April 27, 2007 no. 483 - Vol. 5
“It is better to create than to learn! Creating is the essence of life.”
Julius Caesar
'Honesty, accuracy and balance key to building trust in marketing' is the subject of today's Law Firm Marketing section
Senate passes bill on Iraq pullout, pushing Bush veto
US Congress passed legislation Thursday that directs the president to begin bringing home U.S. troops from Iraq and extricating America from the midst of a bloody civil war. The historic 51-46 Senate vote for a $124 billion war-spending bill — which followed House passage of the measure Wednesday — thrust a withdrawal timeline on a fiercely resistant White House.
Lula seeks regional integration
Lula is visiting two South American neighbors, Chile and Argentina, to strengthen bilateral relations. Lula will travel first to Santiago, where he is set to sign an agreement on the development of bio-fuels with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet. The two leaders will also attend the World Economic Forum on Latin America. Lula will then travel to Buenos Aires for a meeting with his Argentine counterpart, Nestor Kirchner. On the surface, it is a trip like any other - to strengthen relations and talk about shared problems. But many will see it as part of a battle for dominance in the region between the Brazilian president and the Venezuelan leader with his country's huge oil wealth and his opposition, shared by many, to Washington's influence in the region.
"Who will audit the legal auditors?"
In his latest article: "Legal auditing: its explicit acknowledgement", Jayme Vita Roso, attorney at Jayme Vita Roso Advogados e Consultores Jurídicos raises the question: should legal auditing be regulated and the role od the Disciplinary Commission and the Court of Ethics and Discipline. Click here to read the article
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China names new foreign minister
Yang Jiechi, China's former envoy to Washington, has been appointed as the country's new foreign minister. A specialist in US relations, he worked in China's embassy in Washington in the 1980s-1990s, before becoming ambassador there in 2001.
Honesty, accuracy and balance key to building trust in marketing
Part of the problem with marketing is that many people use it to rip someone off. They lie to their customers, or, to phrase it tactfully, use claims that are not and cannot be substantiated. As a result, most of us are skeptical when we see someone making a statement that we know we should not believe.
But for all the bad in marketing, you’ll also find a lot of good. Especially from the people who market with education. When you use education-based marketing, you help people understand their problem and the solution you can provide. And you help your prospects at the time you deliver your message, regardless of whether that person ever does business with you.
Naturally, we want people to hire your services. And many will. But they will decide whether to hire you only after they receive your educational message and determine whether they want you to help them solve their problem.
Follow these rules when delivering your marketing message.
1. Present your message honestly. You accomplish nothing by shading the truth or creating the impression that you can do more than you really can. Well, actually, you do accomplish one thing: You arouse your prospect’s suspicions during the time he’s considering whether to hire you. By being truthful, even if your prospect does not hire your services, he will never be able to say you weren't honest with him.
2. Provide factual information that is accurate. When explaining your prospect's problem and the solutions you can provide, make sure your facts are accurate. If a particular fact is key to the prospect hiring you, show your prospect the fact on paper and its source. If you found an important fact in the Wall Street Journal, show your prospect the article that contains that fact.
3. Weigh the positives and negatives. Everyone knows that the solution to their problem comes with pros and cons. Make sure you present both the strengths and weaknesses. As long as the strengths outweigh the weaknesses, you can make a good case for your prospect moving forward with the solution.
In marketing, credibility is everything. If your prospect doesn’t trust you, nothing else matters. Anything you can do to show your prospect the source of information helps him decide in your favor. Honesty, accuracy and balance are key. Make sure you present a balanced message that is honest and accurate.
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© Trey Ryder
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Delito
Una auditoria interna confirma las bases legales para la apertura de un proceso judicial contra el ex Director General de Pemex, Raúl Múñoz Leos acusado de haber transferido irregularmente 1.724 millones de pesos al sindicato petrolero. Según el código penal de México el ex funcionario habría incurrido en el delito de Daño Patrimonial e incumplió la Ley Orgánica de la estatal petrolera.
Ley
A pocas horas de que el Congreso de México aprobó la Ley que despenaliza el Aborto, legisladores opositores ya piensan en plantear una demanda de nulidad por inconstitucionalidad. Con este propósito recurrieron publicamente al Defensor del Pueblo y a la Comisión Internacional de Derechos Humanos solicitando su apoyo. En tanto la Secretaria del Congreso ya remitió la Ley al Ejecutivo para su promulgación que se cumplirá en próximas horas.
