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04 Aug 2009 10:28

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Biz, U.S.: Spending up, incomes down: The economy had a mixed June

  • +0.4% the increase in consumer spending in June, which was better than expected and topped May source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Aug 2009 11:12

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Biz, Tech: All those ads that target you are being targeted … by the FTC

  • Google and Facebook, among others, could feel the burn. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz has brought with him a rep as a reformer, having fought hard against spyware. The latest thing he wants to reform is something that drives the financial engine of the web: Behavioral-targeted advertising. Google uses it. Facebook uses it (sometimes very poorly). Lots of other people do too. And sometimes consumers don’t know when they’re getting targeted. That’s something Leibowitz is working on. Expect heads to roll. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Aug 2009 10:26

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Biz, Tech: Who didn’t see this comin’? Google’s CEO resigns from Apple’s board

  • That Google Voice thing must not have helped. Google CEO Eric Schmidt is saying “peace out” to Apple’s board, where he was increasingly seen as a weird fit. Between Google Android, Chrome OS and now the Google Voice debacle, the company has been encroaching on some of Apple’s territory. While Schmidt excused himself from discussions pertaining to products that carried “conflict of interest” baggage, there’s only so many of those discussions one can excuse yourself from before it seems weird. Wonder what Fake Steve has to say about this. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Aug 2009 10:12

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Biz, U.S.: Local, state economies are sure feeling that stimulus money

  • -8.3% decline in local and state spending during the fourth quarter of 2008 – the height of the economic decline. The first quarter of 2009 also saw declines source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Aug 2009 09:20

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Biz, Politics: Columnist: Netflix is killing human interaction, makes you lazy

  • Beyond the mail delays and the botched orders, the lack of human interaction is the big problem with Netflix and its cyber-ilk.
  • Richard Corliss • In an opinion piece on Netflix, and why he doesn’t like it. Despite its huge success (two billion discs served over a decade), it feels hollow and imperfect to him. He specifically brings up the loss of his local video store, Kim’s Video, which closed earlier this year. But more than anything, he criticizes how it makes people shut-ins: “So, O.K., soon there will be no more waiting for DVDs. But it’ll come at a price. You’ll be what the online corporate culture wants you to be: a passive, inert receptacle for its products.” Ouch! • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 3 Comments • Permalink

02 Aug 2009 22:46

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Biz: Retailers are pushing Christmas in July…and August…and September…

  • Maybe we’re a bit optimistic, but we thought the Christmas season started right after Halloween. The newest recession fighting scheme is to start the holidays early – way early – so customers can avoid buying on credit. Word on the street is that select Sears and Toys R Us locations are already ramping up, some even giving out candy canes. CANDY CANES. In the summer. Is nothing sacred? source
Posted by Nathalie Heiberg • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Aug 2009 21:26

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Biz, Tech: Warning: Exploding iPods can lead to confidentiality agreements

  • I thought it was a very disturbing letter…They’re putting a life sentence on myself, my daughter and Ellie’s mum, not to say anything to anyone.
  • Ken Stanborough • On the letter he received from Apple after his daughter’s iPod exploded. He had contacted the company for a refund, which they offered – but with a nasty clause. If he took their money, he had to agree to keep quiet and if he failed to do so his family could face litigation. Yeah, he didn’t sign it. Take that, bullies!  • source
Posted by Nathalie Heiberg • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

02 Aug 2009 20:21

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Biz, Tech: Dear Associated Press: There’s no way you’re charging this much

  • $12 cost to quote five words from a single article, according to their new iCopyright site source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 6 Comments • Permalink

02 Aug 2009 11:55

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Biz, Tech: TechCrunch’s thoughts on new journalism make lots of sense

  • The point is that the days of the profitable generalist news-gatherer are dying, but the days of solid reporting and a strong, trusted editorial voice must never be allowed to perish.
  • TechCrunch’s Paul Carr • Regarding the future of journalism. Carr suggests this sort of bold, crazy idea: Shut down the New York Times, lay everyone off, hire 30 editors and have them come up with a site aggregated by people who know quality content, who can take the essence of the Internet and come up with something really good. Or you can read ShortFormBlog, which is kind of doing most of this already with one guy and an intern. (Or if you want to go a little bigger, the Christian Science Monitor basically does this already, and well.) Your choice.  • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Aug 2009 02:43

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Biz, Tech: Nissan: Your car has low emissions? Well OUR car has none!

The Nissan Leaf, the company’s first all-electric car, goes 160 km on a charge, goes as fast as 140 km and will use a lithium-ion battery pack. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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