador edward djerejian, director of rice university's baker institute of public policy. coming up, thursday is the day. the justice department told us that attorney general barr's redacted version of the mueller report will be released thursday morning. we talked to an expert on criminal law and major investigations. that is next, this is bloomberg. ♪
david: you're watching "balance
of power." i am david westin. the department of justice says the redacted mueller report will be released thursday morning. for more, we welcome an expert in terminal law. jessica roth teaches criminal law. she served in the u.s. attorneys office for the southern district of new york during welcome back. let me start. expect to- what do we be taken out of the mueller report. jessica: there are at least three categories attorney barch says he will redact. that is grand jury information. disclosure,from testimony of witnesses before the grand jury. some material beyond that. grand jury material, classified includingn, information that pertains to sources and methods of our intelligence services that needs to be protected, and then an additional material related to ongoing investigations.
we do know there ongoing investigation spun off from the special counsel probe. those three areas we know he is planning to redact. when you're in a court of law, you can have a judge review reductions. who will review it to make sure that is actually what got taken out? jessica: what is interesting is attorney general barr said he will colorcode the reductions, so congress will know what the basis is for redacting each part , so they can contest that. think that is likely to happen next. we will see a subpoena from congress to get the redacted material that will wind up in a court of law. david: let's talk about the stuff we think will not be redacted. what will be looking for based on what we have seen from the short synopsis and what we have heard from others? is this about obstruction of justice? jessica: obstruction of justice is an important part of what will be in the report and observers will be looking for. attorney general barr said
special counsel robert mueller and not in a traditional prosecutor. mueller had rate out the legal arguments for and against. we'll be looking for a more fulsome explanation of what that was in an obstruction charge against the president. david: what does that tell us? hesica: he wasn't -- david: was able to make a decision on collusion. on this one he said i will not make that decision. why is he making a different decision? jessica: we do not know. it is one of the most puzzling things to us. why didn't he make that decision? did he anticipate congress was the proper forum as to where that decision should be made as to whether this was an impeachable defends? the law is less clear about what would be obstruction of justice when it is the president of the united states who sits atop the executive branch, making
decisions and directing subordinates to drop an investigation with respect to michael flynn. that is different than the activity that happened during the campaign when now president trump was canada trump. david: thursday we may know the answer to the question. is it possible that robert mueller said i do not think i can indict a sitting president, so it is academic. i can decide i would not indict him even if i could. on this one, i think it's a matter of law, i cannot indict a sitting president so i will not make a decision. jessica: we might see some discussion of that. and williams bars short letter, he indicated the decision was not based on that legally problematic question. there may be something in the way it is presented by robert mueller that indicates if that was in his thinking. david: let's talk about attorney general barr. in congress you referred to spying that he would investigate. spying had gone on and he would investigate the investigation, which includes the fbi and the
justice department. what is that about? what is line between spying and law enforcement surveillance. you were in law enforcement? jessica: yes. it is not clear what he was referring to. he went on to clarify surveillance that was not supported by adequate facts. if you do a wiretap on somebody, you need to get a court order. wiretapo not get that approved by the courts, that is unauthorized surveillance and some might locally referred that is spying. spying is not a legal term. there's a big difference between a warrant that has been issued and doing something without a warrant. if they weren't were issued -- if a warrant were issued, doesn't that protect the fbi and prosecutors from any retribution? jessica: absolutely. that is why you go to the court to get the authorization. that is why is not clear what he was talking about. what he meant to say, as i
understand it, is there was surveillance not warranted and was not authorized by a court. he said he did not have any particular evidence to back that up. that is part of why it is disturbing he made those marks. one should wait for the evidence first and then to the investigation before coming to a conclusion. david: one last question about a different subject. a well-known, respected criminal forer has been indicted violating the foreign agent laws in washington. what is that about? are those laws are difficult to comply with? jessica: the charges brought against him have been about lies he made to department of justice officials about his activity on behalf of ukraine. they are not about the unlawful but about the statements he made to those investigating his activity on behalf of ukraine. he has been charged with simpler crimes of taking false statements to investigators. david: it is one thing if martha
stewart talks to authorities without a lawyer present. greg craig is a good lawyer. isn't it passing strange he would make that mistake of ?ommitting perjury jessica: there's a charge that is more specific to the entity at doj. it is unusual, and part of what is unusual as it has been bounced between different doj offices. david: thank you so much. professor jessica rolfe. this -- jessica roth. this is bloomberg. ♪
david: white house aides were out in force on sunday defending
the president. donald trump was doing what millions of other americans were doing, watching the masters. >> golfing is incredible, but the field is deep. i think it is going to be a great masters. i hope so. president trump predicted the golf championship would be ratings gold and he tweeted the action. tiger woods won his 15th majors and fifth masters jacket. the political world has changed a lot since tiger won in 2005. back then, george w. bush was president, having just one his second term in office even after struggling with the iraq war. >> the hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world. david: back then, barack obama had just started his job in the senate after receiving worldwide attention of the 2004 democratic national convention. >> there is not a liberal america and a conservative america. there is united states of america. david: donald trump was busy in
new york filming the second season of the apprentice. >> i did the apprentice, which became a great show, a successful show. tremendously successful. david: despite all of the ups and downs, tiger woods triumphed again and it even president trump and president obama something they could agree on, as both congratulated him on his remarkable comeback. sign up for the balance of power newsletter at bloombergpolitics.com or bloomberg.com/politics. get the latest on global politics in your inbox every day. coming up on "bloomberg markets," jason goldberg. lime from new york -- live from new york, this is bloomberg. ♪
i'm mark crumpton with bloomberg first word news. the justice department expects to make a redacted version of special counsel robert mueller's report on the russia investigation public on
thursday. mueller wrapped up the probe last month and submitted a nearly 400-page report to attorney general william barr. said the special counsel did not find criminal conspiracy between russia and donald trump's associates during the 2016 presidential campaign. but mueller did not reach a definitive conclusion on mr. -- whether mr. trump obstructed justice. the european union approved terms for negotiating a new and strictly limited trade deal with united states and sets up a possible showdown with washington by ruling out any talks involving agricultural products. making public the mandate for the eu's executive commission to ,onduct talks on their behalf the bloc's member countries said the new deal will focus exclusively on eliminating tariffs on industrial goods. that thisconvinced agreement will be a win-win, like all trade deals should be. economic analysis shows eu-u.s. agreen
<div class="tv-ttl">Bloomberg Markets Balance of Power<div>Bloomberg April 15, 2019 12:00pm-1:00pm EDT</div></div>
David Gura focuses on the politics and policiesbeing shaped by the agenda of President Trump.
U.s. 14, Washington 9, Jessica 9, Israel 9, Bloomberg 8, Eu 8, Trump 7, Djerejian 6, S&p 6, Amb 6, China 6, Donald Trump 5, Egypt 5, Barr 5, New York 5, Mark Crumpton 5, Robert Mueller 5, Us 4, Mueller 4, David Westin 4
Uploaded by TV Archive on April 15, 2019

