Widdel Online

Making Email Work for You

2012-02-23T15:27:00.001-06:00

Source

Another reminder about what could be...

2012-02-17T08:50:00.000-06:00

Sheepherder in Muehlethurnen, Switzerland. 2/15/12

Source

You've Got to Know when to Fold 'Em

2012-02-16T13:45:00.000-06:00

Here's a guy that won't accept the conventional wisdom of "you can't beat city hall."

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

This had to happen at the Heart Attack Grill - sooner or later

2012-02-16T13:26:00.000-06:00

This week, a customer at the Las Vegas restaurant, Heart Attack Grill, was taken by ambulance for treatment after he showed signs of suffering a heart attack while eating one of their signature items, a Triple Bypass Burger.

The restaurant promotes in-your-face unhealthy items. They offer free meals to people over 350 pounds and great each customer with a sign that says "Caution! This establishment is bad for your health." Scantily clad nurses serve the food. Customers are draped in hospital gowns, designed to catch the grease and sauces that drip from the food.

Customers at the grill thought the medical emergency was staged and watched the customer with amusement, during his period of trouble.

I can't imagine why. Sigh....

Source

Looks Like Cindy Crawford Acted Upon Some Good Advice

2012-02-16T13:09:00.003-06:00

Cindy Crawford started her modeling career at age 17. It shouldn't be a big surprise that this spring, her daughter started a career with a big jump start, modeling at age 10, for the launch of the Italian Young Versace boutique in Milan.

Here's her photo. I leave you to draw your own conclusions.

This is formal supermodel Cindy Crawford's 10-year-old daughter, Kaia, modeling clothes for Versace's new children's line.

In an accompanying press release, Cindy was quoted as saying, “I'm so thrilled that Kaia was chosen to be part of the first Young Versace Campaign. I have so many fond memories of the times I spent with Gianni Versace and Donatella. There is something so very special about the House of Versace.”

Now it's one month later and Cindy appears to have changed her mind. She recently announced that her daughter's modeling career will be placed on-hold for the next seven years. “At this point, she's too young to pursue a career. There aren't even a handful of jobs for a 10-year-old girl. But if she's 17 and wants to try it, of course, what can I say?"

What's the reason for the complete turn-around? My guess is that she listened carefully to her PR person. She is a very successful celebrity uber entrepreneur whose selling ability depends greatly on her good looks as well as a wholesome image. The image of her daughter (given above) probably didn't play well with her most valued customers.

Or maybe, she just let a good mothering instinct guide her decision.

Source

An oversimplification of reality, but ...

2012-02-11T09:41:00.002-06:00

Further Proof That There Are Still Good People in the World

2012-02-11T09:31:00.000-06:00

Source: A sponsored video post by Starbucks

The Seven Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful Executives

2012-02-11T09:07:00.003-06:00

Dennis Kozlowski, former CEO of Tyco at his toga-themed birthday party, thrown at company expense.
The party cost an estimated $2 million. Source

In a January 2, 2012 article for Forbes Magazine, Eric Jackson, identifies the major habits of very unsuccessful corporate executives.

1. They see themselves and their companies as dominating their environment (even through the business case doesn't back this perception.)

2. They identify so completely with the company that there is no clear boundary between their personal interests and their corporation's interests. (Instead of nurturing the company, they treated the company as a private empire.)

3. They think they have all the answers. (Making them closed to learning new ones.)

4. They ruthlessly eliminate anyone who isn't completely behind them. (It's an unnecessary and destructive tactic that cuts the CEO off from their best chance of seeing and correcting problems.)

5. They are consummate spokespersons, obsessed with the company image. (Often settling for the appearance of accomplishing things rather than accomplishing things.)

6. They underestimate obstacles. (Because they become so enamored of their own vision, they plunge forward, dismissing large problems as unimportant.)

7. They stubbornly rely on what worked for them in the past. (To make the most of what they believe made them great, they stick to what they have done in the past, creating a static business model.)

Source

Is this a Safe Room or the Ultimate Man Cave?

2012-02-11T08:44:00.001-06:00

The helpful folks at Allstate Insurance, provides helpful tips for homeowners building a secure safe room/shelter.

Here's their helpful infographic, suggesting the factors we should consider when creating a safe room that will allow us to avoid "the risks and potential dangers that may arise in other parts of the home." So much for running to my basement, when a tornado strikes my neighborhood.

Source

The Most Expensive T-Shirt in the World Made With Only Renewable Energy Sources

2012-02-11T08:35:00.002-06:00

Superlative Luxury, Inc. believes that its t-shirt, priced at $400,000 is the most expensive in the world. They are plugging this product as a new-age child of renewable energy.

When I teach that consumers have to pay more for energy-sensitive products, I wasn't thinking about this.

To order one of these t-shirts click.here. (Source)

"This one of a kind luxury product has been made using only renewable energy sources (for example Wind & Solar power) and represents a C02 reduction of 90% compared to traditional t-shirt production. The garment itself is made from 100% organic cotton with a quality weight of over 150g/m2 making this product perfect for even the most sensitive skin."

"The spherical pattern is illustriously decorated with 16 certified hand-set diamonds. Each diamond commands exquisite color, clarity, cut and luster. Every diamond is an example of natural beauty as nothing is more rare, precious, beautiful or indestructible as a diamond! The design is encrusted with 8 white diamonds each over 1 carat and 8 'enhanced' rare black diamonds also over 1 carat each."

Just a Reminder of What Should Be

2012-01-29T09:10:00.000-06:00

January 26, 2012. Bucharest, Romania.

MSNBC

High Def Images of Our World

2012-01-25T20:28:00.000-06:00

Blue Marble 2012 was released by NASA this week. It's "composite image [that] uses a number of swaths of the Earth's surface taken on January 4, 2012."

NPR-Science

Colbert Pitches Idea for "Wild Thing" Sequal to Author Maurice Sendak

2012-01-25T16:36:00.000-06:00

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

This is inspirational

2012-01-22T18:36:00.001-06:00

Representative Gabrielle Giffords is resigning from Congress this week, stating the reason "I have more work to do on my recovery." It's no wonder.

Gabrielle was shot on January 8, 2011 during a meet-the-public appearance in Tucson, Arizona. Eighteen individuals were injured; six died. Her resulting recovery from a gunshot injury to the head was one of the top stories for the year.

Here is the video in which she announces her resignation.

There is little doubt that upon a satisfactory recovery, this woman will return to some type of public service.

Godspeed, Gabrielle.

