Friday, August 31, 2012

Russian tycoon Abramovich wins London court battle

LONDON (AP) ? Self-exiled tycoon Boris Berezovsky lost his multibillion-dollar legal battle against a fellow Russian oligarch on Friday, with a British judge ruling that Roman Abramovich was the more truthful witness in their clash over vast oil wealth.

The case in London's High Court had sparked broad interest because of its focus on the two oligarchs' personal, as well as business, relationship in the chaotic days of post-Soviet Russia. The weeks of testimony included juicy details about both jet-setters' lifestyles ? including yachts, vacations and spending on luxury goods.

Berezovsky, a former Kremlin power broker, had alleged that Abramovich, who he called his protege, had betrayed and intimidated him into selling his stakes in the Russian oil company Sibneft significantly beneath their value.

Abramovich had denied the allegations.

On Friday, Judge Elizabeth Gloster ruled the 66-year-old Berezovsky was not as reliable as a witness as the 45-year-old Abramovich, the billionaire owner of the Chelsea soccer club.

"The bottom line of my analysis of Mr. Berezovsky's credibility is that he would have said almost anything to support his case ," Gloster said in her judgment.

On the contrary, the judge said she found "Abramovich to be a truthful, and on the whole reliable, witness."

Berezovsky, who appeared Friday in court, alleged blackmail and breach of contract and was seeking more than 3 billion pounds ($4.8 billion) in damages.

Abramovich did not attend Friday's proceedings.

The two men were said to have become friends after meeting on a private cruise in the Caribbean, built a business empire together, but parted bitterly when their fortunes were reversed.

Berezovsky, a mathematician-turned-Mercedes dealer, amassed his wealth during Russia's privatization of state assets in the early 1990s. In return for backing former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, he gained powerful political connections and access to valuable assets at very low prices.

Berezovsky says he mentored the younger Abramovich, treated him like a son, and founded Sibneft with him and a third partner. Berezovsky claimed that the friendship faltered when he fell out with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, at which point Abramovich "intimidated" him into selling his Sibneft shares ? causing him losses of almost $6 billion.

Abramovich claims that Berezovsky was not his mentor and never owned the stakes ? in fact, he argued that Berezovsky only had a political role in creating Sibneft and never "contributed a single cent" to acquiring or building up the company.

The Chelsea owner said he had already paid more than $2.5 billion to Berezovsky for his services as his "political godfather" ? a protector whose political influence helped him do business in Russia ? and reluctantly funded Berezovsky's extravagant lifestyle of yachts and vacation homes because he feared retaliation.

The judge concluded that the deal between Abramovich and Berezovsky was that, in return for substantial cash payments to Berezovsky, Abramovich and Sibneft would enjoy Berezovsky's political patronage and influence, "which was indispensable to the construction of any major business in the conditions of the 1990s."

Gloster wrote that she "could not excuse the extent of Mr. Berezovsky's deviations from his previous case as presented in his pleadings and witness statements. His 'I blame my lawyers" excuse was not convincing. "

"Mr. Berezovsky's evidence frequently could not be relied upon, where it differed from that of Mr. Abramovich, or other witnesses. I regret to say that," she added.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russian-tycoon-abramovich-wins-london-court-battle-110719349--finance.html

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Apple's Secret Employee Training Manual Revealed

The secret's out. Apple's confidential employee training manual has been revealed to the masses.

[More from Mashable: Will Samsung Smartphone Sales Be Banned in the U.S.? We Won?t Know Until Dec.]

The latest Genius Training Student Workbook for Apple sales staff landed in the hands of Gizmodo, which shared its spoils on Tuesday. It should be noted, however, that nowhere in the story does Gizmodo mention Apple confirming that the manual is legitimate.

Still, it is compelling reading. The book schools employees on basic human behavior, and helps them relate to customers -- all in the name of a sale. "Everyone in the Apple Store is in the business of selling," the manual states pointedly.

[More from Mashable: How You?re Using Your iPad [INFOGRAPHIC]]

Selling is summed up in the acronym, APPLE, which stands for Approach, Probe, Present, Listen and End. Staff are encouraged to show empathy -- a repeated theme throughout the tome. They even go through empathy exercises that role play possible customer situations. The workbook lays out guiding principles, such as, "We deepen and restore relationships" and "We enrich their lives."

Employees are taught about positive and negative human emotions. For the uninitiated, people show frustration by making "fist-like gestures" and boredom by giving a "blank stare." Conversely, "hand rubbing" shows expectancy and an "unbuttoned coat" demonstrates cooperation.

In Apple's eyes, negativity is a no-no, so the workbook outlines a section that prohibits staff from using words like "bomb" and "crash," and instead replacing them with "unexpectedly quits" or "stops responding." This emphasis on positivity extends to relationships between employees, who are encouraged to give "fearless feedback" rather than openly criticize each other.

Every Apple "Genius" must also attend a 14-day bootcamp that mandates programs as diverse as "Using Diagnostic Services" and "The Power of Empathy."

What do you think of the manual? Tell us in the comments below.

This story originally published on Mashable here.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/apples-secret-employee-training-manual-revealed-115839736.html

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Family - Digital Scrapbook Place Gallery

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Teresa

DSP Senior Designer

Registered: March 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 15,371

Thu August 30, 2012 1:13am

That is absolutely SWEET. I can't believe this is your first layout with photoshop. You're a natural!!

Hope to see you in the chat in less than an hour. The coordinating papers to this kit are a chat FREEBIE and are loading up right now!!

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PK

Addicted to this place

Registered: January 2010
Location: In my Tiny office, from where I do Everything. Brisbane QLD Aus.
Posts: 2,907

Thu August 30, 2012 2:19am

Very nice Kiana - very nice indeed!!

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mum2riley

Digital Elite Team

Registered: August 2009
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 6,081

Thu August 30, 2012 8:30am

This is really pretty!

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domino44

October '11 Member Spotlight

Registered: October 2004
Location: Cowtown Texas
Posts: 7,697

Thu August 30, 2012 12:26pm

very nice

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Teri in Texas

If you think you can or you think you can't.....your right

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Icegoaliemom29

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Registered: February 2007
Location: WI-by Lake Michigan
Posts: 1,202

Thu August 30, 2012 2:02pm

This is lovely! Excellent work!

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Patricia

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PQ

Pleased as punch to be part of TEAM DIGITAL!

Registered: April 2006
Location: I am waving my magical inspiration wand over all of DSP
Posts: 95,050

Fri August 31, 2012 12:44am

Grand job, Kiana!!!!!! You are going to be a pro from Dover in Photoshop in no time at all. Wonderful layout.

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Source: http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=415448&title=family&cat=7214

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