Business Strategy

New Talk Radio Show to Focus on California Small Business

2011-01-03T19:04:00.000-08:00

Small business in California creates eighty percent of the jobs and for all practical purposes has no voice in California politics.

New Talk Radio Show to Focus on California Small Business

'For-Profit' Education is a Good Thing

2009-12-27T18:58:00.000-08:00

A new national poll shows strong support for 'for-profit' education in this economic decline.

1,000 adults were surveyed, with oversamples of 500 African American, 500 Latino, and 250 lower-income whites.

They say 'for-profit education empowers minority groups, and does not hinder them. People believe higher education is more critical now than ever to get ahead and support for-profit education as a way to make Obama's goal of increasing college graduates possible.'

I don't think Obama has done anything to make it easier for people to attend college, other than telling them to get off their butt and do it. Maybe a boot in the rear end was needed.

Invest in Entrepreneurs

2009-12-21T01:23:00.000-08:00

Confirming what most people felt intuitively, a new report says when you are Investing In Troubled Times, you should bet on Entrepreneurs, because they outperform non-entrepreneurs by a wide margin.

Vitaminspice and All Things Nice Poised to Spice Up Christmas Meals, Retail

2009-12-16T14:26:00.000-08:00

In Vitaminspice and All Things Nice Poised to Spice Up Christmas Meals, Retail, legendary former Wal-Mart CEO, Bill Fields joins the board, indicating a high likelihood of success.

Kids Find Dead Body

2009-12-05T16:56:00.000-08:00

Three kids found a dead body and Folsom Police are Investigating.

Camera Crews Track Santa Claus at iSpotSanta.com

2009-12-05T09:20:00.000-08:00

Here is an elegant business idea.
Camera Crews Track Santa Claus, Sighting Videos Posted On "iSpotSanta" website Camera Crews Track Santa Claus, Sighting Videos Posted On "iSpotSanta" website

The concept is simple - create a business plan, perhaps on the back of a napkin. Create a website, usually a blog, add really great graphics, then publicize it - they used the MyPRClub.com press release service. Then monetize it and give good content and great service.

I think it needs more work, but it is a good start.

Belligerent Bosses: National Study Finds Employee Trust Sacrificed in the Financial Crisis

2009-09-28T15:13:00.000-07:00

"You can be replaced" - nice encouraging words from a manager, designed to get employees motivated - I don't think so!.

Belligerent Bosses: National Study Finds Employee Trust Sacrificed in the Financial Crisis

Periwinkle Gifts Opens in Folsom

2009-09-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

Periwinkle Gifts is a new business that opened at 404 Blue Ravine Road near La Bou across the parking lot from Target. We have some new and exciting products as well as some of old favorites! Susan says she looks forward to seeing you.

SignatureLink held 'Online Fraud Prevention' golf event at Pebble Beach

2009-09-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

Great place to go for a launch.
The technology looks good.

SignatureLink, Inc. held its 'Online Fraud Prevention' golf event at Pebble Beach in late August '09

Ribbon Cutting Creates Celebration For Businesses

2009-09-18T13:12:00.000-07:00

In Ambassador's Ribbon Cutting Creates Celebration, it shows what one Trade ambassador and his team can do for a state, bringing in new business and creating jobs.

Of course, the same thing could be done for a county or city.

Businesses ignore simple steps to minimise email downtime

2009-07-28T23:58:00.000-07:00

A research report from Connect investigated SMBs and found only 25% had a hosted email fail-over solution or backup service. If they experienced a serious failure, 90% had no way to access email.

Remember the scout's motto - "be prepared"

Businesses ignoring simple steps to minimise email downtime, says new research report from Connect

IRS Reviews Private Debt Collection Contracts, Decides Not to Renew

2009-03-06T12:32:00.000-08:00

IRS Reviews Private Debt Collection Contracts, Decides Not to Renew
I can believe this because although government departments are often inefficient, the private sector in this case may need to get clarifications from the IRS, get things wrong or use some staff who are not knowledgeable enough. They also may not be able to be sypathetic, something that is needed right now.

BB&T Insurance Services to acquire Union Bank of California insurance brokerage arm

2009-02-24T13:04:00.000-08:00

Now here is a California bank divesting itself of it's insurance arm, getting back to the core business and the insurance company increasing in size, but within its core business.

BB&T Insurance Services to acquire Union Bank of California insurance brokerage arm

What Business Lesson Comes from a Hot Dog Stand Operation?

2009-02-17T15:28:00.000-08:00

Joel Block teaches business lessons with simple short stories.

What Business Lesson Comes from a Hot Dog Stand Operation?

Folsom Developer Keeps The Economy Rolling Along

2009-02-14T12:05:00.000-08:00

Folsom Developer Keeps The Economy Rolling Along
Not only that, but using dodgem cars as a contruction tool.
The developer, City departments, the engineering contractor and the Umpqua Bank all working together to keep the contruction going, people employed, businesses support and locals enthused.

Banks Oppose Shareholder Resolution of US Economic Security

2009-02-14T09:21:00.000-08:00

Banks Oppose Shareholder Resolution of US Economic Security
The shareholders want a board committee on U.S. Economic Security. On the eve of a House Financial Services Committee Hearing, where heads of several banks receiving taxpayer bailouts are set to testify, the investor who filed the resolution is speaking out.
B of A, Citi are both pressuring the SEC to avoid enforcement of the shareholder resolution.

Pork-Barrel Spending Bill Leaves Egg On The Face Of Congress!

2008-11-25T13:54:00.000-08:00

Looks like the bacon business is booking, economic meltdown be damned. Pork-Barrel Spending Bill Leaves Egg On The Face Of Congress!

At least someone is still spending and they did it at the same time as sending a message to their congressman.