MSNBC

How's This for Motivation? Seven Very Large CEO Paychecks

2012-01-16T23:24:00.000-06:00

Joel Gemunder, Omnicare

CEO pay: $98.3 million

Omnicare employee pay: $38,600

CEO-to-worker pay ratio: 2,546-to-1

John Hammergren, McKesson

CEO pay: $145.3 million

McKesson employee pay: $60,500

CEO-to-worker pay ratio: 2,401-to-1

Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren

CEO pay: $66.7 million

Ralph Lauren employee pay: $50,200

CEO-to-worker pay ratio: 1,328-to-1

Thomas Ryan, CVS Caremark

CEO pay: $68 million

CVS Caremark employee pay: $36,300

CEO-to-worker pay ratio: 1,875-to-1

John Plant, TRW Automotive

CEO pay: $76.8 million

TRW Automotive employee pay: $69,400

CEO-to-worker pay ratio: 1,107-to-1

Frank Coyne, Verisk Analytics

CEO pay: $69.4 million

Verisk Analytics employee pay: $50,100

CEO-to-worker pay ratio: 1,386-to-1

Adam Metz, General Growth Properties

CEO pay: $66.7 million

General Growth Properties employee pay: $53,800

CEO-to-worker pay ratio: 1,240-to-1

MSNMoney

Oops. It's Time to Change Out the In-Store Display

2012-01-16T23:10:00.000-06:00

GeekoSystem

Australia versus China - A Photo Comparison

2012-01-16T23:03:00.000-06:00

A traveler from Australia to China took these departure and arrival photos. I've been to China many times. The arrival photo isn't lying.

This is quite the commercial for an improved lint roller

2012-01-16T22:59:00.000-06:00

If you're a fan of the double entendre, then this is the commercial you've been waiting for!

YouTube

Maybe this is why people don't speak up during class.

2012-01-16T22:51:00.000-06:00

North Dakota - Vegas of the North?

2012-01-16T22:46:00.000-06:00

Check out this recent tourism ad for our neighbor to the west.

This seems to be a pretty risky depiction of an evening out for our largely Lutheran neighbors.

Copyranter

Facebook Campaign for Bald Barbie

2012-01-16T22:37:00.002-06:00

A parent of a child who lost her hair due to leukemia and the subsequent radiation treatments teamed with a photographer who lost her hair during ongoing chemotherapy treatment to create a Facebook page petitioning Mattel to make a bald Barbie doll.

The two women believe the doll will help kids and others become more comfortable with baldness caused by cancer and other illnesses.

“They [the young female cancer patients] look in the mirror every day and know they’re different, so giving them a Barbie that looks like them isn’t throwing it in their face. I think if anything, it’s showing them that, ‘You’re not so different. You’re still you — you’re just bald’.”

Why not, Mattel? It seems to me that this idea has more going for it than the soon-to-be-released Breaking Dawn Barbie dolls.

If you'd like to sign the online petition, go here.

National Post

$400K in Loose Change Left Behind at Airport Scans

2012-01-16T22:27:00.000-06:00

Wow. In 2010, travelers left behind an incredible $409,085 in loose change in the plastic bins at the security checkpoints in U.S. airports.

"The collected cash goes into the TSA's general operating budget and is spent on general expenses -- everything from technology to lightbulbs -- since Melandez says they never know how much money people will leave behind each year. But surprisingly, the numbers have been fairly consistent with $364,000 left in 2008 and $399,000 left in 2009, reports NBC San Diego."

This could become the next great revenue source for businesses. All they would have to do is install a security gate at the entrance to their stores and have everyone empty their pockets before walking through the scanner. Hey Wal-Mart, are you reading this?

Huffington Post

Creative Add-Ons to Political Advertisements

2012-01-16T22:19:00.000-06:00

Here's some inspiration. Instead of adding graffiti to a political opponent's campaign poster, some creative types designed an add-on that places the candidate in a compromising situation.

Clever!

From Quebec (Left) and Denmark (Right)

Thedailywh.at

The Page Turner

2012-01-11T13:28:00.001-06:00

Sometimes you need to invent something just to invent something. There's not much of a market for this device and yet...

YouTube

Holy Smokes! Check out this H & R Block Advertisement for their Second Look Service

2012-01-11T12:50:00.002-06:00

In a very creative approach to getting new customers, H & R Block, tax preparation service, is advertising that they can help your budget problems by getting back, the taxes you overpaid last year.

Wow. I wonder if that includes the taxes that were overpaid because of the tax returns completed by undertrained tax preparers from H & R Block?

YouTube

Celebrity Beauty Secret Now Available to Everyone.

2012-01-11T12:38:00.000-06:00

Fotoshop by Adobé from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

OhHaveYouSeenThis

The Brilliant Marketing Award of the Moment Goes to L'asso Pizza

2012-01-11T12:26:00.003-06:00

L'asso Pizzeria, New York, released a "Pizza is My Lover" calendar for 2012 that features "12 sexy cheesy pinups and a bonus centerfold pinup."

Now, this is thinking outside of the ole pizza box.

Beach Pizza

Couch Pizza

Leather Pizza

Order your calendar here.

Maybe this IS the end of the world. Hostess goes bankrupt - again.

2012-01-11T12:14:00.001-06:00

Is this another sign that the Mayans were right? Today it was announced that Hostess Brands, the (in)famous maker of Twinkies, Ho-Hos and Ding Dongs has filed for bankruptcy protection.

It appears that the rise of healthier eating trends was lessened demand. That, coupled with the significant price increases for ingredients, has plunged the company to an astounding $860 million in debt. Ouch.

The company will be attempting to restructure it's organization and arrange payment plans with its creditors - something of which thy have experience; They went through a bankruptcy in 2004. Let's hope they get it right this time.

All you Twinkie junkies can settle down for the immediate future. According to Johnathan Berr, MSN columnist, "Hostess will continue to operate its bakeries, outlet stores and distribution centers and doesn't anticipate any disruptions to product manufacturing during the bankruptcy."

Are Twinkies that bad for one's well-being? "Twinkies have an "F" grade from the nutrition website Calorie Count because they pack 150 calories. That means that the snacks have evolved from a daily treat in kids' lunches to an occasional food."

MSN Stocks

Cities with the Most Auto Accidents

2012-01-09T23:33:00.000-06:00

According to Allstate Insurance Company, the safest place to drive in America is Fort Collins, CO. Drivers in that city get into a car accident just once every 14 years.

Which place is the most unsafe?

Here's the top ten most accident-prone cities in the U.S. for 2011. What do you suppose auto insurance costs in these cities?

1. Washington, D.C.
Average time between accidents: 4.8 years.

2. Baltimore, MD
Average time between accidents: 5.3 years.

3. Glendale, CA
Average time between accidents: 5.5 years.

4. Newark, NJ
Average time between accidents: 5.9 years.

5. Providence, RI
Average time between accidents: 6.0 years.

6. Philadelphia, PA
Average time between accidents: 6.2 years

7. Hartford, CT.
Average time between accidents: 6.3 years

8. Jersey City, NJ
Average time between accidents: 6.4 years

9. San Francisco, CA
Average time between accidents: 6.4 years

10. Alexandria, VA
Average time between accidents: 6.4 years

MSNMoney

Getting More Play from Old Vinyl Record Covers

2012-01-09T23:13:00.002-06:00

They're either ulta-fans or people with too much time on their hands, but whatever the reason, it's fun to see the results when an old record cover is combined with a purposeful and willing model.

