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2015년 4월 20일 월요일

[Government Offices of Sweden] The Government honours Max Martin and Spotify

Press release
19 March 2015
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

The Government honours Max Martin and Spotify

The Government's 2014 Music Export Prize for extraordinary services to Swedish music exports goes to songwriter and producer Max Martin, whose real name is Martin Sandberg. Uniquely this year, the winner of the Music Export Prize is also awarded this year's Special Prize for long-standing contributions to Swedish music and for spreading a positive image of Sweden abroad. Spotify is awarded the commendation for achievements of particular importance to the internationalisation of Swedish music.

Time and place

Time and place: Bank Hall, Malmtorgsgatan 3, Stockholm, 15.30-16.30

"Sweden's music exports are an essential part of the modern image of Sweden abroad and therefore not only constitute an important industry but, from my perspective, a very important component of the broad and successful efforts to promote Sweden," says Minister for Enterprise and Innovation Mikael Damberg.

Max Martin behind some of last years biggest hit songs

Max Martin, who will come in person to the MFA Bank Hall on 19 March to accept the prize, was awarded the eighteenth Music Export Prize with the following explanatory statement:

"Max Martin is one of the writers behind some of last year's biggest hit songs, such as 'Dark Horse' with Katy Perry and the two songs 'Shake It Off' and 'Blank Space' with Taylor Swift. All three have topped the US Billboard Hot 100 list in 2014. He has once again shown that he is one of the most prominent names in international pop music. The fact that in the same year he was also awarded a Grammy for 'Producer of the Year', an ASCAP Pop Music Award for 'Songwriter of the Year' and a Swedish Grammy for 'Composer of the Year' only strengthens his unique position. He was also involved in the version of the Swedish national anthem used in the Volvo advertisement with Zlatan that was shown all over the world. His 19th number one hit on the Billboard list in 2014 makes him the third most successful songwriter in the history of the list."

The other nominees for the Prize were Anders Hillborg, First Aid Kit, Sabaton and Tove Lo.

Special Prize

For the first time in the history of the Prize, the winner of the Music Export Prize is also awarded this year's Special Prize. The Special Prize goes to a figure in the music industry who has made a long-standing contribution to Swedish music exports or has spread Swedish music abroad, thus helping promote a positive image of Sweden.

The explanatory statement reads:
"Martin Sandberg, alias Max Martin, is one of the world's most successful songwriters and producers. For over 15 years, this pop music genius has provided the world with songs, melodies and productions that have triumphed on all imaginable top lists around the world. Due to his exceptional feeling and creativity for harmonies and details, every superstar today wants to work with him. As a journalist for the New Yorker expressed it, he has fundamentally changed the way we perceive melodies. He is also a pioneer who for decades has been a role model and inspiration for other talented people; as a result, Sweden has produced some of the world's most prominent songwriters. He has opened the way for what we call 'the Swedish music sensation' and placed Sweden on the map as one of the world's most successful countries when it comes to writing and exporting music. With 19 number one hits on the Billboard list he is one of the most successful music creators of all time, and now belongs to a top trio alongside Beatles icons Paul McCartney and John Lennon."
Commendation for achievements of particular importance

This year, the commendation for achievements of particular importance to the internationalisation of Swedish music is awarded to Spotify. The prize is intended for recipients who are not composers, songwriters, producers, musicians or other practitioners, but who have nonetheless made an important contribution to the international success of Swedish music. This prize will only be awarded when there are special grounds to do so.

The explanatory statement reads:
"This year's commendation goes to a ground-breaking company that has markedly changed our way of consuming music. Its service has initiated a development that has spread around the entire world and provides hope to an industry that has been in crisis for many years. All eyes are now on Sweden, which, thanks to this music service, has become a bellwether for the global music industry. This year's commendation goes to Spotify."

2014년 12월 20일 토요일

[USNews] 3 Standout Tech Trends in 2014

3 Standout Tech Trends in 2014

User experience innovations, the cloud and the rise of social impact investing show what's next for tech.

These trends change how we do business.

