Some jobs, anyone can do. And some jobs need to be a personality fit. For example, you probably shouldn’t be an atheist if you apply for a church musician gig. You shouldn’t be a manipulative type if you’re interested in hypnotism. And if you want to sell [...]
Alan Gregerman’s new blog is fantastic.
Lynn Gaertner-Johnson shares some useful tips on how to write a holiday message for clients and business associates.
SourceWatch has a great resource on propoganda techniques.
Oligopoly Watch is worth a look.
Keith Ferrazzi has a good system [...]
Instead of year-end cash bonuses, Goldman Sachs is awarding its 30 top executives with stock. The stock can’t be cashed for five years. Bloomberg (via BusinessWeek) has the details:
The award will be comprised of so-called shares-at-risk, allowing the firm to take them back [...]
Image: Daily Mirror
Tiger Woods has been yanked off primetime TV, but that hasn’t stopped the folks at Golf Digest to run an issue with Woods on the cover. The accompanying article? “10 Tips Obama Can Take from Tiger.”
OK, so it’s not [...]
Image: Laurel Papworth
All Facebook users have to change their privacy settings today, via a window that appears when you log in. CNN has the details:
Publicly available information now includes your name, profile picture, gender, location, networks, and pages you’re a fan of. Until [...]
AOL Inc. started trading as an independent company (ticker symbol: AOL) this morning. The Wall Street Journal reports on the stock’s progress this morning:
AOL Inc.’s (AOL) stock was off to a wobbly start in its much-anticipated return as a standalone company.
AOL dropped sharply at [...]
This ad looks completely different now, doesn’t it? Image: Inside SoCal
With 11 alleged mistresses under his belt (and counting), Tiger Woods is drifting towards the bottom of a PR cesspool. CNN reported today that since November 29, no Tiger Woods commercials have [...]
Image: ye_irina/Flickr
Cash for Caulkers, a new government incentive program, will offer homeowners a 50% rebate on weatherization projects. CNNMoney has more on the program:
The program contains two parts: money for homeowners for efficiency projects, and money for companies in the renewable energy and [...]
Alistair Darling, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced today that banks either had to use their profits to rebuild capital, or face a 50% tax on bonuses of more than GBP25,000. The Wall Street Journal reports:
Alistair Darling, delivering his pre-Budget report speech this afternoon, [...]
Cool ads push the boundaries of what is acceptable, helping us to think in new and exciting ways. But some just cross the line into downright creepiness…
15. Toyota Prius – KillerImage via alexisgentry
This spectacularly creepy advert from Toyota depicts a man dumping a body [...]
Remember the home flipping of yesteryear, where you bought a home, fixed it up, and sold it for major profit a year or two later? The economy has taken care of that particular trend. But house flipping is far from dead. The Wall Street Journal has [...]
Image: Codinghorror
Apple removed more than 1,000 apps by Chinese iPhone app developer Moniker from its store after finding out the company had faked product reviews. PC World has more:
The discovery of the phony reviews was made by a frequent reader of iPhoneography, known [...]
Beacon, a Facebook Ads program that secretly shared user information with third-party websites without consent, became a Facebook PR nightmare when people found out about its privacy violations in late 2007. In the aftermath of the Beacon disaster, affected Facebook users now have to opt out [...]
2010 is a promising year for products in general. Eco-innovations will help conserve energy, while futuristic concepts like commercial space travel and console-free gaming will finally come to fruition.
We reviewed pages of 2010 products to bring you the most functional, promising, and novel of the batch. If you’re tired [...]
When you holiday shop this year, a highly educated professional might help you wrap your order. So many people are out of work that demand for holiday season retail jobs has spiked. From Yahoo News:
(A) record 5.9 million Americans…have been jobless for at least six [...]
GoodGuide, a consumer group, claims to have found dangerous levels of antimony, a metalloid toxic to humans in in large amounts, in a study. GoodGuide found higher-than-normal levels of antimony on the hair and nose of the Mr. Squiggles Zhu Zhu pet. The Baltimore Sun has [...]
Baseline Scenario on why inequality doesn’t benefit society.