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
/* fscanf( FILE *, const char *, ... )

   This file is part of the Public Domain C Library (PDCLib).
   Permission is granted to use, modify, and / or redistribute at will.
*/

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdarg.h>

#ifndef REGTEST
#include "_PDCLIB_io.h"

int _PDCLIB_fscanf_unlocked( FILE * _PDCLIB_restrict stream,
                     const char * _PDCLIB_restrict format, ... )
{
    int rc;
    va_list ap;
    va_start( ap, format );
    rc = _PDCLIB_vfscanf_unlocked( stream, format, ap );
    va_end( ap );
    return rc;
}

int fscanf( FILE * _PDCLIB_restrict stream,
            const char * _PDCLIB_restrict format, ... )
{
    int rc;
    va_list ap;
    va_start( ap, format );
    rc = vfscanf( stream, format, ap );
    va_end( ap );
    return rc;
}

#endif

#ifdef TEST
#define _PDCLIB_FILEID "stdio/fscanf.c"
#define _PDCLIB_FILEIO

#include "_PDCLIB_test.h"

#define testscanf( stream, format, ... ) fscanf( stream, format, __VA_ARGS__ )

int main( void )
{
    FILE * source;
    TESTCASE( ( source = tmpfile() ) != NULL );
#include "scanf_testcases.h"
    TESTCASE( fclose( source ) == 0 );
    return TEST_RESULTS;
}

#endif

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The Exeter office comprises a team of five town planners and is headed by Iestyn John, a Partner with considerable experience in the property industry.
The office covers the whole of the South West and is able to provide the full range of planning services, from acting as expert witnesses at planning inquiries to giving initial advice on the need for planning permission.
Having been established in the area for over 20 years, we are well acquainted with the complex issues affecting this part of the country, which is environmentally sensitive and beautiful yet subject to development pressures.
We act for a wide range of clients including landowners, landed estates, national and local developers and private individuals.
Our work is not confined to one sector or type but covers all areas of town planning, including historic buildings, new employment and commercial development, housing, renewable energy and leisure schemes.


More than 124 species of rhododendrom thrive in Coastal Mendocino County, California — some of which even have heavenly scents to match their vibrant beauty, unusual for these intense yet stately flowers.
The Inn at Newport Ranch, 31502 North Highway One, Fort Bragg, California, invites visitors to revel in these spectacular blooms with their Spring Bloom Special. Now through June 15, 2019, guests who book a two-night stay at the Inn will be welcomed on arrival by a small springtime bouquet and two tickets to visit the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens to witness the rhodies in full-bloom splendor.
Insider tip: When guests mention the Spring Bloom Special while booking, they receive the Spring Bloom add-ons at no cost.


text:
Quintiles Named a Preferred Provider to Global Health Product Development Partnership Consortium
Partners with Non-Profit Groups, Focusing on Diseases of the Developing World
March 25, 2011 09:09 AM Eastern Daylight Time
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Quintiles announced today that it has been named a preferred provider to a consortium of 14 global health Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) leveraging the combined size of their pipelines to ensure the most cost effective use of their research and development dollars.
PDPs are not-for-profit entities formed for the purpose of advancing global health and the health of the world's poorest by the discovery, development and delivery of new effective and affordable medicines for the most neglected diseases in the world. The 14 PDPs anticipate funding 128 (phase I-IV) clinical trials over the next two years (2011-2013).
The consortium members are funded, in part, by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which has committed $10 billion over the next 10 years to help research, develop and deliver vaccines and treatments for the world's poorest countries, with a portion of that commitment directed to the PDPs. The PDPs also receive funding from government agencies, private entities and other sources.
Quintiles will partner with the consortium members by providing one-step access to Quintiles' global clinical development infrastructure and standards, particularly in the area of infectious diseases such as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis.
"Quintiles is extremely pleased to have been chosen by the consortium members," said Dr. Kelly McKee, M.D., Quintiles Vice President and Managing Director, Public Health and Government Services. "The work they're doing has the potential to reshape global health within a generation. The public health issues on which they are focused has the potential to save millions of lives. We are very excited to be named a preferred provider to the consortium and look forward to helping advance this critical mission."
About Quintiles
Quintiles is the only fully integrated biopharmaceutical services company offering clinical, commercial, consulting and capital solutions worldwide. The Quintiles network of more than 20,000 engaged professionals in 60 countries around the globe works with an unwavering commitment to patients, safety and ethics. Quintiles helps biopharmaceutical companies navigate risk and seize opportunities in an environment where change is constant. For more information, please visit www.quintiles.com.
Quintiles
Phil Bridges, Media Relations, 919-998-1653 (o)
919-457-6347 (m)
phil.bridges@quintiles.com
Greg Connors, Investor Relations, 919-998-2000
invest@quintiles.com
Quintiles announced today that it has been named a preferred provider to a consortium of 14 global health Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) leveraging the combined size of their pipelines.


