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MUMBAI (Reuters) - India is considering a radical plan to direct commercial banks to buy gold from ordinary citizens and divert it to precious metal refiners in an attempt to curb imports and take some heat off the plunging currency.
A pilot project will be launched soon, a source familiar with the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) plan told Reuters, although the idea was met with some scepticism.
India has the world's third-largest current account deficit, which is approaching nearly $90 billion, driven in a large part by appetite for gold imports in the world's biggest consumer of the metal. That has played a major role in driving the rupee to a record low.
With 31,000 tonnes of commercially available gold in the country - worth $1.4 trillion at current prices - diverting even a fraction of that to refiners would sate domestic demand for the metal. India imported 860 tonnes of gold in 2012.
The RBI will ask the banks to buy back jewellery, bars and coins for rupees. Lenders will have to offer better rates than pawn shops and jewellers to lure sellers.
"We will start a pilot project among some banks where we will allow them to buy back gold from individual households," the source, an official familiar with the central bank's plan, said. "This will start soon, we have discussed (it) with banks."
The RBI did not immediately have an official comment, a spokeswoman said.
The RBI proposal was a talking point in world gold markets, although prices were reacting more to an easing of concerns that a U.S.-led attack on Syria was imminent. Spot gold prices fell by around 1 percent.
The source said banks in the pilot project would be given a regulatory directive to purchase the gold. It will initially be limited to those with big gold portfolios. Several Indian banks already offer a gold deposit scheme that pays out interest.
"I don't think it is going to work. It has to be more structured, like a gold bond," said Samiran Chakraborty, chief economist at Standard Chartered Bank.
That's exactly what India's Trade Minister Anand Sharma suggested on Thursday. He said the central bank should look into the possibility of monetising gold holdings, and issuing bonds for privately-held gold was one way to do it.
The RBI holds 557.7 tonnes of gold in its own reserves.
However, any talk of using the central bank's gold to help meet India's international obligations revives memories of a 1991 balance of payments crisis - when India flew 67 tonnes of gold to Europe as collateral for a loan to avoid a sovereign debt default.
"I have not said there should be any mortgaging of the gold, or auction of the gold, that is incorrect. I have just said the RBI should look into ... how they can benefit the people, particularly with regard to the bonds or the monetisation," Sharma said in response to a question in parliament.
Earlier this week in comments reported in the national media, Sharma said that in a country with 31,000 tonnes of declared gold "even if 500 tonnes is monetised at today's value it takes care of your CAD", or current account deficit.
Selling the country's gold reserves may sit badly with Indians, many of whom saw the 1991 sale as a public humiliation. The secret operation was only exposed after a vehicle carrying the first consignment of bullion broke down on its way to the airport from the central bank.
"It (pledging gold) will be a desperate measure, and it will send a very wrong signal to the entire country because all the time we've maintained that things are under control even though things are adverse," said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at CARE Ratings.
Such a sale would also dent international gold prices which took a hit earlier this year after Cyprus said it was considering selling its gold reserves to shore up its finances.
Some economists said India should improve the current gold deposit scheme, which allows individuals to effectively hold gold in a bank account in exchange for a certificate. They receive interest payments and can redeem the same weight in gold when the certificate matures.
Analysts say this scheme would also allow the government to funnel gold to the refinery industry and reduce import demand.
However, Indians are currently put off by the 500 gram minimum requirement. Offering higher interest rates could also draw out gold stashed in the country's temples. South India's Tirupati temple, considered one of the world's richest, is estimated to hold gold worth up to $80 billion.
Gold is considered auspicious as a gift or offering at religious festivals in India and forms an essential part of a bride's dowry.
"The biggest avenue the government has to monetise gold is the gold deposit scheme," said Shekhar Bhandari, executive vice president of treasury at Kotak Mahindra Bank. "It has the maximum potential and (encourages) recurring behaviour."
India has taken multiple steps this year to curb imports of gold, its second-biggest import after oil, including raising duty three times to 10 percent.
The rupee, the worst-performing emerging market currency in Asia this year, rebounded from a record low on Thursday after the RBI said it will provide dollars directly to state oil companies to shore up the currency.
In comments published by The Hindu newspaper last week, David Gornall, chairman of the London Bullion Market Association, said India could raise $23 billion by swapping gold for a payable currency for a period of its choice, while remaining the long-term holder of the gold.
Additional reporting by Siddesh Mayenkar in Mumbai, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Frank Jack Daniel in New Delhi: Writing by A. Ananthalakshmi: Editing by Amran Abocar and Neil Fullick


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Irit is here with my first post using the new Oriental dies Die Versions collection.
I love everything oriental. So when I got a few of those dies I knew what I am going to do with them: Oriental Bon Voyage cards.
This is a first card made with Whispers- Pagoda die.
I used Paper House Far East paper pad to make all paper layers. The background was stamped with Rubber Dance Oriental script over the paper- some in white and some in gold to fit the golden background cardstock.
I made one background die cut using DV oldie, but beloved Whispers- Oval Background die over the yellow patterned cardstock and added it between the paper layers.
The Pagoda was also die cut from patterned paper and layered over the double sided glue sheet that was covered with yellow glitter.
As my finish touches I stamped the Tim Holtz sentiment in gold heat embossing and added some pearls and one lovely oriental metal charm.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Australian Brain Bee Challenge (ABBC) is a competition for high school students in year 10 to learn about the brain and its functions, learn about neuroscience research, find out about careers in neuroscience and to dispel misconceptions about neurological and mental illnesses.
The program was started in Australia in 2006 to address a number of deficiencies in the public's perception of science in general, and neuroscience in particular.
The ABBC provides current and accurate information on the latest advances in neuroscience research, its value to the community, and promote careers in science and technology.
Important dates
- Round 1: Online Quiz, throughout March 2020
- Round 2: State/Regional finals, June - August 2020 (determined by state coordinator)
- Round 3: National Finals (early December 2020 at the same time and venue as the Australasian Neuroscience Society conference)
- Round 4: International Brain Bee (2020 site to be determined)
The Brain Bee Challenge Rounds
There are 4 rounds to the Australian Brain Bee Challenge;
Round 1 - Online Quiz
Round 1 is held during Brain Awareness Week. The learning content is a series of online modules with content developed by brain science experts from the Australasian Neuroscience Society and implemented in a strong educational framework by education designers and teachers of the Education Perfect team.
Teachers can enrol students for the competition through this link: http://worldseries.educationperfect.com/bbc-landing-page.html (note the different subsequent links for NZ and Australian schools).
Students study this material through Education Perfect (Brain Bee lessons can be found here: https://worldseries.educationperfect.com/brainbeecontent.html).
They then complete an online in-class quiz to determine their knowledge and understanding of the structure and function of the brain.
The online quiz is hosted on the Education Perfect testing platform. Round 1 will take place for the entire month of March in 2020.
Further information on the structure of Round 1 can be found here.
Round 2 - Regional Finals
Round 2 are the Regional Finals, held in each state/region in Australia and New Zealand. Students who achieve a high score in Round 1 are invited to attend a full day of activities at a university campus/research institution in their capital city. The exact timing of the day of activities will be determined by the Brain Bee Challenge state/island coordinators in the period between June – August.
On that day, as well as participating in two rounds of live questioning to determine who will become the state/region champion, students also have a day filled with activities to educate them about neuroscience and associated research. This may include lab tours, demonstrations, lectures, experiments and the opportunity to speak to researchers. There is also a team competition on the day where schools compete against each other to win prizes for their school.
The learning material for the Round 2 of the competition will also be delivered through the Education Perfect Brain Bee Challenge platform. The learning material will consist of the Round 1 content and new Round 2 content in an appropriately-named folder.
Students will also have access to support study material through the US Society for Neuroscience's book, Brain Facts (2018 edition) which can be obtained here: https://www.brainfacts.org/the-brain-facts-book. Students are encouraged to use this book to supplement the learning content on the Education Perfect Platform but please note that the assessment material for the Round 2 will be based on the Round 1 and Round 2 learning content on the Education Perfect platform, not the book which is only provided to support that learning content.
Round 3 - National Finals
Round 3 is the National Final where 8 Australian students (one from each state) and 2 New Zealand students (one from each island) compete against each other to become the Australian Brain Bee Challenge Champion, or the New Zealand Brain Bee Challenge Champion. Since 2007 Round 3 has been held annually at the Australian Neuroscience Society (ANS) conference which is held in early December. The finalists and a parent will be flown to the city where the conference and competition are held, with travel and accommodation paid for by the Australasian Neuroscience Society, the NZ Centre for Brain Research, and the ARC Centre for Integrative Brain Function.
In the finals, students compete in 4 challenges, held over 2 days including an anatomy challenge, a written short answer challenge, a patient diagnosis challenge and a live question and answer challenge. Further details are provided to the finalists closer to the time. Students also have the opportunity to attend ANS scientific sessions and meet with scientists, researchers and students involved in neuroscience.
Round 4 - International Finals
Round 4 is the International Brain Bee (IBB). The IBB is held at an international neuroscience/psychology conference and in the past has been held in places such as America and Italy. In 2012 the IBB was in South Africa and was won by the Australian representative, from Brisbane, Teresa Tang. In 2013, the IBB was held in Vienna, Austria and was won by Australian representative, from Brisbane, Jackson Huang. In 2018, the IBB was held in Berlin, Germany and in 2019, the IBB will be held in South Korea.
As with the National Finals, for the IBB, the Australian and NZ national champions and a parent will be flown to the city where the conference and competition are held, with travel and accommodation paid for by the Australasian Neuroscience Society, the NZ Centre for Brain Research, and the ARC Centre for Integrative Brain Function.