Negocios
Las acciones de las empresas generadoras de energía eléctrica en Chile se disparan y llegan a precios récord en la Bolsa local. Endesa, considerada como la mayor generadora eléctrica, sus acciones crecieron en un 3,87% tras reportar una utilidad de 49 millones de pesos en el primer trimestre del año; el precio de su acción a partir de mayo esta sobre los $952. En tanto las acciones de Enersis tuvieron un alza de 3,5% completando una utilidad que superó los $ 16 mil millones. Y por último, las acciones de Colbún tuvieron una representación de 2,57% en las negociaciones.
Wolfowitz row 'harms World Bank'
Staff at the World Bank have voiced concern that the crisis surrounding its embattled President Paul Wolfowitz is damaging the institution. In a letter, a group of 32 officials warned that the scandal was undermining the bank's credibility. The letter also called for a clear and decisive action to be taken. Wolfowitz is facing calls to resign after it emerged he had ordered a large pay increase and promotions for his girlfriend, who was a member of staff.
Russia's treaty threat irks Nato
Nato members express concern over Russia's threat to freeze its compliance with a key arms treaty. Putin said that Russia may stop implementing a key defense treaty because of concerns over US plans for a missile shield in Europe. Putin accused Nato states of exploiting the situation to increase their military presence near Russia.
Thailand takes on drugs giants
The Thai government's decision to break the patents on two Aids drugs and one heart drug, so it can offer them to all Thai citizens, is a bold move, which has put the country on a collision course with the big pharmaceutical firms. Thailand, long seen as a loyal trading partner of the US, has seen its image transformed into that of a violator of intellectual property rights. Its decision has been condemned by the pharmaceutical industry, but applauded by non-governmental organizations campaigning for wider access to affordable medicines. what Thailand claims it is completely legal under international trade regulations.
Brazil threatens to break patent on AIDS treatment
Brazil will buy an Indian-made generic version of Efavirenz, a Merck anti-AIDS drug, if the US company does not offer Latin America's largest country a hefty discount on the medicine, the nation's health minister says. New Jersey-based Merck had seven days to negotiate lower prices with the government. If the two sides do not reach a deal, Brazil could issue a compulsory license that would allow the country to produce or buy a generic version of the drug, paying Merck only a small royalty. Merck said it was committed to reaching a negotiated agreement with the Health Ministry.
Ecuador 'expels World Bank envoy'
Ecuador's President Rafael Correa has ordered the expulsion of the World Bank's representative in the country. Correa had demanded that the World Bank explain why it suspended a $100m loan in 2005 while he was economy minister, which, he says, was in retaliation for his reforms of the country's oil sector.
Argentina cancels junta pardons
A court in Argentina has cancelled pardons for human rights violations granted to two former military leaders, Jorge Videla and Eduardo Massera. The court said the pardons granted in 1990 by former Argentine President Carlos Menem were unconstitutional.
Bankruptcy woes to end at Delta
Delta Air Lines will emerge from bankruptcy protection on Monday after a US judge approved its recovery plans. As part of its turnaround the airline has cut almost 6,000 jobs, reduced its number of planes in the domestic market and launched new international routes.
U.S. wants to limit Guantanamo detainees' access to lawyers
The Bush administration is urging a federal appeals court to clamp down on Guantanamo Bay prisoners' ability to see their attorneys and obtain government records to help argue their innocence. As the legal battle over the detentions moves to a new arena, the Justice Department is trying to tightly restrict the tactics that a persistent and largely volunteer group of defense lawyers can use to challenge the government's basis for holding their clients.
Investors Rebuke ABN on Bidding Process
ABN Amro Holding NV is negotiating to settle a Justice Department criminal investigation of the bank in the U.S. by paying a record fine of as much as $500 million, even as it seeks to accommodate shareholders who want a bigger say in fast-moving talks about a takeover of the Dutch bank. In a chaotic meeting yesterday, about two-thirds of ABN shareholders present voted against management, signaling their repudiation of how ABN Chief Executive Rijkman Groenink is handling the nearly $100 billion bidding war for the bank.
