Creativity: The Next Generation

Today, April 26, marks World Intellectual Property Day. Although this commemoration might go unnoticed by many, it's worthwhile to imagine for a moment what life would be like without innovation or the inventions innovators produce. Thomas Hobbes famously quipped that humanity without social structure would be "solitary,If you look at the replica shoes you realize that they shall be great for your expections. poor, brutish, nasty and short." The same can be said about humanity without innovation.

April 26th was chosen as the date for World Intellectual Property Day because it coincides with the founding of the World Intellectual Property Organization, otherwise known asTake a look at these imitation wrist watches for sale online, which are one of the best cheap replica watches in USA. WIPO, in 1970. For this year's celebration,why christian louboutin shoes so popular in uk? WIPO has chosen to focus on "Creativity and the Next Generation."

Inventors, scientists, artists, entertainers, and other creators devote substantial amounts of capital, imagination, persistence and sweat to their work. Intellectual property rights -- in the form of patents, copyrights, and trademarks -- allow innovators to benefit from the fruits of their ideas and inventions. Through royalties from copyrights, patent licensing fees and revenue from brand loyalty attributed to trademarks, large numbers of artists, writers, inventors and entrepreneurs earn money and have the incentive to produce new creative works, inventions and branded products. World Intellectual Property Day celebrates their creativity and the contributions of inventors worldwide. More broadly, a strong intellectual property rights system encourages investment by millions of people in the United States and abroad to engage in ongoing innovation. This is critical for future economic growth in the United States and elsewhere. America's founding fathers considered this to be so important that they included the legal basis for our national patent and copyright system in the U.S. Constitution.

Many nations have adopted strong intellectual property rights systems, which have benefitted not only their own people but also the global economy. Many governments, however, still turn a blind eye to trade secret theft, counterfeiting, and piracy. Some governments also believe in "innovation nationalism" which discriminates against innovators abroad. In the long-term, intellectual property theft or nationalistic innovation restrictions -- that often appear to be attractive options in the short run -Welcome to replica louis vuitton outlet online store and buy latest Cheap Louis Vuitton handbags.- benefit no one. Innovators -- young and old alike--deserve the opportunity to be rewarded for their efforts. And, the world economy benefits from new innovations, and growing collaboration among global innovators, to fuel growth and development.

Inventors and creative innovators should be seen as role models for this generation. It is they who will make the future work! Governments and individuals gain when more and more nations recognize and respect the value of intellectual property rights. All of us have a common interest in protecting and respecting intellectual property rights, which support innovative efforts and creativity.

In addition,We offer Cheap Michael Kors Handbags Outlet Sale with top quality and discount price. our young people, and indeed all creators, inventors and entrepreneurs, must educate themselves about intellectual property rights regimes and take the time to learn how to protect their creations. They must know that a patent is only valid in the country where it is filed. They must consider the quality of intellectual property rights protection in the country, or countries, where they do research, work, manufacture, invest and sell their inventions, so those inventions are protected. Stopfakes.gov is a great place to start that research.

Finally, it is important for recognize the overall cost of failure to protect intellectual property rights. While fake handbags, illegally used software, counterfeit drugs, stolen copyrighted works or pirated movies may look appealing, many people who worked hard to create and produce them suffer from their sale. (And many are downright dangerous such as counterfeit drugs, auto and airplane parts etc.) Moreover, the incentive to put more money, creativity and energy into new creative products is diminished. The economy suffers. And there is a huge ripple effect. So, we all share responsibility to encourage our friends, families, associates, and governments to understand and respect intellectual property rights, for ourselves and coming generations.

FT Masterclass: Dressage with Pippa Funnell

The British eventing champion says that dressage demands an intricate harmony between horse and rider High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article.

It has been a difficult day already for Pippa Funnell, one of Britain’s most successful three-day event riders. I’ve arrived at her Surrey stables for a dressage masterclass, only to discover that Supreme Rock, a horse that she rode to equestrian stardom, has had to be put to sleep. After an early morning ride to shed her tears in private, Funnell has composed herself and is ready to greet me.

“I’m not going to cry again. He lived to be 25 and had an amazing life – no other horse achieved what he did in 2003,” says Funnell. Ten years ago,Welcome to replica louis vuitton outlet online store and buy latest Cheap Louis Vuitton handbags. Supreme Rock was one of the horses she rode to victory at Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky horse trials in the same year, and she became the only person ever to win the sport’s most prestigious prize, the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. It’s a feat that William Fox-Pitt will try to match when he competes at Badminton next month for $350,000 in prize money. Funnell will be there too, hoping to win her fourth Badminton title.

Eventing consists of three disciplines – showjumping, cross-country and dressage. Today, Funnell has invited me to try dressage on Billy Beware. The nine-year-old gelding could be the horse she rides at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, if she is selected for the British team. Funnell looked a certainty for the 2012 Olympics, until ill-timed injury to her horses forced withdrawal. “I didn’t think I would be able to watch in London because I was so gutted but, of course, I did. The team performed incredibly well to win silver but it didn’t ease the pain of not being with them.”

It’s early April and snow has started to fall at Funnell’s stables. A bitter wind is driving flakes across the dressage arena, which has spooked Billy Beware, who is living up to his name. I’ve ridden before but never dressage, where I’m about to discover that the horses are set on a hair trigger that can be set off by the slightest of movements. Slipping on to the saddle, I casually slide a leg backwards so that Funnell can adjust the stirrup length,We offer Cheap Michael Kors Handbags Outlet Sale with top quality and discount price. inadvertently giving the horse a signal to set off.

