Selected by zyaadaguy

• 
  Social Media and New Markets

• Will the Sports gravy train ever stop? | Advantage Sports

  zyakaira

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:49 am

  South Africa 2010, London 2012, Rio 2014, Superbowl XLIV, FIH Hockey World Cup, IPL, NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, Rugby Union, Vancouver (Winter Olympics) 2010, F1, Barclays Premier League, Bundesliga, Spanish Liga, Barca, Liverpool, Manchester United, Beijing 2008 – And some of them are seriously overdrawn, Man Utd debt of GBP 452 M however is just 1% of the Greek ship going down as we speak..Oil seems to like soccer yet! Transport for London, Swedish Local Government , would these be comparable brands in the next two years? How about Field Hockey? Will the Indian consumer catch the Kraft bait?

• The Saints have the vote | Advantage Brands

  zyakaira

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:25 am

  OR, Did Manning make it anyway? The Network did. It celebrated Platinum twice over. 106 million viewers. 70 spots for $2.6 million each. Almost value for money, duh! CBS estimates that Super Bowl XLIV was watched by 106.5 million viewers, which would inch it past 1983’s “M*A*S*H” series finale, which was watched by about 105.9 million. The network is also reporting that the post-Super Bowl premiere of “Undercover Boss” was hardly incognito, as the 38.6 million viewers made it the most viewed post-pigskin show since the 2001 “Survivor” season premiere.

• The Ad Menagerie | Superbowl Sunday

  zyakaira

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:16 am

  Apart from the great symbolic buffalo her run across the American plain, or in other words the Oprah plus Jay Leno plus Letterman ad for CBS, the advertisements that got fun ratings at the Brand Bowl and the USA today rating championships were more or less the dull and boring repetitive themes from yester years. Doritos’ crunching a few bones and a casket this time, The Betty White Snickers Football game and some of the Bud and the Coke magic. Hyundai was a good consolation prize and Audi and Motorola more marks for freshness than anything else. It seems to be swinging Pepsi’s…

• IPL Diaspora getting a global Identity | Advantage Sports

  zyakaira

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:04 am

  The Rajasthan Royals co-owned by Raj Kundera, Lachlan Murdoch and chaired by Manoj Badale and Emerging Media were recently valued at $300 million. The team is set to grow the game franchise and take a larger piece of the growing pie. The Royals are on way to owning four more International T20 teams, The Victoria Bushrangers now to be known as the Victoria Royals, The Nashua Cape Cobras, The TNT team that will become the TNT Royals and maybe one more in England or Pakistan. All these teams made it to the Champions League of National Champions / Victors in the first edition of 2009. The Royals…

• Gator takes you down that road… | The Brand Bowl

  zyakaira

  7 Feb 2010 | 5:17 am

  There is Coke, but no Pepsi Meanwhile, the others we didn’t let you know and The Big Kahuna who has it all on a chart Look out for the fangle dangle on the right listing all the fan sites for the ads..( A few Facebook pages too) MCDONALDS: The Ads again a Basketball biggie, with Dwight Howard and LeBron James McDonald’s has signed LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers to a multi-year deal that includes promotional and fundraising efforts. BOOST MOBILE: The 1985 Chicago Bears reunite to perform a new version of the Super Bowl Shuffle, this time pitching the prepaid wireless…

• 
  An investment Blog

• Coca Cola brings off a great save! | Advantage Lifestyle

  zyakaira

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:44 am

  Coca Cola Zero reported double digit growth in North America in unit case volume despite six fewer days in Sales in the period. Coke China jumped 29%, India grew 20%, while Brazil and France grew 8% and 12% in unit case volume. Coca Cola reports its juices and teas in the Still Beverages which also grew [...]Score: 0.0 (0 votes cast)

• Meanwhile, China was buying Coke | Advantage Research

  zyakaira

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:56 am

  ShareChina’s sovereign Fund was working at increasing its presence in US companies and markets of choice this fortnight. While news was busy covering the overrun on debt and Volcker’s single defiant stand in front of the Senate Committee, Toyota and Amazon were recovering from market and competitive actions, and Banks were in the ‘quiet period’, [...]Score: 0.0 (0 votes cast)

• New Owners for Manhattan Real Estate | NY Times

  zyakaira

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:36 am

  Manhattan has become cheaper since it rained stones in Washington and even as the Senate Banking Committee keeps Blankfein and Volcker busy, the first defaulters in the crisis, the real estate guys are out in a leather hunt for continuing bargains. It looks as if documentation on the affluent Manhattan real esttae is in order [...]Score: 0.0 (0 votes cast)

• The Global Recall Industry | Advantage zyaada

  zyakaira

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:32 am

  GM’s US bailout and low scores for Dodge Chrysler in the Superbowl inevitably continue the US automakers agenda silently, even as Toyota returned with Prius after the repair work on the damaged brand hasd just started. Even if it starts production by the first week of March, it would have lost 6 weeks of sales [...]Score: 0.0 (0 votes cast)

• Bank Results: Since the Dollar caught up?

  zyakaira

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:18 am

  UBS reported greater profits because of cost controls in the final quarter. However, it also reported 56.5 billion Francs in Outflows of funds from the bank and with the Franc caught up to near ‘parity’ with the US $, things ar eindeed looking bleak for the bank. With Germans out on a mission to buy [...]Score: 0.0 (0 votes cast)

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  Obamanomics

• Amazon’s penultimate Draw | Advantage O’nomics

  zyakaira

  28 Jan 2010 | 9:29 pm

  Holiday sales took fourth Quarter performance to $9.52 billion and they also upped Q1 forecasts to $6.45bn to $7 bn Amazon seems quite ready to open the war front with iPad, but as of now it is fair for both companies to hedge their bets with Kindle choosing a 70% commission on each sale over a smaller base than the $10 plus billion in real books, while the iPad would like to be compared with Samsung and Nokia,”part of the iPod and iMac family?” This is probably the penultimate fr Amazon to draw but it has one more fight in it to get to $100 billion Amazon’s Operating…

• Legg Mason fights a new war | Equities vs Fixed Income

  zyakaira

  26 Jan 2010 | 8:01 am

  As fixed income loses the temporary sheen from 2008, Legg Mason bore the brunt of investor displeasure and lack of confidence losing $24 billion from fixed income schemes and close to $33 billion overall in the last quarter, 4 times more than the July – September Quarter. Most banks worldwide have reported losses in Fixed Income in the latest quarter as yields spike with China ready to go off the Charts from doubt in its banking system :lol However that all seems to be passed as in after its results last week, news filtered in that new board member Nelson Peltz is selling an over 15% in…

• Litterman leaves, GS closes Quant fund | Business Week

  zyakaira

  25 Jan 2010 | 6:29 am

  Robert Litterman, chairman of Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s quantitative hedge-fund group, will step down at the end of this month, a move planned before President Barack Obama’s call yesterday to limit proprietary trading at banks, according to people familiar with the situation. Litterman, a 24-year Goldman Sachs veteran, advised a unit that ran Global Equities Opportunities, a quantitative hedge fund that required a $3 billion cash infusion in 2007. The fund, which used mathematical models to trade securities, closed last month after its assets fell to $200 million from as much as $7.5…

• China’s banks are over-leveraged | A new ‘Meltdown’

  zyakaira

  24 Jan 2010 | 1:51 am

  Huffington Post broke us this one, Thanks James, Adrinana! Huff! Add someone in Hongkong who writes a default swap for them ( insurance, in case of default, maybe the local Nankiang units can diversify :) ) and you have another perfect crisis, for the Chinese to fund this time. And they’ve defaulted on quite a few contracts themselves! ( commodities, October 2009) Citi taught us to use Off Balance sheet financing Banks are moving loans off their balance sheets in order to dress up their accounts for worried regulators.Only this time it isnt Citigroup C or State Street SST thats…

