Temporary Capital Cost Allowance

Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government is providing a temporary 100% capital cost allowance (CCA) rate on new computer hardware and systems software acquired after January 27, 2009, and before February 1, 2011. This new temporary CCA rate allows businesses to fully deduct the cost of eligible computers in just one year.

New general-purpose electronic data processing equipment and systems software that are acquired by a taxpayer for use in a business in Canada are eligible. This includes ancillary data processing equipment and systems software.

To learn more, visit the Department of Finance Canada website.

Crime prevention

Over the past weekend a sneaky criminal broke into a storage container we have on site. Fortunately, we do not store anything of high value. We use it primarily to store wooden shipping pallets for when we sent goods to our distributors overseas. But nonetheless it is a nuisance. The criminal wanted to see what was inside the boxes so they cut open many of them and in the process made a mess.

In this case we had three locks on the container including one that is inside a welded metal box which is supposed to make it difficult for thieves to use bolt cutters. I can only imagine that this individual had a special set of right angle bolt cutters that could navigate the security box. For now I only hope that this burgular now knows there is nothing of value in this container so they will not return.

The lesson for today was that the police do want victims to report all crimes. At first I thought I would just get over it and move on but after talking to my landlord he mentioned that I should report the crime. By the end of the day when I had some spare time I called the RCMP and to my surprise they even sent an officer to my location. I chatted with the officer and she mentioned that they will in fact increase patrols and make a note to check on our specific location. Wow, I was surprised. She also told me that in fact these reports do help them in apprehending these criminals as the statistics and patterns do emerge with more data.

As for what we can do to prevent property crimes:
- increase visibility add lights
- we are working with the landlord to and cameras
- do not become complacent

Notice_The Confirmation of Intellectual Property Scam

You are probably aware of the Nigerian email scams by now. But have you gotten this one from China? A seemingly responsible company in China has noticed that someone is trying to register your domain. Doing their due diligence they are looking to contact the rightful owner to confirm your partnership.

Here is a copy of my latest letter.

Subject: Notice__The Confirmation Of Intellectual Property Date: Mon 6/29/2009 8:16 PM

Dear Sir/Madam:

This is the China Internet Service Provider, who mainly duty for domain name and the Internet Trademark registration work.

Here, we have some important thing confirm with your company .On June 29th 2009,We received an formal application ,one company named "Meihua Investment Group"
want to register "yourdomain" as their CN/ASIA domain names and Internet Trademark on Internet .

After our initial examination, we find the domain name and the Internet Trademark applied for registration are the same with your company's name and trademark. One point
need you to confirm that whether the alleged Meihua Investment Group is your business partner or distributor in Asia?

If like that,we will finish the group's application. If the group is not you partner, please let the someone who is responsible for this matter to contact us as soon as possible to deal
with the matter. Thank you!

Looking forward to hearing your reply!

Best regards!

Alice Xia
Auditing Department:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
China Internet Service Provider:
Yiguan(Shanghai) IT Co.,Ltd
Tel : 0086-021-6296 2950
Fax: 0086-021-6296 1557
Mail:alice@dnisp.cn
Web:www.dnisp.cn
Mail No.:200030
-----------------------------------------

They want me to hire them to dispute the evil Meihua investment company. Little do they know that supposedly another nefarious company, Z-S Media, already has my domain in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan etc. in 2008.


Dear CEO,

We are the department of registration service in China. We have something need to confirm with you. We formally received an application. One company which called "Z-S Media Corporation." are applying to register "YourCompany" as internet brand and CN domain names “www.yourdomain.cn & www.yourdomain.com.cn & www.yourdomain.net.cn & www.yourdomain.org.cn & www.yourdomain.hk & www.yourdomain.com.hk & www.yourdomain.tw & www.yourdomain.com.tw” on March 31, 2008. After our initial examination, we found that the internet brand applied for registration are as same as your company's name and trademark.These days we are dealing with it, hope to get the affirmation from your company. If your company has not authorized the aforesaid company to register these, Please contact us as soon as possible. In addition, we hereby affirm that our time limit for dissent application is 15 days. If your company files no dissent within the time limit, we will unconditionally approve the application submitted by "Z-S Media Corporation.".

Best regards,
Jimmy Liu
Senior Consultant

T: 0086-21-52715980
F: 0086-21-52715978
Web-site: www.mips-china.org.cn
Address:11/F, Building A, Oasis Plaza, 137 Bailan Road, Putuo District, Shanghai, China

When we wrote Mr. Jimmy Liu back in 2008 to say we have no affiliation with Z-S Media Corporation this is the response we got.

