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Friday, December 07, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Donny Most, All You Need to Know
Donny Most, Ralph Malph on Happy Days as you know died in 2006
when his experimental electric car exploded on the LA freeway. "Al's",
the car, was an experiment that included a methane-powered
zeppelin-type balloon that could travel up to 200 miles, and a
solar-powered bicycle helmet that assisted the rider in climbing hills.
Comedy
newspaper/website The Onion credited him as the U.S. Secretary of
Retro. This is a good page about Donny Most so I recommend you visit
it: Donny Most.
when his experimental electric car exploded on the LA freeway. "Al's",
the car, was an experiment that included a methane-powered
zeppelin-type balloon that could travel up to 200 miles, and a
solar-powered bicycle helmet that assisted the rider in climbing hills.
Comedy
newspaper/website The Onion credited him as the U.S. Secretary of
Retro. This is a good page about Donny Most so I recommend you visit
it: Donny Most.
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YouTube: Http/1.1 Service Unavailable
Seems like YouTube is having
some problems this morning… An hour or so back I was looking at
some videos shot in Antarctica, but now all I get is an error message -
Http/1.1 Service Unavailable.
some problems this morning… An hour or so back I was looking at
some videos shot in Antarctica, but now all I get is an error message -
Http/1.1 Service Unavailable.
Update: It’s back!
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KisMAC dev calls it quits
Reader Andrew dropped a note that Michael Rossberg, developer of KisMAC, the wireless network sniffer based on Kismet, has declared the project discontinued. I can't get the project's website to load (most likely because it's been Slashdotted), but apparently the reason Rossberg gave was that a change in Germany's laws would make it dangerous for him to continue working on it. The law apparently makes it illegal for anyone to sniff out a password that "allows access to data", and since that's a big part of KisMAC's function, Rossberg is calling it quits.
But he is asking for interested parties to continue his work, in the EU or the US, so if the site ever returns, feel free to grab the source and check it out yourself.
Of course, from what Slashdot commenters are saying, this isn't much of a loss anyway-- the program hasn't seen any real updates in a long time, and apparently it didn't even work with the new MacBooks. In terms of network finders, there's lots more to choose from (including iStumbler, which I didn't mention in the other article), but in terms of cracking WEP and WPA keys (legally, of course), are there any other OS X specific options out there?
Update: Clarification: the program will run on MacBooks, but it doesn't do anything but find networks, which is just a fraction of the intended functionality.
But he is asking for interested parties to continue his work, in the EU or the US, so if the site ever returns, feel free to grab the source and check it out yourself.
Of course, from what Slashdot commenters are saying, this isn't much of a loss anyway-- the program hasn't seen any real updates in a long time, and apparently it didn't even work with the new MacBooks. In terms of network finders, there's lots more to choose from (including iStumbler, which I didn't mention in the other article), but in terms of cracking WEP and WPA keys (legally, of course), are there any other OS X specific options out there?
Update: Clarification: the program will run on MacBooks, but it doesn't do anything but find networks, which is just a fraction of the intended functionality.
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Sunday, November 25, 2007
10 Cyber Monday Deals Worth Checking Out
You didn't want to stand out in the cold for your deals on electronics, risking death by trample to save a few bucks? We can't blame you. So here are ten great deals you can get from the comfort of your own home during the internet's version of Black Friday, Cyber Monday. Hit the jump for goodies like a $50 HD DVD player (UPDATE: questionable deal) and discounted iPods.
RCA HDV5000 HD DVD Player
Location: Staples.com
Price: $50
Info: It's a refurb, and it's a 1st gen HD DVD player, but it's rumored to run $50 cheaper than Staple's usual price. And it's a low commitment way to get into the HD DVD game. Note: model number is an HD DVD player, even though description looks like upconverter. Could be bogus, but more deals below!
Xbox 360 Premium Bundle
Location: Walmart.com
Price: $399
Includes: It's the Xbox 360 Premium with Forza and Marvel Ultimate Alliance, but you get an extra wireless controller and your choice of games from a pool of some decent titles, including Mass Effect, along with an Xbox 360 messenger bag.
iPods Galore
Location: Bestbuy.com
Price: 16gb touch - $379, 160gb Classic - $332, 8gb Nano - $189
Info: Starts today and goes through next Sunday. Best deal on an iPod w/o student discount or refurb.