• Bank results week: Wells Fargo profits from the weak

  zyakaira

  21 Jan 2010 | 10:25 am

  Wells Fargo used 2009 as a good time to review its national footprint and with Wachovia in its belt used the time to grow its retail presence and cement a leadership position that now threatens BofA directly Also a couple of tricks of the trade, kept it more profitable than most in its competitor set, using the now derogatoy ‘Proprietary Trading’ desks to hedge with mortgage securities MARKETWATCH.COM In investor-speak, that means Wells Fargo, which has 6,600 branches in 39 states, purchased investments that pay off when short-term rates fall–which is exactly the action…

• 
  The investment blog on Post

• The first market of India - Retail Financial Services and Banking

  6 Feb 2010 | 8:37 am

    The first market of India- Retail Financial Services and Banking   Random Tweets from a Saturday Saving Media http://ow.ly/14wL1 , Also IPL and Indian Financial Services Advertising..stretching the rupee into hinterland access Lady Kidwai taking TV Opp with Bloomberg as opportunity to push women's agenda.. duh! women in I banking. HSBC rdy for ABN ..will RBI oblige Even in India HSBC does need a leg up in tech when compared to Citi but its brand equity is much better than any other. http://ow.ly/14wIq HSBC Invest India looking like a distress sale…

• India's growth meme fires 2010 | Advantage Research

  3 Feb 2010 | 5:01 am

  ENERGY Kirit Parikh report released today, recommends freer market pricing and a longer term solution for the Indian Oil Energy majors. The implementation and adoption by Pranab’s government of course is dependent on political and economic convenience. The Oil Industry cannot support the burden of subsidies with the internal prices of Oil fluctuating in a wide band. Mr Parikh pegs losses at Rs 40000 Crs annually for the Oil companies. A Rs 6 increase in the price of Kerosene ( lower end derivative) is recommended. As losses on petrol are Rs 3 per liter, a price rise of Rs 4.70 per liter…

• NTPC Divestment - II | Advantage Infrastructure

  30 Jan 2010 | 2:36 am

  Roadshow update NTPC gets on the road for bidding (price INR 200- 220) ( WSJ>com, NTPC Secures Debt ) [ INR 100 billion = INR 10000 Crores ] [India's Current Total Power Capacity = 75 GW (Peak)] NTPC Ltd. has arranged 450 billion rupees ($9.74 billion) in loans to help raise its power generation capacity to 45 gigawatts by March 2017 from the current 30.6 gigawatts. The funds will be used to build new plants and to modernize existing ones, Chairman R.S. Sharma told Dow Jones Newswires late Friday. He didn’t specify exactly how much the expansion will cost in total, but he said that…

• The rich Mr Mallya

  24 Jan 2010 | 10:58 pm

  ..and india's aviation story When Kingfisher introduced TV entertainment in its never before Kingfisher Class in 2005, it created a buzz and some great innovation in the industry. The first pioneer to go for a full service airline after Jet had nearly monopolised the Private Sector Airlines esp after the Sahara deal, Kingfisher even found an ally in its now next door neighbour's Deccan, which has now become the staple LCC fare at the airline. The more than 30 awards, incl 6 Freddies as recently as 2008 mean that the Airline has been a pathbreaker and an iconic brand for India's global…

• Going Private, Going Public

  21 Jan 2010 | 12:38 pm

   Max grows healthcare, insurance  Goldman Sachs owns information rights only for 9.4% stakeMax India, the Delhi-based company with interests in healthcare, insurance and telecom, have secured another round of major funding from a private equity arm of Goldman Sachs. The company's board has approved a proposal to raise $115 million (about Rs 540 crore) by the global investment bank, according to a report in Business Standard, which quoted a stock exchange filing.The company will dilute 9.4% stake post money, valuing Max India at $1.2 billion (about…

• 
  OPEN Forum by American Express OPEN

• Take Steps to Minimize the Pain of Small Business Taxes

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:28 am

  From Denise O'Berry: As we turned the corner into the New Year, that meant the start of the clock for tax filing season. Small business owners complain a lot about taxes. But the issue is typically about all of the filing requirements – all the things you have to do that give you major heartburn. There are so many tax related activities required for small business that the IRS publishes a small business tax calendar every year. It’s a really useful tool that is normally released during the fourth quarter of the year. It’s out of stock now, but you can still view a handy…

• Put an End to Lost Marketing Opportunities

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:16 am

  From Mark Stevens: The marketing myth holds that it's better to do something, even if it produces mediocre results, than to do nothing at all. Nonsense. Engaging in marketing initiatives that don't produce a high return on investment waste your money and, equally important, keep the money from being invested in far more productive uses. This raises an important but often overlooked point: The highest costs any business faces are not those traditionally accounted for--labor, materials, rent, etc.--but opportunity. What the company fails to capitalize on takes the highest toll. How does this…

• 8 Financial Considerations of Ecommerce

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:00 pm

  From Gregory Go: Selling products online uses the same basic principles and strategies as offline (or "brick & mortar") retailing. Provide a good product, at a reasonable price, with some exceptional customer service. Buy low, sell high. Repeat and profit. Online retailing involves the same principles, but the tactics and mechanics are different. Here's a look at 8 facets of ecommerce that will affect your retail business' finances and processes. 1. Lower prices When you’re the only widget seller within 10 miles, you can charge list prices. When you’re competing online in a…

• How to Avoid Gullibility

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:34 pm

  From Guy Kawasaki: Who among us have not fallen for a stupid idea, pitch, or proposal? At some level, we’re all gullible where “gullibility” is defined as “an unusual tendency toward being duped or taken advantage of.” Fortunately, Stephen Greenspan has written a book called Annals of Gullibility: Why We Get Duped and How to Avoid It. In the conclusion of his book, Greenspan explains how to become less gullible: Don’t rush big decisions. When we make big decisions in a rush or when we are exhausted, they tend to be bad ones. We have to decide few things…

• What Super Bowl Advertising Can Teach Your Small Business

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:48 pm

  From Rohit Bhargava: How many of you reading this article have an extra $2.6 million lying around to spend on a single TV ad? That was the price tag this year to place a 30 second spot during the Super Bowl on CBS. To a small business owner, several words probably come to mind when thinking about those brands that did spend this kind of money on a single ad. Irresponsible comes to mind. Wasteful is likely somewhere in there too. Certainly a word that probably doesn't come to mind at all is strategic. After all, it's tough to imagine a talking baby or a house made out of beer cans having any…

• 
  Wall Street Journal

• Google Adds 'Buzz' to Gmail

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:35 am

  Google unveiled a new Buzz service that brings social updates such as photos and links that a user's friends have shared into Gmail and some Google mobile products.

• Stocks Gain on Hopes for Greece

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:22 am

  Hopes for a financial rescue of Greece sent U.S. stocks soaring, putting the market on track for its best gain in three months.

• EU Summit to Focus on Greek Triage

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:14 am

  An EU summit originally called to ponder the long-term path of the bloc's economy is instead becoming a crisis-management session for Greece, the euro zone's weakest member.

• FSA Chief Sants to Step Down

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:14 am

  Hector Sants submitted his resignation as chief executive of the Financial Services Authority, the U.K. financial regulator that he led through the credit crisis but which faces an uncertain political future.

