Ivo Martins Journal

7 Real Life Business Lessons Learned Playing Monopoly

2008-08-25T20:39:00.001+01:00

"When I was a kid, my favorite game was Monopoly. Now I get to experience it a whole new way with my own kids. Turns out there are quite a few real life business lessons from the quaint old game.

1. You have to ask for what you want.
So you passed go, so what? It’s not my job or anyone else’s to remind you the rules of the game. Don’t expect others to do your job for you.

2. Niceness matters.
While you can’t rely on others to point out your opportunities, showing courtesy will gain you big points. Little things like passing the dice and moving another player’s piece go a long way toward a pleasant game. Just because it’s business doesn’t mean you have to be rude.

3. It’s not rocket science.
Monopoly is a very simple game. Accumulate real estate, collect rents. That’s all you do. Sometimes in business we right off avenues too soon because we don’t yet understand them. Analyze your business (or idea) piece by piece, or enlist the help of someone who can.

4. Take risks.
So what if you only have $600 to your name, are you going to let Boardwalk pass you by? This is a difficult one for many people. The more you know about your chosen pursuit, the more confident you’ll be taking calculated risks. And isn’t that the only way to make real money?

5. Business can be boring.
The first hour of a game of Monopoly is so tedious. Roll, buy, roll, buy. But that’s the way of the world too. It’s not all toasting big deals and delivering million dollar shipments. The day to day grind can get monotonous. Keep your eyes on the prize.

6. Luck counts for a lot.
Preparation goes a long way toward improving your luck, but much still depends on a roll of the dice. Keep this in mind next time you’re beating yourself up over a missed opportunity or a lost sale.

7. Don’t expect others to support your strategy.
My ten-year-old was recently stunned that his little sister would dare to buy Pennsylvania Avenue. “But I’m collecting those,” he whined. To which she responded a resounding, “So what.” Atta girl. Play your own game as best you can, but don’t expect cooperation from your playmates!"

Serb War Criminal Caught

2008-07-27T11:54:00.001+01:00

Rabbi believes he has unveiled a secret of God

2008-07-21T23:44:00.001+01:00

This rabbi believes he has discovered a new way to read the unreadable Hebrew name of God, and it means the Creator is a dual-gendered entity. Whatever your faith or beliefs, it's a pretty interesting read.

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Women To Give Birth At 100 Within Three Decades

2008-07-18T13:49:00.001+01:00

Women aged 100 will be able to give birth within three decades as infertility is eradicated, scientists have predicted.

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iPhone app finds your car!

2008-07-14T22:22:00.001+01:00

After parking your car at a crowded shopping mall, users of G-Park tell their iPhone where their car is. When they wrap up their shopping, the application will provide directions back to the car.
PosiMotion says their application will even work on the first-generation iPhone, though without the accuracy of GPS.

Obama pledges to send 10,000 US troops to Afghanistan

2008-07-14T22:14:00.001+01:00

Barack Obama has promised that, if he becomes President, he will begin scaling back troops in Iraq and return focus on resurgent al-Qaida forces in Afghanistan. Currently there are approximately 156,000 troops in Iraq and 33,000 in Afghanistan. His current strategy, as it appears, is to reduce the number of those stationed in Iraq to a "residual force" of 60-80,000 by the summer of 2010, to further the training of Iraqi forces and for additional security. In addition, he will send 10,000 troops to Afghanistan to fight stubborn camps of Al-Qaida and resurgent Taliban cells.

Tierra Sagrada (or "Getting the Hang of Capitalism")

2008-07-13T00:10:00.001+01:00

iPhone 3G - The Hype is here!

2008-07-09T23:26:00.001+01:00

The first reviews of the iPhone 3G are being released, take a look at what the guys from the The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and The New York Times are saying about it!

Toyota to equip Prius with solar panels

2008-07-07T22:26:00.001+01:00

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to install a solar power generation system on its Prius hybrid car, when the vehicle goes through a complete makeover as early as next spring, according to a media report Monday.

Chocolate Will Be as Expensive as Caviar

2008-07-07T22:17:00.001+01:00

Chocolate will become so rare and so expensive that most people won't be able to afford it.

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The Truth About Cocaine

2008-07-04T22:24:00.001+01:00

LCD TVs Are 17,000 Times More Harmful to Our Planet Than CO2

2008-07-04T21:57:00.001+01:00

LCD TVs, praised as being greener than old-style tellies because they consume much less power, may actually be speeding climate change, a chemical expert has warned. Researcher Michael Prather believes that exploding demand for HD TVs around the world has created a huge need for Nitrogen Trifluoride, and that's sending emission levels sky high.