The acting Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Mr Ransford Tetteh, has bemoaned the influx of imports into the country, explaining that the strong demand for such products means that Ghanaians are investing in the economies of other countries to the detriment of Ghana.
As a result, he urged Ghanaians to patronise local produce to help grow local businesses and stimulate growth in the economy.
He was speaking at the ongoing GRAPHIC BUSINESS/Stanbic Bank Breakfast forum on manufacturing at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, on the theme "Unlocking Economic Growth Through Manufacturing – Cost Quality And Competitiveness".
"Many years ago, we used to have a place called North Industrial Area," he said in reference to the once vibrant North Industrial Area in Accra that played host to many factories in the 1990s.
"Today, it's no longer an industrial area but a trading place where all manner of goods are being warehoused, among others," he said.
This, he said, was evidence of how imports had strangulated industry in recent years.
"If we don't support our own but patronise the products of others, we'll always be developing the economies of others," he said.
He was however optimistic that the discussion at the forum, to be spearheaded by the Senior Minister, Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo and Dr Tony Oteng-Gyasi of Tropical Cables and Conductors, will set a positive stage for an industrial revolution.


text:
Read in December
This month I read the following the books:
1. United We Spy - Ally Carter
2. The Flint Heart - Katherine Paterson
3. Eve - Anna Carey
4. The Miseducation of Cameron Post - Emily M. Danforth
5. What Colleges Don't Tell You (and Other Parents Don't Want You to Know): 272 Secrets for Getting Your Kid Into the Top Schools - Elizabeth Wissner-Gross
6. The Infinite Moment of Us - Lauren Myracle
7. The Whole Story of Half a Girl - Veera Hiranandani
8. Breathe - Sarah Crossan
9. The Five Fists of Science - Matt Fraction
Picture credit: Girl Reading by Eduard Klieber
Posted by Madigan Mirza at 4:55 AM No comments:
Labels: book tally
Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List review
Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List
by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
Knopf Books for Young Readers
First line: "I lie all the time."
This book was okay. I picked it up because I had love, love, loved Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist written by the same authors. Naomi and Ely are best friends who have grown up across the hall from each other in a chic New York high-rise apartment building. The past year has been rocky for them, as Naomi's father destroyed their family with an illicit affair with one of Ely's lesbian moms. The aftermath is awkward all around for everyone in the building. The main conflict, of course, is that Naomi still harbors a childhood crush on Ely - she's certain that they were destined for one another, and the fact that Ely has been openly and proudly gay for the last few years hasn't put a dent in her affections. Naomi and Ely are like a younger Will & Grace, full of witty banter and extremely close, and of course, totally co-dependent and wrong for each other.
Levithan and Cohn absolutely nail the awkwardness of the late teen years - wanting desperately to seem cool and hip and often tragically failing. I liked how self-conciously arch and clever the characters were, even though there were several cringeworthy moments where they were trying too hard. The book has multiple viewpoint characters, each with a very unique voice. Unfortunately, a lot of the characters were unlikeable and unrelatable. Naomi has an extremely annoying habit of substituting symbols or smilies for words, making some of her chapters read like a rebus. Ely came across as bitchy and mean. Gabriel, the doorman with a crush on Naomi, made many musical references that I'm sure went over my head, and he seemed shallow, only liking Naomi for her looks. There were several different characters named Bruce, and several characters named Robin, which I'm sure happens in real life, but still made the story a bit confusing to follow at times. I couldn't relate to Naomi's pathetic romantic obsession with Ely, but I've known plenty of women who've fallen head over heels for gay guys and I've helped coach and counsel them through it. In my experience, this kind of thing usually happens when a girl is absolutely not ready for a real relationship, so lusting after someone unobtainable feels more "safe."
Fans of Levithan and Cohn's other works should seek this one out. The writing duo were ahead of the trend for "New Adult" fiction - mature YA featuring college-age protagonists. The New York City setting is critical to the tone and feel of the book. This story couldn't happen anywhere else. I liked how the big city excitement and fast pace didn't stop the characters from feeling like they were in a small town where everyone knows everybody else's business.
Who will I recommend this book to? Glee fans who are Rachel/Kurt 'shippers (yes, sadly, such a thing exists.) New Adult readers. Contemporary fiction readers who enjoy schadenfreude in reading about failed romances.
Pink - Lili Wilkinson
Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance - Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin
Dash and Lily's Book of Dares - David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
Freak Show - James St. James
I borrowed this book from the library.
Labels: contemporary, LGBT, reviews, YA
Night Road review
by A.M. Jenkins
HarperTeen
First line: "Cole did have a map in his backpack. He'd studied it in the parking garage. Only now that he was already on the subway did it occur to him that it might be outdated."
Three "hemovores" (don't call them vampires!) go on a road trip to teach the newest member of their ranks, young redneck Gordon, the finer points of how to survive. Johnny, the leader of the hemovores, runs a safe house for blood-drinkers in Manhattan and insists that Cole, who is quite a loner, take on the project of helping Gordon. Cole is accompanied by the light-hearted Sandor. Cole is tightly controlled, but events unfold to help him come to terms with his own unfortunate mistakes from when he was newly made. Sandor is light-hearted and jolly, and is accidentally responsible for having created Gordon after a mugging. Gordon is having enormous difficulty accepting and dealing with matters, longing to reconnect with his family and girlfriend, and has a lot of trouble seeing past his small-town hickish ways.
The vampires - excuse me, hemovores, must avoid sunlight and must drink human blood. Typically, they are able to hypnotize their victims, and quickly draw a small amount of blood, enabling them to feed without killing. When being taught how to pick suitable targets, Cole and Sandor despair of ever making a proper hemovore of Gordon. Gordon insists on gravitating to cute girls, even when more likely targets are available and taking unnecessary risks. My favorite scene is when Sandor begs Cole to get Gordon a dog - to cheer him up, to make it easier to start small talk with humans (aka omnis), and of course, if he gets desperate, he can always eat the dog! There's a very dark and twisted humor at work here. While I love a good series, Night Road is a stand-alone book, with a highly satisfying ending, but the door could easily be open for a sequel. The writing is tight, with well-thought out characters, pacing and plot. I enjoyed it enormously.
Thirsty - M.T. Anderson
The Reformed Vampire Support Group - Catherine Jinks
Infinite Days - Rebecca Maizel
Evernight - Claudia Gray
I borrowed this book from the public library.
Labels: recycled, reviews, vampires, YA
All the Truth That's In Me review
All the Truth That's In Me
Julie Berry
Viking Juvenile
First line: "We came here by ship, you and I."
If Arthur Miller's The Crucible met Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak, this would be the result. Judith has survived years of harrowing captivity. Her kidnapper has finally released her from the tiny cabin that she's been trapped in, but not before cutting out her tongue. Judith returns to her tiny Puritan village, and faces the scorn and disgust of her neighbors who question her moral purity and shun her. Make no mistake, this is an intense read, with none of the light-hearted magical touches that fans of Berry's middle-grade fantasies may be accustomed to.
The book is addressed from Judith to Lucas, the young man that she's been secretly in love with for many years. Her obsession with Lucas, and her initial inability to speak has shades of The Little Mermaid to it.
Although everyone assumes that Judith was violated during her capture, she is unable to tell them what really happened. There's also the mystery of what happened to her friend Lottie who disappeared around the same time. Gradually, with the encouragement of her friend Maria, Judith opens up and begins practicing how to speak again. Against her mother's wishes, she tries to attend school, but even the schoolmaster sleazily demands "extra lessons" with her, with the gross implication that he's delighted she won't be able to report him for any impropriety. The theme of "finding her voice" is not too heavy-handed, and though it's a slow start, once you settle in to Judith's world, there's a very satisfying conclusion.
I can think of a few teens who were fascinated by the recent kidnapping case in Ohio who would want to pick up this intense novel. I'd also recommend this to readers of psychological thrillers.
Room - Emma Donaghue
I'd Know You Anywhere - Laura Lipmann
Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson
I received a free copy of this book.
Posted by Madigan Mirza at 4:40 AM 4 comments:
Labels: historical fiction, reviews, YA
False Princess Giveaway
As soon as I heard that Eilis O'Neal had written an e-short story called A Royal Birthday, I got so excited! I loved The False Princess, so any little peek back into that world is highly welcome. Check out my review, if you're not already convinced.
Want to win your own hardcover copy of The False Princess? Leave a comment on the blog, I'll draw names from a hat and announce a winner next week! The giveaway is for US and Canada only.
Here's a description of the short story prequel:
A Royal Birthday
by Eilis O'Neal
Egmont USA
This e-short prequel to The False Princess will appeal to fans of Shannon Hale and Tamora Pierce, giving them a new author to love and a new fantasy world to enter, a world filled with wizardry, mystery, and just the right touch of romance.
This prequel introduces the court of Thorvaldor, Nalia, its princess, who has reached the magical age of sixteen, and her best friend, Kiernan, the earl's son who loves her but feels he is too far below her in rank to dream of making a match with her.
The novel on which this e-short is based has received glowing reviews, been named a YALSA 2012 Best Fiction for Young Adults, and made numerous state master lists (Georgia, Rhode Island, Utah, and Maryland).
Labels: fantasy, YA
Top 10 Winter 2013 Books to Read
This week's topic from The Broke and Bookish is: Top Ten Books on My Winter TBR.
Here they are - these are the 10 books that I am so excited to read next.
Yup, plenty of sequels to series I've already started, and a few new series to start as well. I'm reading The Infinite Moment of Us for my book club. With any luck, I'll tear this this set of 10 books by the end of the year!
Posted by Madigan Mirza at 12:01 AM 8 comments:
Labels: lists, memes, top 10
Read in November
1. All the Truth That's In Me - Julie Berry
2. Fortunately, the Milk - Neil Gaiman
3. Star Jumper: Journal of a Cardboard Genius - Frank Asch
4. Cam Jansen and the Green School Mystery - David Adler
5. The Devil's Storybook - Natalie Babbitt
6. Fake Mustache - Tom Angleberger
7. Dragon's Egg - Sarah L. Thomson
8. The Elite - Kiera Cass
9. The Devil's Other Storybook - Natalie Babbitt
10. Emmaline and the Bunny - Katherine Hannigan
11. Starters - Lissa Price
12. The Spindlers - Lauren Oliver
13. The Rithmatist - Brandon Sanderson
14. Happy Families - Tanita S. Davis
15. What's Left of Me - Kat Zhang
16. Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List - David Levithan & Rachel Cohn
Picture credit: The Students by unknown artist
Divergent trailer
Divergent isn't coming out until April of next year. The trailer looks amazing, though - it's going to feel like a long wait!
Labels: dystopian, videos, YA
Happy Movember!
We set up this display at the library for November, aka, "Movember" and it's been a lot of fun. The main challenge is finding new books with faces on them to fill up the display when these check out. Oh, and also, not putting handlebar mustaches on every single one, since handlebar mustaches really are the most fun.
Posted by Madigan Mirza at 2:11 PM No comments:
Labels: displays
Invisible Inkling: The Whoopie Pie War review
Invisible Inkling: The Whoopie Pie War
by Emily Jenkins, illustrations by Harry Bliss
Balzer + Bray
Hapless fourth-grade Brooklynite Hank Wolowitz and his invisible pet bandapat named Inkling return in this gently humorous realistic fiction, with just a touch of fantasy elements.
Although Inkling is an unreliable narrator with a sometimes distant relationship to the truth, readers will accept that he is invisible, not imaginary. In addition to managing the demands of his often cranky, but always funny invisible friend, Hank also navigates complicated school friendships, swimming lessons where he copes with the embarrassment of being ranked a "Neon" (the lowest level) and most importantly, dealing with the mean-tempered food truck lady whose cheap, non-organic treats threaten the success of his family's boutique ice cream shop.
Pumpkin is one of Inkling's favorite foods, yet Hank finds himself agreeing to "splat" his hard-won canned pumpkin out the window in order to impress popular kid Joe Patne. Hank also discovers that water renders Inkling visible and is finally able to focus on improving his swimming technique. A diverse cast of characters and believable middle-class urban setting make this tale of the value of true friendship very relatable without being didactic.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
This review originally appeared in School Library Journal.
Labels: middle-grade fiction, reviews
Blue Bloods: Revelations review
Revelations: A Blue Bloods Novel
by Melissa de la Cruz
First line: "On an early and bitterly cold morning in late March, Schyler Van Alen let herself inside the glass doors of the Duchesne School, feeling relieved as she walked into the soaring barrel-ceiling entryway dominated by an imposing John Singer Sargent portrait of the school's founders."
Another fast-paced, fun installment in the Blue Bloods series, where wealthy New York teens, part of a secret cabal of reincarnated vampires, struggle for answers as they transition into their vampire heritage. Who is the Silver Blood murderer? That's the big question. Evil Silver Bloods prey on other vampires and the students at Duchesne are particularly vulnerable. After the sudden loss of her grandmother, Schuyler Van Alen is forced to move in with the Force family, all the while carrying on a secret affair with Jack Force, much to his twin sister Mimi's dismay. Mimi is planning on marrying her brother (her reincarnated soul mate) and then using her hypnotic powers to mind-trick people into thinking that she was always his wife.
In the meantime, Schuyler's best friend from childhood, Oliver, is head-over-heels for her and his blood bond pretty much makes him her heartbroken slave. I am rooting for Oliver, poor guy. It also turns out that Texas newcomer Bliss is the daughter of Lucifer himself and while sleepwalking has committed many crimes! Interesting stuff.
The Venator investigation continues, quietly naming Schuyler, Bliss, Mimi and Dylan as suspects and the investigation moves to Rio de Janeiro, eventually pulling Schuyler and Oliver from New York to Brazil.
Melissa de la Cruz's take on vampiric reincarnation is unique, but the vampires' incestuous relationships, their easy money (invested carefully over the long term) and their adventurous globe-trotting, in many ways, this series feels like Anne Rice, Jr.
Crave - Melissa Darnell
House of Night series - P.C. + Kristin Cast
Vampire Academy series - Richelle Mead
TARDIS library display
I'm pretty excited about the upcoming 50th anniversary of Doctor Who - so excited, I decided to put together a Doctor Who display at my library, transforming one of our display cases into a TARDIS. Inside, we put books on time travel, sci-fi, Doctor Who DVDs as well as books about the show. We also included biographies of historical figures featured on the show such as Madame Pompadour, Winston Churchill and Vincent Van Gogh. We included books by famous English authors mentioned on the show - Agatha Christie, Charles Dickens and Shakespeare's sonnets. I even put Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in there, since the Doctor claimed to have read it before it was published.
So far, reaction has been very positive. A lot of Doctor Who fans have asked to take pictures with it, and we also get a lot of questions, "What is that blue box?" Bar none, I think this is one of my favorite displays ever.
Labels: displays, sf
Read in October 2013
1. Towers of Midnight - Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
2. Sacrifice - Cayla Kluver
3. Parallel - Lauren Miller
Picture credit: Girl Reading by Henri LeBasque
Where do all the books in the library come from? Somebody's got to write them. Somebody could be you! November is National Novel Writing Month - or Nanowrimo for short, where aspiring authors attempt to write a novel in just one month. Here's a message from the official nano site.
Labels: Nanowrimo, videos
Halloween feltboards
Here are two felt boards I whipped together for Halloween.
I'm really happy with this bat one. The kids loved the sparkles on some of the bats.
Here's the rhyme I used:
Five Black Bats
Five black bats are flying around,
The first one did not make a sound.
The second one said, "I'll fly far tonight"
The third one said, "I don't like sunlight"
The fourth one said, "I want to eat some bugs"
The fifth one said, "I want some hugs"
Five black bats are hanging upside down
Shhhh! It's daytime, don't make a sound!
This pumpkin felt board was popular as well, even though it's not quite as cute as I hoped. Maybe I'll re-do it by next year.
I used this old classic:
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one said, "Oh my, it's getting late."
The second one said, "There are ghosts in the air."
The third one said, "We don't care!"
The fourth one said, "Let's run and run."
The fifth one said, "I'm ready for some fun!"
Oooooh, went the wind
And out went the lights
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.
Posted by Madigan Mirza at 12:49 PM No comments:
Labels: felt boards, halloween, storytime
Phantom Tollbooth documentary
Several years ago, I had the good fortune to meet Jules Feiffer while he was on a book tour. He's a delightful man with a great sense of humor. He amazed everyone in his audience by sketching characters at lightning speed, all while sharing anecdotes about his career. I was happy to hear that there's a documentary about The Phantom Tollbooth coming out. Here's the trailer:
The Phantom Tollbooth: Beyond Expectations - Official Documentary Trailer from freckless productions on Vimeo.
All Hallows Read posters
What's All Hallows Read? Simple: give someone a scary book for Halloween. It was started a couple of years ago by Neil Gaiman.
Check out this whole set of fantastic All Hallows Read posters by Sabrina Zbasnik at her blog.
A Hero for WondLA review
A Hero for WondLA
by Tony DiTerlizzi
Simon & Schuster Children's Books
First line: "Eva Nine watched a turnwing flap its triple pair of wings to join its flock."
DiTerlizzi continues his sci-fi saga of Eva Nine in this gorgeously illustrated sequel to The Search for WondLA. There are several internet extras embedded in the illustrations, but readers don't need computer access to enjoy the story. DiTerlizzi's two-tone blue and black illustrations are reminiscent of W.W. Denslow's original illustrations for The Wizard of Oz.
Eva Nine has long believed herself to be the last surviving human on Orbana but now she joins a human colony for the first time, and after a lifetime of limited contact with other sentient beings, naturally she finds everything very overwhelming. Human pilot Hailey and Nine's older "sister" Eva Eight each have their own agendas and Eva Nine learns a lot about loyalty, friendship and xenophobia. I liked how Eva matures so much in this book. Eva is temporarily blinded by the comforts of her new home in New Attica amongst the human colonists, but after she realizes that she misses her alien friend Rovender, who has been barred from entering the human city, she leaves to continue her search for answers about how their world came to be in ruins.
With fantastic world-building, airships, chases, intrigue and mystery, this is a series that has a lot of appeal for older middle grade readers and young YA readers. I'm definitely looking forward to more in this complex and fascinating series.
The Wizard of Oz - L. Frank Baum
Zita the Spacegirl - Ben Hatke
The Ruby Key - Holly Lisle
Larklight - Philip Reeve, illustrated by David Wyatt
Labels: middle-grade fiction, reviews, sf
Masquerade review
Masquerade: A Blue Bloods Novel
First line: "The pigeons had taken over St. Mark's Square."
Masquerade is the second volume in the Blue Bloods series. This one veers a bit (only a bit, mind you) from the formula of the first. There's slightly less brand-name dropping and conspicuous consumption in this one, and a little more international intrigue in Italy as teen vampires-in-training hobnob with the wealthy New York elite.
Schuyler is searching for her missing grandfather, a patriarch amongst the ancient vampires, but in the meantime she requires a human blood donor. She leans on her best friend Oliver, who (of course) is secretly in love with her. Mimi Force, daughter of the powerful New York businessman Charles Force, is busy planning the party of the century. Mimi is eagerly looking forward to "bonding" with her twin brother Jack... and he is secretly feeling really not so sure about the whole thing. There's plenty of confusion about who's related to who - all the vampires are essentially reincarnated avatars of saints, angels or gods and inter-related in various ways. Jack and Schuyler are being established as a couple to root for, yet they are technically first cousins. Mimi and Jack have been a couple for many lifetimes, and no one is more frustrated than Mimi about the inappropriateness of wanting to marry her twin brother. There is a side plot about Bliss Llewellyn being duped by Kingsley, an undercover agent, but she still pines for missing Dylan. Who are the real villains? Who are the Silver Bloods? The cliffhanger ending leaves everything still up in the air.
Read in September 2013