• UBS Swings Back to Profit

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:41 am

  UBS reported its first quarterly profit in more than a year, but its private-banking business continued to hemorrhage wealthy clients spooked by assaults on Swiss bank secrecy.

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  NPR

• Obama Prods Congress To Unite On Job Creation

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:59 am

  The president met with House and Senate leaders to push for consensus on legislation that creates jobs, citing public frustration with the lack of progress on key issues. Afterward, the Senate's top Republican said GOP lawmakers could support some pieces of the jobs package.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• As Focus Shifts To Jobs, The Uninsured Seek Solutions

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:22 am

  The national debate over health care appears to be taking a back seat to jobs creation — but the problem persists for people who have jobs but no health insurance. A recently developed health alliance in New Orleans aims to be at least part of the solution to this problem.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• Can Toyota Recover Its Reputation For Quality?

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:20 am

  The Japanese automaker has stumbled badly in managing its current recall crisis. It's been accused of withholding information, changing its story and being less than aggressive in dealing with the various problems. Assuming the automaker can solve its problems, regaining public trust could take years.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• Mid-Atlantic Braces For More Of 'Snowmageddon'

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:30 am

  The second major snowstorm in less than a week was bearing down toward the region, where plows still hadn't touched some roads, utility workers were struggling to restore power, and shovels were in short supply. The storm could dump more than a foot of snow on top of the nearly 3 feet already on the ground in many areas.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• Deep Grief: Creating Meaning From Mourning

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:13 am

  After parents lose a child, they are caught in a tug-of-war between the grief they have and the gift they had. And, when possible, they redirect some of their grief into positive energy.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

• 
  NYT: Deal Book

• S.&P. Issues Negative Outlooks for BofA and Citi

  By DEALBOOK

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:53 am

  Standard & Poor's lowered its credit rating outlooks on Bank of America and Citigroup to negative from stable on Tuesday, saying the government appears less likely to provide a further bailout if either bank needs it in the future.

• Opel's Strategy Has Fewer Jobs and Less Capacity

  By DEALBOOK

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:39 am

  Adam Opel, the European unit of General Motors, announced an ambitious turnaround plan Tuesday, vowing to become profitable in 2012 by cutting capacity by 20 percent and reducing its work force by 8,300.

• For Private Equity, a Time for Wary Optimism

  By RHEA WESSEL

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:30 am

  It's time for "paranoid optimism" about the economy as the world maneuvers its way into a new balance of power, John Micklethwait, editor in chief of The Economist, argued at the Super Return 2010 conference on Tuesday.

• Super Return: Black Sees Better Days Ahead

  By RHEA WESSEL

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:22 am

  Leon D. Black, the head of Apollo Management, seemed relieved to exhale as Super Return 2010, the giant private equity conference, began in Berlin on Tuesday.

• Warren: Banks' Sabotage of Overhaul Will Hurt Them

  By DEALBOOK

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:13 am

  In a scathing editorial, Elizabeth Warren, a professor of law at Harvard and the chair of the TARP Congressional Oversight Panel, denounces in The Wall Street Journal the deception that has become routine in the practices of U.S. banks, and renews the call for a consumer protection agency.

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  WSJ: Real time economics

• Fed’s Dudley: Financial System In ‘Much Better’ Shape

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:40 am

  The U.S. financial system is in “much better shape,” although small and medium-sized financial institutions are under pressure, which will put a damper on credit availability in the U.S. economy, a top Federal Reserve official said Monday. “The capital markets are generally open for business–with the important exception of some securitization markets–and the major securities dealers that survived the crisis have seen a sharp recovery in profitability,” Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William Dudley said. But, “many smaller and medium-sized…

• Bernanke Hearing Canceled Over Weather

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:02 am

  Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s Wednesday appearance before a U.S. House panel has been postponed because of the ongoing weather issues in the nation’s capital. Bernanke The House Financial Services Committee said Tuesday it was canceling all of its hearings for the week. The panel was supposed to hear Wednesday from Bernanke on how the Fed planned to unwind the many liquidity programs put in place during the financial crisis. Bernanke is also expected to appear later this month to give his semiannual monetary policy report to Congress. The Fed plans to release…

• Secondary Sources: Consumer Agency, Euro Crisis, Climate Change

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:38 am

  A roundup of economic news from around the Web. Consumer Agency: Writing for the Journal, TARP watchdog Elizabeth Warren argues for creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency. “The consumer agency is a watchdog that would root out gimmicks and traps and slim down paperwork, giving families a fighting chance to hang on to some of their money. So far, Wall Street CEOs seem determined to stop any kind of watchdog. They seem to think that they can run their businesses forever without our trust. This is a bad calculation. It’s a bad calculation because shareholders suffer…

• Small-Business Owners Remain Pessimistic

  9 Feb 2010 | 4:32 am

  Small-business owners in the first month of the new year remained pessimistic about the economy, according to a report released Tuesday. The Small Business Optimism Index has now posted seven quarterly readings below the 90 mark as small business owners entered 2010 the same way they left 2009: still downbeat on the economy. The index, though, in January did post a small gain, of 1.3 points over December, rising to 89.3, reported the National Federation of Independent Business in a press release Tuesday. Seven of the index’s components posted gains and one remained unchanged. Two…

• Fed’s Bullard Advocates Selling Mortgage Securities Gradually in 2010

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:31 pm

  The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis said Monday the U.S. central bank should begin gradually selling its mortgage securities holdings later this year despite concerns from some investors the move would raise mortgage rates. James Bullard said in an interview the asset sales should happen before the Fed hikes short-term interest rates, a sequencing that is still being debated within the central bank. He also said the market was putting too high the odds that the Fed’s first rate hike will come in November. To be sure, the Fed has yet to complete the purchase of $1.25…

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  Neuromarketing

• Cookie Framing

  Roger Dooley

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:34 am

  Years ago, when The Tonight Show ruled late-night TV and when all the guests weren’t celebrities promoting their latest book, movie, or TV show, host Johnny Carson interviewed the Girl Scout who sold the most cookies that year. This young lady, Markita Andrews, set a cookie-sales record that has yet to be broken. [...] CommentsThe title of this post caught my eye immediately when it popped ... by Jon

• Post-Super Bowl Briefing

  Roger Dooley

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:36 am

  Very soon, we will be subjected to a variety of neuromarketing-based opinions on which Super Bowl 2010 ads worked, and which didn’t. While we are awaiting these analyses, I thought I’d point readers at a good article on one kind of neuromarketing study methodology by WIRED writer Alexis Madrigal. It’s accurate, largely devoid [...] CommentsHi Roger- Thanks for the post. You are correct that we are in ... by Ron Wright

• Neuromarketing Foes Use Subliminal Text?

  Roger Dooley

  2 Feb 2010 | 5:08 am

  Yesterday I wrote about the latest anti-neuromarketing flap in Guard Your Reptilian Brain! While researching that post, I found an interesting spinoff at another site, Progressives, South Bend. I initially couldn’t find the text “neuromarketing” on that page. When I searched the page text, I found what looked like a short horizontal [...] CommentsGreat catch Roger. As someone very famous once said : Judgment ... by christophe morinhahaha, and I even mentioned subliminals in my comment ... by Sculptor?!?Plus 2 more...

• Guard Your Reptilian Brain!

  Roger Dooley

  1 Feb 2010 | 4:28 am

  Every year or so, some fuzzy-thinking critic reads an article about neuromarketing, becomes extremely agitated, and tries to raise the alarm about marketers turning consumers into mind-controlled zombies. The latest push of the neuro-panic button began with an article on a site called Truthout (fresh out of truth, perhaps?). Truthout seems to be a [...] CommentsThe writers from Truthout are not fully aware that the ... by CindyLet's be fair. To those who don't understand something, it's ... by Brendon ClarkPlus 7 more...