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Canada bans plastic bags

2008-06-30T13:52:00.001+01:00

"Canada is making an effort to eliminate waste. By selling reusable bags everywhere. Informing Customers that in 2009, plastic bags will no longer be available. They promote people to bring their reusable bags when they shop. This includes: grocery stores, malls, pharmacies..etc. The U.S should take some insight on this. "

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Pigeons killed at Wimbledon

2008-06-25T23:04:00.001+01:00

PETA is attacking the organizers of the Wimbledon tournament for calling in marksmen to shoot down dive-bombing pigeons that were distracting players and leaving droppings on the tables of the open-air restaurant.

Biofuel brings poverty worldwide

2008-06-25T22:57:00.001+01:00

Biofuels are responsible for the increasing food prices around the globe. This price raise affects poor people the most, and it seems that if the fuel value for a crop is greater than the food value it will be used for fuel instead of food.

Maybe we are witnessing a crime perpetrated by the rich countries around the globe.

Read the whole story at BBC.

The world's 10 worst cities

2008-06-24T23:28:00.001+01:00

pSci has culled an eye-opening selection of some of the world's most problematic cities. From the painfully high cancer rates in Sumgayit, Azerbaijan to the acid rain destroying La Oroya, Peru, writer Jason Daley will walk you through the lowest of the low; and explain why, despite it all, there's still hope for these places.

How Do Rich People Spend Their Time?

2008-06-23T21:48:00.001+01:00

People invariably believe that money can make them happy -- and rich people usually do report being happier than poor people do. But if this is the case, shouldn't wealthy people spend a lot more time doing enjoyable things than poor people?

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Social Networking Wars

2008-06-20T21:50:00.001+01:00

Paraplegic Wannabes

2008-06-20T21:38:00.001+01:00

Jurassic Park Comes True

2008-06-15T10:39:00.001+01:00

How scientists are bringing dinosaurs back to life with the help of the humble chicken.

read more | digg story

Smoking And Obesity Can Make You Deaf

2008-06-10T23:20:00.001+01:00

Smoking and obesity could both cause permanent hearing damage, say scientists.Either could threaten blood flow to the ear, they say, with damage levels clearly linked to the level of obesity or the length of a smoking habit.

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Actual Footage/Documentary on the "Pacific Garbage Patch"

2008-06-09T09:17:00.001+01:00

For years we’ve been reading about a patch of garbage the size of Texas floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, ingeniously dubbed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.For all the breathless accounts of the mess and its impact on the area’s sealife, however, no one seemed to have a picture of the buildup. Until now...........

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Largest hurricane simulator

2008-06-07T23:19:00.001+01:00

Scientists at the University of Florida have created the world's largest hurricane simulator, which is capable of producing hurricane force winds.

Caribbean monk seal is extinct

2008-06-07T23:11:00.001+01:00

It's official & incredibly sad, the Caribbean monk seal has gone the way of the dodo. It is the only seal to go extinct due to human activity and two more species are at risk.

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Biofuel Bonanza not so Sweet for Brazil's Sugar Cane Cutters

2008-06-06T12:29:00.001+01:00

Half a million jobs and 500 years of tradition are to be phased out in Brazil's booming sugar cane industry to satisfy western demands for more socially acceptable work practices in the biofuel sector.

read more | digg story

Why, In China, Gas Is $2.49 A Gallon

2008-06-05T13:27:00.001+01:00

China's strong economy and huge appetite for energy have been key drivers in the current $130-per-barrel price of oil. China imports over half of its oil, regards the industry as "strategically vital," controls retail prices and is facing inflation in excess of 8%. The price may seem daunting in the U.S., but it is much more so in China.

read more | digg story

IM Proves Useful In Reducing Workplace Interruptions

2008-06-04T19:29:00.001+01:00

Employers seeking to decrease interruptions may want to have their workers use instant messaging software. Research shows that when IMs are used as a substitute for other, more disruptive forms of communication such as phone, email, and face-to-face conversations, they lead to more conversations on the computer, but briefer & more productive ones.