Engate Technology Appoints Tony Busa as Vice President of Marketing

2008-08-06T01:09:00.000-07:00

Tony Busa VP Marketing for Engate Technology: Engate is an anti-spam supplier, active in anti-botnet security solutions. Busa has 15 years of experience in global marketing organizations in technology companies. Busa will be responsible for growing the company's position in the email security and anti-botnet markets.

Hi Blogger - this was never intended to be a spam blog, just interesting stuff.
If you think its spam after reviewing it, can you just delete the whole account - I don't have as much time as I used to, to keep it going. Thanks.

Dialogue brings single click payments to Payforit

2008-07-10T21:57:00.000-07:00

Dialogue brings single click payments to Payforit
The British Payforit payment mechanism allows consumers to pay for content, goods or services purchased on the mobile internet or web via their mobile phone, currently up to the value of 10 pounds. Apparently, the Payforit system was well received, but mobile users complained that going through the full payment cycle for every purchase is monotonous.

City Council Being Recalled Over Wal-Mart Vote

2008-03-20T00:24:00.000-07:00

Wal-Mart gets councillors in trouble - idiots backed business over their extremely vocal constituents.
City Council Being Recalled Over Wal-Mart Vote

Gerard Mekhsian identifies costs

2008-02-29T05:51:00.000-08:00

Gerard Mekhsian is a unique CPA, according to business growth guru, Joel Block. Block says Mekhsian really knows how to precisely identify the costs of complex manufactured goods. Block doesn't say how he does that, but then I suppose it wouldn't be a unique skill, if he did.

Block identifies two interesting issues in his story
1. Network with a lot of people (I use LinkedIn)
2. Locate people with the skills your business needs.

LinkedIn Or Locked Out!

2007-11-12T12:13:00.000-08:00

LinkedIn Or Locked Out!
I am LinkedIn but I've really negleglected my network. This story by Joel Block really got me thinking about it again - not just what it can do for my business, but what I can do for others.

Last week, an old friend from 1991 found me again, through LinkedIn.

I emailed him back and linked us together. I saw he has more links than I do and I've been a member much longer, so now I'm determined to increase my network, both for what I might get out of it and to help others - and little bit of healthy competition.

LinkedIn really is a very useful tool - but you have to use it to get a benefit.

Shopping Comparison Prices with New One-Stop Virtual Online Store

2007-10-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

One strategy for a website is to provide not only information, but make it so easy for visitors that they keep coming back and referring their friends. Shopping comparison prices isn't a new idea, but PriceForSure.com does it well. It also helps that its a free service.

Shopping Comparison Prices with New One-Stop Virtual Online Store

American Businesses are Out of Excuses

2007-09-11T22:27:00.000-07:00

American Businesses are Out of Excuses
According to Non-profit anti-illegal hiring organization, ProAmerica Companies, "Over 10,000 businesses in America will shutter their doors this year alone due to the inability to compete against illegal employers." To help counter that amazing statistic, they now provide Homeland Security Department E-Verify Services for free to members.

The company runs social security numbers of new hires through the DHS E-Verify database. Other companies charge up to $250 set up and $35 per employee check, so this offer takes away a major excuse small business have for not checking and reduces the costs for good business that do comply.

Starting a Blog Network

2007-09-01T15:41:00.000-07:00

NewsBlaze, as an online newspaper, has achieved many of its goals for providing news that the mainstream media skip or gloss over and also not covering what they overpromote. (really, who cares that Britney showed her underwear AGAIN?) The list of goals is of course, never-ending and always expanding - like popcorn.

Now, we want to increase interaction with our readers. We already have readers emailing and calling so now we're looking to let our social network (I had to use that phrase) interact more with our writers.

The first thing we want to do is add a small blog network to NewsBlaze.
I'm stuck on one little question. How should it be configured?

Here are the options I see:
1. http://newsblaze.com/blog/category
2. http://politics.newsblaze.com/
3. Separate domain names
4. Host somewhere else

If if it is configured with directories, it has to be on the same server as newsblaze, but we could do load balancing.
If configured with subdirectories, it could be on one or more servers.

The main goal is to serve the readers, participants and bloggers and the secondary goal of expanding NewsBlaze.

So which way should we go?

Use Human Resource Metrics to Create Competitive Advantage

2007-05-25T21:08:00.000-07:00

America is close to a serious labor shortage. Between now and the year 2012 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that nearly 35 million Baby Boomers will retire, leaving businesses with one of the tightest labor markets in American history.

Nicholas C. Burkholder and Scott Golas say that "Faced with this huge lack of talented and skilled workers, organizations must find better ways to maximize the contributions of their human capital in order to remain competitive".

Diversify Your Revenue Streams

2007-05-07T22:05:00.000-07:00

Diversify Your Revenue Streams

Joel Block calls the diversification of revenue streams a "Revenue Octopus". Creating a Revenue Octopus is a powerful method you can use to diversify your revenue streams and supercharge your business, whether you are preparing for hyper-growth or seeking stability in uncertain economic times.

Summer of Savings: Nine Tips for a Financially Sane Summer

2007-05-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

Summer of Savings: Nine Tips for a Financially Sane Summer: "Eric Tyson, MBA, is one of the nation's best-selling personal finance book authors and has penned five national bestsellers (he is also the only author to have four of his books simultaneously on BusinessWeek's business book bestseller list). His Personal Finance For Dummies (Wiley) won the Benjamin Franklin Award for the Best Business Book of the Year."

Get Clear on Your Goals

2007-04-23T21:52:00.000-07:00

Get Clear on Your Goals: "Do you know what business you're in? What services you provide? All entrepreneurs, regardless of their line of business, must have a clear vision of their goals in order to succeed."

