Business

Dear Premier, I am writing to you today about an issue that was brought to light late last week regarding a craft brewery called Forked River Brewing Company that operates in my riding of London-Fanshawe. They are a local business established in 2012 by three former Western University students. These entrepreneurs have made an investment in our community and have been running a successful craft brewery for over two years. They would now like to expand their business and create local jobs by opening a retail store at which to sell their product. Unfortunately, the owners of the brewery are facing a serious barrier to their ability to open a retail store; a barrier that hinges on a technicality in the policies of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Premier, please ensure that...
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Dear Fellow Shareholders: For some time we have been seeking to see increased value delivered to the shareholders of JDSU, who have suffered several years of under-performance, missed expectations, and broken promises at the hands of the Company’s existing management team and Board of Directors (the “Board”). While the proposed spin-off of the Company’s CCOP business was a positive development, we and many other investors, in addition to numerous members of the analytical community, have thought that a sale of CCOP prior to a spin-off would ultimately result in more value accruing to the shareholders of JDSU. Recent actions suggest to us, however, that the Company does not intend to sell CCOP prior to its spin-off, and has filed documents with the SEC discussing the proposed CCOP spin-...
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Dear Australian retail industry, I’ve had enough of you. I’m sick of your fortnightly catalogues offering the latest home wares to redecorate my home for spring, or winter, or whatever the next season may be. And don’t forget the end of year silly seasons garlands you feel we must have. And really, who needs Easter decorations? One of you retail giants reckon I should fill my house with paper chickens and bunnies in soft pastel colours for four days in April. I mean, really? Who are these people that buy it? Is it that no one buys it and that’s why it’s on sale at the end of the four day weekend? ‘Stock up for next year,‘ a sales assistant told me last year. Please. Be. Joking. And tell me, what is the point of kitchen utensils that are cheaper than a bus ticket? Anyone...
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Dear Mr Jaitley, Even though the government overshot its fiscal deficit target—4.1% of gross domestic product—for the year in the first nine months of 2014-15, we are fairly confident that you will succeed in sticking to it by paring expenditure in the January-March fourth quarter, taking care of lower revenue collection. We are also certain that you will reiterate your commitment to fiscal consolidation when you present the Union budget over the weekend. The purpose of writing this letter is not to outline an agenda for stimulating public investment, bringing down fiscal deficit, and launching big and bold reforms but to flag an issue which is very critical for the nation’s economic growth—reforms in public sector banks (PSBs), which account for 70% of the banking industry. You didn’t...
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Dear Tim and Art, I hope I find you both in good health. As you know, I have followed the technology industry for nearly two decades. In that time, Apple has re-invented a few industries: computers via the iMac, music players and their distribution via the iPod and iTunes, computing platforms again via the iPad, and the handset industry via the iPhone. The success of these products has led to an annual revenue base approaching $170bn, and operating profits and free cash flow in the $40bn-50bn range. It has also allowed you to amass a net cash position in the $150bn range and a market capitalisation sitting around $460bn today. All these are staggering and very large numbers; however, therein lies the rub. I think the key to Apple’s future and investors’ perception is not how many...
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Dear Business Manager, You, and others in your industry, have recently been suffering “the slings and arrows” of public vilification every time you have a conference, sales meeting or strategic planning retreat. BSC Management, Inc., has introduced “Ethical Events,” which will address the negative public perception with good works. Ethical Events will turn condemnation into approbation. We will help change the impression, but not the content, of your meetings in a well-planned and highly organized socially conscious event. How? For example, we may: Pair your company with a local non profit affiliate Plan break-out sessions at a local hospital Organize some time feeding the homeless in a soup kitchen or building houses for the poor Arrange for you to mentor students in financial...
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Dear Pet Industry Federation, In your recent article 'Politics and Puppies' on the Pet Industry Federation (PIF) website, your chief executive Nigel Baker has finally provided the official industry response to last September's backbench debate on the sale of puppies in pet shops. He generously recognises the achievement of myself and supporters of PupAid's campaign in significantly surpassing the 100,000 signatures needed to trigger the debate. Possibly Mr Baker and Pet Industry Federation had not anticipated such a tremendous groundswell of public opinion on this issue but the impending event forced Pet Industry Federation into action and a week before the debate, Pet Industry Federation circulated an email to MPs urging them not to support a ban on puppies sold in pet shops...
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I was a resident of Freiburg from 2001 to 2009 with an artist visa. In 2002 I arranged with Volksbank Freiburg for my artwork to be transported from New York to Freiburg for exhibition. Volksbank paid a portion of the transport costs and for the insurance. The shipment was also supported with a grant from the Freiburg Kulturamt. In the course of shipping over 30 paintings were lost/stolen and that many more damaged, some beyond repair. About 100 drawings were also damaged. The shipping was carried out by Artsped Schutz and their affiliate in New York, Transcon International. When the shipment arrived at Artsped Schutz after a 2 month delay they unpacked the container without me being present, as required by law. They informed me the next day of the arrival and assured me ‘alles ist in...
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Dear Council of State, Parliament and City of Helsinki In the framework decisions of the Council of State (March 2014) it is proposed that the State will give up Helsinki-Malmi Airport “in order to improve the prerequisites of housing production in Helsinki region“. City of Helsinki, however, according to its own information, has enough building land to last until the 2030’s even in its fast growth scenario. In addition to this, the new metropolitan government will make a huge land reserve available to city planning in the near future. http://bit.ly/land-reserve In the future, Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport will not be able to serve unscheduled traffic flexibly. Even today, a time slot for using its runways must be applied for hours in advance. Malmi is the only...
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