by editor | Jun 15, 2012 | Lifestyle
Project B. Feat. Kelly Rowland Remix “Summer Dreaming”
Track For Bacardí 150th Anniversary
Project B. featuring world renowned singer Kelly Rowland have recorded a remix to the famous “Summer Dreaming” song, known from the Bacardi TV commercial
Today, (Thursday, 14th June 2012), Project B.featuring world renowned singer Kelly Rowland have recorded a remix to the famous “Summer Dreaming” song, known from the Bacardi TV commercial that aired in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The song will be released following the official launch party in Berlin on 8th July where Kelly Rowland and Project B. will give a live performance of the “Summer Dreaming 2012” club mix in front of 250 guests.
The “Summer Dreaming” song was originally performed by Kate Yania over a decade ago and held the number one spot in the music charts in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for weeks on end. The new interpretation of the song breaks up the familiar structure and substitutes electro beats for more organic sounds. Rowland’s stunning voice has already given the remake, which will be on sale from 8th July, the sound of a genuine dance classic.
The former Destiny Child’s singer first heard the former number one hit after attending the Bacardi anniversary party in January and was fascinated by the idea of remixing the song with Project B.
“The song and its history enthralled me right away. My aim was to record a joyful, colourful, sexy song and give it a bit of soul quality. The collaboration with BACARDÍ was so much fun. We had an awesome time recording the song.” said Rowland.
Since it was founded in 1862 BACARDÍ has brought together – music, friends and innovative drinks – and in doing so it has delivered the perfect ingredients for unforgettable parties. In keeping with the slogan “BACARDÍ – It started with a party” there are to be parties all over Germany to celebrate the 150th anniversary. The highlight will be the official song release party in Berlin on 8 July. Almost 250 guests will be invited to hear Project B. and Kelly Rowland perform a live display of the “Summer Dreaming 2012″ club mix.
“I’m so looking forward to the party,” says the singer. “We want to celebrate and have fun. Berlin, the party metropolis, is exactly the right place for it.”
by editor | Jun 14, 2012 | Lifestyle
They’re a bit like Cornflakes,
You Forget How Good They Are!
by editor | Jun 14, 2012 | Lifestyle
Sports gear from the Adidas Shop
by editor | Jun 14, 2012 | Lifestyle
Great quality at low prices, kids clothes from Debenhams
by editor | Jun 14, 2012 | Lifestyle
Smart Jackets from MandS
by editor | Jun 14, 2012 | Lifestyle
Looking for Something Really Special
by editor | Jun 14, 2012 | Lifestyle
Starting with 4Sexy Corsets
by editor | Jun 13, 2012 | Lifestyle
Why So Many People Have Tried Dating And Are Still Alone
Let’s face it; we all want to find our special someone. Even on
a “No Strings Attached” dating site, I am looking for a regular
girlfriend.
Unfortunately, too many people involved in the Dating Game are
hurting their chances of success, before they even go on that
first date.
I will give you an example or two.
One lady I knew a few years back had been single for years. Her
older sister thought she and I would be a good match, so the
older sister played matchmaker. I agreed to at least give the
younger sister a chance, so I tried to set up our first date.
But, I never actually got the chance to go out with my friend’s
little sister.
Why? You might be surprised.
The younger sister would only agree to go out on a first date
with me, IF I promised to marry her!!!
I would not make that kind of promise. Sure, I was looking for a
wife, but I was not going to commit to marriage with a woman with
whom I had never been on a date!
I still see the younger sister’s profile in Yahoo Personals
every time I look in her hometown to see who is available. We are
actually 15 years down the road. I have been in a few
relationships, including one marriage, and yet she is still
looking for her next husband.
There was another lady for whom I was very fond, and I really
wanted to date. But her deal was that she would not agree to a
date, unless I would agree to date her for several months.
I did not even know whether I would like her after our first
date, let alone like her enough to date her for several months
based on a commitment made before I got to know her. (She is also
still looking for a boyfriend on Yahoo Personals, as well.)
Put yourself in my shoes. If you were to go out with me, you may
decide after the first date that we are not compatible. So why
would you want to commit to several months worth of dates or even
marriage prior to your first date with me? You wouldn’t, would
you?
“No Strings Attached” is the only way to date, if you ask me.
