Thursday, September 11, 2008

Arma-neverfor-Geddon

Armaneverforgeddon


Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
8:46 A.M. EDT
Flight 11 Hits the North
Tower of the WTC
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Flight 175 Nears WTC
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
UA 175 About to Crash
into WTC South Tower
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
9:03 A.M. EDT
Flight 175 Hits the South
Tower of the WTC
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Flight 175 Approaches
the WTC South Tower
Photograph © Gulnara Samoilova. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
WTC Towers Ablaze
With Heavy Smoke
Photograph © Gulnara Samoilova. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Twin Tower Smoke
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Empire State Bldg.
in Foreground of Fire
Click on the September 11th photos and pictures of the 9/11/2001 attack on America for a larger image.
North Tower Ablaze
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
9:03 A.M. EDT
News Helicopter Sees
UA 175 Hit the South
Tower of the WTC
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
UA 175 Hits WTC Tower
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
9:03 A.M. EDT
UA 175 Hits the South
Tower of the WTC
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Explosion at the South
Tower of the WTC
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
WTC Towers Ablaze
With Brooklyn Bridge
in Foreground
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Flight 175 Hits the South
Tower of the WTC at
9:03, and at 10:05 A.M.
South Tower Collapses
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
At 10:05 A.M. the
South Tower Collapses
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
At 10:05 A.M. the
South Tower Collapses
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Photo Sequence of the
10:28 A.M. EDT
WTC North Tower
Collapsing
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Towers Rain Debris
on Lower Manhattan-
Hundreds of firemen
and policemen are
killed in the collapse
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
New Yorkers Run to
Escape the Massive
Debris Storm
From the 110-Storey
WTC Twin Towers
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Firemen and Fire Trucks
Caught in Falling Debris
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
North Tower Collapses
Photos and Images are © James Nachtwey & Time. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Towers Collapse
Near A Church
© J. Nachtwey & Time
Click on the September 11th photos and pictures of the 9/11/2001 attack on America for a larger image.
Injured NYC Fireman
Evacuated From WTC
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New York Street Terror
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New Yorkers Escape
the Falling Debris
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Hundreds of Brave NYC
Firemen Lose their Lives
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Out From the Ashes
Photograph © Gulnara Samoilova. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
World Trade Center
Survivors
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World Trade Center
Survivor
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Manhattan Smoke
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
New York Survivor
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Running For Your Life
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Escape From New York
Photograph © Gulnara Samoilova. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
New Yorkers Flee
Photograph © Gulnara Samoilova. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Looking Back in Horror
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Onlookers are Horrified
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Sunny Day Goes Dark
Photos and Images are © James Nachtwey & Time. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
Survivor in Disbelief
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
New York City Skyline
on the Afternoon of
September 11, 2001.
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
New York City Skyline
on the Afternoon of
September 11, 2001.
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
New York City Skyline
on the Afternoon of
September 11, 2001.
Pictures, photos, or images are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures for a larger image. On September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the World Trade Center towers in New York City.
New York City Skyline
on the Evening of
September 11, 2001.

Alternative Payments from Bankers?

Hey This Place Still Takes Credit Cards!
InternetRetailer.com - Daily News for Thursday, September 11, 2008
Bank networks strive for international alternative payments system

As a growing number of online alternative payment methods take market share from traditional bank-issued payment cards, bank networks in the U.S. and abroad are working toward an international system of supporting direct e-commerce links to bank bill-pay services as their own alternative to credit and debit cards. The networks are providing immediate guarantee of payment without requiring merchants to process or store any consumer payment account data, says Richard Brierly-Jones, executive vice president of the International Council of Payment Network Operators.

Bank-owned networks are trying to compete with non-bank providers of alternative payment methods, which have been taking revenue away from banks, says Brierly-Jones, who is based in Denver and is also executive vice president of eWise Systems.

EWise is partnering with NACHA® The Electronics Payments Association, to provide the U.S.-based Secure Vault Payments system, which lets customers of participating online merchants click an icon in a shopping cart to process a direct debit from their bank account to complete an e-commerce payment transaction.

Similar direct-debit systems are also operating in the Netherlands, Germany and Canada, and the bank network VocaLink is planning to launch a similar system in the U.K., Brierly-Jones says.

The ultimate goal of the bank networks is to enable international direct-debit services, so that consumers can click to make a direct-debit payment on any e-commerce site regardless of the host country. Later this month, the International Council of Payment Network Operators will conduct its inaugural meeting in London to address international transaction issues such as cross-border settlements, cross-network pricing and branding, Brierly-Jones says.

The networks are also talking with bank credit card associations Visa Inc. and MasterCard Inc. about also including bank credit cards as payment options available through the Secure Vault Payments and other payment services available through the bank networks, Brierly-Jones says.

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Web?

With the price of fuel hovering at all time highs, many people have started counting the cost of the "shopping expedition" as well as the price of merchandise.

This has created the beginnings of a paradigm shift in the behavioral pattern of consumers and how they shop for goods.

Recent stories raising consumer awareness on the potential of becoming a victim to card cloning, card skimming, Wardriving, etc. etc. only adds to the momentum to forces driving consumers to shop online.

After all, online shopping literally eliminates the fuel factor, having one's own personal swiping device complete with PIN Entry capability virtually eliminates the potential for fraud and e-Commerce pricing usually beats anything found in bricks and mortar locations...and it always will. It simply costs less to provide an outlet of goods online and in the competitve landscape of such a world, those savings are passed on to consumers. In fact, according to an article published today in Red Orbit entitled: Sale of the Century Bargains are one of the biggest allures online retailers have to offer. Here's an excerpt:

"
Part of the internet's popularity is down to its reputation for being the easiest place to bag a bargain. Falling broadband costs, a greater familiarity with e-shopping and increasing online offers mean it looks set to thrive, even against the backdrop of the credit crunch. In fact, online shoppers are buying more regularly than ever before: an average of 16.9 times each per year, an increase of 2.7 purchases each in 2006. This continues to force retailers of every type and size to use the format as part of the way they do business".

Thus, e-Commerce is booming worldwide, not just here in the States.

Therefore it is critical that companies begin to look at how to use the internet to drive sales. Not only should companies utilize the internet for marketing purposes, but they should look at it as a critical sales channel. The numbers speak for themselves. This is not a trend. It is truly a paradigm shift.

Consumers armed with high-speed access and positive online retail experiences are increasingly comfortable shopping online. Metrical analysis of the United States and Europe show trends of increased spending in online retail from last year, and the rate of transition from traditional to online shopping isn't showing signs of slowing down anytime soon. In fact, it's outpacing bricks and mortar, while percentages of online shoppers increase. (see "related stories" below)

e-Commerce is expected to boom for the next 5 years. I say longer. I say paradigm shift.

I say that the web is retail's big bad wolf and it's gonna huff and puff and blow some houses down. Bricks...and...mortar...and... all....oh my.

Kudos to the company that houses the global patent on bringing PIN Debit to the web in a browser environment! It's the most popular and fastest growing payment platform in the bricks and mortar world and has yet to take a foothold in the online payments space. That's about to change however and online retailers will jump at the opportunity to significantly reduce their payment processing costs, risk management, chargebacks and increase the security of the transaction. It's not if, it's when. Period.


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