For more "covers" go here. BuzzFeed

This music video took two years to make. Give it a couple of minutes!

2012-01-09T22:53:00.001-06:00

Kina Grannis's video, In Your Arms, is a stop-motion clip video that features the use of almost 300,000 jelly beans. (No green screen was used in this video.)

The video is comprised of 2,460 individual frames, with each one comprised of a different portrait made of Jelly Belly jelly beans (donated by the company.) Each frame took up to an hour to produce and shoot.

The artist would be photographed while laying down on the glass-covered jelly bean background. Her pose had to be carefully coordinated with the shot from the previous scene. "Some nights we'd get only two frames done," Grannis explained.

Knowing all this makes this video even more remarkable. Take a look...

Youtube Entertainment Weekly

The Year in Pictures - Part 1

2012-01-04T15:49:00.003-06:00

Boston.com presents the best news photos of the year (Part 1). Click here.

A wave caused by a tsunami flows into the city of Miyako from the Heigawa estuary in Iwate Prefecture after a magnitude 8.9 earthquake struck Japan March 11, 2011. (Mainichi Shimbun /Reuters)

Boston.com

The Year in Pictures - Part 2

2012-01-04T15:44:00.000-06:00

Part 2 of Boston.com's best news photos of the year. Click here.

A cloud of ash billowing from Puyehue volcano near Osorno in southern Chile, 870 km south of Santiago, on June 5. Puyehue volcano erupted for the first time in half a century on June 4, 2011, prompting evacuations for 3,500 people as it sent a cloud of ash that reached Argentina. The National Service of Geology and Mining said the explosion that sparked the eruption also produced a column of gas 10 kilometers (six miles) high, hours after warning of strong seismic activity in the area. (Claudio Santana/AFP/Getty Images)

Boston.com

The Year in Pictures - Part 3

2012-01-04T15:42:00.000-06:00

Part 3 of Boston.com's best news photos of the year. Click here.

A defaced portrait of fugitive Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi in Tripoli on Sept. 1, 2011 as the fallen strongman vowed again not to surrender in a message broadcast on the 42nd anniversary of the coup which brought him to power. (Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty Images)

Boston.com

There's a Whole New Story Inside These Books

2012-01-04T12:58:00.002-06:00

Just when I thought that there wasn't much use for old books, artist Guy Laramee shows me that there's much more to them than the cover or their written content. Wow.

NOTCOT

Selling Tea in Bangkok

2012-01-04T12:24:00.001-06:00

How do you sell more tea than the other guy? This guy shows us how to do it.

Remember. Sell the sizzle, not the steak.

Youtube

Is this the best way to fight childhood obesity?

2012-01-04T00:53:00.000-06:00

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta created this series of advertisements for their print advertising campaign against child weight problems.

"We felt like we needed a very arresting, abrupt campaign that said: ‘Hey, Georgia! Wake up. This is a problem,’ ” said Linda Matzigkeit, a senior vice president at Children’s Healthcare.

What do you think? Will these ads do the trick?

Copyranter

Top Ten Seized Counterfeit Goods in U.S. Ports

2012-01-04T00:33:00.001-06:00

It is estimated that counterfeit goods comprise about 7 percent of the total value of all goods traded globally.

U.S. customs agents are kept busy trying to control the flow of these goods into our country. Here are the top ten categories of illegal goods seized by U.S. Agents.

1. Footwear
2010 Domestic Seizure Value: $45.75 million
Percent of Total Seizures: 24%

2. Consumer Electronics
2010 Domestic Seizure Value: $33.59 million
Percent of Total Seizures: 18%
\

3. Apparel
2010 Domestic Seizure Value: $18.68 million
Percent of Total Seizures: 10%

4. Handbags/Wallets/Backpacks
2010 Domestic Seizure Value: $15.42 million
Percent of Total Seizures: 8%

5. Media
2010 Domestic Seizure Value: $12.68 million
Percent of Total Seizures: 7%

6. Computers/Hardware
2010 Domestic Seizure Value: $9.5 million
Percent of Total Seizures: 5%

7. Cigarettes
2010 Domestic Seizure Value: $8.85 million
Percent of Total Seizures: 5%

8. Watches
2010 Domestic Seizure Value: $7.85 million
Percent of Total Seizures: 4%

9. Jewelry
2010 Domestic Seizure Value: $6.76 million
Percent of Total Seizures: 4%

10. Pharmaceuticals
2010 Domestic Seizure Value: $5.66 million
Percent of Total Seizures: 3%

CNBC

Why Copy Just the Item When You Can Copy the Whole Business? Fake Businesses in China

2012-01-04T00:02:00.001-06:00

It's the new trend for the new millennium. Chinese-pirated and bootlegged copies of branded items have been a major cost to global companies for years but now, the trend has gravitated towards copying the entire retail store.

Here are some examples of retail operations that have been cloned for Chinese consumers.

Fake Apple Stores

The store interior displayed similar signage, layout and salespeople. Stores claimed to have real Apple products but were not licensed to carry them. Several stores have been closed due to a lack of proper business licensing (not because they were imitating an authorized retailer.)

Fake Disneyland

The Beijing Amusement Park includes structures that resemble those found in Disney's Magic Kingdom. The mascots are twins of Shrek, Snow White, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy.

Fake Ikea

#11 Furniture Store copies the footprint, color scheme, display rooms, signage and furniture designs of the Swedish retailer, Ikea.

Fake KFC

This fast-food fake displays a take on the Colonel by closely copying their color scheme and menu.

Fake McDonald's

This competitor mimics the look and feel of a real McDonald's restaurant, even including the golden arches.

Fake Nike

Despite the shoes being manufactured throughout China, the country hosts hundreds of knock-off stores such as this one.

Fake Starbucks

This is just one of many Chinese coffee stores that are cloning the global giant. Sometimes these stores are in shopping centers that feature fake storefronts which mirror color schemes and signage for internationally recognized businesses. Their names such as "Pizza Huh" and "McDnoalds," often require a double take.

CNBC

It's a Sign!

2012-01-03T16:54:00.000-06:00

Which Restaurants have the Biggest Sales Declines of the Decade?

2012-01-03T16:34:00.000-06:00

The ever-evolving restaurant environment is hard enough on new restaurant owners trying to make a name for themselves in a crowded marketplace, but upstarts in the markets of the following restaurant chains should breathe a sigh of relief - these are the top candidates for failure in the coming months. Their passing means more business for everyone else.

1. Bennigan's Grill & Tavern Change in sales (2001-2010): -87.9%
2. Ground Round Grill & Bar Change in sales (2001-2010): -81.7%
3. Bakers Square Change in sales (2001-2010): -72.2%
4. Damon's Grill & Sports Bar Change in sales (2001-2010): -69.8%
5. Don Pablo's Change in sales (2001-2010): -69.8%
6. Gloria Jean's Coffees Change in sales (2001-2010): -69.1%
7. Big Boy Change in sales (2001-2010): -68.6%
8. Tony Roma's Change in sales (2001-2010): -67.3%
9. Country Kitchen Change in sales (2001-2010): -67.2%
10. Black Angus Steakhouse* Change in sales (2001-2010): -62.3%

* How can this be? Sales of "certified Angus beef" is stronger than ever?