By Lisa Chau and Allison KonkelDec. 11, 2014 | 12:20 p.m. EST+ More

Technology trends are ever-evolving, and 2015 will undoubtedly be filled with cutting-edge innovations, standout entrepreneurs and industry disruption. Often, a review of the preceding year can provide glimpses of what the new one may bring. Looking back at 2014, three big trends stand out:

User experience design is changing business models. There’s no question that a customer’s digital experience with a particular brand directly impacts the brand's success. Regardless of the medium, user experience or UX must be prioritized in terms of overall business strategy, especially as the demand for personalized content and connected device usage grows. Successful startups are now taking a proactive approach by incorporating holistic digital experience strategies from inception (instead of building this in later, which would leave them behind the curve among rivals). UX designers have seen a dramatic uptick in demand; tech giants like IBM, which invested $100 million into UX design this year, are better understanding the importance of leading with UX to remain relevant and competitive as they work to keep up with new players in the field. Startups like Warby Parker and Frank & Oak are proving the UX value proposition as they all leverage streamlined user experiences that also emphasize customer feedback and support.

[SEE: Political Cartoons on the Economy]

The cloud is being demystified (and consumerized). While the cloud has been a place of operation (and transition) for some time now, our increasing connectivity to one another and our devices (think everything from Fitbit to Nest), makes the cloud primed and ready for an influx of consumer interest and data. There are already 1.9 billion devices that are part of the so-called Internet of Things, withpredictions that numbers will reach 26 billion by 2020. As consumers now use the cloud for everything from photos to music to analyzing their daily number of steps to energy usage at home (and more), it has already become less of an enigma and more of a familiar function in everyday life. Consumer understanding is far better than it was a year ago. As this process accelerates, the amount of data will grow accordingly and open up incredible opportunities for innovators and entrepreneurs to develop new tools to analyze and apply the data collected. The world will see new possibilities for saving energy, living healthier lives and making smarter decisions.

[READ: Don't Get Dumped]

The rise of social impact entrepreneurship and investment. Technology has touched practically every vertical when it comes to sparking disruption. Most notably, social impact took center stage this year. Innovators and entrepreneurs are looking to technologies that enable and support communication, education, funding, transportation and more to solve society’s biggest challenges – from the local community level all the way up to a global scale. Startups like Timshel, Save Water Co., Atikus Insurance, Girls Who Code, d.light, Impact Engine, The Immunity Project and Sapphire Energy are focused on developing and providing solutions that are truly effective in initiating change within communities here in the U.S. and abroad. As a result, social impact investing has increased and ispredicted to reach between $400 billion and $1 trillion by 2020 . The paradigm is clearly shifting because investors are seeing that social impact startups can provide positive financial returns while supporting technology and innovation as ways to improve our world.

Technology is exciting because it’s never static – it is a space where innovation and creativity are celebrated, and these are only three trends of many in the space that have emerged over the last year. These concepts will likely evolve and be disrupted within a short period of time, which ultimately is what makes tech so interesting.

[Business Insider] Denmark Just Claimed The North Pole

POLITICSMore: Denmark Arctic Russia Military

Denmark Just Claimed The North Pole

JEREMY BENDER

DEC. 15, 2014, 9:47 PM
9,821

Competition in the Arctic is heating up as Denmark has laid claim to the North Pole.

Copenhagen is citing scientific data showing that Greenland, which is an autonomous country within Denmark, sits atop a continental shelf connected to a ridge beneath the Arctic Circle. The Associated Press reports that Danish Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard said this new information provides the country with a claim to the region and, more critically, the energy resources thought to be in the Arctic,

Lidegaard said Denmark would take its claim to the UN for an eventual decision on the control of the area.

"This is a historical milestone for Denmark and many others as the area has an impact on the lives of lot of people. After the UN panel had taken a decision based on scientific data, comes a political process," Lidegaard told the AP on Friday. "I expect this to take some time. An answer will come in a few decades."

The US currently estimates that the Arctic sea bed could contain 15% of the earth's remaining oil, along with 30% of the planet's natural gas and 20% of its liquefied natural gas. Whichever country is able to successfully claim the Arctic would have the right to extract these resources.

Council on Foreign RelationsDenmark has claimed the North Pole.

Currently, five countries lay competing claims to the Arctic: the US, Canada, Russia, Norway, and Denmark. Each of these nations borders the Arctic Ocean and is free to pursue its own policies within its declared Arctic boundaries.

By claiming that a ridge connects Greenland to the Arctic sea bed, though, Denmark could hypothetically lay complete claim to any mineral and petroleum wealth that could be discovered on the ocean floor.