We should have the freedom to go on a date, without having to
commit ourselves to anything beyond that first date. We should
feel that we have the freedom to say no. If we don’t work
together as a couple, there should be no expectation to drag it
out for months with no positive end in sight.
We should all have the freedom to choose if we want to go on a
second date, a third date, or even a twentieth date.
We should only seek marriage because we both want to be married
to each other. We should not ever feel obligated to marriage on a
first date or third.
So here I am. I don’t want to lie to you. My personal integrity
will not allow me to lie to you.
But, if you want me to agree to multiple dates or marriage before
we go on our first date, then the only way that you and I will
ever go out is if I let my integrity fall by the wayside.
The only commitment I can make to you is that if I like you, we
can go out twice. If we continue to mutually like one another,
then maybe we can go out on a third date. And maybe some day, we
will decide that we would be a good pair in marriage.
And if this is not acceptable to you, then I might have to throw
my personal integrity out the window, and lie to you, just so I
can go on that first date with you to see if we could be a good
match.
If you don’t want guys to lie to you about the future, then
don’t ask them to commit to something that no person in their
right mind will commit to before the first date!
———————————————————————
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online
dating. Our no-strings-attached dating site has become a popular
online adult dating destination, due to its large membership
base of people looking for relationships of all kinds. Learn
more at: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/
Consider Lance’s new Kindle book, “Making Memories: Creative
Dating Ideas”: http://raintreepublishing.com/creative-dating-ideas/
by editor | Jun 13, 2012 | Lifestyle
Why So Many People Have Tried Dating And Are Still Alone
Let’s face it; we all want to find our special someone. Even on
a “No Strings Attached” dating site, I am looking for a regular
girlfriend.
Unfortunately, too many people involved in the Dating Game are
hurting their chances of success, before they even go on that
first date.
I will give you an example or two.
One lady I knew a few years back had been single for years. Her
older sister thought she and I would be a good match, so the
older sister played matchmaker. I agreed to at least give the
younger sister a chance, so I tried to set up our first date.
But, I never actually got the chance to go out with my friend’s
little sister.
Why? You might be surprised.
The younger sister would only agree to go out on a first date
with me, IF I promised to marry her!!!
I would not make that kind of promise. Sure, I was looking for a
wife, but I was not going to commit to marriage with a woman with
whom I had never been on a date!
I still see the younger sister’s profile in Yahoo Personals
every time I look in her hometown to see who is available. We are
actually 15 years down the road. I have been in a few
relationships, including one marriage, and yet she is still
looking for her next husband.
There was another lady for whom I was very fond, and I really
wanted to date. But her deal was that she would not agree to a
date, unless I would agree to date her for several months.
I did not even know whether I would like her after our first
date, let alone like her enough to date her for several months
based on a commitment made before I got to know her. (She is also
still looking for a boyfriend on Yahoo Personals, as well.)
Put yourself in my shoes. If you were to go out with me, you may
decide after the first date that we are not compatible. So why
would you want to commit to several months worth of dates or even
marriage prior to your first date with me? You wouldn’t, would
you?
“No Strings Attached” is the only way to date, if you ask me.
We should have the freedom to go on a date, without having to
commit ourselves to anything beyond that first date. We should
feel that we have the freedom to say no. If we don’t work
together as a couple, there should be no expectation to drag it
out for months with no positive end in sight.
We should all have the freedom to choose if we want to go on a
second date, a third date, or even a twentieth date.
We should only seek marriage because we both want to be married
to each other. We should not ever feel obligated to marriage on a
first date or third.
So here I am. I don’t want to lie to you. My personal integrity
will not allow me to lie to you.
But, if you want me to agree to multiple dates or marriage before
we go on our first date, then the only way that you and I will
ever go out is if I let my integrity fall by the wayside.
The only commitment I can make to you is that if I like you, we
can go out twice. If we continue to mutually like one another,
then maybe we can go out on a third date. And maybe some day, we
will decide that we would be a good pair in marriage.
And if this is not acceptable to you, then I might have to throw
my personal integrity out the window, and lie to you, just so I
can go on that first date with you to see if we could be a good
match.
If you don’t want guys to lie to you about the future, then
don’t ask them to commit to something that no person in their
right mind will commit to before the first date!