MSNMoney

Best Local News Bloopers of 2011

2012-01-03T16:15:00.000-06:00

Youtube

Fast Food Items Sold in Places Other than Your Neighborhood

2012-01-03T15:55:00.002-06:00

Here are some very tasty items that might temp you to travel to other parts of the world to get them. Alas! They're not available in our country.

The Meat Monster. Burger King, Japan. Cheese, bacon, onions, tomatoes, hamburger patties and chicken breast.

McVeggie. McDonald's, India. Bread, potato, peas, carrots and Indian spices.

McZuri. McDonald's Switzerland. Swiss veal patty, mushrooms and caramelized onions.

Paneer Tikka. Subway, India. Cottage cheese slices marinated with barbecue seasoning and roasted to a light crispness.

Krushers. KFC Australia, Germany & South Africa. Dessert drinks mixed with large chunks of fruits or candy, with flavors such as mango, strawberry, Kit Kat and chocolate crunch.

Chunky Loaded Pizza. Pizza Hut, Malaysia. Ten layers including two of roasted vegetables, a layer of meat (your choice), mozzarella cheese and tortilla strips.

Rugby Combo. Wendy's, New Zealand. Burger topped with bacon, egg and beetroot.

Bubur Ayam. McDonald's Malaysia. Juicy chicken strips in porridge, garnished with onions, ginger, shallots and chilies.

Hot Blondie. Burger King, Netherlands. Blond brownie filled with white chocolate, topped with vanilla ice cream.

Trio Supremo. Burger King, Brazil. Chicken nuggets, onion rings and french fries smothered in cheddar cheese and bacon bits

MainSt

Coca-Cola Takes Another Hit for Tampering with the Classic

2012-01-03T14:51:00.001-06:00

In a good-hearted and stylish attempt to celebrate its partnership with the World Wildlife Fund and their commitment to donate up to $3 million to protect the polar bear's natural habitat, Coca-Cola planned to distribute over one billion silver and white polar bear cans through this coming February.

The plug was pulled on this plan after a significant number of consumers gave the new can design a cold shoulder. According to the Wall Street Journal, "this was the first time it put regular Coke in a white can." Coca-Cola brand loyalists expressed an immediate problem with the change.

Some confused the classic Coke with Diet Coke's silver cans. Some believed that regular Coke tasted different in the white cans. "Others argued that messing with red bordered on sacrilege." Reports from retailers having to accept returns from confused or disgruntled customers prompted the Coca Cola Company to alter its plans and produce a red-colored can.

It appears that fostering intense brand loyalty comes with a major price. I bet the company will research these types of changes in greater depth before the product is shipped.

WSJ

An Unfortunate Reflection of Reality

2012-01-03T14:28:00.001-06:00

Why do Facebook Users Add and Remove Friends? Here's the major reasons...

2012-01-03T14:21:00.000-06:00

nmincite

Good News for 2012 Graduates Seeking Jobs

2012-01-03T14:05:00.000-06:00

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' Job Outlook 2012 survey, employers plan to hire 9.5 percent more graduates from the Class of 2012 than they hired from the Class of 2011.

It's especially good for those who have prepared for careers in one of the following occupations, which according to Debra Auerback, CareerBuilder, are expected to grow this new year.

1. Biomedical engineer (Average salary $82,421*)
2. Computer software engineer ($97,581)
3. Customer service representative ($29,314)
4. Home health aide ($28, 173)
5. Management analyst ($72,197)
6. Medical assistant ($37,571)
7. Network systems and data communications analyst ($48,316)
8. Registered nurse ($71,692)
9. Retail salesperson ($25,557)

*All salary estimates are from CBSalary.com and are the U.S. national average salary.

careerbuilder.com

Samoa Changes Sides - Sacrificing Friday in the Exchange

2012-01-03T13:51:00.000-06:00

From this point forward, Samoa is on the eastern side of the International Date Line.

In major international business news...

The Pacific island nation of Samoa switched from the eastern to the western side of the International Date Line so that it is on the same business cycles as its primary trading partners, New Zealand and Australia.

Samoa's Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sailele provided this rationale, "While it's Friday here, it's Saturday in New Zealand, and when we're at church Sunday, they're already conducting business in Sydney and Brisbane."

To make the switch, Samoa went directly from 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, through midnight to 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, skipping Friday.

It's interesting to note that Samoan law required employers to pay their workers for the nonexistent Friday.

American Samoa, 100 miles to the east, will not be making the switch, preferring to stay in sync with the U.S.

msnbc.com

Best Memes of 2011

2011-12-20T12:49:00.000-06:00

MSN Bing: Most Searched Topics of 2011

2011-12-05T18:51:00.001-06:00

<a href='http://video.msn.com?vid=6e2a2b22-3351-4dec-9ec2-9f8b7bed4ac7&mkt=en-us&from=bingblogplayer_en-us_bing&src=FLPl:embed::uuids' target='_new' title='The Top 2011 Searches from Bing: A Year of Breakthroughs and Heartbreaks' >Video: The Top 2011 Searches from Bing: A Year of Breakthroughs and Heartbreaks</a>

For a more detailed list, click here.

The Morphing Face

2011-11-26T08:53:00.000-06:00

amalgamation from dunun on Vimeo.

At the Center of the Protest Movement

2011-11-20T14:18:00.000-06:00

An Occupy Wall Street protester is removed from blocking access to the NY Stock Exchange on Nov. 17

Just a Harbinger of Things to Come

2011-11-20T14:14:00.000-06:00

Source

Chinese Citizens Put a Positive Spin on 'Bad Romance'

2011-11-20T08:41:00.001-06:00

If you had any doubt about Lady Gaga's international appeal, check out this video from China's Hunan TV where in one of its hit reality TV shows, the senior citizens show us how to steal the show from Lucite instrument playing mini-skirted showgirls.

Source

Sea-Side Sculptures

2011-11-09T21:08:00.000-06:00

Is it art or guerrilla marketing? Both of these seem to be ideal product-placements.

Who left the tap running? by Simon McGrath, Bondi Beach, Australia 2011

Sea Pink by Marc Moser, Aarhus, Denmark 2011

Source

Need a Great Idea? Here's How.

2011-11-03T00:30:00.000-05:00

Incidental Comics by Grant Snider

Source

15 Tips For Dealing with Difficult Employees

2011-10-31T20:17:00.000-05:00

Students enrolled in my business class at Anoka-Ramsey Community College - Cambridge Campus were asked to compile a list of tips for dealing with difficult employees. Here are their top recommendations.

1. Never let your employees work you up into a frenzy and if they do, don't show it. (Ahmann)

Be a cut above your employees, don't mirror their worst behaviors.