10% Off At Circuit City
Location: CircuitCity.com, In-store pickup only
Price: Save 10% on any order of $249 or more.
20% Cash Back At Paypal Retailers
Location: 15 Retailers including Barnes & Noble, HP, eToys.com, Overstock and Sharper Image.
Info: Get 20% cash back up to $50.
1TB Western Digital myBook external HD
Location: ZipZoomFly.com
Price: $219
Info: That's a lot of porn, my friends.
Viewsonic 26" LCD HDTV
Location: Staples.com
Price: $399
Info: That's over $100 savings compared to standard online prices.
HP Photosmart C6280 All in One Printer
Location: Staples.com
Price: $100
Info: Also about $100 off standard online prices.
Plantronics 330 Bluetooth headset
Location: BestBuy.com
Price: $25
Info: Save over $25, get your Bluetooth on.
ClubIT Deals
Location: ClubIT.com
Info: We don't know what they'll have for sale yet, but deals should hit Monday morning at 12:30 AM PST.
Source : http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cyber-monday-deals/10-cyber-monday-deals-worth-checking-out-326145.php
RCA HDV5000 HD DVD Player
Location: Staples.com
Price: $50
Info: It's a refurb, and it's a 1st gen HD DVD player, but it's rumored to run $50 cheaper than Staple's usual price. And it's a low commitment way to get into the HD DVD game. Note: model number is an HD DVD player, even though description looks like upconverter. Could be bogus, but more deals below!
Xbox 360 Premium Bundle
Location: Walmart.com
Price: $399
Includes: It's the Xbox 360 Premium with Forza and Marvel Ultimate Alliance, but you get an extra wireless controller and your choice of games from a pool of some decent titles, including Mass Effect, along with an Xbox 360 messenger bag.
iPods Galore
Location: Bestbuy.com
Price: 16gb touch - $379, 160gb Classic - $332, 8gb Nano - $189
Info: Starts today and goes through next Sunday. Best deal on an iPod w/o student discount or refurb.
10% Off At Circuit City
Location: CircuitCity.com, In-store pickup only
Price: Save 10% on any order of $249 or more.
20% Cash Back At Paypal Retailers
Location: 15 Retailers including Barnes & Noble, HP, eToys.com, Overstock and Sharper Image.
Info: Get 20% cash back up to $50.
1TB Western Digital myBook external HD
Location: ZipZoomFly.com
Price: $219
Info: That's a lot of porn, my friends.
Viewsonic 26" LCD HDTV
Location: Staples.com
Price: $399
Info: That's over $100 savings compared to standard online prices.
HP Photosmart C6280 All in One Printer
Location: Staples.com
Price: $100
Info: Also about $100 off standard online prices.
Plantronics 330 Bluetooth headset
Location: BestBuy.com
Price: $25
Info: Save over $25, get your Bluetooth on.
ClubIT Deals
Location: ClubIT.com
Info: We don't know what they'll have for sale yet, but deals should hit Monday morning at 12:30 AM PST.
Source : http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cyber-monday-deals/10-cyber-monday-deals-worth-checking-out-326145.php
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'Cyber Monday' means big sale in store
Cy Monday is here.
From noon to 4 p.m. ET, everyone who goes to the MLB.com Shop can take 20 percent off the total order. It is going to be a big day for holiday shopping all over the Internet, and baseball fans tend to know what they want.
You want a good ballpark dog and a World Series championship.
You want to find incredible holiday gifts and incredible savings.
This is the day on the calendar known since 2005 as "Cyber Monday" -- a day when many people return to their office computers following a long Thanksgiving break and jump into the online holiday shopping boom. This four-hour sale is one way to celebrate that, and it also will be just the start of something unique here.
It will be like the ultimate ceremonial first pitch for baseball shoppers, followed by 16 days of sales called "Hits for the Holidays" at the MLB.com Shop. Start with this monster sale and then look on Tuesday for the gradual rollout.