From: jimmy.liu [mailto:jimmy.liu@mipinternetsolution.org.cn]
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 8:29 AM
Subject: URGENT - dispute of network domain name and trademark

Thank you for your reply. Domain name registration is open in China, as a registration organization, we have this obligation to inform you because what "Z-S Media Corporation "wants to register refer to your intellectual property rights and trademark, it will effect you badly in developing in China. According to the related rules, you have the priority to register, so we want to ask you whether you need to protect? We hope you can give us a clear response. If you need, I will send you an application form and quotations. If not, we will register for "Z-S Media Corporation".
Look forward to hearing from you.

________________________________________
jimmy.liu
2008-04-01

I never wrote Mr. Jimmy Liu back but according Alice Xia my domain is still available so I guess I needed worry until another company tries to register our domain in China.

Constant Contact

For the longest time we have been emailing members and past customers for our website. Even though it is purely an opt in feature, I am sure some people forgot about signing up. As such they have reported us a spammers. Unfortunately, this put us in the a bit of a pickle since service providers have started to block or sort our emails spam automatically. More problematic are emails internally are being marked as spam such as an email that I sent to my colleague.

To avoid this situation in the future I have signed up for the services of a third party email marketing company called Constant Contact to distribute our email newsletters. We are currently running a small trial with a sample of our mailing list to see the response.

The pricing of such as service depends on the number of emails you send and the features. In our case our volume requires a USD$30/month fee and if we want to add more than 5 images we would need to upgrade and pay another USD$5 per month.

Hopefully, this sort of email marketing service will prove to be worthwhile. I will be monitoring the click through and coupon usage in response to our small trial.

Digital Printing

Recent developments in technology is giving small business more options. Traditionally, printing labels was a limiting factor to launching your own brand or product. In order to obtain a "shiny" label that looked professional you would have to spend $500-800 dollars and order a minimum quantity in the thousands to make it cost effective. However, with digital printing this does not have to be the case.

I am not talking about printing them yourself at home but the fact that more and more printing companies have digital presses. By combining the digital technology with some of the traditional techniques the finished label is very comparable to what consumers expect from a label. Namely, the labels can be made with that shiny coating and professional die cut. With no plate charges, the limiting factor is the artwork charge. As with any printing company, the artwork charges depends on what you supply them. If you give them clean artwork your charges will be minimal. You can then print 1, 100, 1000, 10000 labels.

Here is an example from the natural products industry. I want to launch my in-house brand of Milled Flaxseed granules. I have a supplier who will supply me 500 bags without label.

Option #1 - Flexo Printing:
Artwork charges $135
Prepress plates $245
Printing 2000 labels $145
Total $525

- with Flexo you need to do a minimum of 2000-3000 depending on your printer. $0.26 per label but I will have 750 extra labels.

Option #2
Artwork charges $135
Printing $125
Total $261

- with digital I can order 500 labels only. $0.52 per label but my initial investment is half.

Another benefit to digital is that I can combine product labels in one run as long as they are the same size label. Imagine that I wish to have 3-4 products under my private label. This is all possible. I will also be able to print the batch and lot number on the label each time I print. No more hot stamping.

So as you can tell I am excited by the opportunity that digital printing technology presents my company. Now it will be up to me to figure out some clever ways to use it to my advantage.

Managing Diabetes

Diabetes is a lifelong condition where either your body does not produce enough insulin, or your body cannot use the insulin it produces. Your body needs insulin to change the sugar from food into energy. There are three main types of diabetes:

* Type 1, where the body makes little or no insulin;
* Type 2, where the body makes insulin but cannot use it properly; and
* Gestational Diabetes, where the body is not able to properly use insulin during pregnancy. This type of diabetes goes away after the baby is born.

Nine out of ten people with diabetes have Type 2. While there is no miracle cure for diabetes, diabetes can be managed.

You can prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes by making some simple lifestyle changes.

Top Choices for Managing Diabetes

- Control your weight - being overweight or obese can contribute to developing Type 2 diabetes. The WellBetXR Revolutionary Appetite & Blood Sugar Regulator Program with PGX? is a meal replacement drink mix that contains a well-researched blend of nutrients that can balance blood sugar levels between meals. This is an ideal way to create the sense of satiety (fulness) while reducing the absorption of calories.
Each serving contains 22 grams of protein, from high quality whey protein, only 14 grams of carbohydrates and 5 grams of dietary fibre. For breakfast or lunch, this nutrient packed mix provides 234 calories and a whole range of nutrients found in a well-balanced meal.