Fortunately, Funnell also has a grip of the reins and I manage to jump off, without falling face first into the sand. “What you did wrong was tap his side with your heel. In dressage, movement by the rider is kept to the barest minimum – so the slightest pressure on his flank tells the horse that you want him to move off. This isn’t a trekking pony,If you look at the replica shoes you realize that they shall be great for your expections. it’s the Formula One of equestrian. Every touch you make will have an input on what the horse does next.”

We transfer into a smaller ring, where Funnell can keep Billy Beware on a long rein as I try to maintain control. I’m working to keep shoulders, knees and feet in a straight, vertical line, which gives me better balance and stability. Walking the horse at a good pace and maintaining my posture is easy but it all goes wrong when I trot and Billy Beware suddenly breaks into a full-on canter.

“Don’t grip him so hard with your legs because that’s like pressing the accelerator. Loosen up on the reins – the horse is confused because you are asking him to go with your feet but also telling him to stop by pulling the reins,” says Funnell. Far from being the gentle trot around an arena that I had envisaged, dressage is the hardest form of riding I’ve ever done.

Funnell, who is 44, has a lifetime’s experience behind her. At 16, she persuaded her parents to let her leave school and join Ruth McMullen’s stables in Norfolk. She spent eight years with the celebrated trainer, often riding 10 horses a day and winning European Young Rider of the Year when she was 19. She was crowned European Champion in 1999 and again in 2001,why christian louboutin shoes so popular in uk? both times on Supreme Rock. Then she was part of the GB team that won silver at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and again at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

“Dressage is all about self-discipline and that comes with years of experience,” Funnell tells me as we take a break in the ring. “I enjoy the challenge of training a young horse to a high standard but of the three eventing disciplines, it’s the one I enjoy the least. I much prefer to be pushing a horse to its limits cross-country, or clearing showjumps. That’s what makes the sport so thrilling and difficult – combining the gung-ho riding with the delicate nature of dressage.”

In 2005 Funnell was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours. She and her husband, international rider William Funnell, now run one of Britain’s largest studs for sports horses. “All the trophies don’t make any difference to my daily routine. I spent my Rolex Grand Slam winnings on a new horse box and I’m still out riding in all weathers because I love it.”

With Funnell holding the long rein, we set off slowly again around the ring. My balance feels perfect and I gently nudge Billy Beware’s flank to up the pace. Trying to follow Funnell’s instructions, I tap harder with my heel to signal a trot, provoking an instant response from the horse. His trot develops quickly into a slow-motion canter that again has me scrambling for grip. Funnell tries to control the horse with the rein but I can feel myself falling forward as I career towards the side barrier.

To stop myself falling, I have Billy Beware in a full neck embrace that at least prevents an embarrassing tumble. It’s not the horse’s fault, of course; he’s used to an experienced rider who can pass on the correct instruction with the deftest of touches. That isn’t me.

Sipping tea in the warmth of her farmhouse kitchen,Take a look at these imitation wrist watches for sale online, which are one of the best cheap replica watches in USA. Funnell explains why dressage is so misunderstood. “A lot of people think the horse is trained to dance to the music in a dressage arena. They honestly believe that the rider just sits there and does nothing. You’ve seen today how wrong that is, it’s horse and rider working in perfect harmony. It’s a lifetime of dedication.”

Right on time

 Watches are no longer just timekeepers. They are a definite fashion statement. They state whether you are trendy or conservative. The type of watch a person wears speaks a lot not only about the brand but even the model. If watches were once a prized possession, one to be owned for a lifetime,If you look at the replica shoes you realize that they shall be great for your expections. these are times when people shuffle several brands, many models; one to suit every occasion.

Citizen Watches, which has a vibrant presence in the country, has not really taken a plunge into the growing fashion segment. This despite launching its brand of women’s luxury watches.Take a look at these imitation wrist watches for sale online, which are one of the best cheap replica watches in USA. Katsusuke Tokura, Managing Director, Citizen Watches India, confesses that this Japanese brand is still ‘essentially male’ and that they are not ‘in this race’.

“Citizen is not a fashion brand. There are so many other exclusively fashion brands in the market. Our watches are noted for its solidity; it is more mature if you could say so. We do not intend to go into the pure fashion area. On the other side, we recently launched Citizen L the latest series from Citizen Eco- Drive collection. ‘L’ here stands for ladies and luxury.

It is a contemporary designer series that blends beauty and technology. This series comes at a price range of Rs. 15,000-25,000. Yes, it is aimed at an exclusive segment but the truth is that when we introduced a limited edition of this model, all the pieces were sold out,” says Katsusuke Tokura, at the sidelines of the launch of their exclusive store at Lulu Mall in the city recently.

Tokura, however,We offer Cheap Michael Kors Handbags Outlet Sale with top quality and discount price. did not rule out the entry of Citizen in this segment in a huge way. They were, he adds, seeking more demand in this sector before going all out.

One of the biggest threats that Citizen, like any watch manufacturer, faces today is from the growing grey market. Duplicates of all international brands have flooded the market. This has led to shadow boxing against a competitor without a face. “Thankfully it is not much of an issue in India. We have got unstinted support from our customers and dealers who seem to dislike duplicates.

This applies to other international brands also. It is rampant in other Asian countries. In our case we have the eco-drive model, our most popular one. This collection of light powered watches, with models ranging from dress to sport to professional dive watches, runs continuously on any kind of natural or artificial light for a lifetime of use. I don’t think this can be duplicated.”

As Tokura says, when it comes to watches, the more complicated the better. Citizen has a whole range of watches that are not just time pieces but “pieces handcrafted with meticulous attention; a combination of technology and sophisticated styling”.