Corpra-Preneurship: The Trend that is Taking Corporations by Storm

2007-04-18T18:13:00.000-07:00

Joel Block, entrepreneur and trainer of entrepreneurs puts the cat amongst the pidgeons in the corporate world, saying that stick-in-the-mud companies need to change their ways to become more successful by taking a leaf out of their smaller, more nimble cousins and competitors, the entrepreneurial companies. He even coins a new term - Corpra-Preneurship, which he says, rewards employees, management and investors for building successful companies.
Corpra-Preneurship: The Trend that is Taking Corporations by Storm

America's Business Growth Guru Helps Clients Leave Their Competitors In The Dust

2007-04-11T23:05:00.000-07:00

Joel Block is dynamite! People call him a "Growth Architect" and it is true. You can tell him about your business and after some questions, he can give great suggestions. At first, I wondered why he was asking so many questions, then I realised the right answer only comes with the knowledge of what's really going on in a business - and every business is different - so he gathers the information and that puts him in the perfect place to make suggestions and really help. That is a lot different to someone who walks in and tells you want to do, in a cookie-cutter manner.

He's been helping small to medium sized businesses for a while and now he's hooking up with corporate meeting planners, event planners and speaker bureaus because corporate audiences can now book him as a speaker.

His new website has a lot of information - and testimonials from people he's helped.

Boxes handled with care - Example of Supporting the Troops

2007-03-09T07:33:00.000-08:00

Boxes handled with care - Metropolitan - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper: "A pile of letters lay on Susan Warren's black couch, words of thanks from Marines and soldiers scattered throughout Iraq and Afghanistan who have received one of her carefully packed boxes filled with everything from chocolate pudding to clean socks." [Washington Times]

I've talked to Susan Warren before. She is doing a great job to support our troops. Susan never gives up the men and women serving our country and neither should anyone, no matter what you think about the war.

I see the article didn't list her mailing address. I'll be sending her a contribution. If you want to do the same, her address is:

Susan Warren, P.O. Box 2422, Kensington, MD 20891-2422

Seven Ways to Keep Your Employees Focused on and Committed to Change

2007-03-07T19:56:00.000-08:00

Seven Ways to Keep Your Employees Focused on and Committed to Change: "Companies large and small spend millions of dollars each year in order to make change initiatives a success. And yet the results are frequently dismal - changes fail to achieve their objectives, and leaders are left wondering what went wrong. Managers blame change-phobic employees, and employees say leaders didn't manage the change effectively. If you're responsible for driving change, you find all the finger-pointing frustrating and, frankly, unhelpful. If only you could pinpoint where the failure originates, perhaps you could head it off at the pass."

spray paint art.wmv

2007-02-10T22:53:00.000-08:00


Spray paint artist from Portorož, Slovenia doing sci-fi paintings in less than 10 minutes. You can find more about the artist and his art on www.sprej.com

Google Loophole Whistle Blown on Speaker Bureau Ripoff

2007-02-08T21:56:00.000-08:00

Google Loophole Whistle Blown on Speaker Bureau Ripoff, Reports Rick Butts
Professional speaker bureaus are reeling from a insider report white paper just released about how bureaus have been quietly using a little known Google strategy to siphon money and leads from well known motivational speakers.

The special report is available for download at www.DeathofSpeakerBureaus.com' and more information can be found at the blog there.

Wonder Women of the Web Event

2007-02-07T22:29:00.000-08:00

Wonder Women of the Web Event
There is a secret and dramatic buying trend shift affecting almost all markets. Understanding it early will give businesses an advantage over their less informed competition - including much larger competitors.

Further, knowing how to react to this buying trend means the difference in reaching 566% more buyers - most businesses can only dream of growing by almost 600% more buyers. The Wonder Women of the Web say not only is it possible, but it will happen for those in the know - and they aim to tell their secreats to a select few.

Summation: Why big high tech companies are losing the talent war

2007-02-02T22:09:00.000-08:00

Summation: Why big high tech companies are losing the talent war: "Big companies are losing their “A” players and they're struggling to attract “B” players. In an industry where everything is about people, large tech companies are in trouble because they are losing the talent war. And keep in mind, an “A” player in an organization can usually produce the same results as three “B” players."

In his article above, Auren Hoffman makes assumptions about large companies and small companies that don't hold up. There are plenty of small companies that stifle innovation because they don't know what they are doing and there are many big companies that innovate and thrive. It all points to doing your homework before you make a decision.

Eleven Myth-Shattering Findings About What Makes Companies Thrive

2007-02-02T21:55:00.000-08:00

Eleven Myth-Shattering Findings About What Makes Companies Thrive
Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessarily a war of talent - you do not have to have the best people. But you do need high employee engagement - intensely focused, emotionally invested employees who are committed to excellence.

Infrastructure Mix and Killer Apps for Mobile Broadband to be Debated

2006-10-08T22:55:00.000-07:00

Infrastructure Mix and Killer Apps for Mobile Broadband to be Debated
"The International Engineering Consortium (IEC) will present key players at the Broadband World Forum Europe to discuss the importance of content and mobility next week at the CNIT La Defense in Paris 9-12 October, with France Telecom as the official host sponsor.

The Thursday Hot Seat Session entitled, 'The Emerging Mobile Context for Broadband Content,' will explore what the mobile/fixed ecosphere will look like as well as the optimal enabling technologies and infrastructures behind it. The focus will be on how service providers can best prepare themselves for this market environment. "

Digital Marketing - Succinct Ideas

2006-07-17T14:40:00.000-07:00

Found an interesting site that a friend of mine runs, to help busineses move some of their marketing to the web. It is called Succinct Ideas and it is all about Digital marketing. They promise to "Unleash the internet sales potential in your business". Succinct Ideas puts together the services a business needs to get out on the web, compete and do well. It is worth a visit, if you are a small business and need help. Ask for Peter and tell him Alan Gray sent you.