2. Be empathetic and approach every employee according to their personality. (Alexander)

If you know that your employee is going to be overly defensive when confronted, plan your communication strategy in advance, accounting for this behavior.

3. Make a difficult employee aware of the problem they are creating. (Christensen)

Along with sharing your awareness of the problem, let the employee know the consequences of the problem so that buy-in to its resolution is more likely to occur.

4. Identify an employee's working style and schedule the employee with the people (s)he can best work with. (Gamer)

Sometimes just telling employees to "get along with one another" isn't effective. If you've got some employees that work significantly better with some difficult personality types, schedule them for the same work shifts.

5. Provide frequent positive feedback to your employees. (Glanz)

Bad behavior from problem employees can sometimes be a ploy for attention in departments were there is little positive feedback to be had. A supervisor should always be giving positive feedback to all his or her employees. Everyone appreciates being appreciated.

6. Pick your battles. (Hanson)

When engaging in discussions regarding the negative behavior or performance of an employee, discuss the big issue, letting the smaller problems slide. It's more likely that the big problem will be resolved if it's the only one being focused upon.

7. Deal with the behavior, not the person. (Hennessey, Salazar)

Always focus on correcting the inappropriate behavior instead of attacking the employee as a person. This strengthens your chances obtaining a long-term resolution of the problem.

8. Know the facts before confronting the employee. (Keocher, Sjodin)

Take the time to investigate the situation before approaching the employee. Arming yourself with facts can save both the supervisor and the employee from the negative consequences of acting on gossip, untruths or incomplete details.

9. Don't ignore the problems caused by difficult employees. (Leeb-Leger)

As your mother probably told you, "most problems just don't go away by themselves." Acting quickly on a problem in its infancy will save you from having to deal with a crisis at a later time. Even though the strong personalities of some difficult employees may intimidate a supervisor into inaction, it usually makes things worse over time - for everyone.

10. Look for middle ground when identifying solutions. (Majzner)

Sometimes it's best to meet an employee half-way on a solution. A compromise that is fair and provides a benefit to both parties can go a long way to motivating an employee to change a negative behavior.

11. Identify the cause of the negative behavior. (Olson, Westerberg)

If a supervisor only deals with the negative behavior without understanding the cause, then it's unlikely that a permanent change will occur. Always give the employee a chance to explain his or her behavior and listen carefully for the cause.

12. Let employees take ten and collect themselves, if needed. (Peterson)

If an employee is showing frustration, let them take a break to restore themselves to rational thinking, before discussing the problem with them. It will improve the environment for everyone.

13. Lead by example. (Terry)

Employees will take their behavioral cues from management. Having employees demonstrate good on-site behavior will be more likely if the boss demonstrates it to them.

14. Follow-up after a confrontation. (Tober)

Changing the behavior of a problem employee requires good follow-up. Monitor the employee's performance after the confrontation and give him or her feedback. Compliment the positive behaviors. Quickly catch and act upon any returns to the previous negative behaviors.

15. Make your rules and the consequences for violating them, clear. (Wold)

Managing difficult employees begins with a set of rules that are clear and understandable. It creates order and an environment of fairness. A supervisor needs to be able to refer to these rules and the stated consequences for infraction, when correcting the negative behavior of employees.

One of the Strangest Tourist Advertisements - Ever

2011-10-31T20:11:00.000-05:00

Swiss humor. You've got to love it.

In an quirky example of target market advertising, the Swiss Tourism Service attempts to attract Dutch and British tourists, leading them to Switzerland this winter like ants to...

Sheesh. With an ant problem like this, no wonder people wait until winter to visit.

Source

Minimalist Advertising

2011-10-31T19:48:00.001-05:00

Photo credit: Mobstr

Source

Our Economy Owes A Lot to Zombies

2011-10-31T19:41:00.017-05:00

According to Jon Ogg, 247wallst.com, the value of Zombies to the American economy is estimated at a very live $5.75 billion.

The Zombie Economy breaks down as this:

Movies $2.5 billion
e.g. Night of the Living Dead, Resident Evil, I am Legend

Video Games: $2.5 billion
e.g. Resident Evil, Doom, Dead Rising, House of the Dead

Comic books, magazines and TV: $50 million
e.g. The Walking Dead comic book, Marvel Zombies

Halloween: $500 million
e.g. Zombie-related costumes

Books and Novels: $100 million
e.g. World War Z, The Zombie Survival Guide, Frankenstein, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Conventions, Events and Walks: $10 million
e.g. Zombie fund raising walks, zombie pub crawls, ZomBCom

Zombie-Themed Websites: $10 million

Merchandise: $10 million
e.g. T-shirts, torn limbs, toys, coffee mugs, hats, make-up

Music: $10 million
e.g. The Zombies, Rob Zombie, Evenings in Quarantine: The Zombie Opera, Zombie Music Fest, Thriller

Art: $10 million
e.g. Zombie depictions in art and graphics

Source

And then there's this advertisement from Axe...

Virginia Rommetty Welcomed to a Very Exclusive Group

2011-10-30T14:12:00.000-05:00

Virginia Rommetty will become the new CEO of IBM on January 1, 2012. She'll be the first female to hold that position in the company's 100-year existence. Source

Women CEOs in Fortune 500 companies are rare. According to the Catalyst U.S. Women in Business report released this October, the 12 female CEOs in Fortune 500 companies constitute only 2% of total.

Source

Telling a Friend Not to Drive Drunk - The Kiwis Show Us How It's Done

2011-10-30T14:00:00.001-05:00

Our friends from New Zealand are airing this PSA targeting young drinkers. It's good and gives us Northerners some insight into the local culture.

Source

Maybe We Should Try This

2011-10-30T13:32:00.001-05:00

At the very least, maybe the card companies would get the message that I'm tired of having their endless solicitations for new credit cards delivered to my home.

Now, what should we do about those annoying phone calls?

Facing Halloween Reality

2011-10-30T13:13:00.000-05:00

Perhaps this is why recording artists and songwriters would rather release their songs on the Internet

2011-10-30T13:11:00.000-05:00

Where the money goes from the sale of a music CD

Source

How Important Is Halloween to the Candy Industry?

2011-10-30T13:07:00.001-05:00

They gave me that?

The 25 Worst Halloween Candies. Click here.

Nintendo Posts a Major Sales Loss for the First Time in Thirty Years

2011-10-30T13:02:00.001-05:00

Nintendo Corporation is projecting its first ever annual sales loss for the 2011 fiscal year. The company believes it will be down $364 million by March 2012.

Over a period of thirty years, Nintendo has been consistent in making generating earnings but the failure of its 3DS system to capture the fancy of the marketplace and the declining sales of Wii software were crippling factors. Add to that, the strengthening worldwide value of the Yen making the price of their exported products more costly, and you've got a situation that is hard on sales generation.

