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Jeff Jacobs - page 24

Jeff Jacobs has 235 articles published.

China Blocks Use of LinkedIn

End users in China are reporting that use of LinkedIn continues to be blocked all through the nation. By all indications, it appears the favorite profession networking web page has run afoul of your country’s notorious Fantastic Firewall.

Based on LinkedIn’s Hani Durzy, the corporation is conscious of the blockage in China and it is “currently within the method of investigating the scenario additional.”

The shutdown follows days of requires a “Jasmine Revolution” in China, to the design from the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions. Use of Twitter and Facebook continues to be blocked all through China for a while; Chinese web end users looking for to make use of Twitter have already been pressured to accessibility the internet site via difficult-to-use Virtual Personal Networks (VPNs).

Even so, Chinese dissidents have an additional method of accessing Twitter… LinkedIn.

Utilization of LinkedIn, that is totally integrated with Twitter, was by much the simplest approach to accessibility Twitter in China. Messages may be quickly study and posted by means of Twitter by way of LinkedIn.

1 Chinese Twitter person who accesses each Twitter and LinkedIn by means of a proxy posted photographs to Twitpic that appear to verify a Chinese LinkedIn outage.

Incorporating credence for the LinkedIn-shutdown-to-block-Twitter technique will be the information the Chinese government has began censoring the identify of U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman from lookup outcomes within the wildly well-known homegrown Twitter/Tumblr clones Sina Weibo/QQ Weibo. Weibo indicates “microblog” in Chinese.

Huntsman faces prevalent expenses in China of assistance for that Jasmine Revolution immediately after a citizen journalist spotted him viewing a pro-democracy protest from inside a crowd this previous Sunday. Like any very good American overseas, Huntsman was standing outdoors a McDonald’s.

Based on The Wall Road Journal, Chinese dissidents have already been disseminating calls to protest and organizing activities through LinkedIn. Reuters notes the LinkedIn outage could damage the firm’s odds at an IPO:

“If the disruption for LinkedIn is long lasting in China, it could damage the company’s potential customers at an IPO being a ban would exclude the provider from your world’s biggest World-wide-web market–about 450 million customers and developing.”

“It undoubtedly could be a damaging when it comes to the company’s long term development and profitability,” stated Jay Ritter, a professor of finance in the College of Florida.

“This is some thing exactly where traders would get it into consideration and be prepared to pay out a bit reduced cost per share.” Thankfully for LinkedIn, China’s Web censors are notoriously fickle: Web sites blip on and off the Wonderful Firewall regularly, without any prior warning. Associated: Quickly Company’s Anya Kamenetz lately interviewed LinkedIn CEO Reid Hoffman. Study far more concerning the social networking web site as component of our Most Modern Businesses of 2011 challenge.

Apple Accelerates MacBook Professional

Apple on Thursday early morning unveiled a brand new line of high-end laptop computer systems that is about two times as quick because the older era, based on the organization.

The MacBook Professional laptops obtain a pace increase from quicker Intel processors, which may achieve “Turbo Boost” speeds of 3.4 gigahertz. In non-geek communicate, that signifies the computer systems can total 3.4 billion calculations per 2nd.

Apple says it is employing the “fastest dual-core processor readily available.”

The laptops also are the very first computer systems to function Intel and Apple’s “Thunderbolt” technologies, which is often a new approach to connect cameras, camcorders along with the website link towards the laptop or computer — an option to USB ports, that are ubiquitous right now.

Apple says these new ports are a lot quicker than current options.

“Ultrafast and ultra flexible, the Thunderbolt pipeline is a lot more than twelve instances quicker than FireWire 800 and as much as twenty occasions quicker than USB 2.0, and it provides unprecedented growth capabilities. It adjustments what you may do on the notebook,” Apple says in its marketing supplies.

The brand new laptops also have USB and FireWire connections.

The MacBook Professional computer systems — a number of the most pricey laptops in the marketplace — begin at $1,200 for any 13-inch design and go as much as $2,500 for any pc having a 17-inch display, when measured diagonally.

The computer systems include Intel’s Core i5 and Core i7 dual-core processors. Their speeds assortment from two.0 to 2.7 gigahertz but can leap to 3.4 gigahertz, the corporation says. Apple claims these processors make the brand new MacBook Professional two times as quickly at processing information and 3 instances as quick at rendering photos.

Yet another new characteristic from the laptops — which, from images, search nearly identical to their predecessors — will be the addition of the FaceTime video clip digital camera. This can permit MacBook Professional customers to perform video clip chats with individuals on cell phones and iPods that assistance Apple’s FaceTime video clip chat app, which can be comparable to Skype. Formerly, iPhone four FaceTime customers could only chat with each and every other — not with individuals who had been employing laptops.

“FaceTime for Mac can make it simple to speak, smile and chuckle with pals and loved ones on their iPhone four, iPod touch or Mac,” Apple says in an advert for its FaceTime app for your Mac, which expenses 99 cents.

Some Apple followers had been in the beginning disappointed through the specs with the new laptops.

“I need to say it seems to be like they just needed to obtain this out from the way and transfer on towards the true major occasion, the iPad two. iPad will be the long term,” 1 commenter wrote in the weblog Apple Insider.

An additional complained that Apple up-to-date the MacBook Professional collection as an alternative to the MacBook Air, which can be a lighter laptop computer that boots up immediately.

“I’m positive several will probably be thrilled through the velocity, but I am majorly disappointed. … My hopes for any MacBook Professional Air are actually dashed…. Possibly subsequent yr …,” an additional commenter on that weblog wrote.

Other people weren’t wowed through the computers’ display resolution.