Judging by the early returns, this may be an even bigger day than expected. Retail spending on the Internet during the Thanksgiving weekend was up markedly from a year ago, according to data compiled by comScore Inc. Online spending was higher over the actual holiday, up 29 percent to $272 million from last year's Thanksgiving Day. For so-called Black Friday, ecommerce sales amounted to $531 million, a 22-percent gain from 2006. ComScore expects "Cyber Monday," the first workday after the holiday weekend, to post sales exceeding $700 million.
"Consumers will continue to shift more of their holiday gift spending from stores to sites this year," Jeffrey Grau, a senior analyst for eMarketer, wrote in a recent report. He said figures show the trend toward online shopping "will insulate retail ecommerce from the economic jitters expected to dampen retail industry sales during the critical months of November and December." According to eMarketer data, online holiday sales are expected to total $31 billion compared with $26.2 billion last year.
It will seem like just about everyone is at the store on Monday at the MLB.com Shop, only you won't realize it, of course. It is the ultimate in convenience, no long lines, no square-footage restrictions for stock, no grouchy cashiers or patrons, just you trying to decide how to make the most of that 20-percent off today.
According to Wikipedia, this is the origin of "Cyber Monday:"
"The term 'Cyber Monday' is a neologism invented by Shop.org, part of the U.S. trade association National Retail Federation. It was first used within the ecommerce community during the 2005 holiday season. According to Scott Silverman, the head of Shop.org, the term was coined based on research showing that 77 percent of online retailers reported a significant increase in sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving in 2004."
As far as the name itself, we seem to be kind of stuck with that, even though it suggests days of Enron or sock puppet mascots and 56K modem connections. But as long as there's a 20 percent off sale, do you really care? Maybe we could at least agree on shortening it to "Cy Monday" going forward? After all, baseball fans -- who just shattered the overall Major League Baseball regular season attendance record with 78 million strong -- comprise a big part (maybe most?) of that consumer sector. We're into nicknames and "Cy" is universally known to all fans.
Denton True "Cy" Young. He won 511 games, and C.C. Sabathia and Jake Peavy just won the major pitching awards in his honor for their respective leagues. If you go to the MLB.com Shop between noon and 4, you will be able to find a Highland Mint Cleveland Indians Cy Young Gold Coin Photo Mint featuring two 24-karat gold coins. It sells for $89.99, so you will be able to chop 18 bucks off that price during the Cy Monday Sale.
And speaking of Highland Mint, you also can find a Gold and Color Team Commemorative Coin for every club -- for only $19.99 before knocking the 20 percent off. It is perhaps the greatest stocking stuffer ever, a must this afternoon.
There is more memorabilia galore at the MLB.com Shop, and 20 percent off is a good reason to consider now, especially considering the high value of some of those items.
You probably didn't really just drop off of the face of the Earth over the last four days. But whether you have been staying wired or whether you are just resurfacing online, the four-hour sale is not something you are going to want to miss.
Cy Monday is here, and then it is going to be one unbelievable savings promotion after another for your budget over this next month. Happy shopping.
From noon to 4 p.m. ET, everyone who goes to the MLB.com Shop can take 20 percent off the total order. It is going to be a big day for holiday shopping all over the Internet, and baseball fans tend to know what they want.
You want a good ballpark dog and a World Series championship.
You want to find incredible holiday gifts and incredible savings.
This is the day on the calendar known since 2005 as "Cyber Monday" -- a day when many people return to their office computers following a long Thanksgiving break and jump into the online holiday shopping boom. This four-hour sale is one way to celebrate that, and it also will be just the start of something unique here.
It will be like the ultimate ceremonial first pitch for baseball shoppers, followed by 16 days of sales called "Hits for the Holidays" at the MLB.com Shop. Start with this monster sale and then look on Tuesday for the gradual rollout.
Judging by the early returns, this may be an even bigger day than expected. Retail spending on the Internet during the Thanksgiving weekend was up markedly from a year ago, according to data compiled by comScore Inc. Online spending was higher over the actual holiday, up 29 percent to $272 million from last year's Thanksgiving Day. For so-called Black Friday, ecommerce sales amounted to $531 million, a 22-percent gain from 2006. ComScore expects "Cyber Monday," the first workday after the holiday weekend, to post sales exceeding $700 million.