———————————————————————
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online
dating. Our no-strings-attached dating site has become a popular
online adult dating destination, due to its large membership
base of people looking for relationships of all kinds. Learn
more at: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/
Consider Lance’s new Kindle book, “Making Memories: Creative
Dating Ideas”: http://raintreepublishing.com/creative-dating-ideas/
by editor | Jun 12, 2012 | Lifestyle
Wal-Mart Has Everything You Need Including Your Next Dating Prospect
The difficulty of adult dating was brought home to me the other
day.
My 20-year-old nephew came to live with me and my kids, until he
can get on his own two feet financially. His hometown – my
hometown is really small… providing little opportunity to
someone looking to get started in life on the right foot.
He spends his days looking for a job, and now and again, he will
slip out in the evening time.
I never really gave much thought about his evening time getaways.
He is an adult – he can do what he wants to do with his own time.
But by chance, I asked him the other evening if he had gone to
that bar that allows 18-year-old’s to enter. He said he had not.
He explained that he did not feel comfortable enough with finding
his way around town, to be able to find the bar without getting
lost.
A bit surprised, I asked him where he went on Friday night…
His answer was even more surprising…
He was going out to meet girls his own age… Starting
conversations in convenience stores, restaurants, and WAL-MART!!!
Until now, I knew that you could find anything you ever wanted at
Wal-Mart… I just never stopped to think of it as a place to
meet new women… 
I have to give him credit for creativeness…
My nephew is at that somewhat awkward age – after high school and
before he has turned 21. He is also in a new place, where he does
not know his way around town, and in a town where he does not
know anyone but our family and our small circle of friends, all
of whom are at least ten years older and with children.
I do the online dating thing, but to my knowledge, he is not
exploring the prospects for online dating in our town… And even
if he did, although we are in a bigger town than the one he came
from, we are still living in a mid-sized town with limited dating
possibilities. I know this is true, because even though I find
people to date in the town I live in – through online dating
sites – I frequently date people from nearby small towns as well.
His mother – my sister – having been a single mother for most of
the last ten years seems to have taught my nephew the importance
of starting conversations to lead to that next date. His mother
has not had Internet access since she and my nephew’s dad were
divorced. So while I was exploring the big beautiful world of
online dating, she was still dating the old-fashioned way.
Ten years down the road, my sister has found a replacement for
her first husband and now she has a new baby at home, nineteen
years younger than her first child. I tease her that she finally
got her kid raised and out of the house, and now she has to do it
all over again…
At first I thought that until my nephew gets into a regular job,
a regular church, and a regular daily routine, I suspected that
it will be somewhat difficult for him in the dating world. But
then again, maybe not… He actually already has a list of phone
numbers he has acquired on his evening time adventures…
In this day and age, many people think of online dating as the
quickest and most economical way to find someone worth spending
their time… But as my nephew has reminded me… There was a
time before the Internet, and those dating techniques used before
the Internet age actually still work today…
So the next time you are out on the town and you meet someone who
strikes your fancy, walk up to them and say Hi. Show interest and
it could lead to a phone number. Finally, with a phone number in
hand, follow up. You never know where that phone call might take
you and your heart’s interest…
———————————————————————
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online
dating. Our no-strings-attached dating site has become a popular
online adult dating destination, due to its large membership
base of people looking for relationships of all kinds. Learn
more at: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/
Consider Lance’s new Kindle book, “Making Memories: Creative
Dating Ideas”: http://raintreepublishing.com/creative-dating-ideas/
by editor | Jun 12, 2012 | Lifestyle
Verify The Identity Of Your Online Dating Match
The biggest hurdle that most people face in online dating world
is the question and concern of whether the person at the other
end of the conversation is really who he or she says that they
are. It is hard to get comfortable with the person you are about
to meet, when you have no other connection to that person beyond
an anonymous internet connection.
In the real world of dating, before you go on a first date, you
probably know:
* Where someone works;
* Where they live;
* Who some of their friends are;
* Where they go to hang out;
* What they drive…
Sure, you cannot tell a lot about a person from information such
as this, but you can sure tell a friend these things in the event
that something goes awry on your first date. It is always better
to be safe than sorry.
Your friends are able to know something real and truthful about
the person you are about to go on a date with, because you are
able to learn that information before you go on your first date.