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Sleek design, widescreen display, easy to carry, long battery life.
Middle-of-the-road performance.
Bottom Line
The V2000 is easily the nicest-looking notebook in our value roundup. It gets a high portability rating and has enough multimedia features to satisfy most users.
The Compaq Presario V2000 packs a lot into its slender 5.4-pound frame, including a widescreen display, a good set of speakers, and well-placed connectivity ports. If inexpensive mobility is what you're after, the V2000 is your answer. It gets our honorable mention in this category.
At a system weight of 5.4 pounds, the V2000 is the lightest value notebook here. Its 14-inch widescreen display is ideal for viewing DVDs and the JBL Pro speakers sound better than most.
The USB, FireWire, and LAN ports are located on the sides, and the headphone and microphone jacks are on the front bezel for convenience. The volume control keys and mute button reside above the keyboard, along with a wireless on/off key.
The V2000 turned in average overall performance results, but it beat all the other value systems on our battery life tests, lasting 3 hours 36 minutes.
If you're looking for a sexy, lightweight notebook with solid performance for under $1,000, look no further. The Compaq Presario V2000 is the machine for you.


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Salsa Verde Baked Eggs
I'm currently visiting Cayucos, California with five other friends. It's a tiny little beach town located on the state's Central Coast. I made this dish for brunch because it is simple, full of flavor and quite filling. Enjoy this dish with friends, a California Pinot Grigio and a day at the beach. California Pinot Grigio is lightly bodied with notes of white pepper and arugula. A Tempranillo would also work.
- 1 dozen free range eggs
- 16 tomatillos (about a pound)
- 1 small red onion
- 1 lime, zested
- 1 serrano chile
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 green onion, sliced
- 4 tablespoons of chopped cilantro
- 1/2 cup of pepper jack cheese, shredded
- Salt to taste
2. Soak them in warm water for 10 minutes. It helps if you add some vegetable cleaner. It makes washing off the sticky layer a lot easier. Rinse and dry them.
3. Cut the red onion into equally sized pieces and chop it in the food processor. Add in the cloves of garlic and serrano chile. Chop them too.
4. Add the tomatillos and puree the mixture until it is salsa-like in texture.
5. Mix in the cilantro (saving some for garnish) and lime zest. Salt to taste.
6. Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees.
7. Pour the salsa verde into a large baking dish and add the eggs. You want them evenly spaced.
8. Bake the dish for about 20 minutes or until the egg whites are fully cooked. You want the yolks to remain runny.
9. Top with the shredded pepper jack cheese, some cilantro and chopped green onion. Serve and enjoy!
Visit the Green Wine Guide for more vegetarian recipes and wine pairings.
Follow us on Twitter @GreenWineGuide or meet our chef @JerryJamesStone
Fan us on Facebook for daily recipes.


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Twitter No Longer All About the Art
Marcelo Tas is a Brazilian TV host described as "a tropical version of...Jon Stewart." But you could also describe him as "the first celebrity to trick a company into paying him for bullshit on Twitter."
Marcelo is pioneering the world of paid endorsements—on Twitter! Everything is different now. Here's how it works: people watch Marcelo on TV; they think he's funny and interesting; they follow him on Twitter; then, when he bizarrely busts out and recommends a specific new fiber optic internet service there, in Brazil, they'll all buy it, because hey, it's Marcelo!
In his first tweet mentioning Telefónica's service, Mr. Tas told his followers about a recent promotional event he hosted in São Paulo. "Xtreme event was fun, informative and full of insights," he wrote. "I loved it!"
We congratulate Mr. Tas on his new, creative way of soaking a corporation for its marketing budget. He should have gone into branding. [WSJ]


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Regular season, yes. But to beat the full season record, they would need to fly to an NCAA or NIT site. In 2005-06, they had the following flights:
- Round trip to Chicago (DePaul)
- Flight to San Fran (Santa Clara Tournament)
- Flight from San Fran to Durham (Duke)
- Flight home from Durham
- Round trip to Dallas (two NCAA games)
At present, this year's flights haven't topped that, since the St. Mary's game is just a stopover on the way to Hawaii. If you count pre-season flights as well it is a different story since the team is going to three European countries in August.