Don't cry too hard for the company. "Over all, the projected losses will put Nintendo at profits of $10.4 billion at the end of this year instead of $13.3 billion like the end of last." (Limer)

Source

Your Weekly Graphjam Fix

2011-10-30T12:47:00.000-05:00

Guy With Broken Computer Gets More of the Same From Sony

2011-10-30T12:11:00.002-05:00

A customer, Joe, wanting to return his computer to Sony for repair just followed directions. But while waiting for the authorized return label, Sony mailed Joe numerous boxes filled with other people's broken computers. The computers were delivered from all around the U.S.

The reason for this? Through some employee's mistake, Sony had begun printing this customer's address on the return labels they were sending to other customers with broken computers.

One might think that this situation would be easy to clear up, but watch this video...

Source

Salads are Necessary Menu Items But It's the Burgers That Sell

2011-10-30T11:57:00.001-05:00

47% of Americans say they'd like restaurants to offer healthier food items, but only 23% order them, according to a survey conducted by the research firm, Technomic.

Case in point:

The KFC Double Down, two slabs of fried chicken with bacon and cheese, was offered as a short-term specialty item. Sales were so strong, it has been kept on the menu.

The top-selling item at IHOP is the 1,180-calorie breakfast sampler of eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, hash browns and pancakes.

McDonalds tested the elimination of fries from its Happy Meals but only 11 percent of parents were in favor.

The best seller at Hardees is the Thickburger, the most decadent version of it comes with two types of cheese, fried onions, mayonnaise and nearly half a pound of beef and weighs in at 1,170 calories and 83 grams of fat.

Source

Investing in Gold? Get creative.

2011-10-30T11:46:00.000-05:00

Why store a bunch of gold bricks when you can display your investment in some surprising functional ways.

Solid gold toilet. China.

Gold plated pistol that looks like a pencil. Made in 1947 as a gift for the last Viceroy of India.

White-gold plated bathtub. Offered by Inax, Inc. Tokyo.

Kim Kardashian gold coin. Offered by GoldCoin.net.

Gold-plated Infiniti sports car. China.

Gold iPad, complete with Apple logo created with 53 diamonds. Great Britain.

Gold photocopier. Created by artist Yogi Proctor.

Gold bra. Five different styles to choose from. China.

Gold beer mug. Ginza Tanaka Co., Japan.

Source

Oh Happy Day! Life Imitates Art in India

2011-10-30T11:29:00.001-05:00

"Sushil Kumar poses with Bollywood actor and presenter Amitabh Bachchan while showing his $1M check." The Guardian. Photograph: AP

Sushill Kumar, a government clerk from eastern India, became the first person to win $1 million on India's version of the TV show, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire."

Up to this point, Kumar was making $120 a month as a computer operator in a government job and worked tutoring jobs to supplement his meager income. He won the prize this past week.

Kumar's win mirrors that depicted in the 2008 Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire.

How will Kumar spend the money? According to The Guardian,

Kumar will use some to pay for a preparatory course so he can take India's tough civil service exam, which could lead to a lifetime job.

He'll buy a new home for his wife, pay off his parents' debts and give his brothers startup cash so they can set up businesses.

And in a very philanthropic move, he'll build a library in his home village of Motihari so local children can have access to the books and knowledge he craved.

Source

The World Population Hits 7 Billion

2011-10-24T17:25:00.001-05:00

By the end of this month, the world's population is expected to crack the 7 billion milestone. If you're thinking that China and India the main contributors to this all-time high, think again. Those two countries may have the highest populations but "it is sub-Saharan Africa that has the highest birthrates. Quickly growing countries like Nigeria, Uganda and Burundi are already struggling with the area’s limited food and water resources, combined with high poverty levels." (Source)

If you're wondering how fast the human race is reproducing, look at these statistics:

1805 - The world population hits 1 billion members.

1927 - 2 billion, 122 years to increase another billion

1959 - 3 billion, 32 years

1974 - 4 billion, 15 years

1987 - 5 billion, 13 years

1999 - 6 billion, 12 years

2011 - 7 billion, 12 years

Source

This sets a very high bar for Halloween decorating

2011-10-23T22:10:00.000-05:00

As cool as this is, I'm relieved my neighbor isn't the one doing this.

The Occupy Movement Moves into the Home

2011-10-23T15:48:00.000-05:00

Source

Maybe it's not everything we want to know, but it's a good start...

2011-10-23T12:58:00.001-05:00

Some Amazing Numbers About Our Economy

2011-10-22T18:00:00.001-05:00

Here's a sample of the statistics from 50 Amazing Numbers About the Economy by Morgan Housel for Motley Fool.

From 1948 until 2007, the average duration of unemployment was 13.5 weeks. Today, it's 40.5 weeks.
In 1982, a 30-year mortgage carried an interest rate of 17.6%. Today, it's 4.1%. On a $250,000 loan, that's the difference between a monthly payment of $3,686 versus $1,210.
Health care for an average family now runs $19,393 a year, according to the Milliman Medical Index. It was about half that much in 2002.

The percentage of Americans covered by health insurance fell from 86.9% in 2000 to 83.7% in 2010. It has declined in eight of the past 10 years.
Adjusted for inflation, nationwide home prices have dropped 8.5% since 1979. Unrelated: 60% of homeowners say a major reason they bought a home is because they think it will make a good retirement investment.
Over the past 25 years, college tuition has increased at nearly four times the rate of broader inflation.
5.5 million Americans are unemployed and not receiving unemployment benefits. Last year, that number was 1.4 million.
Between 2007 and 2009, those with a bachelor's degree saw the employment-to-population ratio fall by just 0.5%. For those without a bachelor's degree, it fell by more than 2%.
Despite record federal deficits, total debt throughout the economy -- public plus private -- as a percentage of GDP has been dropping since 2008. Households are shedding debt faster than the government can go into it.
Just not student debt: Total student loans outstanding are expected to reach $1 trillion this year. The average student now leaves college with nearly $23,000 of debt. As Time pointed out, "Students today are borrowing double the amount they did ten years ago -- after adjusting for inflation.
CEOs of S&P 500 companies are entitled to receive an average of $22 million upon being fired, according to GMI. "In total, it would cost shareholders $10.8 billion to fire the CEOs of all of the companies in the S&P 500," it writes.
One percent of households captured 52% of all income gains from 1993-2008.
According to author Matt Ridley, it took an average person 4,700 hours of work to afford a Ford Model T in 1908. Today, it takes an average person 1,000 hours of work to afford an ordinary car.
Adjusted for inflation, the first Apple Macintosh cost $5,440. Today's iPad costs $500, and is outrageously more advanced.
Food prices invariably come up when people talk about inflation. But average disposable income has risen twice as fast as food prices over the past 50 years. There's been fairly steady food deflation over time.
America is still by far the largest economy in the world, nearly three times the size of China's or Japan's economy, and nearly five times the size of Germany's. We have the best schools, the deepest financial system, the most advanced innovation, and the brightest entrepreneurs.

Source

Are you in the 99%? What Percent Are You?

2011-10-22T16:50:00.000-05:00

Find out where you rank in percentile of income among all tax-filing households in the U.S. by jumping to this online calculator provided by the Wall Street Journal.

Click here.