1. Instant Mom - Nia Vardalos
2. Asunder - Jodi Meadows
3. This Wicked Game - Michelle Zink
Picture credit: Girl at Bookcase by unknown
Instant Mom review
Instant Mom
by Nia Vardalos
This was a fast read. A quick and enjoyable book for anyone who is thinking about adoption. In many ways, Vardalos seems to struggle to openly talk about the heartrending process of struggling with fertility and turning to adoption - as a comedian, she was always quick to gloss over any dramatic moment and throw in a joke or quick quip instead. The book starts with an extended apology - because she values her privacy, she admits that she leaves many details out. This is really too bad. I think those personal details are exactly what would have really brought this book to life.
While she doesn't make a huge point of it, it's obvious that she and her husband, after struggling a bit in the early days, must be multi-millionaires after the success of Big Greek Wedding. She does over a dozen IVF treatments, without even considering the cost. She decides to take a year off and not work just to get her head together.
I liked that Vardalos wanted to write a success story about adopting from foster care - she's right that only the stories of horrible abuse hit the press and skew the public's perception. She puts in a cheerful plug for adoptuskids.org explaining that there are thousands of children legally free for adoption. I still remain very skeptical, however. Check out the site - I challenge anyone to find an adorable cherub in good health with no mental or physical disabilities under the age of 4 available for adoption such as her daughter. The vast majority of toddlers available for adoption through foster care are deeply, profoundly disabled and most will never lead normal lives. Again, I think this is a spot where Nia's wealth and fame served her well. I doubt your average citizen would so quickly be offered such a great placement.
Vardalos has a sharp eye for how women interact with each other and talks about the difference between women who are supportive of each other (the way we all should be!) vs. what she calls, "BWS" or women with "Beautiful Woman Syndrome" - well-meaning, but ignorant women who think that their beauty substitutes for brains and loudly like to crow their uninformed opinions to anyone within earshot, vs. "The Coven" - catty women who only exist to tear each other down.
The second half of the book reads like any parent who is just besotted with his or her child. Vardalos admits that she has a big mouth, and she can't stop herself from nattering on and on about her perfect and charming her little girl is. Her daughter's biggest problem is fear of abandonment which manifests itself in fear of sleeping by herself. I enjoyed the story of how Nia and her husband took turns sleeping in a cot by their new daughter's bed, slowly inching the cot away bit by bit as their child grew more comfortable. I also loved the story of how they used their dog Manny to get closer to their daughter, pretending to make a "Manny cake."
Again, this is a fun, quick read, but not as emotionally honest or gripping as other adoption memoirs out there. Try Dan Savage's The Kid for a more in-depth, gritty yet still humorous adoption success story.
New book domino record
The record has already been smashed for the greatest number of books toppled in domino-like fashion. Seattle Public did one earlier this summer; now Cape Town's Central Library already has them beat. I liked that they spelled out "Central Library" with the books. The cheers and hugs at the end made it look like everyone felt the hundreds of hours of set up was definitely worth it.
Labels: libraries, videos
New Harry Potter artwork
Mary GrandPre, the artist for the American editions of Harry Potter has released some rarely seen full-color artwork depicting additional scenes from the series. Check out the complete set over at Buzzfeed.
Posted by Madigan Mirza at 12:10 PM 2 comments:
Labels: wizards
Blue Bloods review
First line: "The Bank was a decrepit stone building at the tail end of Houston Street, on the last divide between the gritty East Village and the wilds of the Lower East Side."
This series features absurdly wealthy teens in upper-class Manhattan, whose vampiric heritage is passed down from generation to generation. These vampires do sport fangs and occasionally drink blood, they are "immortal" in the sense that they are frequently incarnated, but other than that they don't share very many vampiric foibles such as problems with sunlight, crosses or garlic. Celebrity name-dropping and name-brand conciousness figures heavily here, as the students of exclusive prep school Duchesne: outsider Schuyler Van Alen, her best friend Oliver Hazard-Perry, love interest Dylan Ward, popular twins Jack and Mimi Force and Texan newcomer Bliss Llewellyn, gradually come to realize their true natures. The teen years are when new vampires are at their most fragile, and some uber-vamps known as "Silver Bloods" are hunting them.
Things gets a bit confusing at the end, with the revelation that the teens have been reincarnated over many centuries, with significant ties to the Mayflower, the Roanoke Colony and Ancient Egypt. Some of the vampires are descended from arcangels, and many of them are in incestuous relationships. Jack and Mimi apparently were an item in past lives, something Mimi would very much like to resume. Jack is interested in Schuyler, who might or might not be his former wife, his mother and simultaneously his aunt. See? Confusing. Lots of suspense... is Charles Force, the twins father, a villain, or just a grouchy patrician? Is teen dreamboat Dylan human or vampire? Is Dylan innocent or is he the one responsible for Blue Blood murders, or is he just a pawn? The series reads a lot like Gossip Girls, which makes sense, as the author is also responsible for the popular Au Pairs series. This is a light, fluffy, quick read, promising a series worth returning to.
Top 10 Books to Movies
Top Ten Tuesdays is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is: Top Ten Books You'd Love to See as a Movie.
Guess what? It seems like any and every popular YA book these days is quickly optioned for a movie treatment. I couldn't limit my list to just 10! Here's my list of Top 15 (possibly) upcoming books to movies.
1. Delirium - Lauren Oliver
This was optioned as a movie, then filmed as a TV pilot for a series, but not picked up. Will it ever see the light of day?
2. Firelight - Sophie Jordan
I loved this book. I barely remember the non-dragon twin sister, but I bet they could feature lots of drama with her jealously staring down her sibling.
3. House of Night - PC Cast
I'm curious if they'll tone down the paganism in a big screen adaptation of this book series.
4. Paranormalcy - Kierstan White
This would be a lot of fun.
5. The Forest of Hands and Teeth - Carrie Ryan
A great zombie story and would provide lots of awesome visuals I think.
6. Vampire Academy - 2/14/14 - Richelle Mead
I am a sucker for stories that take place at boarding schools.
7. Divergent - Veronica Roth
This is coming out in March 2014.
8. Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor
Excitement is running very high for this adaptation. The last I heard, they are still working on a script. I can't wait to see this one!
9. Matched - Ally Condie
Disney has bought the rights, but no further word on this project.
10. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs
This deliciously creepy and wonderful book is in development for a film adaptation and tentatively scheduled for release in 2015.
11. Shadow and Bone - Leigh Bardugo
In development.
12. The Raven Boys - Maggie Stiefvater
Here's another book that's been picked up and is in development.
13. Uglies - Scott Westerfeld
14. Wicked Lovely - Melissa Marr
In development with no release date or even casting news yet.
15. Graceling - Kristin Cashore
This is in development and may come out in 2014.
Posted by Madigan Mirza at 4:49 AM 1 comment:
Labels: lists, memes, top 10, YA
Book Lovers infographic
I just found this neat infographic. What kind of Book Lover are you? I'm having a hard time deciding, myself. I think I'm split between at least four different sub-types!
Infographic by Laura E. Kelly
Labels: interwebs
A Lesson Before Dying review
A Lesson Before Dying
by Ernest J. Gaines
I can see why English teachers love this book, and why generations of students will be doomed to hate it. It's an unsubtle look at race relations and the death penalty, with a bit of religion thrown in for good measure. This was an Oprah's Book Club pick, and is sure to remain a popular alternative to To Kill a Mockingbird for years to come.
Grant Wiggins is an unhappy school teacher at a segregated black school in the 40's. He's pressured by his family into tutoring Jefferson, an innocent black man found at the scene of a bar robbery turned homicide. Jefferson has been sentenced to death and his "nannan" - godmother, wants to prove that he is more than a "hog" as his defense attorney had claimed.
How to make this book more relatable for teens? Hmm... you could draw parallels to the Troy Davis case, although it seems that the fervor surrounding that case has already died down. NPR did a piece on Willie McGee and the Traveling Electric Chair.
What's really striking is that for all the visits, and all the food that's brought for Jefferson - he and Wiggins really don't speak much at all, and Jefferson never does get the equivalent of a high school education. Everything that Wiggins encourages Jefferson to do is much more for the comfort of the people who will survive him. The story is rather slow paced and full of atmospheric details of racist Louisiana in the 40's. The last chapter is a doozy as the emotional impact of the actual execution affects everyone in their small town.
Labels: classics, reviews
Top Ten Books for School
This week's Top 10 Tuesday topic from The Broke and the Bookish is:
Top 10 Contemporary Books That Would Be Great Paired With A Required Reading Book.
I'm not sure if I can think of 10 - but let me see.
First and foremost:
1. A Lesson Before Dying by Earnest Gaines paired with Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. This is actually such a great pairing - I'm going to have to post a review of A Lesson Before Dying to explore this more fully.
2. Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie paired with The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich. I know that there are schools out there that are doing this pairing already. But, I'm suggesting it mostly because I wish I had read them together. The Birchbark House is such a great book - it really is like The Little House on the Prairie from a Native American's point of view.
3. Here's a great pairing: The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum and The Search for WondLA by Toni DiTerlizzi. It's subtle, but little hints and nods to The Wizard of Oz are definitely there.
There are so many modern takes on Shakespeare out there. I think any of them are more enjoyable if you know the source material. Here are some of my favorites:
4. Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance with Much Ado About Nothing.
5. Wondrous Strange paired with A Midsummer Night's Dream.
6. Just One Day with any Shakespeare play.
Along those lines:
7. Jane by April Lindner with Jane Eyre.
And for something completely different:
8. Birthmarked with A Handmaid's Tale.
9. The Hero With a Thousand Faces with Harry Potter.
10. And.... I'm out of ideas! What would you pick for the 10th pairing?