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Surprises, Comebacks Highlight Start of Australian Open
The first Grand Slam is already underway in the beautiful city of Melbourne, Australia. Since the 10th of January with the start of qualifying, we have seen great action and endurance from some of the emerging talents in the world of tennis as they battle Down Under.
This is not just a great time for the players themselves but for fantasy players as well as they try to win big in the first Grand Slam of the year and lay down the marker for future success. If you want to become a tennis fantasy player, you need to keep in mind that it's less than football fantasy betting and more of the lottery. At the start of the year, you need to bank on chance that your fantasy players will play to their potential rather than base your choices on player's current form. Even if it's more of a game of chance, you still possess the ability to win just like when you play the Powerball lottery online.
Below is a recap of some the early highlights so so far at the Australian Open.
Three of the four women's semifinalists from the previous Grand Slam, the US Open, lost in the first round! Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open, was defeated in the opening round to China's Zhang Shuai 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2. She is now 0-8 in matches since her US Open triumph last September. Coco Vandeweghe, an Australian and U.S. Open semifinalist last year, couldn't fight through her flu and lost in the first round to Timea Babos 7-6, 6-2. Venus Williams, last year's finalist at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and a semifinalist at the U.S. Open lost 6-3, 7-5 to Belinda Bencic, who is still on an inspiring high after pairing with Roger Federer to win the Hopman Cup for Switzerland.
Six-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic played his first tournament match since Wimbledon, with a new service motion, a sleeve on his right arm to protect his injured elbow, and new coach Radek Stepanek in the coaching box alongside Andre Agassi. He had little trouble in the first round with American Donald Young, who played helped Djokovic into the second round with poor play in a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 decision.
Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open champion, also played his first tournament match since Wimbledon and sported a nasty looking scar on his right knee from his summer surgery. The Swiss man only dropped a set in his first round win over Ricardas Berankis. Wawrinka's fellow Swiss Roger Federer, the defending champion and No. 2 seed, had little trouble with Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene winning in three sets.
Stars Old And New Decorate Roland Garros In 2017
by Rob Hemingway
Perhaps it is fitting that a tournament named after a trailblazing fighter pilot who vanquished his many adversaries should become so synonymous with Rafael Nadal, who administers the same fate to his opponents as Roland Garros did during the First World War.
After putting away Stan Wawrinka on Sunday in Paris, the Majorcan notched up yet another French Open title and achieved La Decima, his tenth grand slam victory in one event, a feat that transcends sport and is surely comparable with any other individual achievement in the modern age.
Such unparalleled dominance, the result of a unique combination of extraordinary talent, world-class coaching and insatiable drive, has been supplemented in the 2017 edition of his reign by the presence in his camp of long-time friend and influence, Carlos Moya. Analysis of Nadal's matches during these two weeks – and indeed earlier in the year – is clear evidence of subtle tweaks that have allowed him to be so successful since returning to the tour after injury. These changes, including an improved backhand and greater consistency and variety on the serve, should allow him to remain competitive even as age and physical decline gradually take their toll over the coming years.
There was enough evidence in Paris this year to suggest that the men's game will be well served even when Nadal and his "Big 5" rivals have moved on. Dominic Thiem, the 23 year-old Austrian, broke through emphatically in getting through to the semifinals, and Karen Khachanov, the 21-year old from Moscow, displayed all his emerging skills during a run to the fourth round. Further down the age range, the next big thing from the junior ranks could be Alexei Popyrin, who triumphed in the Boys Singles, becoming the first Australian to take home the title since Phil Dent in 1968. His game, modeled on Juan Martin del Potro's, could become equally as effective, given his powerful serve and varied forehand.
On the other side of the locker room, the women's event revealed a new superstar. Jelena Ostapenko, the unseeded 20-year-old Latvian, defeated the experienced Simona Halep in three sets, sparking wild celebrations at Riga's iconic Freedom Monument as the country celebrated its first ever Grand Slam champion. This was a remarkable triumph given that she went the distance in every match from the fourth round onwards, that she was a set and a break down in the final, and particularly as clay is her least favourite surface. This breakthrough should equip her with the necessary confidence to build on this win which, incredibly, was also her first ever on the women's tour.
Tournament Director Guy Forget fortunately had far fewer scheduling headaches this year than in 2016, as the weather remained dry enough to catch up on matches delayed from the first week's showers. The modernisation project at Roland Garros – provisionally approved earlier this year – cannot come soon enough however. Capacity issues still affect the site, particularly when compared to the other three Grand Slams, and the roof that will be present for this year's US Open will once again throw into focus the glacial pace of change in French Tennis' administrative corridors.
As the last of the players now start dusting down their socks, the grass of Wimbledon looms large on the horizon. All eyes will be on the returning, rejuvenated Roger Federer, whose decision to rest during the clay court swing could bear fruit as he seeks his eighth crown in south-west London. It promises to be another unmissable event in this already extraordinary 2017 season.
How Will Rafael Nadal Now Fare On British Grass?
Rafael Nadal proved to be invincible on the French clay but how will he fare on the British grass?
The freshly-crowned 10-time Roland Garros champion was to get his first taste of grass at the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club in London. The event, which runs June 19-26, is one of the most prestigious events in tennis, and the most regarded grass-court title other than Wimbledon. However, Nadal withdrew from the event two days after his win at Roland Garros, stating, "After speaking to my team and doctor, I have decided my body needs to rest if I am going to be ready to play Wimbledon."
Nadal will now have a three weeks off to rest after his ferocious run through seven straight-set wins en route to the title in Paris. The Spaniard has traditionally placed the bulk of his efforts into the clay court season, from April until June, where his productivity declines in the last six months of the year, when play is on faster services.
However, Nadal has won four career titles on grass – two at Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010, the Queen's title in 2008 and also in Stuttgart in 2015.
Success at Queens has translated into success at Wimbledon as seven different players have completed The Queen's Club-Wimbledon title double in the same year, including Nadal in 2008, and also John McEnroe (1981, '84), Jimmy Connors ('82), Boris Becker ('85), Pete Sampras ('95, '99), Lleyton Hewitt (2002) and Andy Murray (2013).
The top-ranked Murray, the defending Queens and Wimbledon champions, will be the favorite to win the title again. Last year, Murray became the first player to win five Queen's Club titles when he defeated Milos Raonic in the final.
Murray has struggled of late, but left the French Open in a positive frame of mind with a semifinal finish, falling to Stan Wawrinka in five sets, failing to put away the Swiss in a fourth-set tiebreaker that would have put him into the final in Paris for the second-straight year.
Murray will be tested by an extremely talented field that also includes Wawrinka, who has enlisted former Pete Sampras and Roger Federer coach Paul Annacone to help him with his grass-court preparations for Wimbledon, the only major tournament he hasn't won. Remember that both Federer and Sampras have won Wimbledon seven times each!
The hard-serving Raonic, who also lost in last year's Wimbledon final to Murray, will also be a contender in the Queens field as well as the talented and hot-headed Nick Kyrgios and Grigor Dimitrov, a former Wimbledon semifinalist.
Rafael Nadal – A Perfect "10" French Open Victory With No Sets Lost
by Randy Walker
It was "Perfect 10."
Rafael Nadal won his incredible 10th men's singles title at Roland Garros, without losing a set, capped with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 demolition of Stan Wawrinka in the final.
The win marked Nadal's 15th major title, moving him out of a second-place tie with Pete Sampras for most major singles titles won in a career.
Nadal lost only 35 games en route to the title – his best run to the championship in his 10 victory laps – and the fewest games lost by a major champion since Bjorn Borg lost only 32 en route to winning the 1978 French Open.
No man in the history of tennis has won more titles at a single major championship, Margaret Court being the only player to win double-digit titles at a major when she won 11 Australian singles titles.
It is interesting to note and remember that Nadal led Roger Federer by a service break in the fifth set of their Australian Open final earlier this year. Had Nadal held on to win that match and win the title Down Under, coupled with his win at Roland Garros, he would have only trailed Federer by one major singles title in the career haul 17-16. However, Federer's comeback win gave him his 18th major singles win and he now leads Nadal 18-15 as the resting Federer prepares to make an assault on an eighth Wimbledon title – and a 19th major – on the grass.
Nadal's win came 39 years to the day when Borg completed his devastating run to the French title in 1978, with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Guillermo Vilas, according to the book, ebook, audio book and mobile app "This Day In Tennis History."
It is interesting to read the words of Vilas after being pummeled by Borg and it sounds like Wawrinka talking about Nadal. "He played so well, he didn't give me any chances at all," said Vilas. "I knew if I was going to play from the baseline all the time, I was going to win more games but not the match. So I tried different tactics, but it did not work. Nothing worked."
Five Questions In Men's Tennis For 2017
by Michael Lemont
Five questions in tennis for 2017.
1- Murray/Djokovic : Who's gonna take over the leadership?
Ranked No. 1 for almost three years, Novak Djokovic has lost his throne a couple of weeks before the end of the season. After a perfect first half of the year with a sixth win at the Australian Open, another double Indian Wells/Miami, the Serb finally won the French Open, the last major missing to his trophies, achieving a Grand Slam astride two seasons. He probably needed to release some pressure afterwards and during the second half of the season, he just won one title (Toronto) while Andy Murray became almost invincible with eight titles including Wimbledon, the Olympics and the year-end ATP World Tour Finals, 78 wins in total and 24 in a row to finish the season. And no doubt that his success over Djokovic in the Masters Cup final at home in London was the best conclusion for him, knowing that he lost 13 of their last 15 meetings before that ultimate one. So what's gonna be Novak's reaction in 2017? Will he be able to come back to the top? Can Murray stay number one for a little while?
2- Federer/Nadal : Can the Big Four be reunited?
The Big Four fell apart this year. After two semis at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, Roger Federer withdrew for the rest of the season due to his back injury. He also had to retire from the French Open earlier one, first time since 1999 that he missed a major. And for the first time since 2002, he finished a season out of the Top 10 (16th). Rafael Nadal was not luckier in 2016. He was victim of a wrist injury in spring and he had to retire from Roland Garros, for the first time, after the second round. He came back for the Olympics (gold in double, semi in single) but it was too premature and after a disappointing US Open, he withdrew for the rest of the season. Ranked No. 9, it is his worst ranking since 2005. It's also the first time that none of them is in the Top 4 since 2003. However, they both claimed that they will come back stronger for the opening season. They will turn 36 and 31 years old in 2017. Will they reach the top 4 again? Will they be able to be consistent enough all over the season?
3- Del Potro : Can he come back to the top again ?
After 4 wrist surgery and few years off-court since his first and last success in a major (US Open 2009), Juan Martin del Potro is trying another come back. Ranked No. 1,042 in February, he finished the season No. 38. With some astonishing wins this year over some top players (Wawrinka in Wimbledon, Djokovic and Nadal at the Olympics, Murray in the Davis Cup), he proved himself that without any injuries he will be able to reach the Top 10 again and much more. Beside the Big Four, he is the only player with Stanislas Wawrinka and Marin Cilic to have won a Grand Slam in the last 12 years. Silver medalist in Rio, he just led the Argentina team to his first Davis Cup trophy, becoming a hero in his country. No doubt that he will be one the players to follow during the upcoming season.
4- The "teen generation" … What's next?
Because the tennis becomes more and more powerful and physical, it is hard today for the players to break through at an early age. The last teenagers to be part of the Top 10 were Rafael Nadal in 2005 and Lleyton Hewitt in 2000. Players play longer and reach their best level later than before. The top 100 and top 10 had never been so old in the last few years. But after the 85-86 generation, the 95-96 one is now ready to reverse the trend. For the first time since 2008, the Top 10 is getting younger again (mostly because Roger Federer left it in 2016). The leader of that new generation is Nick Kyrgios, 21 years old and already ranked No. 13 at the ATP. He is one of the only six players that has beaten at least six Top 10 players during the season. He might need to become more mature and professional in order to claim big victories in a very close future. Alexander Zverev (19yo, 24th, one title in St-Petersburg), Borna Coric (20yo, 48th, 2 finals in Chennai and Marrakech) and Taylor Fritz (19yo, 77th, one final in Memphis) are at least as promising. Around the Top 100, Yoshihito Nishioka, Hyeon Chung, Jared Donaldson, Frances Tiafoe and Andrey Rublev are other names to focus on and to follow for the next seasons.
5 – What about the others?
With three wins in three different majors in the last three years, Stanislas Wawrinka will be one of the most serious contenders to the Big Four once again. However, his lack of consistency will not make him a pretender to the No. 1 status. Alongside him, the old generation will still be there with Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer, Marin Cilic and the Frenchmen. Gael Monfils, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet will try to become the first french players to win a Major since Yannick Noah in 1983. In the meantime the middle generation never seemed to be that strong. Milos Raonic (3rd), Key Nishikori (5th), Dominic Thiem (8th) and David Goffin (11th) looked mature enough to compete with the Big Four. Grigor Dimitrov, Bernard Tomic and Lucas Pouille can also have ambitious goals for 2017.
Hopefully all those players are gonna make this upcoming season a great one, full of records, emotions and suspense.
Stan Wawrinka Beats Novak Djokovic For U.S. Open Title To Win Third Major
by Kevin Craig
Stan Wawrinka won his third major title on Sunday at the US Open as he defeated Novak Djokovic in four entertaining sets, 6-7(1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.
Wawrinka, who was match point down in his third round match against Dan Evans, has now won the 2014 Australian Open, the 2015 French Open, and the 2016 US Open and has equaled Andy Murray's number of major titles at three. Wawrinka is now just one title at Wimbledon away from completing the career grand slam.
"I don't know what's happening right now," said Wawrinka, who has now won his last 11 finals in a row, in his post-match on-court interview. "I've been practicing hard since many million years. My goal is to give everything I have to be the best player I can…that's what happened tonight."
The first set really set the tone for the duration of the match as the two great friends and warriors battled for an hour to see who could take the early lead. As Djokovic battled back from 40-15 to break Wawrinka in his first service game of the match, eventually taking a 3-0 lead, it looked like the Suisse had not come to play.
Djokovic, though, had referred to Wawrinka many times before the match as a big-match player, and that is exactly what the No. 3 seed proved to be as he was able to fight off three break points later in the set, two of which were set points, and broke the Serb when he served for the set, eventually forcing a tiebreak.
In that first set tiebreak, it was all Djokovic as he didn't let the thought of him getting broken while serving for the set get to him. The No. 1 player in the world was able to breeze to a 7-1 win, putting himself within two sets of his 13th major title.
The second set saw Wawrinka, who hit 46 winners in the match, begin to settle down and start effectively playing his aggressive style of tennis, earning a break in the early stages for a 4-1 lead. Djokovic would be able to break the Suisse later in the set and got it back to 4-4, but when he served at 4-5, Wawrinka was able to assert himself in the match again and break to even up the match at one-set-all.
In a third set that lasted almost 80 minutes, Wawrinka fought off three break points in the opening game before breaking Djokovic for a 2-0 lead. He would save another break point in the next game to go up 3-0, but the pressure from Djokovic on Wawrinka's serve finally paid off as he broke the Suisse on his sixth chance of the set to get back on serve.