Harvard Business School Global Leadership Forum

2006-06-22T22:53:00.000-07:00

As I see it, it's fair to say that the American economy, and many other economies around the world, are overly dependent on fossil fuels. And, we will only become more so unless we make critical investments now to truly diversify our supply options for the longer term. The current path is unsustainable. However, to talk of achieving true "energy independence" - if that means a 100% domestically produced energy supply - is, quite frankly, an unrealistic and unproductive goal for this nation, and for many others. We should focus instead on how to become less dependent - and, thus, more secure - but not expect or promise complete independence from global energy markets. We can't have that, and we shouldn't pine for it.

Microsoft Seriously Tackles Yahoo, Google with Ads

2006-03-12T21:22:00.000-08:00

Microsoft is very serious about grabbing a larger piece of the $15 billion U.S. market for Internet advertising with a revamped search engine and a new system called AdCenter to sell pay-per-click ads across the company's Web content and services.

They may be slow off the mark, but so they were getting out Internet Explorer.

Microsoft has a big advantage over many other companies. They don't mess around adding millions of useless features, like Netscape did with their browser. Their fit and finish is usually very good. You can add features later - just make it work well first. That is why they beat Netscape. netscape killed themselves.

trackback

High School Initiative Targets Success for All Austin Students

2005-11-29T22:20:00.000-08:00

High School Initiative Targets Success for All Austin Students:

"While Austin schools have made strong progress in recent years, not all students are achieving at high rates, particularly economically disadvantaged students and those with limited English proficiency."

2GeeksinaLab Unveils Exciting Technology

2005-10-22T22:57:00.000-07:00

2GeeksinaLab Unveils Exciting Technology

Pocket-sized PCs. Blazing Computer Speeds. Piracy Solutions. A New Generation of High-Tech Tools, Toys And Copyright Protection Technologies

2GeeksinaLab, Inc. unveils revolutionary software and hardware products for a variety of global industries - including a light weight, pocket-sized PC (Virtual Vizor(TM)), a high-speed computer and video game enhancer (Mach 10.X(TM)) and an iron-clad copyright protection technology to fight digital piracy (Global Garde(TM)).

Korea Joins International Computing Infrastructure

2005-10-06T09:20:00.000-07:00

Korea Joins International Computing Infrastructure:
"A cooperative international project called GLORIAD - the Global Ring Network for Advanced Applications Development - reached a milestone in its effort to create a high-speed computing network around the Northern Hemisphere when it celebrated connectivity with Korea in September.

According to an October 4 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) press release, two new 10-gigabit-per-second (10G) circuits between Korea-North America and Korea-China add significant new capacity to the base of global research and education network connectivity.

The Korea Institute for Science and Technology Information (KISTI) facilitated the new connectivity. GLORIAD is funded in part by NSF; science organizations and agencies in each partner country provide funding for their components."

Technology Promises to Treat Attention and Behavioral Problems

2005-10-05T23:18:00.000-07:00

Technology Promises to Treat Attention and Behavioral Problems:

"It's a patented technology that is similar to that used by NASA astronauts and U.S. Air Force pilots to stay attentive in the cockpit. An innovative product called the Play Attention Learning System using similar space-age technology can now be used on home/school computers to help minimize attention, concentration and focus challenges in children and adults.
Through a combination of technology, unique one-on-one support and a dynamic training program, Play Attention's learning system trains your brain to pay attention and focus better."

New Index Sets Benchmark for Atmospheric Greenhouse Gases

2005-09-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

New Index Sets Benchmark for Atmospheric Greenhouse Gases:

"Researchers at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Monitoring and Diagnosis Laboratory (CMDL) in Boulder, Colorado, have developed an index to help track the annual increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
According to a September 27 NOAA press release, the Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI) is based on an analysis of atmospheric levels of all major and minor long-lived greenhouse gases, as measured since 1979 by CMDL's global sampling network.
The new index offers an easily understandable and scientifically unambiguous comparison for tracking annual changes in levels of atmospheric gases that contribute to an enhanced greenhouse effect, in which radiant energy emitted by Earth's surface is re-radiated by the atmosphere back to the surface."

Boca Raton City Online Launches new Site

2005-08-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

Boca Raton City Online Launched its new website this week.

Aimed at Boca Raton locals and visitors, the site provides news and local information including easy access to hotels, dentists, real estate and other services.

The site forms relationships with local Boca Raton businesses to help them get exposure in an increasingly crowded space.

The internet, while offering the promise of a "level playing field" for small businesses now forces local businesses to compete with larger companies that previously could not easily access their market.

Boca Raton City Online helps those small businesses get their share of the action.

Federal Screw Works Reports Year End Results

2005-08-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

Federal Screw Works Reports Year End Results:

"ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Federal Screw Works (Pink Sheets:FSCR) reports a net loss for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005, of $(6,104,000), or $(4.38) per share, on sales of $86,796,000."

Its a real company! I thought this was referring to the IRS !

Shorecliff Communications Announces Inaugural RFID Europe: Manufacturing & Supply Chain Solutions Conference

2005-08-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

Shorecliff Communications Announces Inaugural RFID Europe: Manufacturing & Supply Chain Solutions Conference:

"'RFID Europe will help manufacturers and their supply chain partners gain a realistic assessment of the path to achieve a healthy ROI from RFID technology,' said Timothy Downs, president of Shorecliff Communications, the producers of RFID Europe. 'Every organization, every application is unique, and that's why RFID Europe is the first conference and exhibition in Europe to focus on a wide range of RFID solutions -- active, passive, infrastructure, middleware and integration.' "

ContentDesk.com - free articles on General Kids and Teens: Baby Geeks: Windows for 2-year-olds

2005-07-31T22:58:00.000-07:00

Baby Geeks: Windows for 2-year-olds

Offering a customizable shell that runs on top of Windows operating software, the Hoopah Windows hybrid software provides a new way to present information to youth, as well as to those who are "computer phobic," in a friendly, simplified, and highly manageable format.