But, when you are doing the online dating thing, you can chat or
email back and forth with a potential date, and even after
several months of talking, you could potentially still not know
the first thing about the person you are ready to meet. For all
you know, they could be pathological liars.
With online dating, it is difficult to really know anything about
the person you want to meet, UNLESS, you join a dating website
that has systems in place to verify the information that a person
gives online. For example, does he or she really work where they
say? Do they live where they say? Is that picture on their
profile really what they look like in person?
But, if like me you have been around online dating for a number
of years, it is really difficult to find a website that offers
systems to enable the dating website’s management team to verify
any kind of information about their members.
When I took the decision to start an online dating site, I wanted
to set up a system that would allow our management team to verify
information about our members, so that we could offer our members
a safer online dating environment. On our website, with our
latest service upgrade, we finally have the ability to verify
information about our members, providing our members a much more
honest and safe dating community.
Although members are not required to verify their personal
information, we do give our users several ways to verify their
personal information. When a member verifies their personal
information, we show our other members a logo which identifies
what information has been verified in the user’s profile.
Online dating should lead to fun and fulfillment, and hopefully,
we have been able to introduce an element to our site that will
let you see our dating community as one of the safer dating
websites available online.
———————————————————————
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online
dating. Our no-strings-attached dating site has become a popular
online adult dating destination, due to its large membership
base of people looking for relationships of all kinds. Learn
more at: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/
Consider Lance’s new Kindle book, “Making Memories: Creative
Dating Ideas”: http://raintreepublishing.com/creative-dating-ideas/
by editor | Jun 12, 2012 | Lifestyle
When seeking romance on the Internet, you should be aware of the
many scammers that are seeking to victimize those looking for love.
A friend of mine recently experienced a scammer’s attempt to get
into his wallet. I warned him of the danger, but he wanted his
new girl to be real, so he was willing to remain optimistic
through the entire process.
Don’t get me wrong, I do not have a problem with optimistic
people, especially since I live an optimistic life, even myself.
Through the entire process, my friend would call and ask what I
thought of his interactions for that day. I tried not to be too
critical of his potential new love, but I frequently cautioned
him to look for red flags in her story.
Here is a short list of the Red Flags you should be aware of when
seeking a date online:
* Declarations of Love after only a few emails. When someone
declares their undying love after only a few emails and before
you have met them in person, the most impressive of red flags
should be triggered. There are only two types of people who
declare love, without first meeting you in person: 1] desperate
stalkers (do you remember the movie, Fatal Attraction), or 2]
scammers.
* They Are Out-of-Country – They may say they are from the
United States, but for whatever reason, they are outside the
country currently. This is the first signal of their upcoming
bait-and-hook strategy. What this generally leads to is a
suggestion that they do not have the money to come home and they
need your assistance to pay for their flight; or in one
conversation I was involved, her U.S. babysitter is demanding
money to pay for babysitting services for her young child. If you
send them the money, they will lose it, or the money will be
stolen from them, and they will need more so that they can get
back home to you.
* They Dodge Personal Questions – They always seem distracted or
dim-witted when you ask them questions. Nine times in ten, they
will never answer a question you asked. If you are wondering what
is up, keep asking questions. This is important, and it takes us
to our next red flag.
* Look For Inconsistencies In Their Story – My friend finally
caught the red flag when his girl, who had already explained that
both of her parents had died in a car wreck four years before,
slipped up. She said the reason that she chose to go to college
in Nigeria (go figure) was that her dad “owns” a business
there. (Which dad? Her dead one?)
* Bad Grammar and Spelling – Don’t get me wrong. There are
plenty of people here in the U.S., who don’t spell so hot. But
those who are in the States will mask their poor spelling and
grammar with plenty of abbreviations: LOL (Laughing Out Loud),
BRB (Be Right Back), TTYL (Talk To You Later), CYA (See Ya),
ROFLOL (Rolling On the Floor Laughing Out Loud), and WTF (What
The … you know). Foreigners don’t know these keyboard
shortcuts, nor would they understand why they would be used.
* Lackluster Photographs – Frequently they show pictures with
little or no quality, pictures that are hard to see. Some will
actually have two or three good quality pics, but not more. (This
isn’t a perfect catch, since I only have two photos, one of
which is from a professional photo place.) But, as has been
pointed out many times before, the scammers will NEVER have a
photo with their friends. If the scammer sends you a small photo,
ask for a bigger copy. The scammer will not be able to produce
one. (This is an area where my own photos can be seen to be real,
as I can produce all my photos in their original monster-size.)