It would remain that way as neither player saw a break point until Wawrinka did so in the 12th game. After Djokovic had missed out on a game point to force a third set tiebreak, he would proceed to lose the next two points, as well as his service game and the set, allowing Wawrinka to go up two sets to one.
Djokovic, who won just three of the 17 break points that he had in the match, began dealing with a toe injury early in the fourth set, allowing the No. 3 player in the world to race out to a 3-0 lead. After fighting off a break point to hold for 1-3, Djokovic took a medical timeout before Wawrinka went to serve, an action that did not please the Suisse.
The short break required for Djokovic's toe injury almost got into Wawrinka's head too much as he had to fight off three break points in the next game to hold for 4-1. From there, it was straightforward for Wawrinka as he would go on to hold in a deuce game to close out the match and the championship, earning himself his third major title.
"This is honestly amazing. I came here without expecting, without having the goal to win…There was so much emotion. This is something that I never had before," said Wawrinka.
Wawrinka's three major titles go along with his gold medal from the 2008 Olympics in doubles and his 2014 Davis Cup title, adding up to what has been a very decorated career for someone who had to perform in the shadow of one of the greatest players of all time for the majority of his career in Roger Federer.
The US Open title makes Wawrinka the only active player to have won multiple major titles after turning 30-years old.
Despite the disappointment for Djokovic, who is still having a stellar year slightly under the radar, which seems absurd to say, he remained humble in defeat.
"This has been absolutely deserved. You were the more courageous player in the decisive moments," Djokovic said to Wawrinka. "He was the tougher player, he knew what to do."
The praise from Djokovic did not go unnoticed by Wawrinka, who made sure to return the gesture.
"We know each other for many, many years. Because of you, I'm where I am today," said Wawrinka to Djokovic, citing the No. 1 player in the world as his inspiration throughout the past few years.
Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka Advance Into U.S. Open Men's Final
by Kevin Craig
Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka set up an epic matchup in the final of the US Open that will take place on Sunday as they both won their semifinals on Friday in four sets.
Djokovic and Wawrinka have had many great battles throughout the course of their career, including the 2015 French Open final which Wawrinka won in four sets.
Djokovic, who will play in his seventh US Open final after winning the first semifinal of the day, took out Gael Monfils in what was one of the stranger matches of 2016.
"It was a tough one to be part of…I'm just very glad to overcome that," said Djokovic. "I think he actually played the best tennis of his life on hard courts this season…so it was a good win for me today."
Monfils, who had come into the semifinal stage without dropping a set, looked to be completely out of sorts in the opening set against the No. 1 player in the world.
After quickly finding himself down 5-0 after 16 minutes, Monfils appeared to try to change up his strategy to a method that looked like complete indifference. The Frenchman began to give minimal effort in the majority of points at the end of the first set, but the crazy part is that it actually worked. Monfils was able to roll off three games in a row before Djokovic finally closed out the set.
"I tried to get in his head…I'm just embracing the fact the guy is too good for me, and I try to switch strategy…Is not academic, but I try to win. I think I'm gutsy to try that, you know, against the world No. 1," said Monfils, who hit 11 aces, but also 11 double faults.
The No. 10 seed looked to keep that same strategy going in the second set, but it stopped working. Djokovic figured out how to work around the listless Monfils and breezed to a two-sets lead, but not before boos aimed at the Frenchman rang out around Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The jeers started as Monfils, who faced 20 break points in the match, prepared to serve down set point. He proceeded to ask the crowd to get louder, sarcastically, before hitting double fault to give Djokovic the second set. That was followed by louder jeers, and Monfils looked like he may have received the wake-up call he needed.
After dropping serve to open up the third set, Monfils would roar back and look like he was the one who had been in charge of the entire match, breaking Djokovic twice before fighting back from a 0-40 hole while serving for the set to hold.
"I should not have allowed him to come back into the match after two sets to love up and 2-0 in the third, that was the momentum shift," said Djokovic. "He started believing in himself and the crowd…was behind him. They wanted to see the long match."
Monfils appeared to have returned to the form that got him to the semifinals, but more importantly he was able to get the crowd back on his side. The fourth set, though, would once again be controlled by Djokovic.
After an early exchange of breaks, the Serb would break Monfils twice more to close out the win and earn his spot in the final.
"It was a strange match, as it always is when you play Gael, who is very unpredictable player," said Djokovic. "I was completely caught off guard when he just stood there and chipped the ball back and didn't do much."
While Djokovic was able to start scouting his next opponent and prepare for the final, Monfils had to answer to criticism from the press, namely John McEnroe, who was not shy in calling out the Frenchman for his performance in the first two sets.
"I'm very sad to learn that such a legend criticize me, because…I want to be the best. It's tough. I try my best," said Monfils, who hit 52 unforced errors. "I'm sorry if you think I'm unprofessional, but I'm working. I'm learning. I think I'm failing, for sure, a lot, but I try to stand up…because when he calls me unprofessional, he calls…all my team, actually, unprofessional."
In what was a much tighter and more entertaining second semifinal, Wawrinka was able to defeat Kei Nishikori in four sets after being down a set and a break.
"I knew it would be really tough…I'm really happy. It was an amazing atmosphere again. To tell myself that I'm going to be in the final, it's something crazy," said Wawrinka.
The Suisse will now play in his third major final and he is looking to keep his record in major finals perfect. He has won the only two that he has played in as he defeated Rafael Nadal in the 2014 Australian Open final, as well as the aforementioned triumph over Djokovic at the 2015 French Open.
"I'm really excited. I'm really happy. I want to enjoy that moment. I've watched the final so many times here," said Wawrinka, who will finally get to play in the US Open final for the first time.
After a straightforward first set in which Nishikori controlled and took advantage of the only break point of the set, Wawrinka was able to battle back from a break down in the second.
The Suisse lost his serve in the opening game of the set before breaking back a couple games later. The pressure continued though as Wawrinka saved six more break points in the set before breaking Nishikori in the 12th game of the set to level the match.
Set No. 3 saw Wawrinka continue to play well as he was able to break Nishikori twice. Just like the second set, the Suisse was able to break in the final game to close it out, this time giving himself a two-sets-to-one lead.
In the fourth set, almost everything went the way of the Suisse as he was able to break three times and ease his way into the US Open final.
There will be no secrets between Djokovic and Wawrinka on Sunday as they have played each other 12 times since 2012, as well as six times in majors. While Djokovic leads the career head-to-head record 21-4, no one will be able to predict what will happen in the final.
"Amazing Sensation" For Juan Martin del Potro In Wimbledon Upset Of Stan Wawrinka
by Kevin Craig
Juan Martin del Potro continued his impressive run at Wimbledon on Friday, knocking out the No. 4 seed and two-time major champion Stan Wawrinka, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3, to enter the third round.
"I feel alive," said del Potro after his impressive win.
Del Potro, the former world No. 4 and 2009 US Open champion, used a protected ranking to get into the main draw due to the various wrist injuries and procedures he has dealt with over the past few years.
Three separate left wrist operations left the Argentine out of the major tournaments for the past two years, but he has returned with a vengeance and looks like he is already reclaiming that status as a perennial threat to win major titles.
"It's an amazing sensation for me. I was so happy on court," said del Potro, who will take on the No. 32 seed Lucas Pouille of France in the third round.
Del Potro, currently ranked No. 165, got off to a shaky start, allowing Wawrinka to break in just his second service game of the match for a 3-1 lead. The first set was straightforward from there as both players looked to gain confidence throughout, especially del Potro, who was able to have a look at two break points when Wawrinka served for the set, but could not capitalize on them.
The 2009 US Open champion carried that momentum over into the second set, breaking Wawrinka at the same stage that the Suisse broke him in the first set, in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead. Wawrinka pressured del Potro late in the set, but the Argentine held his nerve to level the match at one-set all.
The third set saw an early exchange of breaks as del Potro broke first for a 2-1 lead but fell into a 0-40 hole in his next service game and was unable to battle back, getting broken at 15. Neither player had any chances on return as the set needed a tiebreak to be decided. From 2-2, del Potro reeled off four points in a row for a 6-2 lead and didn't look back, putting himself just one win away from his biggest win since October of 2013 when he was ranked No. 5 and beat then No. 1 Rafael Nadal in Shanghai.
Each player had their chances in the fourth set, but del Potro was the one capitalizing on big points. After forcing Wawrinka to deuce in two of his first three service games of the set, del Potro earned a break point late and converted it to take a 5-3 lead. There were no issues for the Argentine in serving out the match as he held to 15 for the win.
"I'm enjoying tennis again. I don't know if I can be in the top positions again, but if not, I will be happy just to be playing tennis again," said an emotional del Potro.
Looking forward to his third round encounter with Pouille, del Potro said "I don't know if I will be tired or not because I just finished my biggest match after my comeback, but I will try to be ready for that challenge."
With the top two seeded players, Wawrinka and Dominic Thiem, out of their section of the draw, Pouille and del Potro will be looking to continue their journeys at Wimbledon and take advantage of an opened up portion of the draw.
Andy Murray Ends Stan Wawrinka's Roland Garros Reign
by Kevin Craig
Andy Murray dethroned the defending French Open champion Stan Wawrinka on Friday with a 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 win.
Murray, who became the first player from Great Britain to reach the French Open in 79 years after Bunny Austin did so in 1937, played an almost perfect match as he reached his first French Open final and his 10th major final overall.
"I played one of my best matches here today," said Murray in his post-match interview on court.
The No. 2 seed Murray, who had to battle from a two sets to love deficit in the first round against Radek Stepanek and a two sets to one deficit to a French wild card in the second round, has been able to gain confidence throughout his run to the final and return to the form that saw him win the title in Rome just before the French Open began.
That form from Murray was at peak levels on Friday against a player who reached his own peak levels of form in the French Open final in 2015 as Wawrinka put on a masterclass performance to snatch the title and the calendar grand slam from Novak Djokovic last year.
When Wawrinka, who was on a 12-match win streak at Roland Garros, held at love and forced Murray to take 11 minutes to hold his first service game, it looked like things may very well be in the favor of the Suisse in the early stages. This may not have been surprising at all to fans of Wawrinka as he had won his last three matches against Murray and had never lost a set to him on clay.
That feeling quickly changed though as Murray was able to save a break point before breaking Wawrinka in the next game, eventually leading 3-1.
The rest of the set was pretty straight forward until Murray served to close out the set as he was forced to fend off three break points before taking the one set lead.
It was all Murray in the second set as he broke Wawrinka at love for a 2-1 lead before breaking again two games later, eventually closing out the set 6-2, losing just three points on serve in the set that lasted only 27 minutes.
Murray continued to roll on serve in the third set, holding at love in his first three service games. The problem for the Brit was he was unable to convert the one break point he saw in the set, and Wawrinka was able to take advantage of the first poor service game Murray played since the beginning of the match, fighting back from 40-15 and winning four points in a row to break and win the set.
Wawrinka stealing the third set just delayed the inevitable as Murray's roll went right over that minor speed bump as he was able to break in the first game of the fourth set. Murray had zero trouble on serve in the fourth set, losing just four points in four games, including a hold at love to close out the match and clinch his spot in the final.
"Stan has been unbelievable the last two years. I've played one of my best matches today…I'm just really proud. I never expected to reach the final here…Hopefully I can put up a good match in the final," said Murray.
Murray's impressive fitness level and ability to hit effective groundstrokes from anywhere on the court were on full display, as he looks like he can pose a very dangerous threat to Djokovic in this year's final.
Defending Champ Wawrinka Evades First-Round Upset At Roland Garros
by Kevin Craig
Defending champion Stan Wawrinka survived a major scare on Monday at the French Open as he withstood a tremendous effort from Lukas Rosol and won in five sets, 4-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Rosol, the No. 59 player in the world from the Czech Republic, got off to a quick start in the first set as he broke Wawrinka for a 3-2 lead, but Wawrinka continued to battle despite going down a break as he took Rosol to deuce in two of his last three service games. The Czech stood strong and was able to close out the set, though, as he reminded tennis fans around the world that he is able to take out major champions, bringing back memories of his upset win over Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2012.
Rosol continued playing well early in the second set as his go-for-broke game plan was working out, but the two-time grand slam champion found something that clicked in the latter stages of the set and he forced Rosol into making a few more errors, earning himself two breaks and only losing two points in his last three service games to level the match at one set all.
After leveling the match, many would have thought Wawrinka would be able to cruise to victory, but Rosol did not go away and actually broke the No. 3 seed in his first service game of the third set. Just like in the first set, Rosol was able to keep his composure throughout and didn't allow Wawrinka to earn a single break point as he regained a lead and was one set away from pulling off a major upset.
Despite dropping the third set, that is where Wawrinka believed the tides turned in his favor. "In the middle of the third set, I calmed down…I was trying to be really tough with him, and eventually that's what made the difference," said Wawrinka.
That difference was clearly felt in the fourth set as Wawrinka forced Rosol to play one bad service game at 3-4 that allowed Wawrinka to break at love and go on to serve out the set to force a decider.
Wawrinka was all business in the fifth set as he broke Rosol for a 2-1 lead and only lost six points on serve as he had no problems closing out the match and earning his spot in the second round, where he will take on Taro Daniel of Japan.
Wawrinka was in danger of becoming the first French Open men's defending champion to lose in the first round, but he was able to fight off one of Rosol's better performances of his career.
Another major champion in action on Monday did not have the same luck that Wawrinka did, as Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion, lost in the first round to the No. 166 player in the world, Marco Trungelliti, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Trungelliti, a 26-year old from Argentina, got into the main draw after winning three qualifying matches, and earned his second win at a major after he also won a match at the Australian Open this year.
Cilic, the No. 10 seed in the event, went down a break early in the first set but appeared to work his way back to the match as he broke Trungelliti when the Argentine served for the first set. The lesser-experienced Trungelliti was surpringly able to keep his composure and saved three set points at 5-6 to force a tiebreak, which he was able to win 7-4 and stun Cilic.
Cilic went down a break early in the second set as he was broken in his first service game, but came back to break Trungelliti three times and looked like he had finally killed off the spirited upset bid from the Argentine.
That was far from the case, though, as Trungelliti continued to fight. Cilic went up a break late in the third set for a 4-2 lead, but was unable to consolidate as Trungelliti broke right back and ended up winning four games in a row to close out the set at 6-4, putting himself just one set away from what would be the biggest win of his career, by far.
Roles were reversed in the fourth set as Trungelliti looked like the major champion, breaking Cilic twice and not allowing the Croatian to see a single break point in the set, as not a single sign of nerves was shown. The Argentine closed out the four-set win emphatically with an ace, and booked a spot in the second round where he has a great opportunity to continue his run and make the third round, as he will take on Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain.
Trungelliti, who has never won a title above the Futures level, increased his best win by ranking by 61 spots after beating the No. 11 player in the world in Cilic. His previous best win came over Leonardo Mayer when he was ranked No. 72 in the world.