There is an emerging market of two to ten-year old children who need software that is much simpler than out-of-the-box Windows. A two year old can jump right into a whole new world with no instructions using this new software.

Hopefully they won't start writing kiddy viruses.

Is Corporate Governance Reform Working as Planned?

2005-07-29T20:14:00.000-07:00

Is Corporate Governance Reform Working as Planned?:

"Three years after the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, questions are mounting about unintended consequences for hundreds of U.S. firms. Instead of complying with the new regulations, many companies are deciding the costs of being publicly traded or listed on a major stock exchange are no longer worth it. In the cover story of the summer 2005 issue of Region Focus, Doug Campbell examines the impact of Sarbanes-Oxley on businesses and investors. "

Web Attacks - Can Your Web Applications Withstand the Force?

2005-07-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

Web Attacks - Can Your Web Applications Withstand the Force?:

"Start-up company Acunetix released Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner: a tool to automatically audit website security. Acunetix WVS 2 crawls an entire website, launches popular web attacks (SQL Injection, Cross Site scripting etc.) and identifies vulnerabilities that need to be fixed.

Securing your website should be your number one concern "

PlateSpin Introduces the World's First Universal OS Portability Migration Software Spanning the Intel Infrastructure in the Data Center

2005-07-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

PlateSpin Introduces the World's First Universal OS Portability Migration Software Spanning the Intel Infrastructure in the Data Center:

"PlateSpin PowerConvert provides anywhere-to-anywhere workload portability of data, applications, and operating systems for server consolidation, disaster recovery, rapid provisioning, hardware migrations and continuous data center optimization"

Radio Free Asia Founding President To Retire

2005-07-19T22:32:00.000-07:00

Radio Free Asia Founding President To Retire

Veteran journalist Richard Richter will retire July 29 as founding president of Radio Free Asia (RFA) after more than a half-century in print, broadcast, and electronic media.

The bipartisan Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) chose Richter, a longtime executive producer with ABC, CBS, and PBS television, to launch RFA in 1996, shortly after the U.S. Congress authorized its creation as a "surrogate" broadcaster providing news and information to those East Asian countries that lack free media.

"Few people in the history of international broadcasting have served with the intellectual honesty and the essential decency as Dick Richter," BBG Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson said in a statement. "He is a good man, and he has been a terrific leader. Journalistic excellence has been the hallmark of Radio Free Asia under Dick Richter."

Dragon Venture Signs Partnership Agreement with Shanghai Runyuan Logistics Company, Ltd. to Form a Joint Venture

2005-07-19T06:33:00.000-07:00

Dragon Venture Signs Partnership Agreement with Shanghai Runyuan Logistics Company, Ltd. to Form a Joint Venture:

"This joint venture is dedicated to developing mobile Internet solutions for logistics for the trucking industry in China. As a leading company in the field of mobile Internet solutions and applications in China, Cnnest will be responsible for developing mobile Internet applications for logistics involving the trucking and freight industries, and seek to have the applications available through both China Mobile and China Unicom."

Houston Business and Industry Leaders Challenge Congressional Delegation to Support CAFTA

2005-07-18T22:54:00.000-07:00

Houston Business and Industry Leaders Challenge Congressional Delegation to Support CAFTA:

"U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady, U.S. Congressman Mike McCaul, Port of Houston Chairman Jim Edmonds, Greater Houston Partnership CEO Jeff Moseley, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce CEO Iris Correa, and other business, civic, and industry leaders will join together and challenge Texas' Congressional delegation and specifically the Houston delegation to support the Central America Free Trade Agreement at a press conference this Monday, July 18 at 10 a.m. at the Port of Houston Authority. "

Avoid the Fatal Presentation Trap: Why Making Presentations Can Cost You the Sale

2005-07-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

Avoid the Fatal Presentation Trap: Why Making Presentations Can Cost You the Sale:

"If you're a salesperson, you can probably relate to this scenario. You spend days preparing a razzle-dazzle presentation. Duuring the big event, you expound on the greatness of your company. You show slides of your top-notch manufacturing facilities. You paint a rosy picture of the future the prospect will have if he buys. What happens after you wrap up the presentation is anyone's guess. But two things are certain: you've spent valuable time and resources on this little 'dog and pony' show, and you're left with the unsettling knowledge that the decision to buy from you (or not) is completely out of your hands."

PC Kidz LLC, A Tyler, Texas-Based Children's Computer Education Company, Announces The Sale Of Its Second Franchise In Texas

2005-07-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

PC Kidz LLC, A Tyler, Texas-Based Children's Computer Education Company, Announces The Sale Of Its Second Franchise In Texas:

"The new franchise will continue to serve the Central Texas area, while expanding into the Austin area market by offering computer education classes to preschool and school age children through public and private preschools, as well as through early education programs. "

CTI Group Gears Up for E-Business with Significant Board Appointments

2005-07-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

CTI Group Gears Up for E-Business with Significant Board Appointments:

"CTI Group (Holdings) Inc. announced the appointment of John Birbeck as Chairman of the Board, replacing Harold Garrison, who will assume the position as Vice Chairman of the Board. Bengt Dahl also joins the Board and Michael Leeds, previous Vice Chairman has tendered his resignation from the Board of Directors."

Ten Million and Growing

2005-07-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

Ten Million and Growing:

"'With the commitment of so many individuals and corporations to this project we already have an incredible success on our hands, one never before seen by the FirstBingo.com membership based community,' states Richard Wachter, President of FirstBingo.com. "

3G key to mobile game market in China

2005-07-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

3G key to mobile game market in China:

"Mobile online gaming will amount to a $714 million market in China by 2008, more than a sevenfold increase from 2004, a new study by a Beijing research firm concludes.