Beyond natural wealth, whichever country controls the Arctic can claim control over the Northern Sea Route. Once more of the polar sea ice melts, shipping over the top of the world will become the quickest way to move goods around the world. The route, which Russia wants to control, would take only 35 days to ship from Europe to Asia compared to the 48-day journey between the continents via the Suez Canal. arctic ice northwest passage map

Business Insider AustraliaThe Northern Sea Route.

In trying to lay claim to the Arctic, Denmark will likely find itself butting heads with Russia.

Moscow has also claimed that based on scientific research, a Russian continental shelf extends further below the pole than previously contended. Russia's natural resources minister said that Moscow would seek to expand its Arctic borders by 1.2 million square kilometers through the UN.

Russia is simultaneously embarking upon a rapid militarization of its Arctic coast. Moscow has opened its third military port, out of a proposed 16, along the Arctic. By 2025, Russia also hopes to also have 13 airfields and 10 air-defense radar stations in the region.

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[Business Insider] The 20 Best Cities On The Planet

LIFEMore: Cities World Ranking Smart

The 20 Best Cities On The Planet

MEGAN WILLETT

MAY 14, 2014, 1:44 PM
328,195
69

ShutterstockTokyo topped the ranking with impressive technology, economy, and an ability to attract talent from all over the world.

With globalization, climate change, and social and economical challenges, today’s world cities need to adapt like never before.

The IESE Business School in Spain is out with its annual Cities in Motion Index (ICIM), which ranks the world’s best ("smartest") cities — those that have the highest levels of innovation, sustainability, and quality of life. This year, Tokyo came in first with its impressive public management, technology, economy, and the ability to attract talent from all over the world.

To establish the ranking, researchers studied 135 cities across 55 countries, and based their results on over 50 indicators along 10 different dimensions including governance, public management, urban planning, technology, environment, international outreach, social cohesion, mobility and transportation, human capital (ability to attract talent), and economy. (You can read more about the categories and methodology here.)

Of the top 20 cities, 10 are European (London, Paris, Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Zürich, Basel, and Geneva), six are in the U.S. (New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Baltimore), three are in Asia (Tokyo, Seoul, and Osaka), and one is Oceanian (Sydney). Below is the full list of the top 20 cities:

Tokyo
London
New York
Zürich
Paris
Geneva
Basel
Osaka
Seoul
Oslo
Philadelphia
Los Angeles
Dallas
Copenhagen
Eindhoven
Amsterdam
Sydney
Stockholm
Chicago
Baltimore

Out of all 135 cities researched, Barcelona is the metropolis that made the best progress overall, moving from 63rd to 51st place in only two years, according to IESE. Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic ranked last, mostly due to low ratings in transportation, technology, human capital, and economy.

After Santo Domingo, the bottom cities were mostly in Brazil, including Fortaleza (133), Recife (132), Brasilia (131), Belo Horizonte (129), Porto Alegre (128), and Salvador (127). Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, was ranked 134, La Paz, Bolivia, was ranked 130, and Caracas, Venezuela, was ranked 126 to round out the bottom 10 cities.

You can also see an interactive map of the cities in each country by going to the IESE Cities In Motion Index 2014 website. IESE Top Cities index 2014

IESE Cities in Motion Index (ICIM)

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[Business Insider] 7 Reasons You Should Teach Your Kids To Speak French

7 Reasons You Should Teach Your Kids To Speak French

BUSINESS INSIDER

DEC. 16, 2014, 4:56 PM
2,883

REUTERS/Jean-Paul PelissierMarion Cotillard poses on the red carpet as she arrives for the screening of the film "Blood Ties" during the 66th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes May 20, 2013.

There's an argument to be made that we should stop teaching French in schools.

In The New Republic last year, John McWhorter wrote about why we should stop pretending French is an important language, noting that Chinese, Arabic, and Spanish are far more useful in today's global society.

The piece came in response to a New York Times article about an initiative from the French government to increase the amount of French instruction in American schools.

And in The Spectator, Liam Mullone makes a "moral" argument against teaching the language, saying it perpetuates France's involvement in some of Africa's most devastating countries, including French-speaking Ivory Coast and Chad and Mali.

But here's why they are wrong, and everyone should learn French.

1) For English speakers, French is the easiest language to learn.

You may have heard it's Spanish. That cannot possibly be true though, because English is actually the mutant stepchild of German and French, and it got most of its genes from its Gallic side. In fact for several centuries French was the official language of the English court. The list of English words with French roots is basically infinite.