* Lack of Local Knowledge – When my friend found his girl, she
claimed to have been from a town only 15 miles from his home.
Even if he had never been to her town, he could go to Google to
find some information about her town (which he did). When they
are from your town, you can ask them about favorite restaurants
or party places. Don’t be afraid to test them by asking about
something that you know does not exist. If they claim knowledge
of what you know does not exist, then you will have received a
super huge red flag.
* They Have No Family – This is frequently a hook for gaining
your sympathy. Sometimes it might be true, we do know of people
who have lost their whole families. But if they volunteer the
information, without your first asking, then you definitely need
to red flag that contact, and start looking for other red flags.
Many of these red flag items should not be viewed as absolute
signals of a fraudulent flirt. But, when red flags start piling
up, you should be fully aware of the very real potential of
someone trying to scam you.
If you see any of these red flags, but you wish to remain
optimistic, figure out what you think the bait-and-hook will be,
and then make sure that you don’t fall for it when it comes to
you.
If an online lover requires you to spend money or give them
money, then you need to notify the dating website where you met
this person, so that the dating website can kick that person off
the website.
My friend was seeing red flags left and right, and yet he desired
to remain positive. I told him what the bait-and-hook would be,
and he continued forward optimistically. Then on a lark, he put a
sentence from his lover’s first email into Google and discovered
a word-for-word documentation of all of the emails he received
from his girl on a website called: http://www.RomanceScam.com
My friend did not have to play the game until the bait-and-hook
was offered. Instead, he was able to see well ahead of that play
that his girl was sending him a series of form letters that she
(or he) uses with many potential marks.
Fortunately, my friend was able to see the light before his phony
girl got into his wallet. And hopefully, since you have now read
this article and you are now aware of what is going on out there
in the online dating world, you will not get taken to the
cleaners either.
———————————————————————
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online
dating. Our no-strings-attached dating site has become a popular
online adult dating destination, due to its large membership
base of people looking for relationships of all kinds. Learn
more at: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/
Consider Lance’s new Kindle book, “Making Memories: Creative
Dating Ideas”: http://raintreepublishing.com/creative-dating-ideas/
by editor | Jun 12, 2012 | Lifestyle
London 2012′s oldest torchbearer celebrates her 100th birthday
Diana Gould celebrates hitting three figures with an exercise class and cake at her Barnet retirement home
London 2012′s oldest Olympic torchbearer Diana Gould today celebrated reaching the landmark age of 100.
To mark the special day, Diana held a communal exercise class for the residents of the block of retirement flats in which she lives and was later presented with a cake by her friends. Diana is set to run with the torch on Day 68 of the Olympic Torch Relay, just 2 days before the torch arrives to light the cauldron at the Olympic Park during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games
In the below footage, Diana gives her thoughts on reaching 100, her reaction to receiving her letter from the Queen and looks ahead to running with the Torch in late July
by editor | Jun 12, 2012 | Lifestyle
The Jamaica Olympic Association And PUMA
Unveil Olympic Apparel For London 2012, Designed By Cedella Marley
Usain Bolt and Cedella Marley Showcase the Jamaica Track & Field Olympic Wear
London, United Kingdom (June 1, 2012) –The Jamaica Olympic Association and PUMA today launched the Jamaican Team uniforms for the London 2012 Olympic Games™, including podium and ceremony wear with the help of Jamaican Track Athlete and World’s Fastest man Usain Bolt. Fashion designer Cedella Marley, daughter of Reggae icon the late Bob Marley, unveiled her designs alongside Usain Bolt at the launch in London today.
The designs will be worn by the entire team (men and women), including three-time Jamaican Olympic gold medallist, fastest man in the world and PUMA athlete Usain Bolt. PUMA’s partnership with Marley, the eldest daughter in the Jamaican family dynasty, underscores the brand’s long-time commitment to the Caribbean nation, with its rich cultural heritage, global music contributions and its unparalleled dedication to Athletics.
