Retail

Are Retailers Killing Off their Customers?

November 15, 2009 By Brian Leave a Comment

The news in this morning's paper--front page--is the same. Retailers are hysterically worried about another "bad Christmas." Consumers have tightened their belts, hidden their credit cards and won't … [Read more...]

Filed Under: e-commerce, Retail Tagged With: economy, retail sales

Can Silicon Valley and Wall Street Learn from Wyoming?

October 22, 2009 By Brian Leave a Comment

Wyoming, population 533,000, is experiencing its 8th straight year of population growth. What does Wyoming know that Silicon Valley doesn't? Slower economic growth, less dependence on technology and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economics, Government, Jobs, Local Government, Politics, Power, Retail Tagged With: economy, insurance companies, recession, retail sales, silicon valley, taxes, unemployment

How We Spend Our Time as Unemployment Rises

Once again, the researchers are at work with their computer models and statistical flukes. In this case, the Labor Department recently released its 2009 American Time Use Survey telling us how people spend their time. According to the experts, here’s how we’re using our time in hours and minutes (2009/2007): Sleeping (8:40/8:34) Watching TV (2:49/2:37) [...]

Newspapers Losing Readers With Irrelevant Content

Reading through this morning’s San Jose Mercury News reinforced my belief that U.S. newspapers are contributing to their demise by printing stories that are, in many cases, irrelevant to the majority of readers. The word “relevant” has an interesting origin. The dictionary says it derives from medieval Latin in the 16th century meaning “raising up.” [...]

Why Good Humor Keeps Us Sane

In our stressed-out, sometimes troubled lives, it’s soothing to chuckle over good humor. When we tire of bad news on the Web or tube, in fact, an uncontrollable belly laugh may even keep us sane. My sister was kind enough to email me a few good humor one-two liners. Here they are (with a few [...]

Blog Crime and Copyright Infringment

Checked your blog for content theft lately? While the Internet has become an essential part of our lives, it’s also a rip-off channel for blog crime and copyright infringement thieves who steal copyrighted material. People steal intellectual property when copying your blog content to their sites. Sending threatening letters about copyright infringement to website and [...]

Are Retailers Killing Off their Customers?

The news in this morning’s paper–front page–is the same. Retailers are hysterically worried about another “bad Christmas.” Consumers have tightened their belts, hidden their credit cards and won’t even walk into a retail store unless there’s a big “70% off” sign in the window. What’s going on? I think retailers need to step back mentally [...]

Living in Silicon Valley: Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Something is terribly, terribly wrong in Silicon Valley. Probably the rest of the nation too. But, as they say, everything starts in California then heads east. So whatever’s happening here will soon hit your home town if it hasn’t arrived already. This morning’s paper is filled with new and continuing stories related to the economy: [...]

Future Hope – Soweto Gospel Choir of South Africa Sings to Life

In these pages, I’ve written about the power of singing. Several thousand miles away in South Africa sings out a Future Hope–the Soweto Gospel Choir, kicking off their North American tour this month. Different styles, countries away. But both St. Victor’s Catholic Church in San Jose, CA and the Soweto Gospel Choir sing in their [...]

Christmas Gift Giving in an Age of Guilt

If you believe the polls, everyone’s reporting that Christmas gift shoppers are crossing you off their lists while Santa is sleeping in on Christmas eve and Rudolf’s red nose is dimming fast. So much for polls. On the other hand, you read about thoughtful people in the current recession who are creatively giving gifts that [...]

Are Retailers Killing Off their Customers?

Can Silicon Valley and Wall Street Learn from Wyoming?

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How We Spend Our Time as Unemployment Rises

Newspapers Losing Readers With Irrelevant Content

Why Good Humor Keeps Us Sane

Blog Crime and Copyright Infringment

Are Retailers Killing Off their Customers?

Living in Silicon Valley: Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Future Hope – Soweto Gospel Choir of South Africa Sings to Life

Christmas Gift Giving in an Age of Guilt