“In a fiercely competitive market Citizen attempts to place itself firmly in the affordable luxury segment,If you want to Buy Cheap Hermes Birkin with Guaranteed Quality, you're advised to visit hermes handbags store Store. which means in prices that range between Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 1 lakh. So our competition is with just a few players. Putting it clearly we cannot be bunched with the big and more popular brands you have in India.”

The future in India, Tokura feels, appears bright. Along with introduction of new designs they are looking to enhance the existing products.

“We would like to grow naturally as the market grows; a reasonable growth. We are not going to fix a specific percentage of growth. Being a Japanese company, all the watches are made in Japan. Dials and cases are also made for us in China and Thailand. We realise that we cannot compete on the price range, on discount prices etc. Also we cannot expand by promoting cheap watches.”

Tokura has been with Citizen for the last 25 years. “I started working in 1987 and there have been a lot of changes.Welcome to replica louis vuitton outlet online store and buy latest Cheap Louis Vuitton handbags. One notable change has been brand building. It has been great, especially after we launched eco-drive technology.”

And does he remember his first watch? “Hmmm… It was a Seiko, long before I joined Citizen…,” Tokura signs off with a laugh.

Fighting counterfeit trade in Dubai

At the end of 2012 it came to the attention of the legal team of world famous French designer Mr. Christian Louboutin that his distinctive Red Sole shoes have not been spared the interest of counterfeit traders in Dubai and specifically the Al Karama market. Developing and executing a strategy to understand the extent of the problem and addressing the sale of counterfeit goods in the Dubai market was critical to Mr. Christian Louboutin

The first step taken in this matter was to conduct an extensive market investigation in Dubai in order to begin to develop an understanding of the extent of the availability of counterfeit products in the market. Once the investigation was completed, a view of the extent of the problem could be formed which assisted in identifying key target areas and specific individual targets. The information obtained through this investigation also provided a basis upon which to consider the most appropriate course of action to take the fight to the more than forty counterfeit vendors identified by the market investigation.

Christian Louboutin carefully considered the various legal options through which actions can be taken against counterfeit goods vendors in Dubai and after considering the spread of vendors in especially the Al Karama market and with a focus on addressing the availability of counterfeit products in the market - he elected to follow an administrative procedure through the Dubai Department of Economic Development (the "DED").

The DED is currently one of the most active law enforcement agencies in Dubai with respect to anti-counterfeiting actions and has its own inspectors who act ex officio monitoring markets and undertaking inspections on behalf of brands owners. Accordingly, an official complaint was filed with the DED including details of the CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN trade marks registered in the UAE. Along with the complaint,Take a look at these imitation wrist watches for sale online, which are one of the best cheap replica watches in USA. the DED was provided with samples of counterfeit products obtained from the market,If you want to Buy Cheap Hermes Birkin with Guaranteed Quality, you're advised to visit hermes handbags store Store. samples of authentic products and all details of targets offering counterfeit goods for sale (as obtained through the market investigation).

Christian Louboutin's in-house counsels also met with DED officials in Dubai explaining the extent of the counterfeiting problem globally, the impact of this trade on the brand and the value of the brand and specifically Christian Louboutin's commitment to fighting the trade in counterfeit goods.

To date, the DED, with the support of Al Tamimi & Company , had seized thousands of pairs of counterfeit shoes from numerous targets in Dubai.

The majority of inspections conducted by the DED focused on targets identified through Al Tamimi & Company 's enforcement team, but in some cases, the DED seized goods during inspections focused on other brands. Raising the profile of the brand with the DED and showing Christian Louboutin's commitment to addressing the problem of counterfeit goods in Dubai by taking the time to meet with officials and through the ongoing interaction of Al Tamimi & Company 's team with the DED has clearly played an important role in the success achieved by the DED.We offer Cheap Michael Kors Handbags Outlet Sale with top quality and discount price.

The complaint with the DED remains open and Al Tamimi & Company 's enforcement team continues to work very closely with the DED in order to identify new targets and to ensure that the brand remains at the top of the minds of DED inspectors. Protecting the valuable CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN brand in Dubai is an ongoing process, but the commitment of Christian Louboutin and the DED to take action in this market has already sent a very strong message to counterfeit traders in Dubai.Welcome to replica louis vuitton outlet online store and buy latest Cheap Louis Vuitton handbags.

In addition to the complaint filed with the DED, Christian Louboutin's trade marks are now also recorded with the Customs Authorities. Accordingly Christian Louboutin's in-house counsels also met with the Customs Authorities, explaining the extent of the challenges faced by the brand, the impact of the trade in counterfeit goods on the reputation of the brand and their commitment to working with the Customs Authorities in protecting the brand.

This matter is a good example of the effectiveness of the administrative actions taken through the DED and the importance of ongoing collaboration with the DED to fight counterfeit trade in Dubai. At the same time, the importance of working with the Customs Authorities in identifying and pursuing the importation of counterfeit goods cannot be overstated.If you look at the replica shoes you realize that they shall be great for your expections.

The first battles in this war against counterfeit goods in Dubai have been won by Christian Louboutin, the DED and Al Tamimi & Company and this constitutes a clear message to the counterfeit traders in the city - the war may be ongoing, but this battle group is mobilised to take aggressive and effective action as and when required.

Outside of the game: Kyle Rose

Kyle Rose sits in the locker room and laces up his team-issue basketball shoes before hitting the court. He’s living out his lifelong dream of playing for the Brigham Young University basketball team. But outside of practice, Rose’s sports shoes just don’t make the cut compared to his Air Max Ones, Jordan Fours or Foamposites.