• WIRED Throwing Biometric Super Bowl Party

  Roger Dooley

  29 Jan 2010 | 10:21 am

  Every year, there is a burst of neuromarketing-related activity coinciding with the Super Bowl. After all, that game features commercials that people actually watch, and the cost of airing each ad is the highest of any program throughout the entire year. One staple of Super Bowl Sunday is the party – millions will [...] Comments*reposted to my blog* Thanks Roger! by CindyI am a fan of neuroscience and marketing and am glad that there ... by CindyPlus 2 more...

• 
  The Bankwatch

• IBM and BBA look at banks; restoring loyalty and trust

  Colin Henderson

  7 Feb 2010 | 9:37 pm

  The British banking system has changed beyond all recognition.  It was not a difficult prediction that I concluded last year, but it has come to be sooner than even I thought. RESTORING LOYALTY, TRUST AND INDUSTRY PROFITABILITY | IBM / BBA Hand-in-hand with this increase in consolidation and government ownership, we have also seen a major new entrant arrive – Banco Santander now has over 1,300 branches through its acquisition of Abbey National, Alliance & Leicester and Bradford & Bingley – and non-banking groups flexing their muscles in the banking space. Tesco Bank has now…

• A social business definition from Clearlyso

  Colin Henderson

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:02 pm

  If there is a word that bothers me, it is the word ‘social’.  It is often quickly followed by the word community.  Over the last 5 years you are no-one unless you have a social aspect and a community.  Some have gone to great lengths in an effort to properly define social in a meaningful way.  However to this day, it remains hard to frame the context of social in a business way, and especially for existing businesses such as banks and financial institutions.  I certainly is not by having a PR managed twitter account.  I raise all this again after meeting…

• Global risks that affect everything for years to come

  Colin Henderson

  4 Feb 2010 | 6:18 pm

  McKinsey provided a list here of the latest risk assessments done by three groups.  I had the WEF one already, so its was interesting to review and compare the three. World Economic Forum Global Risks 2010 (In collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers Global Thought Leadership group) Economist Intelligence Unit’s latest global business risk assessment Eurasia Group, Top Risks and Red Herrings for 2010 Relevance to Bankwatch: This is a sobering list (see below for complete table of contents of all three.  The news today is full of: Greece, Portugal and Spain country risk problems…

• CIBC release first Canadian bank iphone app

  Colin Henderson

  2 Feb 2010 | 6:41 pm

  It was October 2009 when I posted ‘who will be the last bank without an iphone app’. For Canada I should have said who will be first, and its been a long time coming but it is CIBC.  After an initial delay in December, it is released today.  No bill payment yet, but it does have EMT (Canadian p2p payments between participating banks). Kudos to CIBC. Technorati Tags: cibc,iphone,app,app store Filed under: Canada

• Nicolas Sarkozy opening plenary | Davos WEF Annual meeting 2010

  Colin Henderson

  2 Feb 2010 | 6:21 pm

  I finally got around to watching the full Sarkozy opening to WEF.  It is both controversial and interesting.  He continues the theme that ‘anglo saxon’ financial models are the problem and makes some good points that are hard to disregard.  For example, he notes that it was too easy to earn large amounts of money based on ‘today’ with no regard for future implications, and with little effort. Worth watching.  There are more ways to see the world that the North American way. Technorati Tags: WEF,Davos,Sarkozy,World Economic Forum Filed under: Europe

• 
  NYT: World Business

• Opel’s Strategy Has Fewer Jobs and Less Capacity

  By JACK EWING

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:03 am

  Opel, G.M.’s European unit, says it plan to become profitable by 2012 by cutting its work force by 8,300 while introducing many new models.

• Toyota Details Hybrid Recall in Attempt to Contain Crisis

  By HIROKO TABUCHI

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:57 am

  The worldwide recall will affect about 437,000 hybrid vehicles, including the 2010 Prius, according to the company’s filing.

• New European Leadership Takes on Economic Hurdles

  By STEPHEN CASTLE

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:43 am

  The European Parliament voted a new European Commission into power, endorsing Jose Manuel Barroso for a second five-year term as its president.

• Expecting a Greek Bailout, Stocks Rise

  By JAVIER C. HERNANDEZ

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:16 am

  Stocks climbed on hopes that European officials would move to rescue Greece from its debt troubles.

• With Shake-Up, SAP Seeks Better Customer Relations

  By DAVID JOLLY

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:21 am

  The chairman of SAP, the German software company, said a decision to raise maintenance fees was wrong and acknowledged that he had been partly responsible for the move.

• 
  TARP Results Blog

• Former BofA CEO & CFO Charged With Fraud

  Matt

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:08 pm

• New Bank Taxes May Stifle Economic Growth

  Matt

  14 Jan 2010 | 9:21 am

• Bank CEOs Face Congressional Panel Again

  Matt

  13 Jan 2010 | 5:12 pm

  Today, a few of the big bank CEOs appeared before a panel authorized by Congress to study the financial crisis with the hope that the panel can provide guidance to putting new regulations in place to avoid another financial crisis in the future. We have three thoughts on this: 1) It is useful to have an entity review what occurred and provide some feedback to lawmakers.  It is not useful to have that entity be other politicos with their own axe to grind and an ego to have stroked publicly.  If Congress was really interested in something useful instead of a defacto perp walk, they…

• GMAC and Citi and Bowl Game Irony

  Matt

  6 Jan 2010 | 1:06 pm

  College football bowl season includes the GMAC Bowl to be played tonight pitting Central Michigan against Troy in Mobile AL.   Yesterday, GMAC announced a quarterly loss of $5 billion.  Not even ten days ago, taxpayers contributed another $3.5 billion to GMAC's capital to keep it afloat. Here is the irony.  Last year, GMAC sponsored a bowl game as well in which Tulsa defeated Ball State.   And last year and this year, Citibank was the presenting sponsor of the Rose Bowl.  In the fall of 2008, when banking institutions asked for and received large amounts of…

• GMAC Gets Another $3.8 Billion From Taxpayers

  Matt

  30 Dec 2009 | 10:06 pm

  A few months ago, we discussed that GMAC, already haven taken nearly $20 billion in guarantees and bailout funds was looking to get another $3 to $5 billion.  (You can read the post here.)   Yesterday, GMAC got it's $3.8 billion, but this time the US Government will boost its stake in the company to 56%, up from 35%.   In addition, the US Government will appoint two directors to the board, two more than originally anticipated.  It isn't clear how many total board members there will be, but seven sounds right to us.  Here is more from the NY Times. So first, we applaud the government…

• 
  trendsspotting blog

• Is Twitter “Losing” or “Gaining”? Recent Stats

  Taly Weiss

  26 Jan 2010 | 8:26 pm

  Recent analysis by RJMetrics pulled from Twitter’s API may suggest that Twitter is losing popularity: The average Twitter user has 27 followers, down from 42 followers in August 2009. Twitter is losing 20% from its July peak: The monthly rate of new user accounts is currently around 6.2 million new accounts per month (or 2-3 per second). A large percentage of Twitter accounts are inactive, with about 25% of accounts having no followers and about 40% of accounts having never sent a single Tweet. Only about 17% of registered Twitter accounts sent a Tweet in December 2009, an all-time-low.