“It is truly an honor to design this collection for my home country and my home team,” said Cedella Marley. “It’s not even a dream come true because it’s something I never dreamed would be possible. I ran track in high school in Jamaica and I’m still a huge fan of Jamaican Athletics, so to have a role in creating the outfits for our Olympians is a thrill. I admire what PUMA has been doing in Jamaica over the years and the Marley family has the same type of give-back philosophy. I think this partnership is going to be legendary.”
Staying true to PUMA’s DNA of sportlifestyle, the collection incorporates high-tech fabrics and silhouettes engineered to enhance the performance of the athletes hailing from the fastest country in the world—Jamaica. Taking inspiration from the vibrant colors and patterns of the Caribbean nation as well as the African influences that have come to characterize that country, Cedella Marley’s unique designs are sure to make the world take notice in the summer of 2012.
“I can’t think of a better person to design our Olympic outfits than Cedella,” said Usain Bolt. “PUMA got that right…hooking up with a legendary Jamaican. She’s a great designer but also carries on the spirit of our nation through the legacy of the Marley family. It’s going to be inspirational to run in London with that energy surrounding me.”
PUMA’s Olympic wear will be accompanied by a lifestyle collection of apparel, footwear and accessories which will be available at PUMA retail stores globally in June 2012.
by editor | Jun 12, 2012 | Lifestyle
Montblanc Hosts International Gala Event
to Celebrate the Official Opening of its New
and Biggest Concept Store of Montblanc in the World
VIP Guests Nicolas Cage, Naomi Watts, Jessica Alba and Amber Heard Attend Opening
International guests from the worlds of film, music and the arts joined luxury Maison Montblanc, for an epic and unique celebration to launch its new 4-storey store in the heart of Sanlitun in Beijing. This contemporary and imposing concept store is Montblanc’s biggest flagship in the world, a place where visitors will be invited to discover the world of Montblanc masterpieces in an interactive and innovative way.
At the World Premiere of its China flagship store, Montblanc presented the entire Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco, an exquisite tribute to the timeless elegance of Grace Kelly. Bringing together all the facets of the brand’s renowned expertise, on this special evening in Beijing, Montblanc celebrated the captivating life and style of the late Princess Grace of Monaco with this collection of precious Watches, Writing Instruments and Jewellery. On the doorstep of the new concept store, guests were transported to the historic streets of Europe’s prestigious principality, Monaco, recreated in China’s capital for one night only
by editor | Jun 12, 2012 | Lifestyle
James Mwangi of Kenya’s Equity Bank named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year, the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs
MONTE CARLO, 9 JUNE 2012 – James Mwangi of Kenya’s Equity Bank was last night named the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012 at an awards ceremony held in Monte Carlo’s Salle des Etoiles.
James Mwangi was picked from among the 59 country finalists vying for the title across 51 countries, each of whom had already been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year in their home country.
Equity Bank is the largest bank by customer base in East and Central Africa and the largest African majority owned company in the region. The bank has more than seven million accounts representing over half of all bank accounts in Kenya. It also has operations in Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and Tanzania.
“I’m honored to accept this award on behalf of the people and customers of Equity Bank”, said James. “This is a global recognition for Africans who are embracing the power of entrepreneurship to change the economic and social state of Africa.”
The independent judging panel was a distinguished group of former Entrepreneur Of The Year Winners. The panel was chaired by Ruben Vardanian, President, Troika Dialog, of Russia. Joining Ruben on the panel was:
Jim Turley, Global Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young, said, “Over the past 26 years, entrepreneurs have done more than any other group to stimulate innovation, job creation and prosperity during both periods of growth and in challenging economic conditions. James Mwangi epitomizes the vision and determination that set entrepreneurs apart and is very worthy of the title Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012.”
About Dr James Mwangi and Equity Bank Limited
Dr. James Mwangi has been pivotal in the transformation of Equity Bank from a failing micro-finance institution to a publicly listed commercial bank. He has also driven the bank’s aim to transform the lives and livelihoods of people socially and economically by giving them access to modern, inclusive financial services that maximize their opportunities.
The bank is rated the biggest by customer base and African majority owned company in East and Central Africa. The more than seven million accounts represent over half of all bank accounts in Kenya. Regional operations exist in Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and Tanzania.
James has been pivotal in the bank’s investment in a robust IT platform that can accommodate 35 million accounts, as well as a level four data center – the only one of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa – giving Equity a lead in creating synergy between banking and mobile telephones. Other innovations include Mkesho, the world’s first mobile centric bank account, Orange Money, a mobile money transfer platform for Orange Telecom subscribers, and agency banking.
