Couple lures their 4-year-old son into trunk of car to cure his fear of the dark

Woman in trunk of car illustration 

 A couple was arrested, charged and convicted of child abuse related charges after they locked their son in the trunk of their car.

The couple of Pennsylvania, was accused of luring their 4-year-old son into the trunk of the car with sweets while the other two kids were in the backseat of the car.

The parents told the child to find the sweets they placed in the trunk. Once inside, the couple gave him a flashlight and closed the trunk.

They hoped that this would cure his fear of the dark.

26-year-old Jeffrey Lenhart, and his wife, Danielle, 24, of Latrobe, were charged with felony child neglect and reckless endangerment for locking their child in the car on three different occasions.

They drove about 10 miles from their home to the Idlewild Park in Ligonier. In a plea deal with prosecutors, the couple pleaded guilty to the charges and were ordered to serve two years probation. They were also ordered to attend an accelerated rehabilitation program.

The couple received the light sentence because they are first-time offenders. When they finish their probation the couple may be eligible to have their record expunged.

They will also be reunited with their children who have been living with family members.

# KIM #

Read More

Standardising higher education can lower the quality of Kenyan university graduates

Kamau has a choice of locating his new technology firm in Kenya or in Tanzania. The company relies heavily on telecommunications so he would care deeply about any burdensome regulations imposed on him by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK).

0
inShare

Now, imagine that CAK no longer focused on customer experiences as outcomes, but instead cared much more about outputs. The authority would begin to allow Kenyans to only own the outdated Nokia 1100 phones. Simultaneously, only old apps it approved could run on the phones.

Next, visualise that CAK regulated that no phone calls could last less than two minutes, but not longer than three minutes. Which company in its right mind would desire to operate in such a restrictive environment?

If CAK focused heavily on standardisation instead of customer experience, it would implement non-researched steps that kill business. Unfortunately, Kenya’s Commission for University Education (CUE) seems set on pursuing a similar real life situation.

Governments have learned the lessons also discovered by bilateral donors to not focus on outputs.

Every CEO knows that bureaucracy does not solve problems. Cures for small pox and polio did not originate from any government. Instead, private citizens strived to make a difference for society and were allowed the freedom to do so.

On the flip side, Kenyans do not desire a veritable Lord of the Flies situation where everyone fends for themselves without any government intervention. We all remember years ago when an institution came into Kenya from a neighbouring country and offered severely substandard education. The predecessor to CUE dealt with the situation appropriately.

Kenyans have grown to expect a strategic balance between the two extremes of tight controls versus no standards at all. They would not want the government to kill a mosquito with a hammer.

In the past 12 months, CUE began issuing directives to universities stipulating which syllabus must be used in each class. Every class of every course must teach almost the same topics and use the same textbooks.

France tried to standardise its post-secondary education following World War II to devastating effects. It lost its competitiveness to the UK with its storied rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge universities.

Many Kenyan universities teach the “theory of debt” that states companies should hold one-third debt and two-thirds equity. However, the theory is outdated, disproved and not relevant in today’s economy. Do parents want their children all learning such incorrect uniformly without allowing each lecturer to teach up-to-date well-researched theories and realities in their fields of expertise?

Even Harvard University holds dramatically different theories and views on financial economics than does the University of Chicago. The two institutions compete on Nobel Prize awards and their rival theories form the basis of financial markets around the world.

If those two institutions moved to Kenya, they would be forced to stop diversity of opinions and creativity arguably lowering quality to mediocre standards.

Next, CUE mandated that all management and governance structures in universities must be the same. At what point should government dictate boards of directors or management structures of any public or private industry?

Should smaller rural institutions be forced to do the same thing as big urban entities? Do all institutions have the same needs? Organisation development research shows such actions cause an over-organised situation that leads to slow responsiveness, lack of inventiveness and poorly educated students.

# KIM #

Read More

Didier Drogba: Chelsea re-sign club legend on free transfer

Striker Didier Drogba has re-signed for Chelsea on a one-year deal.

The Ivorian, 36, won 10 trophies at Chelsea from 2004 to 2012 and was a free agent after leaving Galatasaray.

Manager Jose Mourinho had earlier said the forward "belongs" at Stamford Bridge - but that any deal would be made "in a non-emotional way".

Drogba told Chelsea's official site:  "It was an easy decision - I couldn't turn down the opportunity to work with Jose again."

He said: "Everyone knows the special relationship I have with this club and it has always felt like home to me.

"My desire to win is still the same and I look forward to the opportunity to help this team. I am excited for this next chapter of my career."

Drogba's career at Chelsea
Debut: v Manchester United, 15 August 2004
First goal: v Crystal Palace, 24 August 2004
Appearances: 341
Goals: 157
Honours: Premier League: 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10; FA Cup: 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12; League Cup: 2004-05, 2006-07 Champions League: 2011-12
Premier League top goalscorer: 2007, 2010

Mourinho said: "He's coming because he's one of the best strikers in Europe.

"I know his personality very well and I know if he comes back he's not protected by history or what he's done for this club previously. He is coming with the mentality to make more history."