Playing as a nickel back and then as a regular cornerback after Walt Harris left with a hamstring injury, Donald Strickland had "an outstanding game for us" against Buffalo on Sunday, coach Mike Singletary said.
Strickland was credited with two tackles and two successful pass defenses, as he and the rest of the 49ers' secondary generally covered the Bills' receivers tightly.
On the Bills' last-gasp play, a 4th-and-15 from their 14 with 1:13 left, Stickland made sure that Marshawn Lynch went nowhere after catching a short pass.
The Bills were held without a touchdown at home for the first time in nearly five years.
Post position: Though Bills kicker Rian Lindell twice banged field-goal attempts off the left upright - after having made 53 straight tries from inside 40 yards - Joe Nedney pounded a 50-yarder on his only attempt.
"Joe will kind of stand right next to you and (you ask), 'Joe, is this your range?' " Singletary said. "Nine times out of 10, he'll just kind of look at you and say, 'Yep.' "
The time-zone factor: The 49ers were the first West Coast team to win in the Eastern time zone this season. But are body clocks really a factor? East Coast teams are 10-5 in the Pacific time zone, indicating that the disparity is more a matter of talent than location.
Davis' penalty: Tight end Vernon Davis disputed the pass-interference call against him that wiped out his apparent 37-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.
"It wasn't a good call at all," he said. "I didn't touch him (Bryan Scott). I didn't extend my arm or anything. I just waited for the ball, and maybe it looked like my arm pushed off." He amended his remarks to call it "a little bit of contract."
Davis was fortunate he didn't draw another penalty for taking off his helmet in anger after that call.