A redshirt freshman on the BYU basketball team, Rose has collected about 150 pairs of shoes — Nikes and Jordans, specifically, plus about 20 other pairs of everyday shoes.

What Rose says began as a “mini obsession” with shoes was fueled by visits to his dad’s office at Nike. In junior high, Rose wore a size 9 — the perfect size for leftover sample shoes, which were a perk of his father’s job. His friends started noticing that he was wearing different shoes to school all of the time and wanted to trade him, and that’s when he said shoes became his hobby.

“Seventh grade is when I started to collect and care which pairs I had and try to get the best pairs,” Rose said.

Even before that, Rose had been indoctrinated that Nikes are the best. He has been wearing Nikes since the time he first had shoes on his feet.

“He probably had a pair of Jordans on him when he came home from the hospital,” said Rose’s father, Scott Rose. “He had a Jordan onesie and matching crib booties.”

Scott Rose has worked at Nike throughout his son’s life, so shoes were always abundant at the Rose home. He said shoes are everywhere you look in the house, filling the closets and garage like food storage. Kyle Rose was taught to appreciate shoes at a young age.

“The very first time I can remember him having an opinion about shoes was in the fifth or fourth grade when he had a dress-up day,” his father said. “He always matched everything, but on that day I remember him wearing a black pair of Jordans on one foot and a white pair on the other foot.”

Young Kyle Rose’s favorite shoes back then were high-top Nike Dunks, nicknamed Sea Crystals, that he would sport with a matching shirt, of course.

He has kept up his collection since. He and a teammate used to camp out overnight for shoes. They’d wait in line with their the shoes until their Nike-employed fathers came in the morning to purchase them.

“He knew at a very young age everything that was exclusive enough that he wanted it be to be part of his collection,” Scott said.We have high quality replica tag heuer watches, you can not miss the best Tag Heuer Replica Watches online.

Kyle Rose’s collection just kept growing as his father taught him about new technologies and up-and-coming shoe releases. During his senior year, he had the opportunity to work with the Nike design team to create the shoes for his high school basketball team. With the Hyper Dunk as his starting ground, he built the color and added school logos.

Also during his senior year, the avid shoe collector went the first 60 days of school without repeating the same pair of shoes.

His roommate and best friend since seventh grade, Mitch Mathews, said, “I was always jealous because he’d go to school for two to three months without wearing the same pair of shoes.”

Aside from coordinating his footwear, Kyle Rose was also busy coordinating his Eagle Scout project. He raised money and donated Nike shoes and other gear to different charities.

Since then, Rose has continued to look outside himself and is always ready to share. In addition to letting trustworthy friends borrow from his collection, he gives up his shoes to make others happy. In December 2012, he met Garrett Card at the Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation. Rose found out Card was interested in Nike shoes too, and they got to talking shop.

“That’s what he wanted for Christmas, so I ended up giving him a pair out of my closet at a game,” Rose said. “He was super stoked. He couldn’t even say anything except thanks a billion times.”
As he continues his collection, the Nike purist keeps up on his research by spending time on blogs and shoe websites. Kyle Rose looks at the colors and the technologies as well as the history behind the shoe — especially when it comes to Jordans like the Jordan Fours he recently acquired.

“He (Michael Jordan) wore these way, way back in the day — before I was born,” Kyle Rose said. “He hit a game-winning shot against Craig Ehlo in one of his most famous moments. These are one of my all-time favorite pairs of Jordans for sure.”

Other shoes have special meaning to Rose because they are connected to important memories like a basketball tournament with his father during his sophomore year of high school or a significant basketball game.

“I remember my senior night in high school for basketball I broke out this pair of Jordans that I had never worn before,We offer Cheap Michael Kors Handbags Outlet Sale with top quality and discount price.” he said. “I wore them and played in them for senior night, and we won.”

When he wears out a pair, a rare occurrence, Kyle Rose just throws them out or gives them away. Yet some shoes he has never worn and doesn’t ever plan to wear. He keeps all of his shoes, brand new or not, in the boxes with the tissue,Take a look at these imitation wrist watches for sale online, which are one of the best cheap replica watches in USA. but he said he has about 50 pairs still with pristine soles.

“Honestly, some of them are just so nice and just look so good I don’t want to wear them,” Rose said. “I don’t want to mess them up. I don’t know why I do that, but I just can’t bring myself to wear them.”

While he knows some people think he’s crazy, he also says a lot of people like his gigantic shoe collection. Some people even come over and look through the boxes and check out all of his shoes. Mathews said people are amazed when they come into Rose’s room, and they ask him a lot of questions about the shoes.

Even though he is fairly humble about his collection, he — like anyone with something new — sometimes wants to show them off.

“One time he got four new pairs of shoes that were all the same but different colors,” Mathews said. “He lined them up perfectly so people could check them out.”

With three more pairs on their way in the mail, Rose’s shoe collection just keeps growing, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Nike shoes are probably in his life to stay, and his future spouse had better be okay with it.

His father said, “I think he’s already picked out the pair he’s wearing to his wedding — a pair of Italian-made Air Force Ones with crocodile skin.”

THE MAN IN THE WOMAN'S SHOES

Award-winning actor and director Mikel Murfi is set to tour his one man show The Man in the Woman's Shoes to 17 venues across Ireland this May, stopping in Roscommon for a performance at Roscommon Arts Centre on Friday 3rd May.

The show was commissioned by Sligo Arts Office and the Hawk's Well Theatre in Sligo as part of the Bealtaine Festival. Beginning in 2013 Mikel traveled to meet with older people across county Sligo to gather stories. Tales emerged of characters who lived in Sligo town and county - characters who likely live in every part of Ireland. From the memories, tales and experiences gifted to him, Mikel has made a show that brings these stories back to the people who told them in the first place.