• Summary: TrendsSpotting 2010 Influencers Series: Trend Predictions in 140 Characters

  Taly Weiss

  20 Jan 2010 | 2:41 pm

  TrendsSpotting Market Research has completed the release of the “2010 Influencers Series: Trend predictions in 140 characters”. We have followed major trends in six of the most promising categories to dominate the web this year: Social media | Consumer Trends | Tech and IT | Online Marketing | Video | Mobile. In this series we featured the predictions of digital and marketing experts on the big changes awaiting us. By adopting the “tweet style” format (limited to 140 characters), we were able to provide our readers with a more focused image of the predicted trends. Many of…

• 2010 Mobile Influencers: Trend Predictions in 140 characters (6th report)

  Taly Weiss

  18 Jan 2010 | 12:20 am

  “2010 Mobile Influencers” is the sixth and last report from the series “2010 Influencers Series: Trend Predictions in 140 Characters“. Findings: Major trends in 2010 Mobile: Across many of these predictions, we have identified the following trends suggested to influence Mobile in 2010: # Payment      # Commerce      #Metrics # Advertising:  networks,  SMS, display, search, premium # Smartphones: Apple, Apps, iPhone, Google, Android # GPS      # Location      # Augmented Reality # Gaming      # Music      # Video 2010 Mobile Influencers: Trend Predictions in…

• 2010 Video Influencers: Trend Predictions in 140 characters (5th report)

  Taly Weiss

  8 Jan 2010 | 2:39 am

  “2010 Video Influencers” is the fifth report from the series “2010 Influencers Series: Trend Predictions in 140 Characters“. Findings: Major trends in 2010 Online Video: Across many of these predictions, we have identified the following trends suggested to influence Online Video in 2010: # TV Everywhere      #live      #mainstream      #search #data      #direct      #mobile      #standards #advertising      #30- second #YouTube      #Hulu      #boxee 2010 Video Influencers: Trend Predictions in 140 characters, by TrendsSpotting View more slides from…

• 2010 Online Marketing Influencers: Trend Predictions in 140 characters (4th report)

  Taly Weiss

  5 Jan 2010 | 8:34 am

  “2010 Online Marketing Influencers” is the fourth report from the series “2010 Influencers Series: Trend Predictions in 140 Characters“. Findings: Major trends in 2010 Online Marketing: Across many of these predictions, we have identified the following trends suggested to influence Online Marketing in 2010: #social media #games #e-mail #real time #direct response #measurement #mobile #geo-location #video #niche 2010 Online Marketing Influencers: Trend Predictions in 140 characters by Trendsspotting View more slides from TrendsSpotting. TrendsSpotting Market Research is now running its…

• 
  NYT: Front Page

• Expecting a Greek Bailout, Stocks Rise

  By JAVIER C. HERNANDEZ

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:28 am

  Stocks climbed on hopes that European officials would move to rescue Greece from its debt troubles.

• Obama Urges Setting Aside 'Petty Politics'

  By JEFF ZELENY and HELENE COOPER

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:22 am

  The president stopped into the White House briefing room to talk about his meetings with leaders of both parties.

• In Move to Contain Crisis, Toyota Details Hybrid Recall

  By HIROKO TABUCHI

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:19 am

  The worldwide recall will affect about 437,000 hybrid vehicles, including the 2010 Prius, according to the company’s filing.

• Iran Unleashes Wave of Arrests of Dissidents, Analysts Say

  By MICHAEL SLACKMAN

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:19 am

  Iranian security officials were believed to have arrested as many as 1,000 people in the past two months, a rights group said.

• Iran Is Said to Begin Nuclear Enrichment

  By ALAN COWELL and THOM SHANKER

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:15 am

  Brushing aside international threats of stricter sanctions, Iran reportedly began enriching its uranium on Tuesday.

• 
  NYT: Business

• Opel’s Strategy Has Fewer Jobs and Less Capacity

  By JACK EWING

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:03 am

  Opel, G.M.’s European unit, says it plan to become profitable by 2012 by cutting its work force by 8,300 while introducing many new models.

• Findings: Will You Be E-Mailing This Column? It’s Awesome

  By JOHN TIERNEY

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am

  A University of Pennsylvania study found that readers of news in print and online had more exalted tastes than might be expected.

• Overseas Sales Gave McDonald’s a Lift in January

  By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:58 am

  Sales for the restaurant chain rose 2.6 percent in the month but dropped slightly in the United States.

• Toyota Details Hybrid Recall in Attempt to Contain Crisis

  By HIROKO TABUCHI

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:57 am

  The worldwide recall will affect about 437,000 hybrid vehicles, including the 2010 Prius, according to the company’s filing.

• Businesses Reduced Inventories in December

  By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:57 am

  Wholesale inventories declined 0.8 percent in December; economists had expected an increase of 0.5 percent.

• 
  NYT: Most E-Mailed

• Findings: Will You Be E-Mailing This Column? It’s Awesome

  By JOHN TIERNEY

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am

  A University of Pennsylvania study found that readers of news in print and online had more exalted tastes than might be expected.

• Sinatra Song Often Strikes Deadly Chord

  By NORIMITSU ONISHI

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:50 am

  The murders of people warbling “My Way” in karaoke bars have spawned urban legends about the song and left Filipinos groping for answers.

• In City Real Estate, Old Clans Are Shrewd Again

  By CHARLES V. BAGLI

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:30 am

  Some families with deep roots in Manhattan kept their heads a few years ago when the market overheated.

• Skeptics Find Fault With U.N. Climate Panel

  By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:56 am

  Rajendra K. Pachauri and the U.N. panel he leads face accusations of scientific sloppiness and conflicts of interest.

• Op-Ed Contributor: Iran’s Two-Edged Bomb

  By ADAM B. LOWTHER

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:54 am

  Believe it or not, there are some potential benefits to the United States should Iran build a bomb.

• 
  NYT: Media & Advertising

• Findings: Will You Be E-Mailing This Column? It’s Awesome

  By JOHN TIERNEY

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am

  A University of Pennsylvania study found that readers of news in print and online had more exalted tastes than might be expected.

• Publishers Win a Bout in E-Book Price Fight

  By MOTOKO RICH

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:15 am

  Publishers have managed to take some control — at least temporarily — of how much consumers pay for their content.

• Advertising: Do-It-Yourself Super Ads

  By STUART ELLIOTT

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:36 am

  Some of the most-talked-about ads during the Super Bowl broadcast were those created or suggested by consumers, not advertising agencies.

• N.C.A.A. Fails to Stop Licensing Lawsuit

  By PETE THAMEL

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:08 pm

  A district court judge denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit headed by Ed O’Bannon and arguing that athletes should be compensated when their images are used.

• Newsstand Sales and Circulation Fall for Magazines

  By STEPHANIE CLIFFORD

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:07 pm

  Newsstand sales of magazines plummeted in the last half of 2009, helping to send total circulation lower.

• 
  NYT: Thomas L. Friedman

• Postcard From Yemen

  6 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm

  Sana is not Kabul, and Yemen is not Afghanistan not yet. Yemenis have the resources to save themselves, but they need to be mobilized by better governance.

• When Economics Meets Politics

  2 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm

  The world needs 2010 to be a quiet year, but that will require our global problems to be defused with win-win compromises rather than win-lose confrontations.

• Never Heard That Before

  30 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pm

  The two parties must work together to remove the pall of uncertainty the international community is feeling about our country’s political stability.

• Adults Only, Please

  26 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pm

  Are we home alone? If our elites do not behave with a greater sense of the common good, we could find our economy doing a double dip with a back flip.

• More (Steve) Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

  23 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pm

  We need to start an Innovation Movement to create good jobs by spawning more Steve Jobs entrepreneurs who will invent new products and services.