Drogba, who joined Chelsea from Marseille for £24m in July 2004, won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and a Champions League during his spell at Stamford Bridge.

Drogba wrote on his Instagram account: "So CFC offered me the opportunity to create more history with these guys - how could I say no? Thanks to the club and can't wait to see the fans again"

He left the club in 2012 after scoring the winning penalty in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

After a brief spell at Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua, Drogba joined Galatasaray in January 2013 and scored five goals in 13 league games as the Turkish club won the title.

The following season, the striker netted 10 times in 32 games as Galatasaray reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League - where they lost to Chelsea - and finished as runners-up to Fenerbahce in the Turkish league.

The Ivory Coast international was voted Chelsea's greatest ever player in a poll of fans in 2012 and has spoken of his close ties to the Blues.

His 34 goals for Chelsea in European competition remains a club record, as do his nine strikes in nine cup finals.

Drogba made an emotional return to Stamford Bridge last season with Galatasary in the Champions League quarter-finals

Mourinho had previously said: "If you bring him back it is not because he is Didier or scored the most important goal in the history of Chelsea, or because I read I need an assistant, no.

"We want to win matches and win titles and Didier is one of the best strikers in Europe. He is still very adapted to the needs of the Premier League and we are thinking about it in a non-emotional way."

Mourinho also intimated that Drogba, who made one start and two substitute appearances during the Ivory Coast's three games at the 2014 World Cup, would be a squad player.

He joins Fernando Torres, new signing Diego Costa, as well as Romelu Lukaku and Victor Moses, who both spent last season out on loan, as striking options at Stamford Bridge.

Drogba beats Manuel Neuer at the Allianz Arena in May 2012 as Chelsea won the Champions League final

Drogba wins the Champions League for the first time in Chelsea's history

The Didier Drogba banner at Stamford Bridge

# KIM #

Read More

Create an inviting hallway to your home

The biggest factor to consider is not to clutter your narrow hallway because that will close you in even more and have people knocking their toes as they enter the house. - Alec Davis, CEO of Davis and Shirtliff.

The introduction of entry hallways has been taken up in most house designs. However, this space which serves as the mirror into your home has for long been ignored or simply left bare.

0
inShare

There are many ways of jazzing up this often bare space to make it more welcoming into your home. Once the front door is closed behind you, the hallway stands alone in its welcome and sets the stage for the rest of your house.

If you have enough space, make this a room unto itself by placing a chair there which visitors can sit on as they wait to be ushered into the main sitting room. Although a narrow hallway presents design challenges, this can be overcome with ingenuity, using colour, lighting and great flooring.

The biggest factor to consider is not to clutter your narrow hallway because that will close you in even more and have people knocking their toes as they enter the house.

Colour

Wall colour is paramount when you’re decorating a narrow entry hallway. If there are no windows or direct source of natural light, create light with the wall colour. Choose a neutral tone that mixes well with your decorating scheme, preferably a shade that opens up the entrance and invites you to walk through.

White is stark, but may work if your decor is contemporary. A more traditional interior benefits from a pale yellow that casts a glow, or the lightest shade of pink or even a pale green or cream. In other words, make sure this space is not dark and unwelcoming.

Paint the trim the same colour, in semi-gloss. For an urban interior, paint a bold graphic that runs horizontally down the narrow hallway, leading the eye toward the rest of the house.

Do not create breaks in colour as you want the hallway to flow effortlessly.

Flooring

If you have wood or tile in the hallway, it’s difficult to change. But you can lay a runner over the floor, if necessary. Use a light-coloured carpet, such as a sculpted oatmeal or a sisal rug that blends with your wall colour.

An oriental carpet with a light-coloured background adds interest, as does a Japanese carpet designed in an open pattern featuring a gold design with red accents. Unlike the walls, the floor can have bold colours to give the room a bright look.

Don’t use a rug that has a cluttered look with too many patterns and avoid an industrial-looking doormat if you need a rug just inside the door.

Choose a wool rug in a medium or darker colour, such as sage green or olive in a patterned weave. Let the rug colour be one that is reflected in other main rooms of the house. These small rugs are easily cleaned so do not fear placing then at the door or in the hallway.

If you can, avoid using a rug altogether. Keep the decorating to a minimum in this room

# KIM #

Read More

Brazilian central bank frees up $13bn to boost economy

 

Brazil's central bank has announced plans to reduce the amount of money commercial banks keep in reserve, in a bid to boost economic growth.

The bank says the measure will free up some $13bn (£7.6bn), which banks could lend to businesses and individuals.

The Brazilian economy is expected to expand by 1% this year - the fourth consecutive year of sluggish growth.

The central bank announcement comes less than three months before presidential elections.

President Dilma Rousseff will seek a second four-year term in October.

In 2010, when she was elected, Brazilian gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.5%.

Growth dropped to 2.7% in 2011, 1% in 2012 and 2.5% last year.

'Chinese dependency'

The government is forecasting 1.8% growth this year, but independent economists expect the GDP to grow by only 1%.

"The central bank decided to adopt measures to improve the distribution of liquidity in the economy," the bank announced.