It's October 1978 and Pat Farnon has some business to do in town. It's a ten-mile round trip and it's no joke when you have to do it walking, it in a pair of women's shoes.You will get compliments on how elegant these replica hublot watches look. As he makes the trip from his little cottage to town and back again, Pat Farnon meets little marvels along the way. Funny,Looking for replica breitling watches? If so, why not come to this store! tender and at times downright daft,why christian louboutin shoes so popular in uk? The Man in the Woman's Shoes is a charming encounter with a man who has a boundless enthusiasm for life.

Speaking about his experience making The Man in the Woman's Shoes, Sligo native Mikel, says, "I was commissioned to research a play with different groups of older folk and then to bring that work back to them, to perform the play for the various groups I'd met by way of sharing their creativity and hopefully also documenting their lives. It's my way of honouring the wisdom and tenacity and most of all the gentle good humour in all of the people I met while creating the work. I hope that I've somehow captured the spirit of these people in the play."

Mikel Murfi is an actor and director who has worked on some of the most celebrated Irish theatre productions of recent years. He directed B for Baby by Carmel Winters for The Abbey Theatre,Take a look at these imitation wrist watches for sale online, which are one of the best cheap replica watches in USA. which won an Irish Times Theatre Award for Best New Play and Enda Walsh's The Walworth Farce and Penelope for Druid, winners of Scotsman Fringe First Awards. Mikel won an Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Walsh's The New Electric Ballroom for Druid. Mikel worked with over 50 people from active age groups across Sligo to create The Man in the Woman's Shoes, including The Catalysts Writing Club, Cliffoney and Ballintogher Active Age clubs, Forthill Men's History Group amongst others. Mikel then performed the show in various venues in Sligo, places as diverse as St John's Nursing Home, day care centres,One of the most popular ones are fake watches, cheap rolex watches illegally produced copies of authentic Rolex watches. parish halls and the Hawk's Well Theatre.

Dominic Campbell, Artistic Director of Bealtaine said, "Mikel embarked on a remarkable journey last year to make this gorgeous piece of theatre which was performed back to the people that inspired it in Sligo. We know it has relevance to audiences of all ages across the country, and are delighted to be bringing this beautiful play to venues nationally this May."

Bealtaine's line-up for May 2013 will see hundreds of theatrical, cinematic, craft, photographic, choral, dance and other events taking place across Ireland, giving people a chance to celebrate creativity as we age, inviting them to "Grow Happy!" - the theme of this year's festival.

Richemont annual profit rose

Johannesburg - Cie. Financiere Richemont SA, the maker of Cartier jewelry and IWC watches, said full-year net income rose about 30 percent, more than analysts expected, as the the dollar’s strength against the euro boosted sales growth.

Operating profit gained about 18 percent in the year through March as sales advanced 14 percent, the Geneva-based company said in today in an unscheduled statement ahead of the scheduled May 16 results.

Revenue rose 9 percent excluding currency shifts.

Analysts expected a 25 percent gain in net income and an 18 percent increase in operating profit, according to the average of 17 and 18 estimates.

The profit increase was the slowest in three years as the market for Swiss watches slows.

Swatch Group AG Chief Executive Officer Nick Hayek said last month the industry needed to “calm the spirits” on expectations as growth in the market will probably be 5 percent to 10 percent this year compared with rates of as much as 30 percent in the past.

“There is clearly a slowdown in demand for watches from China, and Richemont is especially exposed to watches,” Mathew Menezes,Take a look at these imitation wrist watches for sale online, which are one of the best cheap replica watches in USA.

“Even so, the slowdown is very broad-based and Richemont has positioned themselves uniquely in the high end- range, so I think their top line growth is doing O.K.”

The stock rose 3.6 percent to 70.60 Swiss francs at 9 a.m. in Zurich,We have high quality replica tag heuer watches, you can not miss the best Tag Heuer Replica Watches online. bringing the gain in the past year to 30 percent.

Richemont shares touched a record 81.45 francs on January 18.

Richemont’s sales met the average analyst estimate.

The dollar was on average 6.9 percent stronger against the euro, Richemont’s reporting currency, during the fiscal year, boosting sales from the US and Asian countries whose currencies are linked to the dollar.

The owner of the Dunhill accessories brand said Swiss stock exchange rules required the announcement because of how much the results differ from last year’s.

Switzerland’s watch exports rose 0.6 percent in March as shipments to China dropped 31 percent, the fourth monthly decline, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry said today.

First-quarter export growth slowed to 2.4 percent after the 11 percent pace in 2012.

Hermes International SCA said yesterday that sales of timepieces declined 5.3 percent, excluding currency shifts, as the Chinese market slowed.

The actual number of timepieces sold fell in March by 160,000 to 2.1 million units, FH said.Watches selling for less than 3,000 francs (export price) fell by 6.4 percent in value.But this was offset by a robust increase in luxury watches (those with an export price of more than 3,000 francs), which rose 7.2 percent in value, FH said.Last year, the Swiss watch industry set an all-time record for exports of more than 21 billion francs. The watch industry’s Q1 figures were matched by generally encouraging numbers for overall Swiss exports issued on Tuesday by the federal customs administration (FCA). an analyst at Avior Research,We offer Cheap Michael Kors Handbags Outlet Sale with top quality and discount price. said by phone from Johannesburg.