NPR’s interview with Joshua Kosman, on private equity firms and a coming PE crash, is worth a listen.
The Good News Economist reports only positive economic news. When you need a happy fix, go here.
Brett Arends on why [...]
Quite frankly, the low caliber of this week’s jobs actually make teaching driving to teenagers sound good:
1. CA: Plumbing Superstar
Help…….. We have more work then we can handle are you our next superstar? Have people called you great Plumber? Do you like it when [...]
Have you ever been in an over-complicated work situation, the kind where you’re amazed anything gets done at all? You spend hours in unproductive meetings. Communication between teams is convoluted. Decisionmakers stall until the last second. Your elaborate product line defies definition. Oh, and you receive [...]
Image: Uggaustralia
The BBC reports on a massive Scotland Yard operation that shut down 1,219 sites that advertise designer brands like Tiffany and Ugg boots:
Customers who buy from the sites either receive nothing, counterfeit goods, or have their credit card details stolen. [...]
According to the FTC, an estimated 9 million Americans have their identities stolen every year. Because creditors are not required to report instances of identity theft to the FTC, these numbers may actually be much higher. Identity thefts are up 5% this year alone.
It can take [...]
Google recently announced that online newspapers can now limit how many free articles people read. The new “First Click Free” program lets publishers restrict access to users after reading up to five free articles through Google. When Google senses that you have clicked on more than five [...]
Image: One Penny Sheet
General Electric’s $5.8 billion purchase of Vivendi’s minority stake in NBC bodes well for Comcast. The cable giant could buy a 51% stake in NBC as soon as Thursday. The Guardian has more:
This transaction will mean that GE [...]
IT research firm Gartner, Inc. will buy supply chain research company ARM Research for $64 million in cash. Trading Markets has the wire:
The acquisition is expected to expand Gartner’s suite of research offerings and also complement its consulting and events business. AMR Research’s sales team is [...]
Who wants to be a millionaire… for under $200? Come on, even your mom could afford that. Might we suggest a trip to the following places…
10. Zambia
Exchange Rate: US$1 = 4,669 Kwacha
Highest Value Banknote: 50,000 ($10.70)
To give you an idea of how weak [...]
The Financial Times recently learned that the Financial Stability Board, a global regulator focused on the G-20, has created a list of 30 financial institutions considered systemically important in case of a future financial crisis. The companies on the list are likely to spread systemic financial [...]
Damien Hoffman, the Editor-in-Chief at Wall St. Cheat Sheet, interviewed me for his blog. Topics include growing Business Pundit, how I went from being a Silicon Valley salesperson to writing Business Pundit, and the future of journalism. Read it here. (Thanks for the interview, Damien!)
The Wall Street Journal reports that while 23 million more shoppers hit stores this Black Friday compared to last year, they spent less money:
Roughly 195 million consumers shopped in stores and online over the Black Friday weekend, up from 172 million last year, according to [...]
Groupons, or group coupons, are gaining traction as a discounting trend. Groupon.com, one prominent groupon site, lets you find a deal a day in your city (they operate in 35 cities). If you get enough people to sign up for that deal, you can all [...]
Image: Memeticians
Cyber Monday, the biggest Internet shopping day of the year, happens on November 30. As a shopping day, it’s not quite as involved as Black Friday. You can hit up Cyber Monday in your pajamas.
It still pays, however, to know where [...]
After a major recall in September, Toyota is installing new brake systems and shorter gas pedals on about 3.8 million cars. After those modifications, the cars will no longer be in danger of accelerating unintentionally. The Detroit Free Press reports:
For 2005 through 2010 model year [...]
Image: Intomobile
Black Friday, the major shopping day after Thanksgiving, can give you amazing bargains.But, as any experienced shopper knows, a successful Black Friday requires preparation.
When it comes to preparing, the Internet is your friend. Several entrepreneurs have set up websites to help you [...]
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced a recall of Stork Craft drop-side cribs. More than 2.1 million cribs are being recalled. Infants can become entrapped and suffocate when the drop-side drops one or more corners. The CPSC has more:
[...]
