LooseSuits Clips

Restaurant tipping law to change

Tyme — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:56:52

Employers are to be banned from using tips and service charges to "top up" staff pay to meet the minimum wage, under government plans.

Time Warner steps closer to AOL split

Tyme — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:44:46

Time Warner has taken a step closer to splitting up AOL's business, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Time Warner is expected to announce Wednesday that it has completed the internal process of separating AOL's dial-up Internet access business from its advertising business, the newspaper said.

12 proven ways to get your post to the top of digg

Tyme — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:27:43

One difference between creating something you believe in and creating something that's popular is that popularity seekers follow established steps. Do this, do that, do the other thing... lots of traffic. Do this, do that, do the other thing, a quick boost in Google. DT, DT DTOT and get a standing ovation...

The problem with this, that and the other thing is that you end up with a career filled with it. Instead of creating long-lasting art, ideas that matter and things that spread organically, you end up with a bunch of calculated mini-hits.

Apple Makes People iGroan with Cash Only Policy on iPhone 3G

Tyme — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:30:02

Boy was my brother mad. He waited in line at the AT&T store for hours to buy the new iPhone 3G only to discover two maddening things.

1. AT&T didn't actually have any of the phones in stock. It turns out he was waiting merely for the privilege of ordering one that would arrive more than a week later--the sort of thing he could have easily done at home via the Internet while sipping an ice tea.

2. They wouldn't accept cash. What?! Right, hard, cold, American green backs, that are "legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues" aren't worth squat if you're trying to buy an iPhone. And, of course, cash was all he brought.

Google Deliberately Sells Fewer Ads — and May Have Gone Too Far

Tyme — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:07:22

Even though its second-quarter results disappointed Wall Street, Google insisted it is doing well. Part of the reason for the decline: Google is deliberately reducing the percentage of search pages with ads.

25 Visionaries Who Created Empires From Virtually Nothing

Scrivs — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:26:39

Some of the greatest fortunes and empires in history were created by people who started with nothing. Today, we celebrate 25 of these iconic figures - businessmen, technology entrepreneurs, even celebrities and athletes - by recalling the tales of their rise to glory. Don’t feel bad if your favorites aren’t on the list, this is just a glimpse of the many visionaries we’ve seen throughout history and there are countless others who also deserve attention. While each of them took a slightly different path to financial greatness, virtually all of them started from very humble beginnings

Economy Down, PC Sales Up

Tyme — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:54:46

The worldwide economy may be faltering, but PC sales are in growth mode, according to numbers released Tuesday by Gartner and IDC, two information technology research firms. Revenues are not.

The Real Issue About Steve Job's Health

Tyme — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:10:32

The concerns around his health have centered on two things: His thin appearance at the Worldwide Developer’s Conference, and published reports in Fortune that in late 2003 after he first learned he had cancer, word of his condition wasn’t disclosed to investors for nine months. Having consulted with two outside lawyers, the board of directors decided that it wasn’t under any obligation to disclose anything.

Which comes first (why stories matter)

Tyme — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:14:36

Most of the time we do the work. The work is our initiative and our reactions and our responses and our output. The work is the decisions we make and the people we hire.

The work is what people talk about, because it's what we experience. In other words, the work tells a story.

But what if you haven't figured out a story yet?

Motorola sues iPhone sales executive over trade secrets

Xiarria — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:21:51

Motorola is suing a former executive now employed by Apple's iPhone sales division, charging him with the theft of trade secrets.

The New Flextime: Summers Off?

Tyme — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:57:15

In reporting this little ditty, I learned that more women at consulting shops like Deloitte and Touche and Ernst and Young were slicing and dicing their schedules so as to take the summers off to spend with their kids.

Google Sued For Selling Ads On Parked Domains

Tyme — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:16:45

A class-action lawsuit alleges that Google committed fraud, business code violations, and unjust enrichment by selling ads that were unlikely to generate conversions.

Scarcity

Tyme — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:20:49

One day, you may be lucky enough to have a scarcity problem. A product or a service or even a job that's in such high demand that people are clamoring for more than you can make.

First, understand that scarcity is a choice.

Japan's Killer Work Ethic

Scrivs — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:05:47

Death from too much work is so commonplace in Japan that there is a word for it -- karoshi.

Viacom and Google in Stalemate Over Shielding Identities in YouTube Data

Tyme — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:50:56

A week after Google and Viacom both said they hoped to agree to make YouTube viewing data anonymous before Google hands the information to Viacom, no agreement has been signed.

Copyediting? Ship the Work Out to India

Tyme — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:36:58

Not far from New Delhi, Mindworks now has eight overseas clients, and it's mounting a big effort to go after more U.S. publications.

Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

Tyme — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:11:31

Employed US adults will leave an average of three vacation days on the table this year, giving back more than 460 million vacation days in 2008.