Swiss exports rose 3.8 percent in the first quarter of 2013, while imports gained 2.6 percent over the the first three months of 2012, the FCA said.These figures were “corrected” to reflect the fact there were three fewer working days for the period this year than in 2012.The actual figures showed a 0.7 percent drop in exports to 49.8 billion francs, while imports dropped 1.8 percent to 43.9 billion francs.On the plus side, exports of food products, drinks and tobacco rose 11 percent, the FCA said.

Cycling coast to coast

It was one of the first days of the brand new year. I was riding my bike around to Phil's house. It was a blueish-purple Raleigh Tomahawk I'd had for barely more than a week; it had been waiting for me under the Christmas tree when my little brother and I had finally been allowed into the living room. Despite us having been camped outside the door for hours, it was still before dawn. And there it was. Like a smaller Chopper, without the gears, perfect for the eight-year-old me.

Thirty-six years later, possibly to the day, I find myself on the way to Phil's house again. We're on our way to Cumbria and Northumberland for the weekend to begin our year-long odyssey. We can't shake off domestic commitments and swan off for a solid year, but we can manage one short, great bike ride every month. Our first challenge: the C2C, Coast to Coast, or, if you prefer, Sea 2 Sea. That's what our map calls it, anyway.

Snow is forecast, and by the time the Renault Espace creeps out of Phil's driveway, it's groaning under the weight of two road bikes, two mountain bikes, a lot of cycling kit, a lot of camera kit, and three middle-aged men of varying sizes. With us is Mark, old friend, cameraman and, on this occasion,Erik's Bike Shop is proud to carry LIVESTRONG Cycling, gear and apparel. photographer's assistant.

By lunchtime, as snow begins to fall, Mark and Phil will be trying to push the Espace up a slip road from the M6 near Warrington, which is where the cam-belt has decided to snap and completely trash the engine.

The Espace is soon on its way back south as a guest of the AA. We three intrepid heroes, however, have shrugged off the misfortune with a wry grin and a manly gesture and are continuing north, this time in a Transit van hired specially for the job.

Whitehaven is the sort of place that could be a cold and shivery spot on a summer's day. At 7am on a Saturday in January, it's been ramped up a bit.

In theory, you can do the C2C in a day, as it's only about 100 miles, depending which start and finish points you choose. In practice,View profiles and information for the Team RadioShack Cycling 2012 race team and riders here. with the roads being somewhat on the heavy side, most people choose to do it in two.

With it being the middle of winter and officially The North, we've plumped for the populist two-day road version. That is why I am dipping my tyre into the water at the regenerated harbour, as is traditional, and getting swan poo stuck in the cleats of my road shoes. We wind our way out of the curious town on a well-surfaced railway path and head for the hills. We can see a dusting of snow on the heads of the nearest peaks of the western lakes. Before long, we'll meet the day's big challenge, Whinlatter Pass.

It's a long, long way up, with some very steep bits, but they are thankfully quite brief and before long we're dodging icy patches on the way down to Derwentwater and Keswick.

The light is pinkening when we reach the wonderfully unheralded splendour of Castlerigg Stone Circle. These rocks were carefully manoeuvered into place 4,500 years ago, for reasons nobody can yet be certain of. A parliament of rooks skulks around the far side, eyeing us suspiciously.

Penrith, Day Two. I'm not sure I've ever ridden a bike in colder weather, but at least it's not windy. The only bit of me exposed to the elements is the bottom half of my face below my Oakleys. And that bit hurts really, really badly. When we do a short downhill, just as dawn is breaking over the vale between the Pennines and the Lakes, it feels as though my jaw is splintering in the cold.

In front of us is the wall of the Pennines. The colour of this huge edge of land changes about a third of the way up from grey-green to white. The back roads that form the bulk of the C2C are impassable this morning, so we're on the A686, but we haven't seen a single car yet. The temperature, the ice and the temptations of a Sunday lie-in have given us glorious solitude.

For perhaps the first time in my life, I'm approaching a major climb with something more positive than apprehension. Hartside Top is a five-mile drag across barren hillside, today heavy with snow, and 1,600 feet of vertical gain over those miles, but it's a steady gradient all the way, ideal for my size and the extra effort will warm me through. Plus there's a café at the top, though no guarantee it will be open.

The dry-stone walls lead us up through a dark wood and on to the open moor and the vistas to the west begin to open up. Beyond the icy green open fields of Inglewood Forest, the Lakeland Fells rear up in a startling white mantle of snow. High Street, the oddly named peak above Ullswater, is the nearest, 20 miles away, with Blencathra's brooding gable just beyond it. The Munro-bagger's summit of Skiddaw peeks over the northern shoulder of Blencathra, then the flat plains of Wigton and Aspatria (this is actually in Cumbria although it sounds like Ancient Greece) give way to the Solway Firth and the North Channel.

As I roll up the last few hundred yards of snowy mountain, I can see that the car park at Hartside Top Café, normally such a popular spot with motorcyclists, is deserted. A pang of disappointment shoots through my cold bones, until I see a light in the window. Result. They open at 10am, and it's five past. I'm straight in there, shoes off in front of the wood burner and a full English on its way.

Later, shooting down the larger road towards Alston past frozen abandoned mine workings, we're glad to see hard, wet Tarmac below us instead of the skating-rink conditions we've been getting. I'm frozen stiff by the long, chilly descent when we finally hit the buzzing little town, and a little cobbled climb up through the middle of the pretty Pennine oasis is just the tonic for shaking my cold-deadened limbs.

Soon we're dropping into Consett. My legs are hurting now. My bum hurts too. My fingers are wet (wrong gloves) and stinging. I don't even want to talk about my feet, and I'm sure you don't either. Fortunately, it's in Consett that we pick up the rather lovely railway path that follows the Derwent Valley all the way down into Newcastle.Great discounts on our huge range of SAXO BANK Cycling clothing .