- Lower Blood Pressure - Omega-3 EPA 400: DHA 200 softgels are Canadian processed and super concentrated, pharmaceutical grade, Webber naturals? fish oil products and is standardized to provide 400mg of EPA and 200mg of DHA. Omega-3 promotes good cardiovascular health.

- System support - High anthocyanin containing products like Natural Factors BerryRich 500 mg caps are important in managing diabetes as diabetics are predisposed for circulatory disease, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic neuropathy. For example, diabetic retinopathy is a serious complication of diabetes and can cause blindness if not controlled. In retinopathy the body tries to repair leaking, damaged capillaries by overproducing proteins. Not only do anthocyanins prevent capillaries from leaking, they also prevent abnormal protiens. Anthocyanins may also help to lower cholesterol and slow cognitive decline.

- Be physically active - Being active lowers blood glucose levels. we can't put this in a bottle but www.natvd.com convenient mail order service gives you more time to enjoy walking, cycling, swimming or time at the gym.

Create actions in Photoshop

For our website we have taken many product shots the enhance the product pages. After taking a picture we often have to resize the photo and adjust the color balances. For a while I was doing it step by step on Photoshop. I figured there must be a better way and sure enough there is.

With Photoshop you can create an Action. Basically assign a series of steps to a function key like "F2". So that once you press "F2" all the steps will be done.

Here is how I did it:

• Save a copy of the files to be modified. Keep the originals safe. Using Photoshop open one typical file.
• Using a pen and paper write down each modification needed in order.
• Close this file. (No need to save)
• Open a typical file again.
  
• Using Photoshop, Click the Actions window. (If not visible go to the top menu select window and select action from the drop down list.
  
• Select New Action – bottom of window next to garbage can.
• Type a Name & select a Function Key
• Click Record – You will see a red circle (i.e. recording)
• Do everything as per your notes (from above)
• Click STOP.
• Test your action – select a typical file. Press your function key

You should be done. To take this a step further you can also batch automate this action. Namely, you can select a whole folder and get photoshop to process multiple files at once.

I used created actions to resize for posting on the web and watermarking photos with my logo.

Goodluck.

Market look for today

The CAD continued to make new lows yesterday as the market received a slate of firmer tone data. The more or less optimistic news helped equities close in positive territory and also took some further shine off an already lack luster USD. The juiciest report of the day was US CPI for March with the takeaway being that headline CPI dipped into negative territory silencing the cries of inflationary fears, at least for the time being.

We have another dose of Tier 2/3 data out of the US and Canada today with the focus being on Canadian Manufacturing Shipment numbers. The market is looking for a 2% M/M advance, or, in real world terms, any sign of fundamental weakness or strength. The US will receive March housing starts and building permits, data that is likely to be a non-event for the FX markets, although any insight into the state of the US housing market is closely monitored as this sector was one of the primary catalysts to our current economic situation.

We enter the day relatively unchanged after the overnight session. We are still bias towards the CAD today although likely to be more nimble as the market consolidates and decides whether or not a move lower is feasible. Flows will continue to drive direction with all eyes on the direction of equities at the open.

Testimonials

The value of a testimonial is immense. Be sure not to over look this fact especially when you are starting a new business. Customers and consumers often reluctant to trust a new company. They feel uncertain about the quality of work or product. A sincere and honest testimonial is a way to gain credibility.

How do you get a testimonial? Answer: Ask. You can do so in an email, customer feedback form or whenever you receive a letter. More often than not satisfied customers are more than happy to lend their comments. Do not forget to ask though! Printing a persons comments without permission is a no-no.

Watch out for over the top testimonials. A customer simply wants to know that your company can be trusted. If they say you can jump over the moon or something unbelievable chances are none of that testimonial will be believed.

Try to include a name and/or location of the person who gave the testimonial.

For examples visit: http://www.natvd.com/testimonials.html Our testimonial page is one of our highest ranked pages. People who are interested in dealing with us consult this page.

Celadrin

Celadrin Works!

In a recent article provided by Natural Factors Nutritional Products Ltd. Yolanda Fenton provided an explanation of the positive effects that Celadrin can have a for a consumer. Ms. Fenton describes Celadrin as, "one of the most effective, natural anti-inflammatory products available."