I'm thrilled to announce that I will be speaking delivering two workshops on Family Photography at Photokina in Germany next week.
Photokina is the world's largest imaging fair and brings together more than 190,000 visitors from 134 countries at the Koelnmesse in Cologne. There will be over 1000 exhibitors from the major camera manufacturers to photo labs and also all the weird and wonderful gadgets that help photographers in different genres create such amazing imagery.
I'm travelling to Photokina as part of the Canon team and I will be speaking on the Canon stand on Friday 28th and Saturday 29thSeptember.
I have two talks on Family Photography that I will be giving at Photokina – one on the main Canon Spotlight Stage and one in the CPS lounge on each day.
The main stage will be amazing, with seating for 100. I will be delivering a talk on 'Great Family Photos and How to Take Them'. It's a talk designed for both professional family photographers and also keen amateurs, providing new ideas and inspiration for taking better pictures of clients or the photographers own family and friends.
The CPS lounge will be a more intimate space. Open to Canon Professional Services members my talk will be longer and more in depth. I'll be talking about 'Improving your Family Photography' looking at creating new and innovative work in everyday situations. As family photographers we aren't working in exotic locations or with elaborate set ups, we're photographing children in their homes, the park, every day places that we all enjoy. This is challenging and it's fun, creating beautiful and unique images day in day out. I'm really looking forward to sharing my experience and helping others to improve their work.
When I'm not speaking on the stands I've got a packed schedule of media appearances and interviews with journalists from all over Europe where I'll be discussing my family photography work and also my experiences with Canon's new camera the amazing EOS R.
It's going to be an exciting few days and I'm really looking forward to it. I'll post some pictures over on Instagram Stories if you want to see what it's like when I'm there.