We've picked Tynemouth as our finishing point rather than the alternative of Sunderland, largely for the ride along the River Tyne under all the beautiful high bridges of Newcastle, but the unexpected delights of this easy trafWe work with all Castelli Cycling computers.fic-free stretch do just as much to convince us that we'd made a good choice.

There's something special about Newcastle: it's a proper city. The way the big buildings are drawn from so many different eras and styles,Big Garmin Cycling and Fitness is a family owned shop serving the Helena area since 1986. yet are wedged in tight gives it a cosmopolitan feel even before you've begun to experience the warmth of the locals.

Out the other side of town, you can smell the North Sea on the air as the Tyne widens. As is traditional, we bump down the cliff to the beach to dip our tyres into the North Sea, symbolically to complete the trip, and are rewarded by a rising yellow moon. The bikes will feel rough with sand tomorrow, but I don't care; my legs will feel much the same.

Richie Porte's Paris-Nice Pinarello Dogma TT bike

Although only 9.6km long, the stage is a mountain time trial that sends the riders out of Nice and straight up the D2564. It rises to 501m with an average grade of 4.7 per cent, though there are pitches of over eight per cent.

It starts with two kilometres between six to nine per cent with a couple of very short sections of false flat before kicking up again. If riders have anything left, then the final kilometre to the line is gentle downhill.

Before the start, Porte had a lead of 32 seconds over Andrew Talansky of Garmin-Sharp, a serious contender for the overall win, should Porte falter. So, facing the most important race of his career, what bike and set-up did Porte opt for? We spoke to his mechanic Richard Lambert to get the inside line.

"It's a totally stock, off-the-peg Pinarello Dogma 65.1. The only thing that's different is that there's no blue paint on it, to save some weight," explained the former racer. So it looks different, a bit stealth, a bit special ops, but basically it's a standard frame with less paint?

"Yes, Pinarello picks the lightest frame off the production run of those size frames and then give it to us and there's only lacquer on it. The geometry is standard, it's not a special build or anything. In fact, there's no custom geometry used on any of the bikes."

Having said that, the riders do have the option to fit two different forks with different trail measurements, either 47 or 45 degrees, which makes the steering more or less sharp. In the Sky team, only Ian Stannard opts for the more ‘relaxed' 47-degree fork; everyone else is on the standard geometry - but it's purely down to rider preference.

This plain Pinarello is the latest incarnation of the Dogma 65.1, and Porte had ridden the same spec frame until the final two road stages of Paris-Nice, at which point Lambert built an unpainted ‘replica' bike.

"The position on this ‘TT' bike is exactly the same as his road position - the bar height, stem, saddle position, everything's the same. He rode it on the stages before the time trial because he wanted to try it and be happy with. It was the same set-up minus the tri-bars." And minus that ‘heavy' blue paint!

"As far as the clip-on tri-bars go, he just wanted the version with the upturned ends - he's ridden with the flat-end bar design in previous races but I think he found the upturned bars more comfortable, and they give him a bit more leverage," explained Lambert.

In as much as there were very few sectors of the final stage where aerodynamics were significant - Porte's average speed was just 29.89kph - the aero benefit of tri-bars is less significant, though comfort clearly is.Erik's Bike Shop is proud to carry LIVESTRONG Cycling, gear and apparel. The final downhill kilometre makes an aero shape important, but doesn't justify the use of a full-spec time trial bike.

And for those expecting Sky's famous ‘marginal gains' philosophy to express itself in the wheels, well, no. "The front wheel is a standard, couple-of years-old Shimano C24, 16-spoke model. The rear, because we are now running on Di2 11-speed, it's what I'd call the ‘Classic' hub, which is the older-style Shimano hub run with the 11-speed cassette on a C24 rim. It's a hand-built wheel, built by us. But it's a standard rim, standard hub, standard spokes."

It is, as the kids say,We work with all Castelli Cycling computers. ‘standard'. So Porte was running a hand-built road wheel.View profiles and information for the Team RadioShack Cycling 2012 race team and riders here. Nothing fancy - on the most important time trial of his career. And why was it hand-built? "Because Shimano haven't released a C24 11-speed wheel yet."

The pedals and saddle are road issue too but, though the wheels were standard road spec, then the tubulars were different. "Yes, he's running the Veloflex Extreme today, so they're slightly lighter in weight, 22mm tubs compared to the road tubs."
The drivetrain is - yes, you guessed - standard. Porte was running Shimano Dura-Ace SRM-equipped cranks with 53/39 rings and an 11-25 cassette. "The chainset is still the 10-speed, since the new 11-speed [SRM] designs are still in the prototype phase," Lambert noted.

So, essentially, it's his road bike with clip-on bars and slightly lighter tyres? "Yes. Overall, it's as light as we can make it. It's over the UCI limit without clip-ons. In fact, it's 200g over with the SRM and everything. With the clip-ons added, it's 7.2 kilos." To be clear, Porte's road bike weighs 6.Big Garmin Cycling and Fitness is a family owned shop serving the Helena area since 1986.82kg without the clip-ons, including the SRM crank and its associated gubbins.

You might say that Porte's Paris-Nice winning bike was something of a disappointment. It's a bike anyone with the cash could buy. There are no secret squirrel parts on it. Lambert laughed: "You expect miracles to be worked? You think that he's got some kind of special bike? The reason he goes as fast is that he's good!" You can't argue with that.Great discounts on our huge range of SAXO BANK Cycling clothing .

This article originally appeared in the March 28 2013 issue of Cycling Weekly magazine .