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published in Achieving Your Dreams, Assumptions, Change, Courage, Dreams/Goals, Entrepreneurs, Inspiration, Self Worth by Maryanne | September 20, 2017 | 4 Comments
You Got This – Frocking Off What's Holding Us Back
"A frock is simply an attitude or limiting belief that is holding you back. All frocks are based in fear."
– Jo Dibblee, Founder of Frock Off Inc
Frocking Off is Hard to Do…Actually, Not Really
Remember that old song, "Breakin' Up is Hard To Do," by Neil Sedaka?
"Don't you leave my heart in misery
'Cause if you go, then I'll be blue
Breakin' up is hard to do"
Sometimes it's not just a person we may need to break up with. Sometimes it can be a limiting belief or negative attitude that REALLY needs to be given the old heave-ho.
But guess what? When we do finally muster up the courage to identify, and then shed, a ridiculous (but oh-so-deeply-rooted) belief or lousy attitude that is no longer serving us, our heart is NOT left in misery. Rather, our heart is lighter…leaving us more free to soar without our beloved frocks of armour holding us down.
On Sept 15 & 16 I attended the Best Kept Secret to Success in Life, Love and Business event in Sylvan Lake, Alberta – a "Frock-olicious Life Series Event." I was one of the speakers.
I spoke about courage…about not waiting for tragedy to wake us up to the importance of achieving our dreams, about having the courage to make difficult decisions when we know we need to make them, about how courage can be contagious so although we may not always be able to tap into our own courage, we can borrow from the courage of others to help us do what we need to do.
Throughout the jam-packed two days, we all had the opportunity to learn an awful lot of valuable information – about business, life and love – and connect with a roomful of brilliant women.
I took THIRTY pages of handwritten notes!
For today's blog, I was going to share a few key messages from all the speakers – but there is too much fabulous content to share, so I'm breaking it down into several bite-sized blogs.
To start off, here are some sage insights from the first speaker, Jo Dibblee, the Founder of Frock Off Inc and author of the book, Frock Off; Living Undisguised:
"I am the lowest common denominator in all my relationships."
"In business, everything is do-able but you have to have a plan."
"Take what you need and leave the rest."
"If you don't have the mindset of success, it is extremely difficult to succeed."
"We cannot solve the problem we helped create."
"Stand ON your story – not in it."
"The things you don't need, leave them behind."
"We have to determine whether we are committed or merely interested."
"Know your WHY."
"Every step leads you to where you are supposed to be."
"May your life speak more loudly than your lips."
"If something is bothering us, we have to deal with it because if we don't, it spills over onto everything else in our lives. We need to get the issue out of our head, put it on the table and deal with it."
"A frock is simply an attitude or limiting belief that is holding you back. All frocks are based in fear."
"A frock can be based on the need to conform, or they can have to do with expectations placed upon ourselves or by others, or have to do with our worthiness."
"What frock do YOU need to shed?"
This gem was from Jo's young grandson: "Are we just shadows waiting to be seen?"
And the comment that resonated the most with me…
"You got this."
Simple, yes. But a powerful reminder that whatever it is we are struggling with – in life, love and/or business – we CAN deal with it…when we find the courage to face it.
Next Best Kept Secret to Success Event coming up in Phoenix, AZ in October
If you are interested in attending a Best Kept Secret to Success Event, the next one is in PHOENIX on Oct 13 & 14. If you are an entrepreneur or thinking about starting your own business OR simply ready to make a significant change in your life, I highly recommend attending a BKSS event.
Related Blogs by Maryanne
Courage is Contagious – the Power of Story
Maryanne Pope is the author of A Widow's Awakening, the playwright of Saviour and the screenwriter of God's Country. Maryanne is CEO of Pink Gazelle Productions and Chair of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund. If you would like to receive her regular weekly blog, please sign up here. As a thank you, you'll receive a short but saucy e-book entitled, Dive into this Chicago Deep Dish – Ten Bite-Sized Steps for a Yummier Slice of Life.
published in Entrepreneurs, Marketing for small business, Small Business, Social Media, Writing by Maryanne | October 15, 2015 | No Comment
6 Tricks to Get More Marketing Mileage Out of Your Blogs
If you blog on a regular – or not so regular – basis for the primary purpose of marketing a business, product, message or service, are you getting the maximum mileage out of your blogs?
I am a writer (not a social media or marketing expert but boy, am I learning a lot) and as much as I love writing blogs – and do so on a weekly basis – I don't write them particularly fast.
As such, I try to make sure that for the blogs I do write, I get the maximum mileage out of them…the most bang for my buck, if you will, because time is money.
So when I take the time to write and post a blog on my company website, I want that blog to find its way to as many readers as possible.
But I'll tell you this for free (although, trust me, the lesson was expensive): if I just simply post that blog, then walk away and pray to the Google Search Engine Gods to send readers to my site, I will be waiting a very long time. I still have much to learn about SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
In the meantime, here's what I do:
1. I take the time to write a decent blog (750 words max), which usually takes me three 30-minute writing sessions to get from idea to rough draft to edit and polish.
The time in between those three writing sessions (usually a day) does wonders to ensure the finished blog is clear and concise. Plus this way the writing process is, for me, more enjoyable.
2. Then I post it the blog on my company website.
3. Then I put the link to that particular blog into one (or more) of my company's e-mail campaigns. These e-mails go out to people who have specifically subscribed to receive them (i.e. not only have they given us permission to e-mail them on a regular basis, they actually want to hear from us).
4. We then go to town on social media (we use Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn) to share the blog's url link. Why we do this is obvious; HOW we do it is what matters…and that's where having some sort of strategy in essential. But more on that in an upcoming blog 🙂
5. Depending on the subject matter of the blog, we will also often e-mail, or tweet directly to, one of our strategic partners whose readers/followers could benefit from the messages in that particular blog – to let them know about the new blog and invite them to post it on their website and/or share with their social media network.
6. Then I revise that blog and submit an updated version of it to ezinearticles.com. When approved, they publish it on their website – but the bio at the bottom, of course, directs readers back to my company's site.
Here's a specific example of the trajectory of a blog:
I am the author of a book, entitled A Widow's Awakening. One of the target markets for this book are people who are grieving the loss of a loved one – or supporting someone who is.
So one way for me to reach this "grief" market is to write blogs that offer people tangible tips, based on my personal experience, about healthy ways to grieve (unfortunately, on this subject matter I am a bit of an expert).
So, following the same steps as outlined above:
1. I wrote a grief-related blog entitled, Coincidence or Connection – How Grief Can Awaken Our Capacity to Notice Connections Between Seemingly Unrelated Events.
2. I posted it on my company blog, The Watering Hole.
3. I sent it out to the e-mail subscribers in my company e-zine.
4. Then we sent the link out via social media, including tweeting about it on the A Widow's Awakening Twitter account.
5. We also submitted the blog to a relevant organization (whose readers would find it interest and use) and then they posted the blog on their website: Widowed.ca.
6. Then we tweaked the blog (to meet the submission guidelines) and submitted it to e-zinearticles.com, where it was published.
I hope you find this information of use in getting more mileage out of your own blogs…and more bang for your writing buck!
Related blogs by Maryanne:
Social Media Marketing Tips for Frustrated Small Business Owners
Psst…Might Sharing be the Secret to Social Media?
Smooth Sharing on Social Media – How Easy is to SHARE Your Blog or E-zine?
Related Upcoming E-mail Campaigns:
If you would like to sign up for our upcoming e-mail campaign, Social Media Marketing Tips for Small Business, please send us an e-mail (with the subject heading: "Social Media e-mail campaign subscription") and we'll put your name on the list to receive the weekly blogs.
Likewise, we will also be starting an A Widow's Awakening blog series entitled, Lessons Learned from Life, Love, Loss and Liberty. If you would like to sign up to receive these weekly blogs, just shoot us an e-mail (with the subject heading: "AWA e-mail campaign subscription").
Maryanne Pope is the author of A Widow's Awakening, the playwright of Saviour and the screenwriter of God's Country. Maryanne is the CEO of Pink Gazelle Productions and the Chair of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund. If you would like to receive Maryanne's weekly blog, please sign up here.
published in Entrepreneurs, Marketing for small business, Social Media by Maryanne | December 7, 2013 | 9 Comments
Psst…Might Sharing be the Secret of Social Media Marketing?
"The best way to be an interesting person is to be interested in others."
– Jordan Keats
When I heard Jordan, our instructor in the Social Media for Small Business class at Royal Roads, casually state the above sentence a few weeks back, my little gazelle ears perked up. I know a truth when I hear it – and that was one.
It is also, I am learning, a very effective way to use social media as a marketing tool.
The catch, of course, is that you have to actually BE interested in other people's ideas and messages versus pretending to be interested.
Mind you, feigned interest is a slight step up from NO interest, which I suspect is the norm more often than we care to admit. Because let's face it, social media can be a very me-centered medium in a very me-centered society. Look at MY photo! Read MY blog! Buy MY book! Hire ME! Watch MY video!
If you want people to share your content via social media, you must be willing to share theirs.
As such, I am taking Jordan's advice and actively looking at what other people have to offer – and then sharing what I'm learning…but not because I want other people to see me as a person who shares/plays well in the sandbox with others. As tempting as that might be, it's not an authentic reason for sharing – and one can spot a fake a mile away.
"Leaders who set out to give are more productive than leaders who seek to get…and the intent of the leader matters. The tribe can sniff out why someone is asking for their attention."
– Seth Godin, Tribes
Rather, I am sharing other people's content because someone else might find it of use or interest. And how do I determine whether content is share-worthy? Simple: if it has value to me, I will pass it on to like-minded peeps.
And get this: an added benefit of my efforts is that, in the past few weeks, I have learned more useful information about a wide variety of subjects, including social media, from reading other people's blogs and articles than I have in the past year! By thinking I was "too busy" to take a few minutes a day to learn some new ideas and perspectives, I shot myself in the foot by choosing to remain ignorant on matters that would help me with my business.
That's lovely…BUT how, pray tell, will all this lead to SALES?
Good question! And the answer is this: another significant benefit to sharing other people's content through social media is that by doing so, you are joining – or creating – and perhaps eventually leading a tribe of people who share similar interests. You are becoming part of a network of people you can do business with.
In other words, you are finding – or creating – your market.
"The Law of Income: You will be paid in direct proportion to the value you deliver according to the marketplace."
– T. Harv Eker, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind
So if the value you can deliver to the marketplace is not just your products, services and ideas but other people's as well, you will vastly increase your capacity to earn money from your own products, services and ideas. Why? Because a) the value YOU deliver to the marketplace has increased exponentially and b) the number of people you are connecting with BY HELPING THEM has increased exponentially…and therefore so will your income. No – it won't happen overnight. But if you are building a business that is meant to last, it will happen.
Here Are 6 Ways You Can Help Others Through Social Media:
1. Endorse people on LinkedIn
– Only if you know the person and can attest to their particular skill or experience.
2. Share another person's LinkedIn post
– If you deem the content valuable
– Don't overdo it (says I, from experience)
– Don't join every group in your industry and then proceed to share the same link in every group! A friend of mine told me how annoying it is to have to scroll through twenty of the exact same posts on her LinkedIn page.
3. Retweet other people's tweets
– Again, don't overdo it…we're looking for quality here not quantity
– Be genuine: take the time to read the quote, blog, article, etc first
4. Share other people's Facebook posts
– Be honest: only share someone else's FB posts if you genuinely think it a useful blog, cute photo, good story, helpful tip, inspirational quote, etc
5. Comment on other people's blogs
– Don't just read them; let the person know you've read them by leaving a brief but insightful bit of feedback. This could come back to you ten-fold because the chances increase significantly that the person will return the favour down the road.
6. Send tweets, or even write the occasional blog, that refers readers to other people's products, services and ideas
– Choose people/businesses you know and trust – and in whose services, products and/or ideas you believe in. You will be amazed at how mutually beneficial this can be 🙂
So how much time should you spend sharing other people's content on social media?
"Effectiveness – often even survival – does not depend solely on how much effort we expend, but on whether or not the effort we expend is in the right jungle."
— Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
If you are learning valuable knowledge that is of use and interest to you and your business, then sharing it with other people who are also in your jungle – your tribe – is probably not, within reason, a waste of time.
Obviously, however, you have to first have a clear sense of what you are trying to achieve with your company and WHY it matters. Then you can use that as a guide to determine a) how much time you should be spending sharing other people's content and b) what content to share.
For me, I am spending approximately 1/2 hour a day, three times a week sharing other people's content through social media.
As for creating your own content to share through social media channels? Well, that's a whole other blog topic…or two or three. So stay tuned!
Related blogs by Maryanne:
Social Media Marketing Tips for Frustrated Small Business Owners
Smooth Sharing on Social Media – How Easy is it to SHARE your Blog or E-zine?
6 Tricks to Getting More Marketing Mileage Out of Your Blogs
Maryanne Pope is the author of A Widow's Awakening and the upcoming book, Barrier Removed; A Tough Love Guide to Achieving Your Dreams. Maryanne also writes screenplays and play scripts, including the play, Saviour. Maryanne is the CEO of Pink Gazelle Productions Inc and the Chair of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund.