We’ve all got one, we get it out occasionally, and we’re sure these ones make yours look small and rather insignificant. We’re talking about your CVs, dirty minded people…
10. Rambo
Previous Employment
US Army Green Berets, Nutjob Mercenary, Snake Seller, Jungle Tour Guide.
Reason for [...]
No dream has been chased by more people in the 2000’s than the “Internet lifestyle.” Broadly defined as earning money online from home, the Internet lifestyle has become a fixation of dissatisfied employees, stay-at-home parents, college students and even senior citizens. Unfortunately, the undeniably fun and exciting aspects of [...]
Image: Hkam
Is Rupert Murdoch finally going to get his way? The Financial Times has the story:
Microsoft has had discussions with News Corp over a plan that would involve the media company being paid to “de-index” its news websites from Google, setting the scene [...]
It’s that time of year again. To celebrate the feedfest–and unofficial holiday season kickoff–that is Thanksgiving, we’ve compiled a list of 25 Thanksgiving quotes. Take them to the table with you this year:
1. “Got no checkbooks, got no banks. Still I’d like to express my thanks.” –Irving [...]
Image: CPSC
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will announce one of the biggest crib recalls in US history tomorrow, according to CBS sources. The cribs in question have dropdown sides, which can injure babies. The CBS Early Show reports:
The CPSC says it [...]
Becker-Posner on whether the US will go the way of Japan.
Dean Baker on the dollar’s rout (or not).
Barry Ritholz on a potential new amendmentthat will create even more zombie banks.
SportsBiz is a neat sports business blog that I recently discovered.
Kim Grant has [...]
Image: SpeechSuccess.com
Has anyone ever asked you to be their best man or maid of honor? Did you enjoy it? If so, there may be a job in your future…
1. CA: Positions Available @ Private Women’s Gym
Women’s Athletic Club is looking for [...]
Charles Goyette has spent much of his life thinking about money. He has contemplated how it works, how governments manipulate it, and how it stores value.
Goyette, a radio show host, precious metals pro, and libertarian, shares his views on fate of the US dollar in [...]
Pinnacle Foods Group, owned by private equity firm Blackstone Group, will buy frozen-food provider Birds Eye Foods for $1.3 billion. Bloomberg has the scoop:
Blackstone Group LP’s Pinnacle Foods Group LLC agreed to buy Birds Eye Foods Inc., the largest U.S. frozen-vegetable company, for [...]
AOL layoffs affecting 1/3 of the company’s workforce, or up to 2,300 people, will hit during the next few months. The layoffs come as a result of restructuring after the Time Warner spin-off. Bloomberg reports:
AOL is aiming to reduce its annual operating costs by about [...]
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced today that a computer glitch would cause delays and cancellations of flights nationwide. The Wall Street Journal has more:
The problem involved the FAA computer system that files automated flight plans, forcing air traffic controllers to revert to the much [...]
Sometimes the most innocent jokes have the most tragic consequences…
8. The Fatty and the PhotocopierIn true dimwit fashion, this chump thought the age-old office prank of photocopying your ass would be funny, even though we’ve all seen it a million times. What he forgot to take into consideration was the [...]
It’s hard to drive a mile without seeing a billboard or outdoor ad. Most have a repetitive message, familiar color scheme, or seen-it-before motif. They’re easy to tune out.
Sometimes, however, companies design truly creative outdoor ads. They’re original enough to penetrate consumer ad fatigue, and innovative enough to convince you [...]
American Express today announced its $300 million purchase of Revolution Money, a PayPal competitor backed, among others, by former AOL CEO Steve Case. The Washington Post reports:
Revolution Money, founded in 2007, is designed to provide secure online person-to-person transactions by using a PIN number instead of [...]
Image: Omniauto
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety released its annual list of the safest cars for the upcoming year. This year’s list, for 2010 models, highlights Subaru, Ford, and Volkswagen cars. The Triangle Business Journal has more:
The Insurance Institute for Highway [...]
At BusinessPundit, we can’t think of a single business that would be more difficult to be in right now than that of real estate developer. With that in mind, we set out to find a land developer who’s still in the game and who [...]