Through strategic capitalization, Equity Bank attracted the single largest capital injection in East & Central Africa’s history (US$180m) from Helios EB.
James is also Chairman of Equity Group Foundation, established to scale up the existing CSR initiatives of the Group. In recognition of the diverse nature of socio-economic needs in Africa, the Foundation has identified six program areas; education and leadership development, agriculture, financial literacy & entrepreneurship, health, innovation and environmental sustainability. The Foundation has partnered with the MasterCard Foundation to form the largest Secondary Education and Leadership Scholarship Program in Africa.
In FY09-FY10 the bank’s turnover increased by 32% and its assets by 42%. In 2010, the Financial Times named James as one of the top 50 emerging market business leaders.
About Entrepreneur Of The Year
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 140 cities in over 50 countries.
by editor | May 31, 2012 | Lifestyle
Tips For Building a Successful Long Distance Relationship
From time to time, life will hand you a twist, and you will be
required to move from one place to another – this can be the
result of a job transfer, leaving home to attend college, or any
of a number of other reasons. When you move from one town to
another, it is not always possible to bring your partner with
you, and this sometimes leads to the formation of a long distance
relationship (LDR).
I have to be honest, it takes a very special set of people to
engage in the long distance relationship successfully and for a
lengthy amount of time. The weaker among us may work to keep the
facade, while at the same time looking for companionship closer
to home. I will be honest, I am not suited to the long distance
relationship, but I have known people who were able to do it
successfully over a number of years.
When you have a long distance relationship, it is always good to
maintain communication, whether it is through the phone, email or
any other possible means. It can be a bit straining and
expensive, but that is the only means that will keep the two of
you together. These days with Voice Over IP (VOIP) telephone
services, the cost of long distance phone services can be
drastically reduced, but these services require the user to keep
access to a high-speed internet access, in order to successfully
utilize the services.
Partners should also maintain a high level of honesty and respect
for each other. If you do not trust your partner, you will be
kept awake wondering whom they are with and whether they are
still faithful.
Do not ask your partner “who were you with?” or “what did you
do?” There is a difference between genuine interest and
suspicion, and the person whom you ask those questions can
usually distinguish between the two motives.
Insecurity will poison and ultimately kill any relationship.
If you find yourself straying, or simply do not love your partner
anymore, it is always best to come clean. Do not lie or pretend
that you are not going out with someone else. It may be seem more
convenient to hide the truth, but if you try, you are just
delaying the inevitable breakup.
When you decide to break the relationship, do not leave a message
on the answering machine.
Understand if your partner is unable to return your calls
immediately, or does not write that often. It may because of a
new lifestyle or a pressing job.
It also helps to tell your partner what you did, how you are
feeling and where you think the relationship is heading.
Make a habit of visiting each other when it is possible,
especially during holidays. This helps break the gap that the
distance is putting between you. Absence may make the heart grow
fonder, but presence gives it strength. The hellos may seem odd
and the goodbyes painful, but it gets easier with time.
Having supportive friends is also an added advantage. Some may
think it is an absolute waste of time to maintain a long distance
relationship, while others will respect you for trying to hold
the relationship together despite the distance.
A long distance relationship is just like any other relationship
– the only difference is that you will have to work a little bit
harder to stay together. If there is no reason to break up, head
on.
Keep in mind that nothing comes in life comes on a silver
platter. Relationships like anything else in life requires work
to be successful. If you are committed to your significant other
and him or her to you, then the long distance relationship is not
a bad thing. My brother was involved in a long-distance
relationship for more than four years, while he and his current
wife were working their way through college. It worked out well
in his case, and it could work out well in your case also.
If you find yourself involved in a long distance relationship,
you should use this article as a guide to help your relationship
be successful in the end. You never really know what cards life
is going to deal to you, so invest in what is important to you,
and find the fulfillment you have always wanted to find in your
own life.
———————————————————————
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online
dating. Our no-strings-attached dating site has become a popular
online adult dating destination, due to its large membership
base of people looking for relationships of all kinds. Learn
more at: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/
Consider Lance’s new Kindle book, “Making Memories: Creative
Dating Ideas”: http://raintreepublishing.com/creative-dating-ideas/
by editor | May 31, 2012 | Lifestyle
WHERE THERE’S A NEED
I found myself stopped at an intersection on a wintery day. Strong arctic
wind battered my car. I spotted a young woman who stood alongside the
street rubbing her bare hands together and dancing in place to keep warm.
