July 2010

Monthly Archives

  • Glenn Beck’s Goldline Scheme

    Barry Ritholtz at The Big Picture has an entertaining/disturbing infographic about Glenn Beck’s relationship with precious metal investment company Goldline International, and how he manipulates customers. In effect, by buying a numismatic coin through Goldline, customers would instantly lose 42% of their investment, thanks to an insane markup. Infographic by The Big Picture

  • 25 People and Industries That Profit From Fear

    Are you worried about the economy tumbling into oblivion? Scared that some stranger will break into your home? Paranoid about losing your youthful good looks? Don’t worry. You can buy your peace of mind. Whether it’s a pill, a locking system, or legislation, someone has the perfect solution. Just make sure you pay up to […]

  • Senate Passes Unemployment Benefits Extension

    Image: billaday/Flickr The Senate approved a $34 billion unemployment benefits extension yesterday. It applies to all people whose benefits ran out on June 2, but not to people who have already collected their full 99 weeks of unemployment. The Christian Science Monitor describes the extension: Under the old law, individuals who used to have part-time […]

  • 50 Tips to Create a Killer Brand

    Image: Vapour Trail/Flickr Any damn fool can put on a deal, but it takes genius, faith and perseverance to create a brand. -David Ogilvy Your brand defines who you are. Without a brand, you’re a business nobody. Yet building an effective brand takes work. Learn what you need to do in the 50 branding tips […]

  • Goldman Sachs Reports Horrible Quarter

    Goldman Sachs’ Q2 earnings are down 83%, in what the New York Times calls the “worst quarter for the giant investment bank since the depths of the financial crisis in late 2008.” More from the NYT: The earnings include $1.15 billion in special charges — $550 million for the S.E.C. settlement and $600 million for […]

  • Indian Rupee Gets a New Currency Symbol

    India’s currency, the rupee, now has its own symbol, thanks to Indian Institute of Technology post-grad D Udaya Kumar, whose design was chosen in a national contest. Kumar will get an award of Rs 250,000, nearly $5,400–and India will get a new currency symbol. The Times of India has more: The Indian rupee will soon […]

  • The World’s Most Controversial CEOs

    Reputation is everything. Especially in the higher echelons of business, where the reputation of a CEO can determine a company’s fate. Some CEOs benefit their companies by cultivating positive reputations. They may end up as popular heroes, like Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard, or Business Hall of Famers (and future governors?) like eBay’s Meg Whitman. Some CEOs, […]

  • Gulf Oil Spill Means Lower Taxes for BP

    If there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for the Gulf Oil Spill, it’s at BP’s end. Thanks to a massive revenue shortfall associated with cleaning up the spill, BP will pay about $10 billion less in taxes over the next 4 years. The Financial Times reports: The shortfall, representing a drop of […]