• 
  NYT: Gretchen Morgenson

• This Crisis Won’t Stop Moving

  6 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm

  Investors should prepare for more market gyrations as painful deleveraging continues around the globe.

• Testy Conflict With Goldman Helped Push A.I.G. to Edge

  6 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm

  The bank’s demands for billions of dollars from the insurer bled it of cash, which the government later provided.

• All Those Little Stuyvesant Towns

  30 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pm

  When credit was easy, many companies borrowed heavily to buy apartments in Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx. Now some of these deals may be in trouble.

• Two at Fed Had Doubts Over Payout by A.I.G.

  26 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pm

  After rescuing the American International Group with a loan, federal officials rejected forcing trading partners to return $30 billion they had received from A.I.G.

• Resetting the Moral Compass

  23 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pm

  President Obama’s plan wouldn’t prevent every bad bet on Wall Street, but it would remind banks of whose money they are gambling.

• 
  Chris Brogan

• Earn Your GED- Find Success Tomorrow

  chrisbrogan

  9 Feb 2010 | 1:30 am

  No, not your General Equivalent Degree. The GED to which I refer is “guest experience design.” What the heck am I talking about? I’ll tell you. Old words: customer service. New words: guest experience. Disney, where I am this week, has a concept called a Moment of Truth. A moment of truth is “any time a guest comes into contact with any aspect of a business, however remote, is an opportunity to form an impression.” Note that it’s “an impression.” It can be good; it can be bad. Why “guest?” Because guest is much more hospitable than…

• Pursue the Goal Not the Method

  chrisbrogan

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:30 am

  In the back of a town car hired to take me to the Kansas City International airport, talking to Jeff, a driver with two kids, self-proclaimed ADD, and a history of quitting rote sales jobs every few months, I realized something of importance to the story of what’s brought me to this place: I am a seeker of the goal, not the method. Now, to unpack. The Method Is What We’re Taught to Pursue We learn our times tables. We learn the 50 states (in the US, at least). We are taught all these rules, these patterns, these systems, these methods. Musicians learn their scales. Painters copy…

• Your Blog From the Prospect’s Point of View

  chrisbrogan

  7 Feb 2010 | 7:34 am

  When you use your blog to complain or report sideways about the industry at large, what message is that sending to your potential new clients? If you’re spending your time analyzing what other people in your space are doing, citing why they’re wrong, and providing your commentary about all the things they’re doing, what does your next potential customer come away thinking? Is your negative commentary helping them make a buying decision? I’ve rarely seen the tactic work in traditional advertising. You can graze them a little bit. For instance, I’m a bit fond of…

• Just Lucky I Guess – Kitchen Table Talks

  chrisbrogan

  6 Feb 2010 | 1:46 pm

  In this Kitchen Table Talks video, I just want to address all the nice folks who call me lucky, or who think I’m just sitting around being handed my lot in life. Can’t see the video? Click here. Direct link to the video “Lucky” is absolutely what I am. Here’s what I do to earn my luck: Write a blog post or two a day. Write a newsletter every week. Comment and connect with others daily. Answer and send hundreds of emails daily. Read voraciously. Work with the best clients I can find. Reach into new markets weekly. Travel extensively. Seems lucky to me. People…

• Some Of The Third Tribe Conversations

  chrisbrogan

  6 Feb 2010 | 1:02 pm

  I’m really enjoying participating in the forums at the Third Tribe site. I was just adding my two cents to a handful of forum postings, and thought that I’d show you what some of the topics we’re talking about are, so you’d have a sense of what’s going on. We don’t really share the contents, because the people participating there like having the chance to speak openly/candidly about their marketing challenges, but I don’t see the harm in sharing a few of the topic titles. Here they are: Favorite copywriting and marketing books? Third Tribe Blogroll? 2…

• 
  NowSourcing

• 10 Reasons People Aren’t Commenting on Your Blog

  Brian Wallace

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:18 am

  If you read my blog, there is a good chance that you have a blog yourself, or that you’ll have one someday soon.  As you know, blogging is a lot more work than you might initially think.  One of these factors is the amount of time spent on commenting: approving comments, responding to comments, and commenting on other blogs.  What if they aren’t commenting on your blog, though? Here are some reasons that might shed some light on the subject: (credit) 1 – You’re boring. Ok, maybe boring is a strong word, but if you are just putting something very general, late (we…

• Social Media Responsa to the Great ROI Debate

  Brian Wallace

  29 Jan 2010 | 10:17 am

  If you’ve ever spoken to me personally, you probably know by now that I’m not a big fan of ROI. (My response to Samir’s post may give you a bit more insight on some of my ROI thoughts.) In general, I feel that ROI can be manipulated to include / exclude the projects that people want to move forward with. Issues in ROI did not start in the realm of social media – egregious hourly rates used in ABC costing and cost avoidance phantoms have plagued many. (Credit) It’s fine to track the path to sale of social media users on your website. And that may get you a pretty…

• Twitter Reality Check: How Many Followers Should You Really Have by Now?

  Brian Wallace

  19 Jan 2010 | 2:40 pm

  I’ve been on Twitter since 2007, and I’m approaching 5,000 followers. Maybe I don’t tweet enough. When I look at some of the folks on Twitter these days, I find it incredible that some of them have 50,000, 500,000, or even over a million followers. If you aren’t famous in your own right, why are all these people following you? The typical answer: because you are following all of them back. Luckily, the ways of Twitter are finally starting to wise-up — people are becoming more interested in effectiveness, as we see the use of influence-measurement tools (ie Klout,…

• New Media Goes Old School

  Don

  18 Jan 2010 | 6:12 am

  If you haven’t heard me say it before, let me say it now: Although PPC is cutting edge marketing that is quickly becoming more and more mainstream, its roots lie in one of the oldest forms of marketing: direct marketing.  We know this through credit card offers, infomercials, and any other piece of marketing material that passes before you and asks you to “order today”, “apply online”, “operators are standing by, so call now”. There is a reason why Billy Mays always told you to call now.  There is a reason why credit card offers tell you to apply…

• Google Sitelinks for Ads

  Don

  15 Jan 2010 | 6:48 am

  You have probably seen them numerous times while doing searches: The little sub-links below the main link on Google SERPs.  Those are called SiteLinks, and now Google has a beta in place that lets you include SiteLinks in your ads that reach top position.  Here’s how it works: In the campaign settings you need to turn on the option of allowing SiteLinks.  A little drop down box will appear that allows you to enter text and destination URLs for several text links. Once active, any keyword that qualifies for top positioning on a regular basis will begin displaying the SiteLinks.  A…

• 
  The Game Ranch

• It's been Ages

  susan@rozmiarek.info

  22 Jan 2010 | 5:42 pm

  Soccer practice started this week and it was my turn to take Kevin, so I missed our weekly gaming group. However, last week I was able to go and miraculously got to play an "older" game - Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery, while the hardcore Cult of the New members (I used to be one) struggled through some new game called Carson City at the other table. AoE III shares the honor of being my favorite worker placement game along with Pillars of the Earth. With both games, I feel the theme as I play, and both have just the right amount of luck to still allow me to pursue a strategy while…

• A New Year (thank goodness)

  susan@rozmiarek.info

  16 Jan 2010 | 1:53 pm

  Well, I can't let Ed take over this blog completely with his Descent reports, so I better get with it and post something. My blogging dropped off significantly this past year. Frankly, it's been a pretty bad year, both personally and for gaming. Ed, the primary breadwinner of our household, spent almost the whole year unemployed. Not only did this take a huge bite out of our game buying budget, but it also meant that we weren't able to attend the gaming conventions that we normally do. We also spent much of the year unable to attend our regular gaming nights due to our son's soccer practice…