read more | digg story

Elephants caught in Sri Lanka war

2008-06-04T10:41:00.001+01:00

The renewed civil war between Sri Lanka's government and the separatist Tamil Tigers is claiming many victims, among them increasing numbers of the island's wild elephants. Of the 74 elephants which died in the north and north-west region last year, 44 were killed by gunfire. The others fell victim to poison, were deliberately electrocuted by far

read more | digg story

The World's Hardest-Working Countries

2008-06-02T11:38:00.001+01:00

If you thought you worked long hours, consider 39-year-old Lee from South Korea. A civil servant at the ministry of agriculture and fisheries, Lee gets up at 5:30 a.m. every day, gets dressed and makes a two-hour commute into Seoul to start work at 8:30 a.m. After sitting at a computer for most of the day, Lee typically gets out the door at 9 p.m.

read more | digg story

2012: The Year The Internet Ends

2008-06-02T01:03:00.003+01:00

How the industry will kill the Internet in about 4 years from now.

read more | digg story

The Homeless of Heathrow Airport

2008-06-02T01:03:00.001+01:00

Meet one of the 100 homeless people who live at the airport.

China's ban on plastic bags goes into effect June 1st.

2008-06-01T22:22:00.001+01:00

China is banning free plastic bags common at shops and supermarkets and ordering customers to be charged for any they use, the government said Wednesday. The rules, which take effect June 1, come as the country tries to tackle a significant source of litter, a statement on the government's Web site said.

read more | digg story

Girls are becoming as good as boys at math

2008-06-01T22:17:00.003+01:00

Girls are becoming as good as boys at mathematics, and are still better at reading.

read more | digg story

World Food Prices Will Remain High, Report Says

2008-06-01T22:17:00.001+01:00

The recent steep jump in global food prices should ease in the near term, according to a new report, but prices over the next decade are likely to remain high, spurred by the rising cost of oil, the declining dollar and increasing demand for biofuels

read more | digg story

Isolated tribe spotted in Brazil

2008-05-30T23:55:00.001+01:00

The tribe was photographed as its members pointed bows and arrows at an aeroplane flying overhead. Image: Gleison Miranda, Funai.
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Japanese woman caught living in man's closet

2008-05-30T23:51:00.001+01:00

He became suspicious when the food started disappearing. But she lived there FOR A YEAR.

read more | digg story

Think Gas is High? Try Europe

2008-05-29T11:41:00.001+01:00

American motorists are understandably grumbling over skyrocketing gas prices as the summer travel season approaches. But their pain hardly registers against the rage afoot in Europe these days. Fishermen, truck drivers and farmers are threatening to bring entire economic sectors to a halt with protests against crippling fuel costs...

read more | digg story

A Tiny Fruit That Tricks the Tongue

2008-05-29T11:38:00.001+01:00

A small red berry called miracle fruit temporarily rewires the way the palate perceives sour flavors, rendering lemons as sweet as candy.

read more | digg story

Child abuse by peacekeepers and aid workers

2008-05-28T00:54:00.001+01:00

"Accusations of sexual abuse by U.N. peacekeepers and aid workers around the world have increased in recent years and the United Nations is investigating claims against its soldiers in hot spots such as Haiti, Liberia, Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo.".

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Leaked Screen Shots of Windows 7

2008-05-28T00:47:00.001+01:00

If you’ve been waiting to see what Windows 7 will look like then you may want to head over to CrunchGear to check out a bevy of screen shots that hit our inbox earlier today.

read more | digg story

Teen figures out how to decompose plastic bags in 3 months

2008-05-27T16:20:00.001+01:00

Ontario high school junior Daniel Burd wanted to try to figure out if there was a way to get plastic bags to decompose faster. As it stands, it takes thousands of years for the wasteful objects to disintegrate. But by using bacteria, he figured out how to make it happen in a mere three months.

read more | digg story

China Drops 1-Child Rule for Quake Victims

2008-05-27T11:44:00.001+01:00

Chinese officials announced Monday that the country's strict one-child policy will make some exceptions for certain families affected by the devastating earthquake two weeks ago.

read more | digg story

The Biggest Drawing in The World: Created Using GPS and DHL

2008-05-26T21:24:00.001+01:00

The concept was simple but brilliant: place a GPS device in a briefcase and mail it via DHL with precise travel instructions over the course of a 55 day period. When all was said and done, the GPS data formed a virtual self-portrait of the artist that spread over 6 continents and 62 countries covering nearly 70,000 miles.

read more | digg story

How do you put a whole fruit inside a bottle? [TUT]

2008-05-25T23:42:00.001+01:00

If you can figure it out right away with no need of further explanation, congratulations! You're smarter than 90% of the other geeks.

read more | digg story

Fox News Jokes About Killing Obama

2008-05-25T23:40:00.001+01:00

While commenting on Hillary's RFK gaffe, Liz Trotta on Fox News Channel first referred to Barack Obama as "Osama" and then laughed that they should both be killed.

read more | digg story

Banned Youtube Videos come from the dead!