Another Occupy Visual

2011-10-22T14:48:00.000-05:00

Image source: The Daily What

Will the New IPhone 4S Blend?

2011-10-22T14:35:00.000-05:00

Of course...

Source

This Post-It Will Really Stick With You

2011-10-22T14:13:00.000-05:00

For those really important things that you absolutely must remember - this seems like a winning idea. Unfortunately for us, its by a French designer, Doriane Favre, and difficult to obtain.

Source

Your Weekly Graphjam Fix

2011-10-22T13:58:00.001-05:00

The Fifteen Most Popular Business Websites

2011-10-22T13:43:00.000-05:00

These are the top business sites as derived from eBiz MBA, an e-business database organization.

1. Yahoo Finance
2. CNN Money
3. Wall Street Journal
4. Google Finance
5. MSN Money Central

6. Business Week
7. Bloomberg
8. Forbes
9. Market Watch
10. Business Insider

11. Financial Times
12. CNBC
13. Business.com
14. Motley Fool
15. The Street

Source

Indian Girls Named "Unwanted" Change Their Names

2011-10-22T13:22:00.000-05:00

Source: Photoblog.msnbc.msn.com AFP - Getty Images

"Indian girls hold up their name change certificates during a ceremony in Satara, some 250kms from Mumbai, on Oct. 22. More than 100 Indian girls named "Unwanted" by their parents are to get new names this weekend as part of a campaign to tackle bias against women that has led to the country's huge gender imbalance. The girls named "Nakusa", which means "unwanted" in the local Marathi language of western Maharashtra state, got rid of their first name for good under an initiative in the district of Satara."

Excerpt from the story, Name changers: 285 Indian girls no longer 'unwanted.'

"In shedding names like "Nakusa" or "Nakushi," which mean "unwanted" in Hindi, some girls chose to name themselves after Bollywood stars like "Aishwarya" or Hindu goddesses like "Savitri." Some just wanted traditional names with happier meanings, such as "Vaishali" or "prosperous, beautiful and good."

"Now in school, my classmates and friends will be calling me this new name, and that makes me very happy," said a 15-year-old girl who had been named Nakusa by a grandfather disappointed by her birth. She chose the new name "Ashmita," which means "very tough" or "rock hard" in Hindi."

Source

Five Mega Companies that Started in Garages and Other Interesting Places

2011-10-22T12:43:00.000-05:00

Here's fuel for every entrepreneur dreaming that today's garage start-up will end well.

Dell, Inc. Started in a University of Texas (Austin) dormitory room in 1984 by Michael Dell where he built IBM PC-compatible computers.

Before it become Nike, in 1964 it was Blue Ribbon Sports, operating from the trunk

of co-owner Phil Knight's car.

Mattel, started by Ruth and Elliot Handler in their Southern California garage in the late 1940s.

Google. In 1998 Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin opened the company in the garage of their friend, Susan Wojcicki (now Google's VP of product management.)

Apple. Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne (who left the company in 1977, selling his shares for a mere $800) established their company in a garage in Cupertino, CA. in 1976.

Source

Alabama Judge to Criminal "Will it be jail or church?"

2011-10-22T12:16:00.000-05:00

Non-violent offenders in Bay Minette, Alabama, are now given a choice between doing time behind bars or doing time at church.

It's called "Operation Restore our Community" and those choosing church time will be able to work off their sentence at a participating church.

"Offenders must check in with their pastor and the police department on a weekly basis. If they attend church every Sunday for a year, their case will be dismissed."

Perhaps Lindsay Lohan should be given this opportunity. It seems that the previous options haven't worked well for her.

Source

American Portion Sizes Are Growing

2011-10-22T11:32:00.000-05:00

Excluding the ever-shrinking size of the American candy bar, here's some visual evidence that the portion sizes of U.S. foods has increased significantly over the past twenty years.

Bagels

Then: 3-inch diameter, 140 calories Now: 6-inch diameter, 350 calories

Fast Food Cheeseburgers

Then: 333 calories Now: 590 Calories

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Then: 1 cup of spaghetti and sauce with 3 meatballs, 500 calories

Now: 2 cups of pasta and sauce with 3 meatballs, 1,025 calories

Pop

Then: 6.5 ounces, 85 calories Now: 20 ounces, 250 calories

Blueberry Muffin

Then: 1.5 ounces, 210 calories Now: 5 ounces, 500 calories

French Fries

Then: 2.4 ounces, 210 calories Now: 6.9 ounces, 610 calories

Photo Credits: NHLBI, NHLBI, NHLBI, NHLBI, NHLBI

Reprinted from Delish

Very Clever Signs Spotted at an Occupy Protest

2011-10-22T11:12:00.000-05:00

An Hour of Television Can Shorten Your Life by 22 Minutes

2011-10-22T11:10:00.000-05:00

Researchers at the School of Population Health at the University of Queensland studied the television viewing habits of 11,000 Australian adults who were aged at least 25 in the year 2000. They cross-referenced their study against another one conducted in 2008, which estimated that Australians, aged 25 and above, watched TV for a total of 9.8 billion hours.

The health of the survey respondents paralleled the amount of inactivity during television viewing. The more television watched, the poorer the health of the viewer. They boiled down the research results into this marketing-ready statistic - at age 25 and beyond, a person loses 22 minutes of life for every hour of television watched.

Researchers suggest that it's the lack of activity for long periods of television viewing that results in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, excess weight and other health problems.

The researchers concluded that eight percent of the country's population are at a greater risk of dying prematurely because they watch at least an hour of television every day.

Meanwhile, a large study in Taiwan found that doing just 15 minutes of moderate exercise a day might add three years to your life.

It appears that television is best viewed while walking on a treadmill.

Source

Six Ways to Minimize Conflict with Co-Workers

2011-10-22T10:45:00.000-05:00

From a staff author at Robert Half International comes these tips for resolving co-worker personality conflicts.

1. Don't assume the worst.

Start with an assumption that the co-worker's action is not personal. Address the matter in neutral and objective terms.

2. Put yourself in the other person's shoes.

Get a sense of the priorities and pressures they face. Learn about their communication preferences.

3. Start and stay on the same page.

Begin a joint task with a clarification of who is responsible for what. Follow-up any meetings with an email re-cap of what was discussed.

4. Accept people for who they are.

Don't focus on a person's shortcomings. When collaborating, focus on your co-workers respective strengths.

5. Criticize with care.

Make sure your criticism is constructive and delivered in a tactful way.

6. Nip problems in the bud.

When you have a bad encounter with someone, resolve the situation quickly. After you cool down, request a brief meeting so that you can review solutions to the problem. If being forgiving will repair the rift, take the high road and move on.

Source

As Banks Continue to Add Service Fees

2011-10-22T10:26:00.000-05:00

Because, you know, it's necessary.

Cartoons by Matt Davies, editorial cartoonist for The Journal News, NY.

Worst Advertisement as Judged by the Consumerist. Do you agree?