Image: Blogtepreneur
Most Fortune 100 companies don’t use Twitter effectively, according to a Weber Shandwick study released today. Mashable has more:
Out of the 540 total Twitter (Twitter) accounts registered by Fortune 100 companies, 50 percent of the accounts had fewer [...]
This is a guest post written by Wall St. Cheat Sheet Editor-in-Chief Damien Hoffman.
In 2008, I closely commented on the demise of Lehman Brothers and the hidden cancers on other balance sheets. At the time, the fraudulent real estate bubble found a poster child in Lehman investment [...]
People in England are buying unprecedented amounts of Fisherman’s Friend, a strong cold lozenge, because they think it could cure swine flu. Ananova reports:
Demand for the aniseed variety of the 65-year-old winter warmer has meant an unprecedented rise in production. Key ingredient star anise – pure aniseed – [...]
If you’re a chef, musician, cleaner, model, or just anyone, you should be afraid. Very afraid. You’re about to lose your job – and when robots rule the employment roost, don’t be surprised if you end up losing your life too…
Note: the following is pure speculation and may be an [...]
Image: 3D Chem
A clinical trial has found that Merck’s Vytorin and Zetia cholesterol pills don’t treat clogged arteries as effectively as Abbott Labs’ Niaspan, a form of Niacin (Vitamin B3). Bloomberg reports:
In a clinical trial reported yesterday, researchers found a decrease in [...]
Gene Marks on who to watch to gauge the economic recovery.
Mental Floss has an entertaining list of 8 Not-So-Famous Firsts.
Chase CEO Jamie Dimon’s op-ed in the Washington Post disputes size limits on corporations.
Stephanie Flanders says that calling the current economy “free market” and [...]
Image: Kingdom of Style
This week’s jobs include a position for a hippy, a meat cutter, and an amateur astronaut. If none of those suit your fancy, you can be the person who provides a ladder for someone stuck in a well. No kidding:
1. Denver: [...]
How do you sell something? Do you start with “I want to tell you about _____?” Do you introduce yourself by your job description, then try your best to keep eye contact as your audience’s attention wanders?
If you do, stop. The people you’re addressing don’t care [...]
The Fed today announced that, starting next July, banks can no longer charge overdraft fees on a debit card or when a customer is using an ATM. That new law is moot if a customer has agreed to pay charges for overdrawing their account. Bloomberg [...]
CNN announced today that John King will be replacing Lou Dobbs on CNN. Dobbs unexpectedly resigned from CNN yesterday after roughly 30 years with the network. State of the Union anchor John King will replace Dobbs early next year. The New York Times has the [...]
Reebok–remember that brand?–recently came out with its new EasyTone sneakers. These women’s shoes are built to tone and firm your bottom while you walk. WalletPop has a good analysis of what’s behind the butt-firming EasyTone:
These sneakers apparently build your body 12 different ways, just [...]
Image: Belkin
This is a guest post by Resource Nation’s David Liu.
According to a recent BT Professional Services study, nearly half of all global IT organizations have already installed or incorporated VoIP into their infrastructure. Business VoIP service is a [...]
The Financial Times reports on a recent Sky News Australia interview with News Corporation’s Rupert Murdoch. He threatened to sue the BBC and ABC for stealing content, and Google for employing Fair Use:
Rupert Murdoch indicated on Monday that News Corporation would sue the BBC over breach of [...]
So exactly what is the mandate of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation? Classic government bureaucracy.
[...]
In honor of Veterans Day 2009, here’s a list of 25 quotes to live by:
1. We make war that we may live in peace. -Aristotle
2. Nobody ever drowned in sweat. -US Marines
3. Those who cannot bravely face danger are the slaves of their attackers. -Aristotle
4. More powerful [...]
Some crackpots think the world is controlled by giant lizards, but what they don’t know is that several animals really have tried to be elected to power. Meet the real-life political ‘party animals’…
8. Pigasus the Immortal BoarPigasus the Immortal was a boar hog put forward by the [...]