2) Learning French makes learning Spanish way easier.

If you're reading this, we probably don't need to spell out all the socioeconomic benefits that come with learning a second language. We again assume America's natural inclination is to learn Spanish (we'll exclude Chinese). Since French and Spanish are the mutant step children of Latin, you can practically cut out a step if you ever decide to take up Spanish. And If you already know Spanish, it requires very little effort to make the jump to French.

3) All over Europe, French is still the main second language taught in school.

Forget about the Nordic countries, who've consciously abandoned their own languages for English — their languages were never important to begin with. When I lived in France, I found it impossible to communicate with the kids from Italy, China, Japan, and Mexico in anything other than French. Nor was English an option when I traveled to Poland and the Czech Republic.

Here is how the French government defines what it calls "the sphere of French language." It's much larger than you think:

French Foreign Ministry

4) If you want to understand modern China and Russia, you need to know French.

Wikimedia CommonsBataille de Fleurus, by Jean-Baptiste Mauzaisse

For all the good stuff it led to, the French Revolution gave the world its first glimpse at totalitarianism. The Russian Revolution of 1917 was basically an attempt to reenact that part of the French Revolution. And Mao's Communist revolution in China was basically an attempt to reenact the Russian Revolution. This is why Alexis de Tocqueville's book on the tragedy recently became a best-seller. Yeah, you can get it in English. But translations suck — and who is going to do the translations in the first place if we run out of French speakers?

5) Half of Africa speaks French.

To continue on the China point: As you've probably heard, Chinese corporations have begun flooding into Africa, where deals are cheap and resources are abundant. French speaking countries, Algeria top among them, comprise a significant chunk of that investment. Half of the top-10 fastest growing countries in Africa have French as an official language. We can thus expect Africa to be an increasing focus of global trade and international relations.

6) Americans still hear French all the time.

screenshot/YouTubeJean DuJardin in "The Wolf of Wall Street."

If you live in New York or Washington, you probably catch snippets of French conversation on the subway all the time. Ever wanted to be treated like an American hero? Give out directions to a lost French tourist family in their own language.

It also pops up in movies and TV shows. Knowing I spoke French, one of the first things my family asked me after seeing "Wolf of Wall Street" was what Jean DuJardin and Leo DiCaprio were saying to each other in the Geneva negotiation scene.

7) French politics is the greatest show in news.

Reuters

Regularly reading the news can get depressing. The best cure for this, which your child will come to appreciate, is reading news out of France. Nothing too terrible ever really happens there these days. As a result, the French end up putting themselves in absurd situations to make life more interesting. You may have heard French President Francois Hollande was caught last year leaving his attractive actress mistress' house wearing a ridiculous motorcycle helmet. In the U.S., this would have resulted in scandal. In France, this resulted in a resurgence in Hollande's popularity.

Bottom line: For relatively minimal effort, you can learn a second language that will allow you to access useful, important and entertaining stuff.

The original version of this story was written by Rob Wile. Edited by Julie Zeveloff.

2014년 12월 13일 토요일

[Business Insider] What I Wish I Had Known About Money When I Was 21

Your MoneyMore: Credit.com Twentysomethings Personal Finance

What I Wish I Had Known About Money When I Was 21

GERRI DETWEILER, CREDIT.COM

APR. 30, 2014, 12:43 PM
81,569
4

Flickr/Leo Hidalgo

At 21, young people have all the financial responsibilities of adults ... without much experience managing them.

So we asked some of your elders (via Facebook and Twitter) what they wish they'd known earlier — or the best advice they'd been given.

Many pointed out that in young adulthood, time is on your side. You may not have much money, but if you put some aside, it has lots of time to grow — and the money you put aside now will have a huge effect on the amount you have when you retire. (And yes, I know how hard it is to think about retirement when you are just beginning your career.)

But save — save as much as you can. There will always be killer deals and other temptations, but the money you can save now will be incredibly valuable — whether you are saving it for retirement or for a trip you'll never forget.

Time is on your side in another way, too. You have time to travel, to decide what's important to you, to pick a life partner (or not) and to decide where to live. Chances are, you have lots of years ahead of you. You don't have to rush other life decisions (though getting started on saving is crucial).