2011-10-19T20:06:00.000-05:00

Over 11,000 readers of the Consumerist website cast their vote for the worst television commercial. The winner with 32% of the vote is this ad by Luvs Diapers.

Taking second place is an ad for AT&T Wireless. Twenty four percent of the voters didn't like viewing a henpecked husband.

My vote for Summer's Eve, was matched by 18 percent of the voters. I'm amazed that a comedic take on baby poop offended more people than an ad about the war over women's nether regions. The ad is amazing for all the wrong reasons.

Here are top top three most offensive ads:

T-Shirt War with Brett and Link

2011-10-16T14:09:00.000-05:00

Source

Rhett and Link Promote Racial Harmony for Red House Furniture

Check out Rhett's reply to the charge that this commercial is racist.

Some Surprising Industries that Still Produce in the United States

2011-10-16T13:54:00.000-05:00

You might lose money on a game show if you were asked to identify these items as things that are still produced in the U.S. Chances are good that you would say, "no" to all of these. Who'd have thought these things still qualify for a "Made in the United States" label.

1. Bowling Balls (Ebonite, Hopkinsville, KY)

2. Sparklers (Diamond Sparkler, Youngstown, OH)

3. CDs (Sony US, Terre Haute, IN)

4. Pianos (Steinway, NYC, NY)

5. Socks (20 mills around Fory Payne County, AL)

6. Ironing Boards (HPI Seymour, Seymour, IN)

7. Pencils (General Pencil, Jersey City, NJ)

8. Sneakers (New Balance, Norridgewock, ME)

9. Electrical Relays (Struthers-Dunn, SC

10. Chopsticks (Georgia Chopsticks, Americus, GA)

Source

Ten Important Lessons to Learn from Con Artists

2011-10-16T13:21:00.000-05:00

Tom Petters, a MN con artist who stole more than $100 million from investors who in great part, were swayed by this confident, outgoing and trusting personality.

Complied by Joe Mont, MSN Money.

1. Don't let greed overpower good sense. Many people are conned out of significant money because they are attracted by impossible promises of huge financial returns that are contrary to what real life. Con artists spend a significant amount of money making it appear that they are successful, but they're just planting the seed for the future "kill."

2. Don't believe everything you see or hear. Con artists are experts at misdirection. Because of this, we see what they want us to see. Misdirection is the foundation of hard-sell sales pitches and methods to upsell a client. Suckers are people that accept claims as the truth.

3. Don't necessarily respect the given authority. Unwary customers are easily manipulated by perceived authority figures. Con artists can easily exploit this reaction by acting very powerful, more expert, and even menacing in their opinions and recommendations.

4. Looking the part doesn't mean he or she is genuine. Con artists are masters at looking the part so that they can gain trust, project confidence and walk away with your money. This tactic, teamed with projecting authority, is a winning combination for closing a deal.

5. Creating a herd mentality is a major selling tactic. The big time Ponzi schemers such as Madoff and Petters let others spread the news of their schemes. All they had to do is pay high returns to a small number of clients and then sit back and let the happy clients spread the word about this incredible investment opportunity to others.

6. Great conversationalists gain confidence from their listeners. Con artists will turn strangers into victims by being smooth talkers. They can tell wonderful tales (mostly lies) and tout excellent credentials (usually fake) by keeping their listeners enthralled. This makes them likable and trustworthy. The best ones can make "lifetime buddies" from a new acquaintance.

7. There's always a deadline. The longer a con, the more chance it will be uncovered. Most con artists will create a deadline in an effort to get a victim to move quickly.

8. If you know me, it's even better. Some con artists have carefully planted themselves in a organization, befriended their peers and then conned them out of their money by quietly urging them to risk their savings on some type of great investment opportunity that is actually a scam. Churches, schools, the military, political organizations and even police departments have proven to be ripe territories for con artists, who've embedded themselves as a trusted co-worker. Mixing a social life with finances seldom turns out to be a good deal.

9. Direct and viral email marketing works. The tools are out there for scam artists to personalize a targeted email. Identity and money theft is on the rise because con artists have figures out that it doesn't take much more effort than the broken-English emails from Nigeria to get people to give them money.

10. Your salesperson is not your friend. Remember that many scams are successful because they prey upon the victim's need to be liked. The con artists depend on the type of people who are poor at separating emotion from business. At the end of the day, a good salesperson is someone who is trying to get the best deal for the company, not for you. Don't forget that.

Source

Could This Be the Start of a New Movement?

2011-10-16T12:18:00.000-05:00

Source

Bittersweet Photo of the Weekend

2011-10-15T13:52:00.000-05:00

Eric Draper / Burson-Marsteller via AP

"Military veterans US Army Sgt. (Ret.) Dan Nevins, left, and North Carolina National Guard SSgt. (Ret.) Dale Beatty, look on as former President George W. Bush tees off during a practice round in the two-day Warrior Open tournament at Las Colinas Country Club, in Irving, Texas on Sunday, Oct. 9. Twenty wounded military members are competing in the two-day Warrior Open tournament being held in the Dallas suburb of Irving."

Source

Which Corporate Brands do American Consumers Love the Most?

2011-10-15T13:39:00.000-05:00

The popularity of brands is one of the most democratic factors in business. Businesses can try to lead consumers by proclaiming "America's most-loved brand" but the proof is in the numbers.

Forbes conducted an online survey of 2,500 adults in August 2011, to measure their brand perceptions of 100 top brands. They asked the respondents to consider these factors about each company:

is honest and trustworthy
has ethical leadership
maintains high standards of quality in its products and services
invests in innovative ideas and research
upholds transparent communication practices
invests in its customers
dedicated to making communities a better place
positively impacts the everyday lives of its customers
leverages business success and expertise to make a positive contribution to society
cares about the issues that matter to me
understands and addresses my unique needs
genuinely wants to make a difference in the world

Here's the Results: The Top 20

1. Johnson & Johnson

2. General Mills

3. Google

4. Kraft Foods

5. Hershey

6. Apple

7. Kellogg

8. Home Depot

9. Clorox

10. Amazon.com

11. Microsoft

12. Walt Disney

13. Procter & Gamble

14. CVS Pharmacy

15. Coca-Cola

16. Fed Ex

17. Colgate-Palmolive

18. HP

19. UPS

20. IBM

For the entire list of 100, click here.

Your weekly 'Sign of the Times' fix

2011-10-14T08:54:00.000-05:00

The Ten Most Pirated Movies

2011-10-14T08:49:00.000-05:00

According to TorrentFreak, these are the top ten movies illegally downloaded on the Internet.

1. Avatar (2009), 21 million downloads

2.   The Dark Knight (2008), 19 million
3.   Transformers (2007), 19 million
4.   Inception (2010), 18 million
5.   The Hangover (2009), 17 million
6.   Star Trek (2008), 16 million
7.   Kick-Ass (2010), 15 million
8.   The Departed (2006), 14 million
9.   The Incredible Hulk (2008), 14 million
10. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007), 14 million

No wonder the movie industry is complaining about the cost of piracy.

Source