April 2009
Monthly Archives
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Domino’s Video Prank Won’t Produce Lasting Brand Damage
(Note: Turn off volume while watching this, it echoes) Two Domino’s Pizza employees have been fired and arrested after YouTubing a prank involving “booger sandwiches.” The New York Times has more: When two Domino’s Pizza employees filmed a prank in the restaurant’s kitchen, they decided to post it online. In a few days, thanks to […]
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Tax Day Tea Parties = Branded Populist Anger
Today’s Tea Party phenomenon left me scratching my head. On the one hand, I’m appalled at the mountains of money being moved during the bailout process, and question the legitimacy of the entire process. If the Tea Parties had specific agendas relating to, say, auditing the Fed (a Ron Paul initiative) or kicking out Tim […]
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12 Ways to Green Your Home Office
Like working in your pajamas, greening your home office combines the best of both worlds. You can build an energy-efficient home in a setting that allows for tax writeoffs, equipment sharing, and upgrades that serve you away from the desk, too. Here are 12 ways to create an energy-efficient, eco-friendly home office: 1. Put Your […]
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5 Nasty Foreclosure Rescue Scams to Avoid
According to RealtyTrac, a whopping one in 54 homes received a foreclosure notice last year. That’s 3.1 million foreclosure filings. Scared yet? An ever-increasing pool of foreclosure rescue scammers are drooling at the prospect of capitalizing off your panic. And so far, they’re doing pretty well. From forgery to title transfer, these scamsters–some of them […]
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5 Easy Ways to Reduce Recession Anxiety
Recession anxiety has become a fact of life. One American Psychological Association poll showed that 80% of surveyed Americans are significantly stressed by the economy. As a result, more people are seeing therapists, which, while beneficial, still costs about $80/hour. Before running to the pharmacy for more Xanax, try these 5 easy ways to reduce […]
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10 Essential Twitter Tools for Business
Do you use Twitter? That’s a hot question these days. With more than 11 million users, the microblogging service is becoming an incredibly popular networking tool. Still, most people struggle when it comes to using Twitter effectively. This may be especially true for businesses, which tend to feel pressure to join Twitter, but don’t quite […]
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GM, Segway Build Hapless, Sad PUMA
GM and Segway today unveiled the PUMA, a people-mover that resembles a genetically modified wheelchair. The vehicle, which is controlled wirelessly, goes up to 35mph, but looks like it would crumple if a Hummer came within ten feet of it. The Wall Street Journal reports: General Motors Corp. is teaming with Segway Inc., maker of […]
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5 Ways Companies Breed Incompetence
Incompetence is a national epidemic. Kids leave high school not knowing how to spell, C-level executives think they can supercede macroeconomic laws, government executives practically sell incompetence wholesale. Fortunately, incompetence has definable roots. Identifying these roots helps companies peg where they are breeding incompetence, then modify their shortcomings to benefit of both managers and employees. […]
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Calyon Securities’ Mike Mayo Says US Loan Losses Worse Than Depression
Calyon Securities banking analyst Mike Mayo released a report entitled “Seven Deadly Sins of Banking” today. In it, Mayo says that US banks’ loan losses could hit the 5.5% mark by 2010–that’s 2.1% higher than during the Great Depression in 1934. The Wall Street Journal has more details: Mayo titled his report “Seven Deadly Sins […]
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10 Ways People Eat Gold
Gold, formerly a losing proposition, is experiencing a revival as investors scurry to inflation-proof their assets. A smaller industry lurks in the shadow of bullion and maple leaf coins. It is the edible gold industry, which invests only in appetite and opulence. Here are 10 ways that people eat their gold: 1. Gold Brick Chicken […]