Beside her rested a sign that read, “I have a baby and no food.” Her face
showed she had been crying, likely from the pain of the bitter wind.
Homeless and unemployed people are a common sight in many of our larger
cities, and most motorists drive by without offering assistance. They have
no doubt been taught that giving money fosters a dependent lifestyle, or
the ready cash may be used to purchase alcohol or drugs rather than the
food for which it was intended. Like me, they may have been taught that
money is best given to a local charity or through one’s faith community, as
these institutions often have excellent programs to help those in need.
And though this is true, I sometimes recall a humorous story about two
college students who encountered a homeless man on a sidewalk. One of the
students took a couple of dollars from his wallet and handed it to the
unfortunate stranger. His friend commented, “Why did you do that? He’s just
going to spend it on booze or drugs.” The young man answered, “Yeah…like,
we’re not?”
On that icy day as I waited for the light to turn, I felt conflicted about
that young woman. I figured she was probably staying at one of the women?s
shelters in the area and wondered if her baby was there now, as there was
no child in sight. Should I give her money? She was obviously in need. And
whether or not she actually had a baby at all really didn’t matter. I gave
up guessing people’s motives and analyzing their stories long ago. It was
cold. She was cold. And she apparently felt she had to be there.
What should I do? How could I help? What was best?
As I wrestled with these questions, a window rolled down from the car in
front of me and a hand shot out holding a warm pair of gloves. The driver
had taken her own gloves off and gave them to the shivering woman. I saw
the young woman mouth the words “Thank you” as a broad smile lit up her
face.
It occurred to me that, as I debated, somebody else helped. As I hesitated,
someone else acted. As I tried to decide the BEST way to assist, somebody
else just did what she could. In other words, as I did nothing, someone
else did SOMETHING.
I made myself a pledge that day to always try to do SOMETHING. And I?m not
just talking about giving money. I?m not even talking about the homeless,
necessarily. Where there?s a need, there?s an opportunity. So I promised
myself that, whenever or wherever I spotted a need, I would try to do
SOMETHING.
Educator Leo Buscaglia said, “Too often we underestimate the power of a
touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the
smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life
around.” Even speaking, listening, and noticing — they may not seem like
much, but they are something. And the smallest act of kindness carries
great power within.
I don?t want to underestimate what I CAN do. Where there?s a need, there?s
an opportunity. My action may not turn a life around, but it can make some
kind of difference. And I?ll trust that the something I do, no matter how
small, will be better than the nothing I might have done.
– Steve Goodier
__________
Find Steve Goodier here: http://stevegoodier.blogspot.com/.
Newsletter: http://LifeSupportSystem.com.
by editor | May 26, 2012 | Lifestyle
Christian Louboutin & Celebrity Guests
From Across The Globe To Attend Exclusive Party In London
Acclaimed fashion icon Christian Louboutin and Martini celebrate the launch of a global search across 25 countries, for the next female supermodel to star in a TV commercial worth €150,000.
To launch the search, celebrity attendees included The Saturdays, David Gandy and fellow designer Matthew Williamson celebrated at the Design Museum London, home to Christian Louboutin’s exhibition, showcasing twenty years of his designs and inspiration.
The casting will go live across 25 countries on May 28th from Brazil to Spain, South Africa to Italy. The successful candidate will be chosen in October by Christian Louboutin and a high profile judging panel.
Instantly recognisable by their trademark shiny red-lacquered soles, Louboutin will be giving away 12 pairs of his famous shoes to the successful candidate chosen by the high profile selection panel.
The female casting star competition follows the successful launch of Martini’s ‘Luck Is An Attitude’ competition in 2011 to find a male model, launched by supermodel David Gandy.
by editor | May 26, 2012 | Lifestyle
Virgin Atlantic Launches London to Vancouver Service
Virgin Atlantic has made their inaugural flight of their new London to Vancouver service. Flights will initially operate four times a week from London Heathrow to Vancouver throughout the summer up until 27th October 2012. The British airline anticipates up to 40,000 passengers will travel on new route in the first season.