In 2004 China's mobile gaming market topped $98 million, which itself amounted to an annual growth rate of 150 percent from the $39 million generated in 2003. "

Blair hails G8 success; reactions mixed

2005-07-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

Blair hails G8 success; reactions mixed:

"The leaders of the G8 nations agreed Friday to boost aid to the poorest nations by $50 billion by 2010, as part of a package British Prime Minister Tony Blair said would save millions of lives if fully implemented."

William Simpson: Advertise On My Head

2005-06-30T23:22:00.000-07:00

William Simpson: Advertise On My Head

A high-impact advertisement that will walk, talk, greet and meet people as it goes. This is no bill board or inflatable sign, it's the head of William Simpson, a 29-year-old from Scotland who travels regulary and frequents areas where there are high numbers of people.

This isn't the first of this type of ad. I'm surprised we haven't seen it more, but I think its a little weird.

Buffalo Technology Expands Upon Its Line of Award-Winning Storage Solutions With Its USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive

2005-06-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

Buffalo Technology Expands Upon Its Line of Award-Winning Storage Solutions With Its USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive:

"'Portable storage has become popular, but the issue of unreliability due to power issues remains. It is essential that mobile users have a solution that not only offers them reliability, but also allows them to free-up limited hard drive space on their notebook,' stated Morikazu Sano, vice president of product marketing and public relations. 'Buffalo always endeavors to provide its customers with solutions that address their needs. With our new Portable Hard Drive, we are offering on-the-go customers the ultimate in storage mobility -- simple, light-weight, compact and affordable.' "

As always, technology gets smaller and cheaper at the same time!

Slashdot: News for nerds, stuff that matters

2005-06-27T22:09:00.000-07:00

Slashdot: News for nerds, stuff that matters

"Will the blogosphere become just as spammy as Usenet? There may be over 10M weblogs out there, most of them seem to be fake spam blogs created to manipulate the search engines. Scott Johnson, CTO at Feedster, complained that 'at times we see upwards of 90% of the traffic from Blogspot being spam,' and the problem is likely to only get worse. Can blog search engines like Technorati, Feedster, and PubSub filter the signal from the torrent of noise? Or will we have to seek new approaches such as the social filtering used by Del.icio.us or collaborative filtering used by Findory to separate the ham from the spam?'"

It does seem that way. Small bsusinesses are trying many different technologies to get their message out. Any medium that is seen as successful is quickly found by the businesses and business-oriented geeks. Within a very short timeframe, there is a new tool designed to take advantage of the medium.

In many cases, the result is spammy garbage. The problem is, there are rewards for creating the spammy garbage and so it will continue.

The Summer of Code for students begins.

2005-06-25T16:24:00.000-07:00

The Summer of Code for students begins.:

"The aim of the 'Summer of Code' program is to help students use their skills 'for the greater good of open source software and computer science'.
Students enrolled in accredited learning institutions were invited to apply to participate by entering an application at the Google website.
Today, 410 applicants have been chosen to participate. Each participant receives a $4500 stipend and the services of a mentor organization, which receives $500. $500 is to be paid on acceptance of the application, to help with startup costs and $400 paid at the end of the project. In addition, students receive a T-shirt on successful completion"

UK bank bars Christian group over gay view

2005-06-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

UK bank bars Christian group over gay view:

"A British bank has barred a Christian evangelical group from holding an account because of its stance against homosexuality, the BBC reported Friday."

That's quite a stand for a Bank!

ScholarPoint.com Offers Innovative Online Paperless Option for Student Loan Consolidation

2005-06-24T07:31:00.000-07:00

ScholarPoint.com Offers Innovative Online Paperless Option for Student Loan Consolidation:

"Interest rates on student loans will increase by 1.93% on July 1 -- the largest single-year increase in the 40-year history of the federal student loan program.

According to Chris Studer, Founder and CEO of ScholarPoint Financial, current and former students can beat the July 1 increase and save thousands of dollars in interest by rolling outstanding student loan debt into a fixed-rate federal consolidation loan."

Echo Boomer Teenagers Can Save Their Parents Thousands Over The College Clueless

2005-06-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

Echo Boomer Teenagers Can Save Their Parents Thousands Over The College Clueless:

"A number of universities have been in the news recently, touting their new business programs for college students and graduates. The non-credit, four-week programs are essentially cram courses for non-business college majors. It appears that many students and recent grads have found having knowledge of business, and the business world, helps in getting a job."

No Customer Left Behind

2005-06-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

No Customer Left Behind:

"As more companies make the jump to cyberspace every week and billions of dollars flow across the Internet, nobody can deny that ecommerce plays a significant roll in business today. "

The main problem for any site revolves around the fact that email as a means of communication has become unreliable over the last couple of years.

AdvisorMail Announces Advanced Search Capabilities for Archived Message Data

2005-06-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

AdvisorMail Announces Advanced Search Capabilities for Archived Message Data:

"AdvisorMail's new GPS technology is designed to assist organizations in quickly and easily producing archived emails and instant messages during internal and regulatory audits as well as litigation requests. GPS technology reduces operational costs and expedites retrieval time by allowing users to conduct full text searches and immediately download specific search results in PST or EML format to non-rewritable media, including DVDs and CDs."

corporation llc

2005-06-19T15:07:00.000-07:00

Stop risking your personal assets and your business:

"If you are running a business as a sole proprietor or in a partnership, you are wide open to unnecessary risks.

All your assets are available to your creditors and unscrupulous lawyers. Not only that, but you are missing many tax deductions specifically created to help small business.

A better entity for business is more..."