"Consumers will continue to shift more of their holiday gift spending from stores to sites this year," Jeffrey Grau, a senior analyst for eMarketer, wrote in a recent report. He said figures show the trend toward online shopping "will insulate retail ecommerce from the economic jitters expected to dampen retail industry sales during the critical months of November and December." According to eMarketer data, online holiday sales are expected to total $31 billion compared with $26.2 billion last year.
It will seem like just about everyone is at the store on Monday at the MLB.com Shop, only you won't realize it, of course. It is the ultimate in convenience, no long lines, no square-footage restrictions for stock, no grouchy cashiers or patrons, just you trying to decide how to make the most of that 20-percent off today.
According to Wikipedia, this is the origin of "Cyber Monday:"
"The term 'Cyber Monday' is a neologism invented by Shop.org, part of the U.S. trade association National Retail Federation. It was first used within the ecommerce community during the 2005 holiday season. According to Scott Silverman, the head of Shop.org, the term was coined based on research showing that 77 percent of online retailers reported a significant increase in sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving in 2004."
As far as the name itself, we seem to be kind of stuck with that, even though it suggests days of Enron or sock puppet mascots and 56K modem connections. But as long as there's a 20 percent off sale, do you really care? Maybe we could at least agree on shortening it to "Cy Monday" going forward? After all, baseball fans -- who just shattered the overall Major League Baseball regular season attendance record with 78 million strong -- comprise a big part (maybe most?) of that consumer sector. We're into nicknames and "Cy" is universally known to all fans.
Denton True "Cy" Young. He won 511 games, and C.C. Sabathia and Jake Peavy just won the major pitching awards in his honor for their respective leagues. If you go to the MLB.com Shop between noon and 4, you will be able to find a Highland Mint Cleveland Indians Cy Young Gold Coin Photo Mint featuring two 24-karat gold coins. It sells for $89.99, so you will be able to chop 18 bucks off that price during the Cy Monday Sale.
And speaking of Highland Mint, you also can find a Gold and Color Team Commemorative Coin for every club -- for only $19.99 before knocking the 20 percent off. It is perhaps the greatest stocking stuffer ever, a must this afternoon.
There is more memorabilia galore at the MLB.com Shop, and 20 percent off is a good reason to consider now, especially considering the high value of some of those items.
You probably didn't really just drop off of the face of the Earth over the last four days. But whether you have been staying wired or whether you are just resurfacing online, the four-hour sale is not something you are going to want to miss.
Cy Monday is here, and then it is going to be one unbelievable savings promotion after another for your budget over this next month. Happy shopping.
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Backup quarterback A.J. Feeley falls short as Patriots beat Eagles 31-28
Backup A.J. Feeley nearly became the first quarterback to knock off the Patriots this season.
Like all the others New England has faced, he fell short.
But Feeley came a lot closer than the rest of them Sunday night, despite throwing interceptions on his last two passes that sealed the Patriots' 31-28 win over Philadelphia.
The Eagles apparently weren't intimidated by New England's domination of its previous 10 opponents.
"There wasn't a point out there where I felt I was confused," Feeley said. "We put ourselves in position to win and, unfortunately, I lost it for us."
Like all the others New England has faced, he fell short.
But Feeley came a lot closer than the rest of them Sunday night, despite throwing interceptions on his last two passes that sealed the Patriots' 31-28 win over Philadelphia.
The Eagles apparently weren't intimidated by New England's domination of its previous 10 opponents.
"There wasn't a point out there where I felt I was confused," Feeley said. "We put ourselves in position to win and, unfortunately, I lost it for us."
He played in place of Donovan McNabb, who missed
the game due to ankle and thumb injuries but will start when he's
ready, possibly next Sunday against Seattle, coach Andy Reid said.
Making his first start since Dec. 2004 and the
14th of his career, Feeley completed 27 of 42 passes for 345 yards,
three touchdowns and three interceptions.
"He was calm and cool and slow and steady," tight end L.J. Smith said. "You've got to like his fire. We feed off that."
Feeley rebounded from his second pass, an interception that Asante Samuel returned 40 yards for the first touchdown of the game.
"It's not the way you want to start, but there's four quarters to play," Feeley said. "It wasn't on my mind after that."
He didn't turn the ball over again until his next-to-last pass.