“Reeeaaallly disappointed with all the 1280×800 resolution? Why??” wrote a commenter in the Unofficial Apple Weblog, or TUAW.

North African Turmoil Could Rocket Crude to 220 USD

When the turmoil paralyzing components with the Center East and North Africa brings oil manufacturing in Libya and Algeria to a standstill, it could trigger crude oil to explode to $220 a barrel, derailing the international financial recovery.

Based on a brand new report from Tokyo-based Nomura, a simultaneous creation halt from embattled Libya and neighboring Algeria would lessen OPEC spare capability to 21 million barrels each day and could trigger crude to spike from about $97 a barrel right now to $220 a barrel.

“The closest comparison will be the 1990-1991 Gulf War,” the Nomura analysts, led by Michael Lo, wrote, declaring crude costs leaped 70% in 7 months when OPEC’s spare capability was minimize to just 1.8 million barrels each day throughout that conflict with oil-rich Iraq.

Whilst the $220 figure may possibly sound great, Nomura stated it might be an underestimate as speculative oil traders who had been not about throughout the Gulf War may well exaggerate the surge in the course of an oil creation halt.

The turmoil in Algeria has not gotten practically as a lot interest, but that government can be considered to become extremely susceptible and current protests have led the authorities there to raise its state of emergency.

The report arrives as Wall Road has grown more and more fearful the violence slamming Libya, Africa’s third-largest oil producer, will consume in to the international financial recovery.

Although the international economic system has strengthened significantly in current months, it is distinct $220 oil costs would critically harm development, placing a large burden on cash-strapped customers and companies, in particular transportation firms like delivery large FedEx (FDX: 89.49, -3.77, -4.04%), airliner JetBlue (JBLU: five.66, -0.twelve, -1.99%) and cruse operator Carnival (CCL: 41.66, -0.42, -1.01%).

Crude’s expiring March agreement spiked eight.5% — its greatest one-day acquire considering that April 2009 — to a two 1/2-year higher of $93.57 on Tuesday in response for the turmoil in Libya. The surge in oil costs sent the Dow Jones Industrial Regular tumbling 178 factors, its steepest decline because November.

Without resolution in sight, crude continued its gains on Wednesday, with all the commodity’s April agreement leaping $2.16 a barrel, or 2.30%, to $97.58. Brent crude continues to vault forward of crude, surging an additional $3.92 a barrel, or 3.71%, to $109.70.

Based on BBC Business News Blog information, Libya pumped 159 million barrels of crude each day final month, whilst Algeria pumped 125 million barrels each day.

The markets are actually pricing within the chance the crisis in Libya will break out into an all-out civil war as longtime Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi has refused to action down. Inside a televised speech on Tuesday, he mentioned, “I will battle towards the final drop of my blood.”

Citing a supply shut for the al-Qaddafi regime, Time Magazine noted late Tuesday the leader has ordered protection solutions to begin sabotaging oil amenities. The forces strategy to blow up a number of oil pipelines, cutting off movement to Mediterranean ports, the report stated.

Based on Italian authorities, the demise toll throughout the political unrest in Libya may well have jumped to about 1,000.

Making a Low Ball Offer

One of the first things to consider is that no one likes to carry a low offer to a property owner. In todays market it will become more normal. The real estate blogs are filled with advice on how you should proceed. Sales data, even historical data will be of little use.

What people forget is that in real estate there have always been formula buyers. Some buyers will buy anything that fits the formula they have. Number one is the ability to pay off a property quickly. If you have a business plan in commercial real estate you follow that. Residential purchases can work the same way.

A young couple that I worked with ten years ago made an offer on a house that was as much as they could afford. They were tired of looking at properties, and just took the chance. It turned out the seller was making an aggressive price reduction if the property didn’t sell over that week end, they had to be in Boston in a month.

You never know what the circumstances are for the seller of a property. Low offers will become normal this year. What you should do is have a plan, to go along with the offer. You’re also going to need an agent who can present the offer well. You need some one to go to bat for you.

An investor who made an offer on one of our properties was making twenty offers a week. His agent was simply faxing in the offer with no follow up. I, as a comparison want to present my own low ball offers, at least to the agent, or the agents broker.

In my opinion no one should be offended by getting an offer from a qualified buyer. Getting a pre approval for over the loan limit on a specific property helps a lot in having the offer considered. Your ability to close a loan will be a huge factor this year. All your negotiations should be up front, get an inspection done as soon as possible, and be willing to walk away.

Never nickel and dime a deal once you have it. Just assume that the house need at least $5K worth of work. You’re going to want it your way, anyway, so just figure you’ll be doing repairs. Become a serious buyer who is there to close the deal.

Real Estate is an investment. Think like a professional.

The W Seattle Hotel

The W Seattle Hotel is one of the most luxurious hotels in the area.  You can tell they put in a lot of time and money when it comes to it’s features.  It has Seattle vibe that captures the spirit of Seattle’s emerald city.  The hotel is located in the heart of Seattle.  It’s a 26 story building that stands out in the city.  I would describe The W Seattle Hotel as very modern.  Inside the W Seattle you’ll have ample room and a friendly staff willing to help with all your needs 24/7.  If you’re hungry you can order directly with the hotel or take a trip outside and discover what new restaurants are in walking distance.  Their restaurant which features great food by a creative chef is known as  TRACE.  It has a fun bar also which features some great drink specials.

Overall, the W Seattle is a nice hotel.  I have stayed their on many occasions myself so I know what I’m talking about.  You do pay a little extra for it’s features but I would rate The W Seattle very highly.

The W Seattle
Address:  1112 Fourth Ave, Seattle, WA 98101

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