Supported by scientific studies Celadrin has shown patients demonstrated improvements in terms of reduced pain and swelling, increased range of movement and reduction of inflammatory factors.

What is Celadrin?
From the makers of Celadrin, "Celadrin is one of the newest, most effective natural anti-inflammatory compounds that safely promotes flexibility and healthy joint function. Published clinical studies have reported significant results without any side effects." www.celadrin.com

Celadrin is a blend of special esterfied fatty acids. The esterfied (meaning they are stable and do not react with oxygen) fatty acids present in Celadrin have anti-inflammatory effects.


How It Works

Celadrin works similar to the essential fatty acids, EPA and DHA, from fish oils except the effects are much more dramatic. Fatty acids provide vital, beneficial effects for immune and inflammatory responses of the body. Various fatty acids induce changes in cell membranes and the responsiveness of the membrane to certain immune factors. They also play a role in supressing inflammatory cell functions, decreasing cartilage breakdown and reducing inflammatory activities of Cox-2 enzyme. The special fatty acids found in Celadrin have also been shown to reduce the production of negative immune factors such as IL-6 and 5-lipoxygenase and to control additional immune factors responsible for inflammation. These anti-inflammatory functions are very important in preventing further tissue and joint damage while promoting healing and providing pain relief. Additionally, the molecules found in Celadrin may play a role in the lubrication of an affected jiont, thereby improviing joint mobility.


Can Celadrin work well in conjunction to taking Glucosamine?

The cause of wear on the joint area can be attributable to inflammation as well as insufficient lubrication and cell membrane fluidity. Glucosamine assists in the rebuilding of cartilage & the overall structure of the joint and has shown moderate effects on people with osteoarthritis. Celadrin provides continuous lubrication and allows the cell membrane to repel inflammatory chemicals. Celadrin stops the cascade of inflammation and the assaults on the membrane which cause it to stiffen. Celadrin empowers glucosamine to perform faster and more efficiently in building joint cartilage as well as accelerating and promoting joint health. The dual action of CeladrinR and glucosamine provide rapid joint cushioning, quickly alleviating inflammation, building cartilage and restoring the entire joint area.

Which is better, Celadrin cream or Celadrin pills?
Both oral and topical applications were shown to be equally effective. In a separate study, it was proven that the Esterified Fatty Acids (EFAC) found in CeladrinR could be absorbed by either method (95.1% absorption rate proven through a University of Minnesota labeled study) into the body.

How Much to Take
The recommended dosage is 350 mg of Celadrin x 3 times daily. However, for more advanced needs, up to 6 times daily is suggested.

Coupon from natvd.com

I am happy to share with you all my experiences with starting a business in Canada and ideas about various topics. I was asked if it is possible to receive a discount from someone who simply wanted to try our service.

I am more than happy to extend an offer for people new to my to try. To receive a discount coupon simply register as a user of the site www.natvd.com using the referral code: M826. You will then automatically receive a discount coupon by email.

Doing Business in China

When doing business in China, the ability to navigate cross-cultural issues is just as important as the goods and services you bring to the marketplace. This is true whether your company is just now considering the China market, recently gained its first sale or maintains an in-country presence.

Mia Doucet, author of the award-winning book China in Motion, prepared the following tips for CanadExport to help Canadian companies avoid costly mistakes.

Tip #1: Asians want to do business with people they trust. But there is no real trust unless a person is in their circle. At first, they don’t know if you will be a good partner. Show respect by keeping some distance. Focus on building the relationship before talking business. Do not go for big profit on your first contract.

Tip #2: To protect your intellectual property, use the same due diligence you would in the West.

Tip #3: Never pressure your Asian colleagues for a decision. To speed up the decision process, slow down. Start from the beginning and work through to a solution in a logical, step-by-step fashion. Then stand your ground.

Tip #4: The negotiation process will be anything but smooth.
Your best strategy is a walk away mentality. You have to go in trying not to make the deal. Explain your position in clear, concise words. State your terms clearly. Respectfully. Then be prepared to walk away if your terms are not met.

Tip #5: Respect face. Never argue or voice a difference of opinion with anyone—even a member of your own team. Never make the other person wrong. Never say "no" directly, as that is considered rude and arrogant.