With a second-and-4 at the Patriots 29-yard line
and the Eagles trailing 31-28, he was under pressure and lofted the
ball to the right side of the end zone toward Kevin Curtis. Samuel
intercepted.
"He tried to stick it in there and let go of it," Reid said. "It came out too soft."
The Eagles got the ball back after a punt but on
their next play with 18 seconds left, Feeley threw an interception to
James Sanders on the left sideline on a pass intended for Reggie Brown.
For much of the game, it was Philadelphia's
defense that caused problems. It put Tom Brady under some of the most
intense pressure he's felt all season. He was sacked three times,
matching his season-high.
"The only chance we had was to pressure," Eagles
defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said. "Even if we didn't get to him,
we had to throw off his timing and get him to move around in the
pocket."
Despite the loss, the Eagles (5-6) remain in the NFC playoff hunt and drew consolation from nearly beating the NFL's best team.
"If we keep playing the way we played today, we
can still win out," offensive tackle Shawn Andrews said. "We're a
physical group and we can play with anybody."
They certainly could play with the Patriots for
most of the game, after New England had beaten nine of its first 10
opponents by at least 17 points.
And Feeley played well enough to get the Eagles
within range for a field goal that would have tied the game with less
than four minutes to go. Then he got careless and threw the pass that
Samuel intercepted.
So he joined Peyton Manning, Tony Romo and eight other quarterbacks who couldn't beat the Patriots.
"A win would have been great, but we can't talk
about it," Feeley said. "It's tough. I take full responsibility for the
whole deal."
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Chicago TV news institution John Drury, 80, dies
John Drury, one of Chicago's most prominent and beloved faces behind the anchor desk, was a local institution in television news.
Mr. Drury, 80, died Sunday, Nov. 25, surrounded by family in his home in Wheaton after a nearly three-year struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.
Mr. Drury was born in Aurora and had early aspirations of being a performer. But after graduating from West Aurora High School in 1945 and serving in World War II with the Navy, Mr. Drury found a new passion in broadcast news.
He got his first job in television in 1950 at a station in Davenport, Iowa, after graduating from the University of Iowa. He also worked radio and TV jobs in Ft. Wayne, Ind., and Indianapolis, but returning to Chicago was always his goal.
In 1962 he was lured to Chicago by WBBM-Ch. 2 after spending six years at WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee.
"I always wanted to work in Chicago," he told the Tribune in 2002. "The other stations for me were just steppingstones."
He spent five years at WBBM, working with the likes of Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson and serving as Fahey Flynn's first co-anchor. In 1967 he jumped to WGN-Ch. 9 to anchor the 10 p.m. news broadcast. WGN, like the Chicago Tribune, is owned by Tribune Co.
Three years later, he moved to the anchors desk at WLS-Ch. 7. Mr. Drury would spend the rest of his career between WGN and WLS, changing stations but always remaining a trusted presence behind the anchors desk until his retirement in 2002.
He considered himself first a reporter and then an anchor, said WGN news veteran Robert Jordan, who worked with the broadcaster from 1980 to 1984 during one of Mr. Drury's stints with Channel 9.
His looks and voice notwithstanding, Mr. Drury "was a very serious journalist," Jordan said.
"He was just a wonderful guy. He had a million stories," Jordan said.
Mr. Drury helped break the mold of the stationary anchor.
"John was kind of the first of a new breed. He loved to go out and report," Jordan said. "He just happened to be a handsome guy with a wonderful voice."
Over four decades reporting the news in Chicago, Mr. Drury won several awards and garnered critical praise for his credible approach to local news reporting, including Emmy Awards for Individual Excellence in 1983, 1987 and 1988 and, most recently, an Emmy in 2003 for his special report "9/11/02 The New Homeland."
In 2002, Mr. Drury was named Illinois Journalist of the Year by the journalism department at Northern Illinois University and won the Chicago Press Veteran of the Year award from the Chicago Press Veterans Association. In that same year, he also received the Award for Excellence in Journalism from the City Club of Chicago.
In 1996, Mr. Drury's peers in Chicago journalism named him to the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame and awarded him with the prestigious Silver Circle Award for 25 years of outstanding contributions to Chicago television.