Guns and More Guns: a sequel to Virginia Tech
By now, the logic is almost automatic. A shooter takes innocent lives, and someone says that if the victims had been armed, this wouldn't have happened. The only solution to a gun in the wrong hands, it seems, is a gun in the hands of everyone. That's the state of the debate over gun control today. The National Rifle Association and the gun lobby have silenced every legislature in this country. Instead of stricter laws, tighter controls and better background checks, the gun lobby proposes more guns. And what the gun lobby proposes, lawmakers deliver. Those gun advocates who believe that the Second Amendment confers the right to carry a gun in public are quick to point out that they are law-abiding, decent citizens trying to protect themselves and their families in a world gone mad. But, of course, the guns can't tell the difference. Arming more people would be a recipe for disaster.
'Spambot' creators facing federal lawsuit in Virginia
A Utah-based anti-spam technology company filed a lawsuit in US District Court in Alexandria Thursday in an effort to identify the people behind so-called "spambots" , programs that search the Internet for e-mail addresses to sell to spammers. Unspam Technologies Inc. operates a spam harvester-tracking Web site called Project Honey Pot that has collected thousands of Internet addresses connected to spam harvesters. It has been unable to link those addresses to actual people, but hopes to do so during the discovery process of the lawsuit, said plaintiff's lawyer Jon Praed. Although collecting e-mail addresses is not illegal, using that information to spam is prohibited under federal and state laws. Praed said Unspam can show that the emails were collected for that purpose.
Africa
Breaking News Headlines from Around the World, Powered by Worldpress.org
World News Review
Uganda shopping for new presidential jet
Daily Monitor, Independent daily of Kampala, Uganda
Kenyans counting fortunes as poverty levels decline
East African Standard, Liberal daily of Nairobi, Kenya
Amin Antah looks for help over ravages of flood
Ghanaian Chronicle, Independent, published in Accra, Ghana
Nigerian opposition calls for poll rerun
Mail and Guardian, Liberal daily of Johannesburg, South Africa
Americas
Entertainers perpare
Barbados Advocate, Independent daily of St Michael, Barbados
Eviction turns into riot
Buenos Aires Herald, Liberal daily of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Detainee scandal: 'Powerful people are angry'
The Globe And Mail, Centrist daily of Toronto, Canada
'More jobs' - Employment focus under Golding gov't
Jamaica Gleaner, Centrist daily of Kingston, Jamaica
Euthanasia bill seeks death with dignity
The Guadalajara Colony Reporter, Independent weekly of Guadalajara, Mexico
Asia Pacific
Female agent sought over '74 abduction / Warrant issued for suspect in N. Korea
Daily Yomiuri, Conservative daily of Tokyo, Japan
Yang Jiechi appointed China's new foreign minister
People's Daily Online, Pro-government daily of Beijing, China
Road rage rules in Australia
The Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily of Sydney, Australia
Students Condemn MJF Decision to Contest Polls
The Himalayan Times, Independent daily of Kathmandu, Nepal
Vital BI task force scrapped
The Manila Times, Pro-government daily of Manila, Philippines
Tuanku Mizan installed as 13th King
The Sun, Independent daily of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Europe
Germany Quizzes EU Members on Constitution
Deutsche Welle, International broadcaster of Cologne, Germany
Foreign Minister Kanerva: This government will not apply for NATO membership
Helsingin Sanomat, Centrist daily of Helsinki, Finland
Bust of Alexander Pushkin burnt in Lviv
Interfax, Government-owned news agency, Moscow, Russia
Opinion poll makes grim reading for Fianna Fáil
Irish Examiner, Centrist daily of Cork, Ireland
Putin Delivers a Hawkish Final Address
The Moscow Times, Independent, English-language daily of Moscow, Russia
European incomers prop up Scotland's falling population
The Scotsman, Centrist daily of Edinburgh, Scotland
Turkey enters a new era with Gl
Turkish Daily News, Independent daily of Istanbul, Turkey
Middle East
Truce torn again
Al-Ahram Weekly, Semi-official, English-language weekly of Cairo, Egypt
Lawyer Bemoans Lack of Legal Infrastructure
Arab News, Pro-government, English-language daily of Jidda, Saudi Arabia
Police find bodies of missing youths, step up security measures in Beirut
The Daily Star, Independent, English-language daily of Beirut, Lebanon
Emirates to use A380s on budget livery
Gulf News, Independent daily of Dubai, United Arab Emirates
IDF officer: Missed intel could have foiled kidnap
Ha'aretz, Liberal daily of Tel Aviv, Israel
Larijani, Solana to resume talks in two weeks
Islamic Republic News Agency, Government-owned news agency of Tehran, Iran
Massive IDF drill prepares for Syrian attack on the Golan
The Jerusalem Post, Conservative daily of Jerusalem, Israel
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