With new digital technologies emerging each day, online reputation management is most important of all.
Managing your business's online reputation can help you steer clear of negative customers sentiment plus boost your positive online presence. Using proper online reputation management, you're capable of building a good reputation on your business.
Online reputation management, or ORM for short, negates the need to remove negative comments, simply by actively promoting positive pages. The goal of online reputation defense is to get your positive pages to rank high and your bad low in search engine results-pages (or the SERPs for short). The procedure typically involves proactive and often hard-edged solutions aimed at suppressing the negative online content concerning a brand by replacing the bad content with positive material. You could take several months to repair the reputation, and the reputation management agency you choose must be actively seeing how their process plays out.
Managing Online Brand Integrity in the Digital World: Why Use ORM?
While more and more of society transitions to a digital environment for nearly anything, the older versions of advertising are being rendered obsolete very fast. To capitalize on the new wave of digital marketing, you must monitor and influence the conversation happening digitally about your brand. Managing your online reputation is one huge way of filling gaps in your existing advertising efforts.
There are a variety of techniques that you can use to manage your brand and to protect it from unfounded negative reviews. As digital marketers, our main focus is search reputation, which involves surrounding your website with a variety of branded online properties to defend Google search results for your name from potential negative-comment damage. This reputation management technique is a very involved search engine optimization (SEO) process. According to award-winning SEO digital marketing agent Alexander Velitchko, this strategy is one of the most effective kinds of ORM, since Google has essentially replaced the Yellow Pages as the foremost online venue for business discovery. Whenever you have a question, chances are that answering it only takes a moment's notice of summoning Google – that's just to give you an example of how society has shifted. If people look to Google to answer all their questions, then surely, Google's first page shapes someone's first impression of your business – especially because by the time you go to page 2, more than 90% of the traffic is lost! That's just how much we trust Google, and so SEO is our most highly recommended online reputation management tactic.
There are other measures which any business can take to make it easier to manage & protect their image & integrity, such as making sure clients & visitors are well informed about what you offer.
For example, a blog is an excellent way to provide engaging, all encompassing information about the services & products you provide to your customers. Essential as social media may be in modern digital marketing, the numbers still remain difficult to measure. Digital advertising over the internet is constantly changing, and it is much more obvious seeing the impact of any program you're running. Although every aspect concerning online reputation management and repair may not apply to your social programs now, you will gain a thorough understanding of the moving parts best for you to implement later, so you will be well-poised to execute the most effective ORM strategy at hand. With an analytic understanding of the competitive landscape, you have the arsenal to craft a winning marketing campaign.
Reputation management's not just a set-it-&-forget-it thing. As one can probably already tell, there can be more to social media than meets the eye. The larger the online presence, the more challenges there can be trying to keep one's social accounts straight, and hence defend your brand's reputation & image.
Client testimonials can go viral, good or bad!
Clients can be very outspoken about profound experiences with a service or product. In fact, people are more apt to go all-out on social websites about negative experiences than positive experiences. Passionate people write long-form articles plus create videos on what matters in life, and share them organically across social networks of choice. The inherent fact of social media is that zealous posts like this spread like fire among these people's friends, family plus other online contacts – and it could even wind up in your own flesh-& blood's eyes. It's a boomerang effect.
People can make positive testimony go viral like this. On another side, the long-form videos & posts about negative experiences elicit even more passionate reactions from your audience. Just watch your back!
Because if one fails to keep track of a digital paper trail left by passionate sorts of social announcements (let alone any social post at all), that could bite them in the behind even harder than they'd ever imagine. Business reputation management companies actively monitor how your customers view you plus your business in the digital world. They will help to safeguard business-owners from the viral and provocative impact of negative customer reviews on online media, and make positive testimonials more amplified.
For local businesses, people often get their first impression from a Google Maps listing, because it dominates more real estate than anything else in searches for a local business. Hence, if you're on Google My Business, it's especially important to manage and to protect it from fake reviews by non-customers. Our SEO agency on Google Maps has a clean profile of customer reviews, and we use the same secret sauce to achieve the same thing for our clients too.
We know you're elated to have learned something you never knew before about your reputation on digital real estate, and strategies to make sure your brand is in tip-top shape. And think of it…this article is abridged. Want even more? Check out our complete, unedited online reputation management article at https://tripleagentdigitalmedia.com/online-reputation-management-defense-guide/ .