Tip #6: Account for the fact that most Asians understand less spoken English than we think they do. The easiest thing in the world is for a Chinese to say yes. Their smiles and nods have more to do with saving face than getting your meaning. Talk in short sentences. Listen more than you speak. Pause between sentences. Find four or five easy ways to say the same thing. Never ask a question that can be answered with a simple yes. Avoid all slang. Skip humour altogether.

Tip #7: Manage the way you present written information. Document everything in writing and in precise detail. Present your ideas in stages. Write clearly, using plain English text. In order to appeal to Asian visual bias, use sketches, charts and diagrams.

Tip #8: Prepare for every interaction. Do not count on your ability to wing it. A lack of preparedness can cause loss of face and trust. Do not give or expect to receive partial answers from your Chinese colleagues, as that is considered offensive.

Tip #9: Make sure your facts are 100% accurate in every detail, or you will lose credibility. Do not present an idea or theory that has not been fully researched, proven, or studied beforehand. If you make a mistake, you are not to be trusted.

Tip #10: Everyone on your team needs to know how to avoid costly gaffes.
Most of us are not by nature sensitive to the differences in culture—we have to be taught. Time-honoured passive resistance could bring your company to its knees. It makes sense to teach people the cross-cultural factors that have a direct impact on your profits.

I agree with most of what is written in this article. To elaborate further on tip#1 - avoid acting too "chummy" or casual. Keeping a little distance is important. Knowing your place is vital as well as remaining respectful. As well avoid showing off, Tip#9 says you have to know all you facts but it doesn't mean you have to show off. Be confident that you know every detail but you don't have to flaunt it. When you are asked to then give the information but if you are not asked to don't.

Canadian Bank Stocks

After last nights sports match a bunch of us were hanging out. One of my teammates asked me, "what should we bet on?" referring to the stock markets. As I shared with him, I believe that Canadian Bank stocks are were it is at 7% dividends, sound practices and assets to back them up. President Obama has even commented on the state of Canadian banking.

With stocks such as TD-T trading at lows, I have been steadily adding Cdn bank stocks to my portfolio.

Cheers Team.

Damage Control Before Burnout - Stress Relax Serenity Formula

We would all love to minimize stress in our daily life but in our "24/7" world it is difficult to relax. Work, family, finances and relationships can easy overwhelm anyone of us. What can be done to restore and rejuvenate the body's stress-coping systems? While there is no "quick fix" Natural Factors' Serenity Formula provides natural herbal help to calm down those persistent stress hormones and bring the body back into balance. Through the formula's adaptogenic properties, adrenal gland function is restored, harmonizing the body systems. Addressing adrenal exhuastion is a principle step in promoting vigor, vitality and strength of the mind and body. Ideally, the Serenity Formula should be combined with a proactive approach that includes attention to nutrition, sleep, exercise and improved lifestyle habits.

This formula includes Sensoril, a patented proprietary extract derived from freshly harvested roots and leaves of the botanical ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), historically known for its anti-stress properties, actually "shutting off" the stress response and shielding against further increased cortisol production. Sensoril helps the body normalize circulating hormones. In a double blind, placebo controlled human clinical trial, Sensoril reduced serum cortisol,a fight or flight hormone, by 26%.

The unique combination of superior adaptogens and antioxidants in Stress Relax Serenity Formula can give you a head start towards emotional well-being. This formula is ideal for anyone coping with nervous exhaustion; providing damage control that gradually and progressively brings the stress hormones back into balance, putting you back on the road to physical, mental and emotional health.

Forex watch

On Thursday, the Canadian Dollar rallied as much as 1% against the USD but failed to hold gains finishing a touch lower as North American equities eased from early level rallies. As US President Obama’s visit to Canada has come and gone, he commented that the U.S. and Canada will cooperate on issues including energy, the economy and assured that the recently enacted U.S. stimulus bill won’t hamper trade between the two countries.

CAD opened up slightly lower ahead of US Inflation numbers which will be released at 8:30am EST while the Canadian inflation number came in softer than expected in January taking the annual inflation rate to 1.1% from 1.2%. With the lower than expected CPI numbers the Bank is likely to deliver just one more 50 bps rate cut to leave the overnight rate at 0.5% at the March meeting. The impact of that data today will likely be muted as the market focuses on the global economic outlook and equities.

As today’s economic data will probably be overshadowed by the market’s negative appetite towards risk, we look to trade range bound for the remainder of the day. Flows, risk appetite and equities continue to be very important for short-term direction and the strategy should remain the same and utilizing orders to capitalize on short-lived market movements.