REO-USA Offers Help With Calculating The Cost Of Implementing Its System

2005-06-19T15:04:00.000-07:00

REO-USA Offers Help With Calculating The Cost Of Implementing Its System:

"Amps are how many electrons that flow past a certain point per second. Volts are a measure of how much force that each electron is under.

Think of water in a hose. A gallon a minute (amps) just dribbles out if it is under low pressure (voltage).

But when the end of the hose is restricted, letting the pressure build up, the water can have more power (watts), even though it is still only one gallon a minute."

Conservative - Liberal fun and games, windup model

2005-06-18T22:52:00.000-07:00

Conservative - Liberal fun and games, windup model

Theres a funny thing going on between two increasingly irrational groups. Bloggers and commentators of all stripes are winding each other up and being wound up themselves.

And its getting worse.

Exit A Lease, new car and used car information.

2005-06-16T21:50:00.000-07:00

Exit A Lease, new car and used car information.:

"Ordinarily, the only way to exit your lease early is by paying off the rest of the lease payments or buying the vehicle outright - two very costly options. Recently, people have been discovering the benefits of lease transfer, where someone else takes over the remaining months of your lease."

What a great service!. Get out of your lease early at low cost. Whether you can't aford it or you want to swap a Merc and get a Porsche instead, its cost effective.

NetSol Technologies' Wholly Owned Subsidiary Inks $1 Million Contract With U.K.-based Haydock Finance Ltd.

2005-06-16T21:46:00.000-07:00

NetSol Technologies' Wholly Owned Subsidiary Inks $1 Million Contract With U.K.-based Haydock Finance Ltd.:

"NetSol Technologies announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, CQ Systems, signed a $1 million contract with Haydock Finance Ltd., one of the U.K.'s leading independent finance companies. CQ Systems will implement Haydock's new, customized Enterprise Solution for delivering front-to-back office automated processing to their diverse and innovative finance products."

New Book Finds Music's Magical Powers Objectively Verifiable

2005-06-16T19:24:00.000-07:00

New Book Finds Music's Magical Powers Objectively Verifiable:

"The Hebrews encoded harmonics in their Tree of Life diagram, the Hindus incorporated the potent musical information in a secretive Music of the Path, and Gurdjieff enshrined it in the enneagram symbol of the Work. In the groundbreaking new book, Nearly All and Almost Everything, Mitzi DeWhitt follows unexplored and unconventional lines and brings together what, on the surface, appear to be three separate lines: Judaism, Hinduism, and the Gurdjieff Work. "

Business Owners Place More Emphasis On Honesty And Integrity Than Money When Making Decisions, Confirms Executive Forums Survey

2005-06-15T17:33:00.000-07:00

Business Owners Place More Emphasis On Honesty And Integrity Than Money When Making Decisions, Confirms Executive Forums Survey:

"With the ethics and compensation packages of Fortune 500 CEOs in question, a new study confirms that honesty and integrity are still the most important guiding principles for owners of privately held mid-sized businesses. "

House panel votes to eliminate all funding for NPR and PBS

2005-06-15T12:54:00.000-07:00

House panel votes to eliminate all funding for NPR and PBS:

"A House panel has voted to eliminate all funding for NPR and PBS, starting with 'Sesame Street,' 'Reading Rainbow,' and other commercial-free children's shows. If approved, this would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting, threatening to pull the plug on Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch."

New Negotiation Seminar Designed for Women -- Success Strategies for Your Career

2005-06-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

New Negotiation Seminar Designed for Women -- Success Strategies for Your Career:

"This seminar is designed specifically for women. It differs from the general negotiating training because women negotiate differently than men and sometimes tend to be less comfortable negotiating. Even very successful women who are skilled negotiators often find it difficult to negotiate for themselves."

eProject Named 2005 Washington CEO Magazine Top 52 Best Companies to Work For

2005-06-14T22:26:00.000-07:00

eProject Named 2005 Washington CEO Magazine Top 52 Best Companies to Work For:

"'At eProject, we recognize that our employees are the foundation of our success and we strategically invest in our corporate culture to attract, retain, and motivate our team members,' said Christian Smith, eProject vice president of sales and marketing. 'Our goal is simple -- fuel success by creating an environment where people love coming to work each day,' continued Smith. "

A very important part of business strategy that not all companies recognize - your staff can create a favorable or unfavorable impression of the company. Motivate your staff and you get one result, demotivate them and you may get the opposite.

Modern Technology Corp. Announces Significant Next Phase of Corporate Development

2005-06-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

Modern Technology Corp. Announces Significant Next Phase of Corporate Development:

"Modern Technology Corp. a diversified technology development and acquisition company announced today the official launch of its next phase of growth and operational strategy. The company's next phase of growth centers upon the acquisition of nascent commercial technologies and introducing them into the sales and distribution channels of existing MOTG subsidiaries and partners. "

This is a great strategy to expand your business.

CDMA Industry Is Defining Next-Generation CDMA2000 Technologies

2005-06-14T19:15:00.000-07:00

CDMA Industry Is Defining Next-Generation CDMA2000 Technologies:

"First deployed in October 2000, CDMA2000 3G technologies now serve more than 168 million subscribers worldwide. CDMA2000 operators are upgrading their networks to 1xEV-DO, the most advanced broadband wireless technology deployed today"

Clever stuff, but SOOOO boring. Tech companies like to tell you all the whizz-bang tech stuff, but we don't care! All we want to know is Whats In It For Me?
You'd think they would have learned that by now, but they are what I call stupidly corporate.

NewsBlaze.com | Select News

2005-06-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

NewsBlaze.com | Select News:

"'This is a fantastic opportunity for Pocket PC Studios and Strategy First to bring these phenomenal titles to the Nintendo DS platform,' said G.R. Moore, President and CEO of Pocket PC Studios.