2008-05-20T21:17:00.001+01:00

Ever wondered what happened to those youtube videos that were removed for alleged copyright violation?

Youtomb is a research project by the MIT Free Culture. You cannot see the videos, but info like when the video was posted, when it was taken down is provided.

Take a look at Youtomb.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Internet Users

2008-05-13T11:11:00.001+01:00

Source

SAAB used humam cadavers in crash tests

2008-05-11T12:07:00.001+01:00

According to thelocal.se humam cadavers were used in auto crash tests by General Motors (father company of Saab).

It seems that a total of 10 dead bodies were used and that Saab automobiles were likely involved an account of the brand’s association with safety.

Read the whole story here

Orangutans Extinct in 3 Years?

2008-05-09T03:38:00.001+01:00

"The world's largest group of orangutans in Indonesia may face extinction by 2011 because of palm oil plantation expansion, which is destroying habitat, experts say."

Source

Blog with Windows Live Writer

2008-05-09T03:14:00.001+01:00

Found this usefull blog that enables you to setup blogger.com on Windows Live Writer.

Email From Steve Ballmer To All Microsoft Employees

2008-05-04T10:16:00.002+01:00

The following e-mail was sent to all Microsoft employees .

From: Steve Ballmer
Date: May 3, 2008 5:17:30 PM PDT
To: “Microsoft - All Employees (QBDG)”
Subject: Withdrawal of Offer to Acquire Yahoo!

This afternoon I sent the attached letter [see update 2 here for letter to Yahoo] to Jerry Yang announcing that Microsoft has withdrawn its proposal to acquire Yahoo. We proposed the deal in the belief that a Microsoft-Yahoo merger would create a combined company with the resources and assets to win in the fast-growing market for advertising and online services.

Although the acquisition of Yahoo would have accelerated our ability to deliver on our strategy in advertising and online services, I remain confident that we can achieve our goals without Yahoo. We have a strategy in place to do so and we will continue to expand on this strategy and accelerate our progress.

Our strategy has three components:

· Deliver on the basics. We will continue to improve search relevance and build out our ad platform.

· Change the game through innovation. We will expand investments in engineering and deliver transformative tools and Web experiences.

· Expand our global scale and focus. We will pursue partnerships and investments to realize the competitive advantages that come with scale.

At the heart of our strategy is a commitment to bring the benefits of competition, choice, and innovation to everyone who uses the Internet—from consumers to content creators to advertisers.

We are 100 percent focused on executing on this strategy and we have made good progress in a very short time. We’ve improved search relevance dramatically, introduced compelling new search verticals, successfully integrated aQuantive, and added nearly 100 new publishers to our ad platform. In the last couple of months we’ve rolled out new versions of key products including Internet Explorer and Silverlight, and introduced new technologies like Live Mesh. We now have over 430 million active users of our Windows Live services worldwide. And we continue to add new technologies with acquisitions such as YaData, which brings leading-edge behavioral targeting technology, and Caligari, which gives us advanced 3D modeling capabilities that will help us continue to improve Virtual Earth.

Ultimately, our goal is to build the industry-leading business in search, online advertising, media, and social networking.

We are absolutely committed to being the leader in each of these areas. Now is the time to do what we have always done best—be tenacious, focus on the long term, innovate, and keep working hard.

I want to thank all of you for your patience during this process and for your dedication and hard work across all of our businesses. We asked that you remain focused on our goals through these cycles, and you have done this extremely well. We are committed to making the investments that will enable us to compete and, ultimately, lead in the online services and advertising businesses. Together, I know we will succeed.

Steve

Desvendado o segredo das filas de trânsito

2008-03-22T03:10:00.003Z

Uma equipa de cientistas japoneses colocaram dentro de um circuito fechado 22 veívulos a circular a cerca de 30km/h.

O que vão verificar é que por vezes a distância entre os veículos é encurtada talvez devido à falta de atenção dos condutores o que implica travagens desnecessárias, este factor entre outros origina as filas de trânsito.

Vejam o vídeo seguinte

NUI - Interacção com o utilizador

2008-03-16T12:41:00.003Z

A interacção com o utilizador está em voga, vejam o que já se anda a fazer por cá!

Nelson Batista blog