The decline in Brazil's fortunes, cutbacks in public services, continuing corruption and what is seen as excessive spending on the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics have brought protesters out on to the streets over the past year.

The economy had become over-dependent on exports to China under former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, analysts say.

Exports to China grew at roughly four times the rate of total exports between 2000 and 2010.

As Chinese demand fell away, Brazilian growth stuttered, weighed down by poor infrastructure, high consumer debt and sagging business confidence.

# KIM #

Read More

Banks will need Sh70 billion in new capital rules

It seems more Kenyan banks will be in the market soon for additional capital. It all began with Diamond Trust Bank, whose cash call from shareholders opened on June 30. The bank is looking to raise Sh3.6 billion to meet both its regulatory and business needs.

Joining the fray is NIC Bank. The lender said in June that it will seek additional capital through a corporate bond and a rights issue within the course of 2014.

But this could just be the tip of the iceberg since the 33 non-listed banks could also be involved in some form of capital raising.

But why are banks busy looking for additional capital? This is, for most part, regulatory driven.

First, the Central Bank of Kenya published new risk management guidelines requiring banks, with effect from January 2014, to hold capital charge for market and operational risks, which in effect increases their risky assets and hence the need for more capital.

Market risks are those generally associated with investments in instruments that are affected by daily movements in interest rates, such as government bonds (and are as such marked-to-market periodically).

Operational risks, in a strict sense, refer to risks associated with people, processes and systems. Previously, banks have been calculating the amount of capital they need to hold using credit risks only.

Secondly, a new set of prudential guidelines were issued, and this is where it gets a little tricky.

A new stipulation in the guidelines is the requirement that banks hold a capital conservation buffer of 2.5 per cent over and above the existing minimum ratios to enable them withstand unforeseen periods of stress.

This brings the minimum total capital to risk weighted assets requirements (commonly referred to as the capital adequacy ratio) to 14.5 per cent and takes effect in January 2015.

If this rule was to be brought forward and effected in the beginning of 2014, then four banks would not meet the requirement.

Actually, as per the Basel guidelines, this capital conservation buffer rule was meant to be applied to banks considered to be systemically important, or the so-called “too big to fail banks” (Basel SIFI Guidelines).

Ratio fell sharply

However, based on the above two guidelines from CBK, conservative estimates suggest that banks will need upto Sh70 billion to meet the new capital rules.

# KIM #

Read More

How Internet has changed the game for famous brands

"If Coca-Cola was to lose all its production-related assets in a disaster, the company would survive. By contrast, if all consumers were to have a sudden lapse of memory and forget everything related to Coca-Cola, the company would go out of business.”

2
inShare

This famous quote is attributed to one Coca-Cola marketing executive outlining just how valuable the brand was to the company’s fortunes. He was probably right.

In a 2007 survey of the value of global brands by branding agency Inter-brand, Coca-Cola’s brand equity was valued at $65.3 billion (Sh5.7 trillion), just under half the company’s true market value. This goes to show just how much of its success is attributable to the brand it has created rather than the product it produces.

Traditionally, brands and brand loyalty were built on standard quality, prime exposure and extended time. You had to have a fairly standard product that was well publicised over a long time and slowly the brand sank into people’s subconsciousness.

The traditional strength of the brand used to be determined by the dictates of being the pioneer vendor with a mass product and massive advertising budget.

Couple that with the growth of mass media and in-your-face advertising and we saw the latter half of the 20th Century create one of the most brand-conscious generations in history.

The successful pioneers in mass market categories ended up creating near cult-like following and almost attaining monopolistic proportions.

If a radio was made by Sony, film by Kodak, detergent by Unilever, salon car by Peugeot, ketchup by Heinz, you had no qualms second guessing its quality.

It was not long ago that the product became the definitive identity of the category – consumers started thinking that all powdered detergents were called Omo, all margarines Blue Band and all cola sodas Coke.

Brands, like wine, became better with age and hence their value as such directly grew over time. It is this notion of longetivity that saw many advertising slogans add “since *insert ancient year here*” to their taglines to prove to customers that they have been here long enough to know what they are doing.

But then the rug of brand positioning as we knew it is quickly being pulled beneath our feet. The idea of standard quality exposed over a long time as the definitive element of a stable brand has been proven to be quicksand as the 21st Century has conjured to create a whole new element of what brand represents.

One of the factors proving to be a myth is that of lengthy exposure time as the ultimate determinant of brand depth and stability. Long gone are the days when the only brands that stood out were from companies that have been in existence for a couple of decades.

Now we are faced with the prospect of overnight successes. Consider a child born on September 3, 1998. She has to wait till September this year before she can celebrate her sweet 16 birthday.

Yet she can boast of being older than Google (at least by a day), LinkedIn (founded December 2002), Facebook (founded February 4, 2004) and a cool eight years older than Twitter (founded March 21, 2006). Even the first iPhone was only launched seven years ago on June 29, 2007.

Yet she will have grown in a world where these specific brands are as ubiquitous and probably just as valuable as iconic car brands such as Mercedes (1926), Ford (1903) and even the everlasting Coca Cola (1892).

# KIM #

Read More