Sergent's team stars in France

Jesse Sergent competed in one of the biggest races on the professional calendar last Sunday, lining up at the start of Paris-Roubaix for his RadioShack Leopard Trek team.

This race is known for its cobblestones sections of road, which are a nightmare to race on.

Sergent was part of a seven-strong team, with the goal to set up their team leader, Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara, for his third victory in this race.

Sergent played his part perfectly and after 254km of hard racing,View profiles and information for the Team RadioShack Cycling 2012 race team and riders here. it was his team leader who crossed the line first ahead of Sep Vanmarcke, of Belgium (racing for Blanco Professional Cycling) and Niki Terpstra of the Netherlands (racing for Omega-Pharma Quickstep).

It has been another successful two weeks of racing for Bike Manawatu's junior riders at the Te Awamutu and Rotorua junior cycling tours.

The Te Awamutu two-day tour was on Easter weekend and consisted of two road stages and a time trial.

The under-19 boys were present in all stages, with Mark Findlay second on both of the road stages and 10th overall.

Luke Mudgway rode consistently to finish fourth overall, picking up the sprint jersey along the way and Jordan Castle was third on the final stage.

In the under-17 boys, Campbell Stewart had two third-place finishes and a first to finish second overall. Robert Stannard was third on stage two and finished in eighth overall and Alex West finished second on the third stage.

Elizabeth Stannard won the final stage to finish fifth on the final classification and fellow Bike Manawatu member Michaela Drummond finished eighth overall.

Libby Arbuckle continued her good form, winning the opening stage and then finishing second on the following stages to end the tour in second place. A week later most of these riders competed in Rotorua over two days,Big Garmin Cycling and Fitness is a family owned shop serving the Helena area since 1986. but with four stages to race - two road stages, one time trial and a criterium.

Mudgway put his sprinting talents on display to win the opening stage in the under-19 boys field, with Findlay not far behind in third.

Findlay finished second in the criterium and finished fifth overall, with Mudgway just ahead in third.

Manawatu's strong under-17 boys contingent dominated their field, taking all three spots on the podium on the opening stage, with Stewart finishing ahead of West and Chris Denholm.

Stewart was second in the next two stages, before another Bike Manawatu one, two,Erik's Bike Shop is proud to carry LIVESTRONG Cycling, gear and apparel. three on the final stage,We work with all Castelli Cycling computers. with Stewart l finishing ahead of Stannard and Denholm.Great discounts on our huge range of SAXO BANK Cycling clothing .

Stewart won the race overall with Stannard, Denholm and West present in the top 10 at seventh, eighth, and ninth respectively.

Arbuckle finished second on three of the four stages, but beat her closest rival by 53 seconds in the time trial to have enough of a gap to win the tour overall!

With the national championships looming, these are promising results and we can expect to see a few national champions crowned in Queenstown from April 18 to 21.

Cancer survivor takes on John O'Groats to Land's End challenge

The Coatbridge man, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in May 2012, is getting on his bike to cycle from John O'Groats to Land's End to raise money for a charity which helps others with the same condition.Great discounts on our huge range of SAXO BANK Cycling clothing .

He will be joining 700 other cyclists who are taking on the nine day tour for Prostate Cancer UK.

He said: "Everybody who's doing this is doing it for different reasons.

"I work in the health and fitness industry, I have done for 15 years. But this is the first time I've actually practised what I preach and I feel absolutely amazing.

"I’m in my mid 50s and I’ve never done anything like this. People in work convinced me to go for it and since I’ve paid my money there’s no turning back.

"We've had a lot of bad weather for cycling in so on days where I couldn't get out on the road I was in the garage on a turbo trainer, which is like a spin bike.

"My wife had been watching Homeland - the Sky Plus always had to be set for it – so I thought I’d watch it. I got it up on the iPad, stuck in the earphones and watched the whole two seasons cycling in the garage.

"But being out on the road is a whole different kettle of fish."

Wille discovered he had cancer after a chance visit to his doctor. The 55-year-old went to his GP suffering from sore ears. But tests to find out what was wrong showed he also had cancer.

It came as a shock to the Grandfather who didn’t have any idea there was something wrong with him.Erik's Bike Shop is proud to carry LIVESTRONG Cycling, gear and apparel.

He said: "I had gone to the doctor with sore ears and tests showed there was something else wrong with me.

"But there was nothing wrong with me that I could see - no symptoms or anything. I didn’t have a clue.

"Everyone around me was a lot more worried than I was. My wife was crying when we went outside.Big Garmin Cycling and Fitness is a family owned shop serving the Helena area since 1986. She just burst into tears."

Despite the shock and severity of his diagnosis, the health and fitness manager was determined not to let it get to him.

Just five weeks after an operation to have his prostate removed in July, Willie was back working part-time at his gym in Anniesland.

He said: "When the doctor told me I had cancer,We work with all Castelli Cycling computers. my attitude was 'well what are you going to do about it?'.

"I was really confident the doctors and the NHS would do what they had to do.

"It was difficult having a catheter, being bagged up and covered in scars and staples. It was very difficult at first.View profiles and information for the Team RadioShack Cycling 2012 race team and riders here.

"I had to make plans for the possible future, for insurance purposes and things.

"But I was always really confident that I would get through it, and that pushed my progress.

"I was back at work part-time five weeks after my operation. I did two days on then three days off then I was back full-time after a few weeks."

He added: "I wouldn’t recommend that, though."

In January, Willie was given the all clear.

So when an advert for Ride Across Britain came through his letterbox he thought he’d give himself the challenge.

The 963 mile challenge takes place on June 8. You can learn more about detecting cancer early here.