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Be Responsible. Be Respectful.
Learn More About Consuming Cannabis
For problems with addiction or if you want help to quit your marijuana use, click here or call the Substance Abuse Service Helpline (SASH) at 844-804-7500 for services that can help.
You can also click here for Marijuana Anonymous, a twelve-step program for people with a desire to stop using marijuana.


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I picked up this neon pink upholstered ottoman from Target, deeply discounted at $5. I figured no one else had bought it because it was blindingly pink – but it's a very useful piece of furniture: A seat, storage and softness all in one. Perfect for our playroom!
I thought I would be able to easily bleach the neon pink into a softer shade, but after spending two days in a bucket of bleach it emerged cleaner and brighter than ever! I would have to get crafty.
So I grabbed a leftover piece of fabric from my stockpile (a friend once told me that women stash fabric scraps, the way men hoard pieces of wood – all of us believing they will be useful at some point!)
I cut it into a circle (OK! not quite a circle. Not even close.)
And used a staple gun to secure it all the way around. Then I trimmed off the excess fabric and made the edges nice and neat. All of this took around 10 minutes and I have to say was extremely satisfying!
Job done! High fives all round.
And then because it was so easy I decided to whip up some matching pillows out of the leftover fabric, using iron-on tape and some stuffing out of an old throw pillow. That part wasn't quite as easy or satisfying as using a staple gun, but not too hard.
Now the playroom looks a little more like it has a theme and it's not just a room full of toys and junk. Yay!