But Mr. Drury's work was also widely recognized for contributing to the fabric of the city of Chicago as a whole. In 2000, Mr. Drury was honored by the Museum of Broadcast Communications for valuable contributions to Chicago's broadcast history and named Man of the Year by the Chicago Advertising Club.
Throughout his career, Mr. Drury balanced his serious approach to news with a healthy sense of humor about the business. In his interview with the Tribune after his retirement, he said he was so discouraged by newsroom tumult that he once enrolled in a training class for McDonald's franchise owners.
For two years he spent weekends dropping fries, ringing up customers and, in his TV voice, taking customers' drive-through orders.
"Several of them said, 'You ought to be in radio,' " he said.
That attitude carried him through difficult years after his retirement. In 2004, Mr. Drury was diagnosed with ALS and suffered muscular degeneration to such an extent that he was able to speak only with the help of a voice box.
But despite the personal difficulties of the disease, Mr. Drury used his prominence to be an advocate for research.
In a statement read on WLS' 10 p.m. newscast, Mr. Drury's family said: "Not only did he fight ALS, he gave back to the community by raising awareness of this disease."
Mr. Drury is survived by his wife, Ann; three sons, Logan, James and Richard; a daughter, Susan; a stepdaughter, Joanne Campanile; a stepson, Anthony Guercio; and 10 grandchildren. Services will be private.
Source : http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-drury_copynov26,1,3451799.story
Mr. Drury, 80, died Sunday, Nov. 25, surrounded by family in his home in Wheaton after a nearly three-year struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.
Mr. Drury was born in Aurora and had early aspirations of being a performer. But after graduating from West Aurora High School in 1945 and serving in World War II with the Navy, Mr. Drury found a new passion in broadcast news.
He got his first job in television in 1950 at a station in Davenport, Iowa, after graduating from the University of Iowa. He also worked radio and TV jobs in Ft. Wayne, Ind., and Indianapolis, but returning to Chicago was always his goal.
In 1962 he was lured to Chicago by WBBM-Ch. 2 after spending six years at WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee.
"I always wanted to work in Chicago," he told the Tribune in 2002. "The other stations for me were just steppingstones."
He spent five years at WBBM, working with the likes of Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson and serving as Fahey Flynn's first co-anchor. In 1967 he jumped to WGN-Ch. 9 to anchor the 10 p.m. news broadcast. WGN, like the Chicago Tribune, is owned by Tribune Co.
Three years later, he moved to the anchors desk at WLS-Ch. 7. Mr. Drury would spend the rest of his career between WGN and WLS, changing stations but always remaining a trusted presence behind the anchors desk until his retirement in 2002.
He considered himself first a reporter and then an anchor, said WGN news veteran Robert Jordan, who worked with the broadcaster from 1980 to 1984 during one of Mr. Drury's stints with Channel 9.
His looks and voice notwithstanding, Mr. Drury "was a very serious journalist," Jordan said.
"He was just a wonderful guy. He had a million stories," Jordan said.
Mr. Drury helped break the mold of the stationary anchor.
"John was kind of the first of a new breed. He loved to go out and report," Jordan said. "He just happened to be a handsome guy with a wonderful voice."
Over four decades reporting the news in Chicago, Mr. Drury won several awards and garnered critical praise for his credible approach to local news reporting, including Emmy Awards for Individual Excellence in 1983, 1987 and 1988 and, most recently, an Emmy in 2003 for his special report "9/11/02 The New Homeland."
In 2002, Mr. Drury was named Illinois Journalist of the Year by the journalism department at Northern Illinois University and won the Chicago Press Veteran of the Year award from the Chicago Press Veterans Association. In that same year, he also received the Award for Excellence in Journalism from the City Club of Chicago.
In 1996, Mr. Drury's peers in Chicago journalism named him to the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame and awarded him with the prestigious Silver Circle Award for 25 years of outstanding contributions to Chicago television.
But Mr. Drury's work was also widely recognized for contributing to the fabric of the city of Chicago as a whole. In 2000, Mr. Drury was honored by the Museum of Broadcast Communications for valuable contributions to Chicago's broadcast history and named Man of the Year by the Chicago Advertising Club.
Throughout his career, Mr. Drury balanced his serious approach to news with a healthy sense of humor about the business. In his interview with the Tribune after his retirement, he said he was so discouraged by newsroom tumult that he once enrolled in a training class for McDonald's franchise owners.