• Descent Campaign 2 - Session 5

  susan@rozmiarek.info

  15 Jan 2010 | 10:40 am

  So, way back in the Dark Ages of 2009, I was reporting the progress of our second Descent: Road to Legend campaign. I seem to have "forgotten" to update the blog with our progress. Yeah, that seems like a good excuse. Anyway, I have actually posted the session reports over in the Road to Legend forums on BoardgameGeek, but if you don't follow those, you may not have seen them. You may be wondering about the adventures of our heroes, Nanok of the Blade, Landrec the Wise, Verikas the Dead and Grey Ker, as they struggle to stop the evil Sorcerer King from blotting out the sun and bringing on the…

• Witch of Salem review

  susan@rozmiarek.info

  22 Oct 2009 | 9:43 am

  Witch of Salem is a cooperative game for 2 - 4 players that is based on stories by Wolfgang Hohlbein set in the world of H.P. Lovecraft's mythos. The designer is Michael Rieneck and it is published in an English edition by Mayfair Games. Players are helping Robert Craven, the powerful Witch of Salem, close the portals located around the city of Arkham and to banish the Great Old One imprisoned in the underwater city of R'lyeh. Opposing them are the evil magician Necron and hordes of evil creatures. The Goal The players win the game if they manage to close all the portals and banish the Great…

• Roll Through the Ages and more Tales

  susan@rozmiarek.info

  20 Aug 2009 | 2:14 pm

  Well, we didn't get to go to game night this past week. Ed had to take our eldest to soccer practice and I got to go...grocery shopping. Yay. This full-time job gig is taking some getting used to. Oh Free Time, how I miss thee! Last week, though, I got to play Tales of Arabian Nights again. Once again, I really enjoyed it. This time, I fared miserably. In fact, my first character died after finding a door hidden in the sands. Upon descending, she found a woman imprisoned below and tried to save her. An e'freet (sp?) jumped out of hiding and tore me from limb to limb. Not exactly a pleasant…

• 
  Board Game Beast

• Feb 9, Valerie Porter Scarlet Scandal

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:26 pm

  Want to get Valerie Porter: Scarlet Scandal FREE and LEGAL to keep forever? Download the FULL game when you open a trial Fun Tickets account! Yours to

• Feb 8, Kung Fu Fighting game

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:24 pm

  Game: Kung Fu Fighting Game manufacturer: SlugFest Games Number of players: 2-6Quick verdict Kung Fu Fighting is fairly easy to pick up, more strategic

• Feb 8, Create A Mall

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:57 am

  Want to get Create A Mall FREE and LEGAL to keep forever? Download the FULL game when you open a trial Fun Tickets account! Yours to keep even if you cancel.

• Feb 7, Pageant Princess

  7 Feb 2010 | 7:10 am

  Want to get Pageant Princess FREE and LEGAL to keep forever? Click here, open a FREE trial Fun Tickets account and it's YOURS! Click for more info.***gamehousevideo.shtml***Game:

• Feb 7, Hotel Dash

  7 Feb 2010 | 6:47 am

  Want to get Hotel Dash FREE and LEGAL to keep forever? Download the FULL game when you open a trial Fun Tickets account! Yours to keep even if you cancel.

• 
  Investment Banking News

• James named Regal Financial CEO

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:06 am

  Randy James has been named to replace Jesse Tam as permanent CEO of Regal Financial Bank.

• S&P revises BofA, Citi’s outlook to negative

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:55 am

  Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service said Tuesday that it downgraded its outlook on Bank of America and Citigroup to negative from stable. (BAC) (C)

• Venture capital investments in clean tech fell by half in 2009

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:28 am

  Venture capital investment in clean-tech businesses fell by 45 percent between the third and fourth quarters and by half in 2009, according to an Ernst & Young LLP report. (DOW)

• S&P revises BofA outlook to negative

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:12 am

  Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on Bank of America Corp. to negative from stable. (BAC) (STI)

• SolarWinds' earnings climb

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:11 am

  Software maker SolarWinds Inc. reported $6.5 million income on $32.9 million revenues during the fourth quarter 2009 compared with $5.6 million income on $24.8 million during the same three-month period in 2008. (SWI)

• 
  U.S. News - Money & Business

• University Students in Nevada Plan Walkout to Protest Budget Cuts

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:39 am

  Facing $881 million deficit, Nevada considers major cuts in higher education.

• Seized Hiker Josh Fattal Is No CIA Agent

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:36 am

  A close friend of the hiker says his pal is no spy.

• David Souter to Speak at Harvard Commencement

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:41 am

  Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter will deliver an address to Harvard grads in May.

• National Enquirer Pushes for Edwards Affair Pulitzer

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:14 am

  A mainstream media bias may prevent the tabloid from winning.

• Health Buzz: Autism Risk Rises With Maternal Age

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:10 am

  The silicon content in beer; is it safe to get Pap smears less often?

• 
  Inside Facebook

• Mobile First Moves into Virtual Goods Payments

  Eric Eldon

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:39 am

  Seven year-old Mobile First is the latest payments company to enter the social gaming market. It is launching a mobile payments service today that competes directly against a range of other mobile payment providers, including Boku and Zong. Like its rivals, the company is letting developers install a simple widget that lets users can choose a set amount of virtual currency to purchase with their cell phone. Users provide their cell, number, Mobile First sends a text message to their phone containing a confirmation PIN number, then users enter that number in the widget to complete the…

• Celebrities, Politicos, the Super Bowl and The Bible in This Week’s Top 20 Facebook Pages

  Sara Inés Calderón

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:24 am

  The predictable mix of celebrities, movies and politicos — and The Bible — round out this week’s list of Top 20 Facebook Pages. This week’s list, from February 1 to 8, shows influences from the Grammys and the Super Bowl, as well as the presidential election in the Philippines. Top Gainers This Week Name Fans Gain Gain, % 1. Texas Hold’em Poker 10,315,265 +1,141,668 +12.45 2. Mafia Wars 8,188,138 +1,014,916 +14.15 3. Lost 1,702,202 +490,041 +40.43 4. Pepsi – Refresh Everything 503,509 +203,129 +67.62 5. Official Avatar Movie 1,330,237 +102,784 +8.37 6. Barack Obama…

• Dove Tackles Men’s Cosmetic Market With Facebook Campaign, Super Bowl Commercial

  Matt Holliday

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:59 am

  Health and beauty product manufacturer Dove is taking aim at the male market, with a marketing campaign that is combining the brand’s Facebook presence with a variety of other media. Dove has been pushing the “Men+Care” line for a while on its Facebook page, but recently took a huge step towards speaking to male consumers in a more direct manner with a commercial that aired during the Super Bowl. Dove has almost 113,000 fans of its Facebook page, most of whom are women. The company has been pushing its men’s line of products for a while through wall posts and some…

• Black History Month Makes a Minor Appearance on Facebook

  Sara Inés Calderón

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:14 pm

  February is African American/Black History Month in the U.S. and is commonly celebrated in many different institutions here that remember the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans to this country. A look at how celebrations of Black History Month have translated to Facebook shows that such holidays don’t really have the cache to make it big on the social network, versus other holidays such as Christmas or Valentine’s Day.  This may be attributable to how popular the celebration is overall, or a lag between migrating content from web sites to Facebook, as Black History…

