From the Sydney Morning Herald: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates says he was forced to abandon Facebook after too many people wanted to be his friend. Gates, the billionaire computer geek-turned-philanthropist who was honoured on Saturday by India for his charity work, told an audience in New Delhi he had tried out Facebook but ended up […]
AIG took a big step today towards spinning off AIU Holdings, its property-casualty arm. AIG formed a special-purpose vehicle intended to hold AIU Holdings’ equity, rebranded the company as Chartis Insurance, and hired Kristian P. Moor as President/CEO, according to a press release. These actions gear it up for a possible IPO. Reuters’ Matthew Goldstein […]
This is a blog post by Drea Knufken. Economic downturns aren’t only about damage. Throughout recent history, opportunistic companies have taken advantage of downturns to launch brands that enjoyed success for decades to come. Using timing and ingenuity, these 9 successful brands turned downturns into windfalls. Rice Krispies More than 75 years later, Kellogg’s Great […]
The U.S. Department of Commerce recently released its quarterly data on per capita income (PCI) change, noting an overall drop in 0.5% from 2008 Q4 to 2009 Q1. This is slightly worse than the preceding range, which was registered in at -0.4%. With all the talk about this recession being the “worst since the Great […]
What do you think of when you hear “2009 recession?” If frozen credit, failed automakers, and dying newspapers come to mind, you’re on the mark. But how about books, beef, and concierge doctors? Or iPhones and candy? Surprisingly enough, these products and services reflect the Great Recession just as much as the bailout bill. Below, […]
Do you find your body stiff and tweaked after a day of computer work? If your workstation is already ergonomic–an absolute necessity–it’s time to start a regimen of computer breaks and stretches. These five stretches, done on a daily basis, will work wonders for your neck, shoulder, back, and wrists. Your body will thank you. […]
Image: Geekfitters Before you read this week’s weird jobs, ask yourself what kind of job opening this sentence might have come from: Must be a natural go-getter with an adaptable mind set to 21st century creative approach to kingdom expansion. Hint: It’s has nothing to do with video game testing. 1. New York: $30/hour: Personal […]
Professionalism is a word embraced by many, but in all honesty demonstrated by far fewer individuals. Its Latin’s origins come from the word profess which means, “to avow before.” So the question is who are these individuals that believe themselves to be true professionals avowing before? Possibly the answer may be found within the word […]
2009 is 50% over, but has already left a decade’s worth of brand carnage in its wake. In May alone, 376 companies per day sought protection from creditors in bankruptcy court, according to Aacer’s court records. Everyone was affected, from small, family-run outfits to major corporations. This list represents a sampling of brands and products […]
Some companies fail by honest error. Despite their hard work and honest intentions, they succumb to bankruptcy for neutral reasons – the wrong business model, a bad economy, or superior competitors. Far more interesting, however, are the stories of companies that were driven into bankruptcy maliciously, through fraud, corruption, or scandal. Often times, these were […]