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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump signed a revised government order on Monday banning citizens from six Muslim-majority nations from traveling to the United States but removing Iraq from the checklist, after his controversial first attempt was blocked in the courts. Nonetheless, there are additionally travel businesses that specialize strictly in enterprise and commercial travel. From complete travel arrangements to attraction tickets, multilingual tour guides, comfy lodging, we work with you and your budget to ensure you get essentially the most pleasure out of your cash. Wayne & Pat Dunlap have a sincere want to share with others how they'll have a life-altering world travel experience.
We additionally offers the white label website solutions , b2b and b2c software program options to the travel firms. Surface to floor gentle weight sleek cabriolets are also well-liked among travelers. This plan provides insurance coverage that solely applies during the coated trip. Many times a travel company will match or beat someone else's greatest deal, and even offer some bonuses, simply to get your enterprise.
An anti-theft laptop computer travel bag is a must have for girls who should travel steadily and that too with their laptops. If you are required to have certain vaccinations within the country you're traveling to, ensure you have the certificate verifying you may have been vaccinated. If traveling to cold weather, convey smaller garments to create layers rather than big, area-consuming coats and sweaters.
In line with the Family Travel Community well over a hundred million vacations per yr embrace children. She is always placing a singular perspective on her travel photos and visiting superb locations. Google additionally says that cellular eBookings are on the upward climb, especially in the travel industry. Within the event you are not acquainted with Skype or Hostelworld, it is advisable to get familiar right here actual quick, as a result of these are two services which might be completely indispensable with regard to travelers everywhere.
Thus, Morocco is considered one of many world's most enthralling countries for travelers and backpackers. A word of caution for the company and the employer engaging them in travel brochure writing is that the pictures and texts displayed in them should not create any misleading impression. The Associated Press, citing unidentified U.S. officials, reported late on Tuesday that the brand new order will remove Iraq from the listing of countries whose residents face a brief travel ban.


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We have the March 2018 Pupjoy Box Unboxing today! Not only that, we are also giving away five Pupjoy boxes so that one of your pets can enjoy this as well! The giveaway is down at the bottom of the page. We want to thank Pupjoy for sending us these boxes each month for our…Read more
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Recent Posts by gonetothesnowdogs
DIY Beef Stew Kong for Dogs
Today we are making Beef Stew for Dogs as a Kong Filler recipe! You guys have been asking us to do more Kong treat filler recipes so I figured this would be a fun one! Kong toys are a great way to keep your dogs entertained, and to get them to exercise their brains on…Read more
Homemade Meatballs for Dogs
Homemade Meatballs for Dogs! Today we are showing you how to make homemade meatballs for dogs. Who doesn't love a good homemade meatball? I know I do, and so to the dogs! This easy DIY Dog Treat recipe will have your dogs happy as can be! Homemade Meatballs for Dogs Ingredients 1 pound lean ground…Read more
DIY Christmas Cookies for Dogs
Time for another Easy Dog Treat Recipe! These DIY Christmas Cookies for Dogs are a simple dog treat recipe that you can easily make while baking other Christmas treats! Don't leave your dog out this holiday! Make these DIY Peppermint Christmas Tree Cookies for dogs! Homemade Dog Treats also make great gifts for friends and…Read more
Christmas Tree Frappuccino For Dogs
DIY Christmas Tree Frappuccino For Dogs ! It's time for a new DIY Dog Treats video and we thought, since the new Starbucks Christmas Tree Frappuccino was so popular that we would make a dog friendly version! The Christmas Tree Puppuccino you could say! This easy homemade frozen dog treat snack is easy to make, fun…Read more
Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs DIY Dog Treats
Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs, Diy Dog treats time! Thanksgiving is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate then by making Thanksgiving dinner for your dog. These Turkey Dog Treats have all the classic Thanksgiving foods baked right in them! Thanksgiving dog treats are easy and fun to make,…Read more
DIY APPLE PIE FOR DOGS Apple Season is here! DIY Apple Pie for Dogs time! This is a no sugar added apple pie recipe that is not only fun for your dogs, but you can eat it as well! How to make apple pie in a fun, easy way for your dogs. We are using…Read more
It's time to make some frozen DIY dog treats! We are experiencing a crazy heat wave in Northern Michigan, and there was no way I was turning the oven on for a treat, so that means DIY Frozen Dog Treats it is! I wanted to so something fun, and a good summertime dog treat type…Read more
DIY Graham Crackers for Dogs
DIY Dog Treat time! DIY Graham Crackers for dogs! You guys have been asking us to make DIY Smores for dogs, so first, we needed to figure out how to make Graham Crackers for dogs! These smell amazing when baking, and actually turned our really good! DIY Graham Crackers for Dogs Ingredients 1/2 cup coconut…Read more
DIY DOG BIRTHDAY CAKE | DIY Dog Treats
Someone has a birthday coming, so today we are making a DIY Dog birthday cake! Shelby is turning 10 years old, and we thought we might as well make her a cake! DIY Dog Birthday Cake Ingredients 1 cup all purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 cup peanut butter 1/4 vegetable oil 1 cup unsweetened…Read more
DIY EMOJI COOKIES FOR DOGS | DIY Dog Treats
DIY Emoji Cookies for dogs! With the launch of The Emoji Movie, and so many of you that requested this treat, we decided it was time to see if we could create some DIY Emoji Cookies for dogs! Diy Dog treats are always fun! DIY Emoji Cookies for Dogs Ingredients 1 1/4 cup Rice Flour 2…Read more
Help your Dog stay Calm and Quiet
A few weeks ago we talked to you about Therabis Calm and Quiet formula that we could sprinkle onto Oakley's food. Today we are going to talk to you about Therabis Calm and Quiet treats. This post is sponsored by Therabis™ and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information…Read more
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- August 27, 2014 on About


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Item # THU003RItem # THU003R
Protect your precious cargo.
Thule's Prologue Bike Mount provides an affordable and safe way to transport your bike to trailheads close by and further afield so you can save your extra cash for your next two-wheeled toy. To make sure your current bike stays safe, however, the Prologue uses a sleek, fork-mounting design with a secure, dual-lock mechanism to lock the bike to your carrier, then the carrier to your vehicle. Thule kept aerodynamics in mind when designing the carrier, aiming to minimize drag as much as possible, and made it compatible with bikes with up to a 48-inch wheelbase. If you're running Plus tires on your bike, you'll want to swap them out for something 2.6in or narrower to use the Prologue, but disc brakes and different suspension combinations, as long as they're using a standard 9mm axle, can all be accommodated.


