Time to Redefine Telecom

by: Burak Fenercioglu

Telecommunication, according to Wikipedia, is the extension of communication over a distance. In practice, it also recognizes that something may be lost in the process; hence the term 'telecommunication' covers all forms of distance and/or conversion of the original communications, including radio, telegraphy, television, telephony, data communication and computer networking.
While defining telecom gets more and more difficult, the profit and ethics behind the business keep on diminishing. SBC spent $16B to a company whose revenue stream is declining more than 10% year over year. Verizon bought MCI, and in order to make deal lucrative, they say they will layoff over 7,000 people.The reason for scaling-down in telecom is that the technological advancement has terribly been focused on communications. We all owe a thank to nineties for that... Lots of technical people has seen the future in Telecom and made huge amounts of mind investment to the business. Today, we are forced to live in an overly competitive industry where telecom is forced to be cheaper everyday. To make matters worse, a company called Skype appeared. This global P2P Telephony Company decided to make old fashioned definition of telecom a commodity through its software, which allows you to make free calls over the Internet. Other emerging companies like Net2Phone and 8x8 also flocked customers to make cheaper (sometimes free) calls....more

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Economics is not widely considered to be one of the sexier sciences. The annual Nobel Prize winner in that field never receives as much publicity as his or her compatriots in peace, literature, or physics. But if such slights are based on the notion that economics is dull, or that economists are concerned only with finance itself, Steven D. Levitt will change some minds. In Freakonomics (written with Stephen J. Dubner), Levitt argues that many apparent mysteries of everyday life don't need to be so mysterious: they could be illuminated and made even more fascinating by asking the right questions and drawing connections. For example, Levitt traces the drop in violent crime rates to a drop in violent criminals and, digging further, to the Roe v. Wade decision that preempted the existence of some people who would be born to poverty and hardship....more.

Financial Engineering Principles:
A Unified Theory for Financial Product Analysis and Valuation

Stock, bonds, cash . . . the investment mind is often programmed. The reality is that most investors think in terms of single asset classes, and allocate money to them accordingly. The unique contribution of First Principles: An Investor's Guide to Building Bridges Across Financial Products is that, for the first time, a single unified valuation approach is available to use for all financial products. This book shows you how to focus on the dynamics of processes and interrelationships of different investment choices, providing the reader with a financial toolbox to equips any investor with the knowledge to de-construct and value any financial product, making it a must if youre a portfolio manager or an individual investors interested in building the optimal portfolio.....more

If You Drive - Consider A Greener Fuel As Smog Season Begins

by: News Canada

(NC)-As the first smog alert warnings of the season approach, Canadians are being urged to use ethanol-blended fuel to alleviate the urban smog problems plaguing many parts of the country. Many regions such Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and most parts of Ontario have experienced a significant increase in the number of "smog days" in recent years and the problem is getting worse according the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association. Mr. Bliss Baker, President of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA), suggests commuters and other motorists fill-up with.....more

Debt Help Online - How To Rebuild Your Credit By Consolidating Debt

by: Carrie Reeder

By consolidating your debt you can rebuild your credit by making on time payments, paying off your debts, and increasing your cash reserves. Depending on your debt load, you can improve your credit situation within two years, enabling to qualify for better loan terms.
Consolidating Debts....more

Financial Risk Manager Handbook

A comprehensive reference and training guide for financial risk managementRisk professionals looking to earn the Financial Risk Manager (FRM") certification, corporate training programs, professors, and graduate students all rely on one book for the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on financial risk management-the Financial Risk Manager Handbook....more