How to Save It

Savings tips from Twitter and Facebook included:

Learn to cook. It's easier to save money when you pack lunches and can make tasty and nutritious foods yourself.
From financial columnist and author Kathy Kristof: "Start saving young. Even though you think you're too poor, your financial obligations only increase as you age. And by starting young, you let compound interest do most of the work for you. Consider ... if you saved $250 a month starting at age 25, when you're 65, you would have $1,581,000 (and change). The total amount that you saved was $120,000. If you wait until you're age 35, your nest egg will be one-third as large — $565,000. In fact, if you save from 25 to 35, you could stop saving completely and still be better off than the person who started at 35 and saved for the rest of their career. That's compound interest for you ... Einstein reportedly called it the most powerful force in the universe."
Putting something aside in your 20s can help keep you from panicking about retirement in your 40s.
Live with roommates — and don't get a car unless you live in a city that absolutely demands it. In that case, drive a beater (hopefully one you paid for with cash). That old car will likely have far lower insurance premiums than a newer model, too.
"Start a savings account and pay yourself first. Look up your checking balance every couple days."

Where to Spend Money

If you've economized where you can, hopefully you have some money you can spend. And despite everything we're telling you about saving, it's also important to think about how to spend your time and money, even when you have plenty of the former and not so much of the latter. Know what is most important to you, and don't be afraid to spend money on the things that are!

In fact, travel came up a lot in the financial advice for 21-year-olds. When you're young, you're more likely to happily enjoy some of the cheapest options available (less-than-luxurious accommodations, unpopular flights, short-term jobs). And you may be able to fit all your worldly goods in a car trunk or trailer. Done right, travel is not necessarily expensive. It might even cause you to reconsider some of the things you thought you "needed" for a comfortable lifestyle. I regret not traveling more when I was younger. (But as one man noted, it's not as if you can't start seeing the world later — it will likely be a bit more complex to arrange it, though.)

Credit

If you've not had a credit card in your own name before, now's the time to do that, assuming you have an income. And though the credit card "limit" logically seems like the amount you can spend, if your balance is more than 30% of your limit, your credit scores are likely to suffer. (Keeping it to 10% or less is even better.)

Before you apply for a card, though, be almost certain you will qualify for it. Some cards require high credit scores, and some are geared toward people who do not have them. (The ones judged more creditworthy generally get better terms.) But anytime you apply, it counts as a "hard inquiry," and that reduces your score just a little for a short time. You can buy scores or get them for free online from Credit.com. Checking your score monthly can give you an idea of where you stand and suggestions for how to improve your scores. Your credit scores come from proprietary formulas using the information in your credit reports — and you can get a look at those for free once a year from each of the three credit bureaus. It's important to make sure the information on these reports is accurate and to dispute it if it's not. Checking credit reports is a smart financial habit — develop it while you're young.

The credit advice from your elders:

Don't charge anything that will be gone when the bill arrives — dinners out, concert tickets, etc. (Yes, we know about rewards cards, but if you're new at handling your finances independently, it's smart to establish the habit of paying the balance in full every month before applying for a card that incentivizes spending.)
"Make keeping your credit healthy as big of a priority as keeping your body healthy. With a few exceptions, if you can't pay cash for it, you probably don't need it that bad." (We would add that keeping your body healthy can also be good for your finances, with lower insurance rates and health care costs.)
"Beware of anyone who is quick to tell you, 'You can afford the payments, and I know people that can finance almost anyone.'"
"Find a banker to explain how loans work. Stay out of debt as long as you can."
"Learn something about auto financing before you are in a dealership buying your first car."

Have a Plan

You need a budget. No one likes the b-word, so think of it as a spending plan. It's your road map to those travel adventures and to financial comfort in your old age. If you have never made one, there's lots of advice online, as well as books and classes to help you learn. If you have a life partner, make sure the two of you are on the same page. Also know that you will have to make choices and trade-offs. You may be able to do all the things that are important to you, but you probably can't do them all at the same time. A couple of observations from people who aren't 21 anymore:

"If you marry and have children really early, you could end up living with your in-laws in your 30s while you finish school."
"Think about where you get your first or second job because you may end up living there forever."

And last, a couple of warnings — don't even think of buying a house unless you are pretty sure you'll want to stay put for at least five years, and don't spend too much on happy hour or at casinos. (Remember that budget?)

Enjoy — you're learning about yourself, the world and your finances. Accept that you'll learn some of it by making mistakes. And before you know it, you'll be past 25 and offering your own sage advice.

Contributing: Bev O'Shea

the Romantic Movement