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Geiger Automotive GmbH is a global supplier of components to the Automotive Industry. We are specialists in the fields of Injection Moulding, Fluid-Injection Technology, Projectile-Injection Technology and Blow Moulding. We develop and produce high specification plastic components that are used in the automotive assembly process. As a subsidiary of the Japanese Sanoh Group we benefit from the experience and resources of a globally operating multinational company. Sanoh with its headquarters in Tokyo supplies customers in the automotive industry in 23 countries from its 88 production facilities worldwide.
We see ourselves as a development partner working closely with our customers. Geiger Automotive GmbH is able to fulfil our customer's individual requirements with technical components and high quality plastic assemblies. In doing so, we place the highest demands on function and design.
We create products that are used as active components, such as in the air and thermal management of vehicles. We also meet our customers' additional requirements such as relative movement compensation or signal transmission. For this purpose, we use multi-component production methods and embedded metal parts.
Our market is the globally operating automotive industry.
We have production facilities in Queretaro (Mexico), Shenyang (China) and Suwanee (USA). That means we can produce components exactly where our strategic customers need them.
Shipping parts from Europe is expensive and impacts the environment. This is why we are pursuing a hybrid approach: we are developing parts in Germany and manufacturing them as close as possible to our customers assembly facilities, in this way, we make best use of our knowhow but remain cost-effective and flexible. We see new, globally oriented contracts as a clear confirmation of our global strategy and its successful implementation.
Berichterstattung im Kreisboten vom 19. Oktober 2019( … )
Alle interessierten Schüler und ihre Eltern sind herzlich eingeladen in unsere Ausbildungsberufe & Praktika reinzuschnuppern.( … )


text: Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Cozumel: Cruise Travel with Toddlers\r\n \r\nCruising to Cozumel with the family this year? You'll find plenty of fun diversions on the island designed for young children. Discover the top things to do in Cozumel with a toddler, including the special play area at our beach and water park.\r\n\r\nMake family memories to last a lifetime when you travel to Cozumel with a toddler. Our tropical island paradise is the perfect destination for tiny tots. Discover our favorite things to do in Cozumel with toddlers.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Buccaneers' Bay - With spray cannons, animal slides, and a pirate ship playground, our kids lagoon is the best destination on the island for families with small children. There's also a special pool just for toddlers! \r\n Glass Bottom Boat Tour - Explore Cozumel's magical underwater world without getting wet. Glass bottom boat tours feature underwater windows with 360-degree views. \r\n Beach Fun - Gently lapping waves and plenty of sand for castles is all a toddler needs to be happy on the beach. Our amazing beach is a beautiful setting for a relaxing day with your family. \r\n Atlantis Submarine - Dive deep into the ocean on this recreational submarine - no scuba mask required! Kids can watch out the windows to discover the fish and coral of Cozumel's coastal reef. \r\n International Buffet - Is your toddler a picky eater? Lunch is easy with the expansive selection of kid-friendly items on our all-you-can-eat buffet. \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nWill you be visiting Cozumel soon? Our amazing water park features more than 20 free attractions included in the entrance packages. Relax in the sunshine and discover the ultimate family vacation at Playa Mia Grand Beach and Water Park.


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Al Zahra Hospital Sharjah participated in the Etisalat Employee Wellness Campaign in Ajman on the 26th of April 2018
We provided complementary screening services namely BP, Glucose, BMI, Cholesterol, Eye check-up, Dental hygiene, Audiology and GP Consultation. Patient education brochures were distributed at the event along with updates on different campaigns they could avail of with Al Zahra Hospital Sharjah. More than 187 people were screened and the event was well appreciated by the Etisalat employees.


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Established 1961
Thank you for visiting the SESSA website. We are sorry to report that after a period of over 50 years of delivering sports championships, leagues and tournaments to the FE and HE sector in the South of England, the SESSA executive made the reluctant decision to dissolve the organisation at the recent AGM in June 2018.
For various reasons, and mostly due to the wide range of alternative provision of sports activity for students, the viability of SESSA to continue as an organiser of student sports event, is no longer possible. Over the past few years the only event which enjoyed a continued level of support, was the SESSA Indoor Athletics Championships, which was in the main organised and delivered by Middlesex University (along with the support of many volunteer officials from local athletic clubs).
Middlesex University has offered to take on the reins of continuing to organise an indoor athletics event along similar lines to the SESSA Championships for at least the next year. If the support for the event continues, then Middlesex University will look to continue to run the event at a similar time in the year, of the first Wednesday in December.
If you would like information on the new Middlesex University Open student Indoor Athletics Championships, please visit the Middlesex University website or contact firstname.lastname@example.com
The heart of student sport


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day 10651: sometimes there is no tomorrow
A woman died today.
She wasn't young. She wasn't old. She wasn't exceptional by any means. She never led a country. She never made a major contribution to society. No one will remember her for doing anything extraordinary. And except for the people who knew her, and a few plaques bearing her name in some remote school in some remote part of China, no one will remember her in a few years.
Her existence will begin to fade as soon as the last mourner walks away.
… … …
Yet, it feels like the news should be shouted from rooftops and plastered in headlines around the world.
A woman died today.
A good woman died today.
The world should know.
She was a mother, a wife, a friend to many, a person who cared about the well-being and feelings of everyone around her. She raised money for her charities, answering pledge calls even as she sat in emergency room after emergency room, waiting for her own pains to be diagnosed.
She bore her illness in stoic silence; never really saying a word about her suffering, never really asking for help. She hid the extent of her cancer from the world around her. She downplayed her illness, consoled others, hid her fears behind a smile and passed on stories of hope. Her children came and left after the holidays thinking that she was on the mend. Her husband only flew into town from Hong Kong last week. Her elderly mother still does not know.
She fought the battle courageously, but lost it quickly.
… … …
We like to believe that we are immortal. We like to believe that the people around us are immortal. We don't pay enough attention to the present, thinking that we'll always have time later to make amends and tell them that we love them. There will always be a tomorrow, we think, and so, we put it off.
We put off visiting our parents. We put of thanking them for guiding us into who we have become. We put off telling our grandparents how much we care about them. We put off telling people that we forgive them, and that we don't really harbour a grudge. We put off caring about the people around us. We put off caring about ourselves.
There will always be a tomorrow, we tell ourselves.
But sometimes there isn't.
… … …
She will be missed.


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Snap Inc shares slipped below their initial public offering price of $17 for the first time on Monday, signaling waning investor confidence in the social media company's growth potential as it faces fierce competition.
The stock fell as low as $16.95 in late afternoon trading before closing at $16.99 on the New York Stock Exchange, down 1.1%. The Snapchat owner's March market debut was the hottest U.S. technology listing in years.
Earlier on Monday, Credit Suisse analysts cut their price target for Snap to $25 from $30, although they kept their "outperform" rating. The analysts said they expect Snap to be volatile in the near term as more than 700 million shares potentially come out of their lock-up period later this month.
The Snapchat messaging app is popular among people under 30 who enjoy applying bunny faces and vomiting rainbows onto their pictures. But many on Wall Street have been critical of Snap's high valuation and slowing user growth, and the company has warned it may never become profitable.
Rival Facebook's Instagram introduced face-tracking filters in May, adding to its existing Snapchat-like camera and messaging features.
The IPO breach came in Snap's 90th trading day on the public market. The stock had previously dipped to $17 in mid-June. Snap's low on Monday was 42.4% below the record high of $29.44 reached in its second day of trading.
Dipping below an IPO price is seen on Wall Street as a setback to be avoided by chief executives and their underwriters, but it is not uncommon for Silicon Valley companies.
Alibaba Group slipped under its IPO price 233 days after its stock market debut while Facebook dipped below its IPO price in its second day of trading. Facebook shares have now quadrupled from their IPO price.
Aside from Facebook, IPOs "have not done well if you hold them for a year or two," said Trip Miller, managing partner at Gullane Capital Partners in Memphis, Tennessee.
"It could be why more and more of these companies remain private and out of the public eye. It is easier to build a company outside of the view of the public."


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London, 18 April 2015. Click here for more information.
Tulsa, OK, 2 May 2015. Click here for more information.
If you've seen me at any book signings you'll know that I support the military charities www.felixfund.org.uk in the UK and www.eodwarriorfoundation.org in the US. Both are charities that support the men and women who work in bomb disposal, and their families.


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Merger and Acquisitions Review: Softbank Buys Sprint, Amazon Buys TI's Chip Operations
After several days of uncertainly, the Japanese mobile operator Softbank Corp. (SFTBF.PK) confirms that it will purchase Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE:S) in a transaction worth $20.1 billion. The buyer will acquire $8 billion in newly-issued stock and $12.1 billion in existing shares, which will give it a 70 percent overall interest in Sprint.
Are these stocks a buy or sell? Let us help you decide. Check out our Wall St. Cheat Sheet Stock Picker Newsletter now >>
Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) is in talks to buy the cellular-chip operations of Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN) in an acquisition that would be worth billions of dollars, according to the Israeli newspaper Calcalist. The seller's chips are employed in Kindle devices and Barnes & Noble's (NYSE:BKS) Nooks, but has already said that it will not invest in supporting the plans of its customers for smartphones and tablets as much as it did previously.
Don't Miss: Is Vertical Integration on the Horizon for Amazon?


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Hong Kong Air Quality 'Severe'
Hong Kong's government warned residents to avoid outdoor activities Tuesday as air pollution reached 'severe' levels for a second consecutive day.
The Environmental Protection Department said its Air Pollution Index or API readings were again at record levels in many parts of the city. The API reading in Eastern district was 500, the highest possible level in the department's published pollution scale.
On Monday, as the city's famous skyline disappeared behind a thick, brownish haze, the government released a statement to urge residents "to keep a close watch on health" due to pollution concerns. The government said a sandstorm that had blanketed Beijing and much of Northern China over the weekend had moved southward, contributing to a "significant deterioration" in Hong Kong's air quality.
"The EPD urged people to pay special attention to the condition of family members with heart or respiratory illnesses," the government statement said. "Patients should seek advice from a medical doctor if they feel uncomfortable. Meanwhile, people should reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities. Outdoor workers, especially those with existing heart or respiratory illnesses, should consult their medical doctors if they are in doubt of their health condition."
Pollution in Hong Kong has long been a talking point of the city's population. Earlier this month, a group of prominent local businesses launched a campaign to fight pollution, claiming that the city's smog is to blame for three deaths every day.
Authorities have often blamed poor air quality on factories in Southern China, but roadside emissions are also a considerable cause of pollution.
The Hong Kong government said the recent high-levels of pollution are expected to subside as the effect of the sandstorm weakens and as southeasterly winds pick up later Tuesday.
-Duncan Mavin


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