• Facebook Provides Users With App Dashboard Privacy Controls

  Karl Bunyan

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:01 pm

  One of the more interesting features within the new Facebook dashboards is the ability to see which applications and games the people in your friend list have been using. Although this is a great way to discover new apps, there were privacy concerns around having so much information visible to friends automatically. Facebook took the first step to address this last week with the introduction of a privacy control at the developer level. Now, application developers can decide whether their app or game will appear in a user’s friends dashboards or not. This is useful for application types that…

• 
  The Economist

• With friends like Hank

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:24 am

  Hank Paulson's book revives worries about GEIT IS supposed to be a cosy chat between friends, but the onstage conversation scheduled for February 18th between Hank Paulson and Jeffrey Immelt could turn into a fight to preserve the reputation of at least one of these corporate titans. Until a few days ago this event, to be held at a cultural centre in New York, looked like a classic example of the old pals’ act—Mr Paulson, a former treasury secretary and boss of Goldman Sachs, having insisted on being interviewed about his new book by his friend, Mr Immelt, the boss of General…

• Arrest the opposition

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:49 am

  Sri Lanka’s president cracks down on opponents once moreNOT content with trouncing his main opponent, General Sarath Fonseka, in Sri Lanka’s presidential election last month, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has had him arrested. General Fonseka was nabbed—brutishly, by over 100 soldiers, according to his supporters—on Monday February 8th. Officials say he will be charged in a court martial with conspiring to topple the government.He was accused shortly after he lost an acrimonious election on January 26th of plotting to assassinate Mr Rajapaksa and seize power. That…

• Armchair supporters

  9 Feb 2010 | 2:23 am

  Is the Super Bowl the most popular sports event in the world?THIS year's Super Bowl XLIV set a record for the largest ever American television audience, with 106.5m football fans tuning in to see the New Orleans Saints triumph over the Indianapolis Colts. Globally around 121m viewers are estimated to have watched the game, 15m more than the year before, according to Futures Sport + Entertainment, a media consultancy that tracks audience data in 55 countries. In 2009, according to their data, only the Champions League football final in Europe attracted a larger audience. Other events (and…

• It's not stopping...

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:36 am

  More recalls deliver further blows to Toyota’s battered reputationANNOUNCING the latest recall of Toyota vehicles, Akio Toyoda, the company's chief executive, invoked the principle of genchi genbutsu, an integral part of the car company’s production system. It urges managers to experience problems for themselves rather than relying on reports and then attempting a fix one or two steps removed. On Tuesday February 9th Toyota said that it would recall over 400,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to address problems with their brakes. Later Mr Toyoda promised that he will…

• Conflict conservation

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:27 am

  Biodiversity down the barrel of a gunTHERE was a time when conservation meant keeping people away from nature. America’s system of national parks, a model for similar set-ups around the world, was based on the idea of limiting human presence to passing visits, rather than permanent habitation. In recent years this way of doing things has come under suspicion. To fence off large areas of parkland is often impractical and can also be immoral—in that it leads to local people being booted out. These days, the consensus among conservationists is to try to manage nature with humans in…

• 
  Washington Post

• Lindsay Vonn is top U.S. hopeful

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:25 am

  25-year-old skier is widely expected to become the most decorated American ever in alpine skiing.

• House GOP may skip summit

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am

  44 | Leading House Republicans raise prospect unless existing reform bills are scrapped.

• Haiti relief efforts falling short

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am

  Despite the world community's best intentions, coming weeks to test contributors, Haitian leaders.

• Toyota recalls hybrids worldwide

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:41 am

  Toyota will fix brake problems in more than 400,000 Prius and other hybrid cars worldwide.

• 
  SEO, Marketing Blog

• SEO : "The Man Behind the Curtain"

  seanhecking

  5 Feb 2010 | 12:50 pm

  This week's SEOmoz whiteboard Friday talks about hiring a consultant for your SEO. One of the frustrations with buyers is the lack of transparency in strategy and tactics. This week's whiteboard Friday does a great job of explaining what to look for when you are shopping around for search engine optimization services.While it's not wise for SEOs to give everything away before winning a contract, I feel consultants and firms should be more transparent in their approach. How is a buyer able to truly compare firms and services if they do not know the tactics involved or what's being measured.

• 5 Common Sense SEO Tips

  seanhecking

  26 Jan 2010 | 9:29 am

  When most folks start learning about SEO they are sometimes overwhelmed by the amount of information on best practices, tips, tricks and techniques out there on the web. They read everything they can get their hands on, from SEO copy writing to one way link building. Over time the picture becomes more clear and things start to make sense. What most SEO articles and resources fail to mention is that A LOT of SEO is common sense.Below are 5 common sense tips for SEO:Why would you name your website "ABCcorp.com" if you sell widgets? Why not buy a domain name "ABCWidgets.com" that includes one of…

• Traffic and SEO

  seanhecking

  3 Dec 2009 | 9:14 am

  When performing SEO or hiring a consultant, most online business owners are concerned with improving their rankings for specific keywords. If they don't know what keywords to target, they look to an SEO consultant to help them find the right mix of keywords to begin targeting for optimization. The hope is that improving rankings for the right keywords will result in increased traffic to specific areas of their website. Increases in website traffic means more potential sales.Since much of the success of a website is measured on traffic and conversions, are we too focused on keyword rankings…

• Paid Links and False ROI

  seanhecking

  16 Nov 2009 | 5:41 pm

  Found some interesting slides from SEOmoz that detail the pitfalls of buying links to improve your search engine rankings. The slides below suggest that buying links is a "quick fix" or instant gratification that can come back to haunt your site in time. It also recommends other tactics that will help you build your brand and gain natural links through SEO best practices. One of the most interesting charts is on slide #34, the cost of paid links over time. The graphic below suggests natural links offer the best ROI of any link building tactic. Paid links will continue to cost the site owner…

• Where did my PageRank Go?!

  seanhecking

  7 Nov 2009 | 8:27 am

  This week I stumbled upon an interesting forum thread on Google Webmaster Central. It appears that Google Webmaster Tools has removed the PageRank metric from their site reports. In the post, a Google employee provides details on why PageRank was removed from the tool:We've been telling people for a long time that they shouldn't focus on PageRank so much; many site owners seem to think it's the most important metric for them to track, which is simply not true. We removed it because we felt it was silly to tell people not to think about it, but then to show them the data, implying that they…

• 
  Guy Kawasaki

• How to Avoid Gullibility

  GuyKawasaki

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:45 pm

  We’ve all been sucked into doing something stupid, right? Fortunately, Steven Greenspan has written a book called Annals of Gullibility. In its conclusion he explains how to avoid gullibility, and I’ve provided a synopsis for you. Read the full story at the American Express Open Forum. More on psychology if you need the advice.

• How to Be Empathetic

  GuyKawasaki

  4 Feb 2010 | 10:24 pm

  By definition, good marketers are empathetic. That is, they have a capacity to understand and care for the needs of others. Bruna Martinuzzi explains how to be empathetic over at the American Express Open Forum.

• How to Not Be Annoying on Twitter

  GuyKawasaki

  4 Feb 2010 | 10:19 pm

  Amber MacArthur explains how to not be annoying on Twitter over at the American Express Open Forum. Sage advice for you to develop a great reputation and following on Twitter. More Twitter tips.

• The Elements of Guyle: British Blogging

  GuyKawasaki

  27 Jan 2010 | 10:06 pm

  Want to make your blog classier? You should blog like a Brit. I explain how to do this in ten easy steps.

• How to follow the Apple announcement

  GuyKawasaki

  27 Jan 2010 | 7:56 am

  Follow the Apple announcement at Apple.alltop. We aggregate over 200 sources there.