Drip by drip, Starbucks lost what made it shine

Scrivs — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:37:17

Today those memories are like bitter, stale grounds. These days the breaks aren't fewer but are often enjoyed somewhere else. That early Starbucks mojo is no more. My disillusionment set in about three years ago, but the company's ballyhooed "Starbucks experience" died even earlier, killed by a growing bureaucratic culture.

NBC Universal to buy The Weather Channel for $3.5B

Scrivs — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:47:59

NBC Universal and two partners said Sunday they have reached a deal to buy The Weather Channel from Landmark Communications Inc., ending a drawn-out process that had attracted interest from several major media companies.
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Financial terms weren't disclosed, but a person familiar with the matter who insisted on anonymity said the purchase price was $3.5 billion in cash. NBC was joined in the deal by the private equity firms The Blackstone Group LP and Bain Capital LLC.

American could cut 900 flight attendants

Menthos — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:47:22

American Airlines could cut 900 flight attendant jobs.

The Do-Good Imperative

Tyme — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:03:51

Some of the most innovative ideas today are coming from efforts to address the needs of those most in need.

Can your company force you to be healthy?

Tyme — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:57:17

Almost a third of companies offering health insurance benefits to their employees also provide a wellness program of some sort.

Starbucks to cut up to 12,000 jobs, close 600 stores

Tyme — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:23:06

Starbucks Corp said on Tuesday it plans to close 600 underperforming U.S. stores and cut up to 12,000 full- and part-time positions, as it copes with an economic downturn and increasing competition.

Most state workers in Utah shifting to 4-day week

Scrivs — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:33:11

Utah this summer will become what experts say is the first state to institute a mandatory four-day work week for most state employees, joining local governments across the nation that are altering schedules to save money, energy and resources.

Looking back and looking ahead: Bill Gates leaves Microsoft

Tyme — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:57:18

Today Bill Gates departs Microsoft to concentrate on the work of his charitable foundation. The man and his company have done more to shape modern computing than anyone else, and he will leave big boots to fill.

Online bandwidth hogs to be cut off at trough?

Tyme — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:27:15

Industry leaders Comcast and Time Warner Cable have started testing traffic-metering and management techniques that seek to rein in heavy usage, and AT&T says such limits are inevitable for the most extreme users of its network.

An epic Bill Gates e-mail rant

Tyme — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:08:03

It seems Bill Gates wasn't exempt from the challenges users faced trying to use the Microsoft site. Classic.

Yahoo and Microsoft: Is it on again?

Tyme — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:35:14

Microsoft has signaled that it is willing to sweeten its previous offer for a partial buyout of Yahoo's search business, according to one major investor who has been in contact with both parties.

Neither Microsoft nor Yahoo had immediate comment.

Google's ever-shrinking 20 percent time

Tyme — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:00:50

What we hear from Googlers is that supervisors are cracking down on use of 20 percent time when employees' main projects are behind schedule. A sensible management move, but against the spirit of 20 percent time, which was meant to liberate creative employees from meddling middle management.

What ever happened to artificial intelligence?

Tyme — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:59:36

Through the decades, the innovations and applications of artificial intelligence.

Verizon Spanked by FCC; Can't Harass Ex-Customers

Menthos — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:14:38

Verizon can no longer email, call or pester ex-customers after they've signed on with another carrier, according to an FCC order.

Sony Shareholders Want to See the Money

Tyme — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:00:21

Show me the money. That’s what investors heckled Sony’s management about at the company’s annual shareholders meeting held today in Tokyo. What were their specific demands? Raise dividends and fully disclose executive pay.

Big Paycheck or Service? Students Are Put to Test

joshawesome — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:02:06

Students at top universities pick high paying jobs over public service jobs.

A prominent education professor at Harvard has begun leading “reflection” seminars at three highly selective colleges, which he hopes will push undergraduates to think more deeply about the connection between their educations and aspirations.

The professor, Howard Gardner, hopes the seminars will encourage more students to consider public service and other careers beyond the consulting and financial jobs that he says are almost the automatic next step for so many graduates of top colleges.

Why ColdStone Franchises Failed

Scrivs — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:44:14

Earlier in this decade, Cold Stone Creamery was one of the hottest franchises around. The super-premium ice-cream stores attracted scores of franchisees hungry for a piece of the "Ultimate Ice Cream Experience."

Now many franchisees are selling their stores, overwhelmed by soaring bills and shrinking profits. Some have lost their homes, broken their retirement nest eggs or filed for bankruptcy.

Google Beats the Bears

Scrivs — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:17:49

The Google bears are scurrying back into the woods. On Apr. 17, Google quelled concerns that the slowing economy would finally hurt its business. Thanks to strong international growth and better payoffs from its search ads, Google (GOOG) turned in higher profit and revenue than Wall Street had expected. The shares jumped more than 17% in post-market-close trading Apr. 17, and soared 18% to $529.17 in early trading Friday. The stock closed at $449.54 the previous session.