'We will utilize our expertise of bringing high-profile desktop games to mobile devices to expand the Disciples and Jagged Alliance franchises onto the new and most successful handheld console since the Nintendo Gameboy.' "

Sapphire Consulting Services to Provide Supply Chain Management Consulting for Wilbur Curtis, Inc

2005-06-13T21:55:00.000-07:00

Sapphire Consulting Services to Provide Supply Chain Management Consulting for Wilbur Curtis, Inc:

You can use "supply chain best practices and improve our ability to forecast demand in a more automated, efficient and reliable way".

VMDirect-Video Says It Better

2005-06-13T19:52:00.000-07:00

VMDirect-Video Says It Better

"This is an unprecedented time in history. It's a time when everyone has a chance to capitalize on the Internet's future" - William Clayton, independant affiliate.

Companies That Go 'Beyond Reporting' Create Business Value, New Report Says

2005-06-13T14:39:00.000-07:00

Companies That Go 'Beyond Reporting' Create Business Value, New Report Says

A new report from the WBCSD, "Beyond Reporting" explores how companies can obtain value and restore trust by understanding the relationship between accountability and sustainability and their core business strategy.

MediaMax Technology and SunnComm International Sign Definitive Merger Agreement

2005-06-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

MediaMax Technology and SunnComm International Sign Definitive Merger Agreement: "MediaMax Technology Corp. currently has an exclusive marketing agreement with SunnComm International, Inc. to sell MediaMax"

MediaMax Technology Corp. currently has an exclusive marketing agreement with SunnComm International, Inc. to sell MediaMax

Financial Access Solutions Technology's DM2's Wireless POS Terminals Now Being Sold in Rogers Wireless Retail Outlets

2005-06-12T23:06:00.000-07:00

Financial Access Solutions Technology's DM2's Wireless POS Terminals Now Being Sold in Rogers Wireless Retail Outlets

Wireless POS terminals now. I wonder what the scanners can pick up from them. Sounds dangerous!.

PC Kidz Announces The Sale Of Its First Franchise

2005-06-12T21:18:00.000-07:00

PC Kidz Announces The Sale Of Its First Franchise

PC Kidz offers a comprehensive curriculum that focuses on establishing computer literacy and technology skills in children between the ages of two through ten years-old. This innovative approach not only aligns the curriculum with both state and national technology standards, but it presents the lessons with the child's developmental abilities in mind.

RFID Global Solution Sponsors University Of Arkansas RFID Research Center

2005-06-11T07:45:00.000-07:00

RFID Global Solution Sponsors University Of Arkansas RFID Research Center

University Of Arkansas RFID Research Center gets help from RFID company.

RFID Global Solution engineers provided RFID equipment including readers and antennas, conveyor super-structures, dock door mounting solutions, and subject matter expertise.

Free Piano Lessons Online Every Week For 101 Weeks

2005-06-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

Free Piano Lessons Online Every Week For 101 Weeks
This piano player not only loves his craft, but knows how to build a business.

Sainsbury to become $1 billion donor

2005-05-22T19:58:00.000-07:00

Lord Sainsbury said that after he leaves the government, he plans to direct the trustees of his charity, the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, to draw up plans to spend both its income and its capital before he dies, the Sunday Times of London reported.

What an amazing business!

Bombardier chooses Montreal for plant

2005-05-13T17:49:00.000-07:00

Bombardier chooses Montreal for plant: "The decision came as the company announced that the government of Canada will pay $262.5 million to help cover the expected $2.1 billion cost to develop the proposed series, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said. The government of Quebec offered $87.5 million."

Its amazing how much free money there is for huge companies and so little for small companies.
The rationale is that the large companies create many more jobs in the area. The challenge for the cities and counties offering the incentives is to see if they can get more back than they give away.

Nano World: Ten overlooked nano firms

2005-05-11T23:59:00.000-07:00

Nano World: Ten overlooked nano firms
Some relatively unknown companies could someday make as much of a splash in nanotechnology as the big companies that usually are regarded as the bellwethers, experts told UPI's Nano World.

"I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the biggest winners in nanotech come from the overlooked companies," said Doug Jamison, president of Harris and Harris Group, a publicly held venture-capital firm in New York City and co-editor-in-chief of Nanotechnology Law & Business.

U.S. stocks head south despite good news

2005-05-11T07:27:00.000-07:00

U.S. stocks head south despite good news
An encouraging Commerce Department report and falling oil prices did nothing to energize U.S. stocks Wednesday as share prices on all major indexes fell.

Its always the same in the markets. Buy on rumour, sell on news. Very strange.

Greenspan hits Fannie, Freddie -- again

2005-05-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

Greenspan hits Fannie, Freddie -- again
The U.S. Federal Reserve Bank chief is calling again for regulators to force Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to shrink their mortgage portfolios.

Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan said the two federally chartered companies' holdings are so huge they threaten the market for sophisticated financial instruments known as derivatives, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

Now that's what should be called a monopoly. I wonder if the state governments will sue Fannie and Freddie like they did Microsoft?

Medtronic to pay $1.35 billion for patents

2005-04-24T07:31:00.000-07:00

Medtronic to pay $1.35 billion for patents: "Medical device maker Medtronic has announced it will pay $1.35 billion to gain ownership of patents related to spinal surgery from a Los Angeles inventor."

Patenting your discovery isn't always a sure way to wealth, but sometimes it pays off in a big way!

One problem with patents is that sometimes a patent is granted on extremely trivial and obvious methods, some of which have prior art that has been in the public domain.

Report: Biomass could replace fuels

2005-04-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

Report: Biomass could replace fuels
Oak Ridge National Laboratory reports biomass such as corn cobs and husks could replace 30 percent of the fuel used for transportation in the United States.

Its about time! The problem, is its not as esciting as bringing in huge machines and drilling monster holes in the ground.