For two years he spent weekends dropping fries, ringing up customers and, in his TV voice, taking customers' drive-through orders.
"Several of them said, 'You ought to be in radio,' " he said.
That attitude carried him through difficult years after his retirement. In 2004, Mr. Drury was diagnosed with ALS and suffered muscular degeneration to such an extent that he was able to speak only with the help of a voice box.
But despite the personal difficulties of the disease, Mr. Drury used his prominence to be an advocate for research.
In a statement read on WLS' 10 p.m. newscast, Mr. Drury's family said: "Not only did he fight ALS, he gave back to the community by raising awareness of this disease."
Mr. Drury is survived by his wife, Ann; three sons, Logan, James and Richard; a daughter, Susan; a stepdaughter, Joanne Campanile; a stepson, Anthony Guercio; and 10 grandchildren. Services will be private.
Source : http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-drury_copynov26,1,3451799.story
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Wednesday, October 10, 2007
IBM teams up with virtual world developer
IBM and Linden Lab, developer of Second Life, are joining forces to develop "universal avatars" that will allow users to move freely between virtual worlds as easily as they surf websites.
Inhabitants of virtual worlds such as Second Life, Entropia and Gaia currently have no way of visiting other worlds, although companies see enormous potential in facilitating such a borderless virtual society.
IBM and Linden plan to develop 3D characters that would be able to travel seamlessly between multiple worlds. Standards for secure transactions to take place would also be a priority, as well as integration with existing web and business processes so that current applications and databases could be accessed in virtual worlds.
News of the IBM-Linden venture came as more than 20 companies met in San Francisco on Tuesday to begin thrashing out standards that will help connect the growing number of these virtual worlds.
IBM has taken a lead in experimenting with business processes in virtual worlds, where Linden Lab has become the leading developer.
"This is a natural and powerful collaboration," says Colin Parris, vice president of Digital Convergence at IBM.
"There is a lot of business value being derived from these worlds. With interoperability and integration, that value would expand tenfold."
Ginsu Yoon, vice president of Business Affairs at Linden, said it was still early days for virtual worlds and the collaboration of the two engineering teams could promote open standards that would benefit everyone.
"When you look at internet protocols, they are entirely based on open standards and you don't see widespread adoption unless you have got open standards," he said.
Meanwhile, at the Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo in San Jose on Wednesday, the Electric Sheep Company, a developer inside virtual worlds, will launch a viewer called OnRez. The web browser-type programme will allow users unfamiliar with Second Life to navigate it more easily.
CBS will use it to allow fans of its TV show, CSI:NY, to follow a mystery killer through a series of interactive experiences in Second Life.
Inhabitants of virtual worlds such as Second Life, Entropia and Gaia currently have no way of visiting other worlds, although companies see enormous potential in facilitating such a borderless virtual society.
IBM and Linden plan to develop 3D characters that would be able to travel seamlessly between multiple worlds. Standards for secure transactions to take place would also be a priority, as well as integration with existing web and business processes so that current applications and databases could be accessed in virtual worlds.
News of the IBM-Linden venture came as more than 20 companies met in San Francisco on Tuesday to begin thrashing out standards that will help connect the growing number of these virtual worlds.
IBM has taken a lead in experimenting with business processes in virtual worlds, where Linden Lab has become the leading developer.
"This is a natural and powerful collaboration," says Colin Parris, vice president of Digital Convergence at IBM.
"There is a lot of business value being derived from these worlds. With interoperability and integration, that value would expand tenfold."
Ginsu Yoon, vice president of Business Affairs at Linden, said it was still early days for virtual worlds and the collaboration of the two engineering teams could promote open standards that would benefit everyone.
"When you look at internet protocols, they are entirely based on open standards and you don't see widespread adoption unless you have got open standards," he said.
Meanwhile, at the Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo in San Jose on Wednesday, the Electric Sheep Company, a developer inside virtual worlds, will launch a viewer called OnRez. The web browser-type programme will allow users unfamiliar with Second Life to navigate it more easily.
CBS will use it to allow fans of its TV show, CSI:NY, to follow a mystery killer through a series of interactive experiences in Second Life.
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M&A - Who's Top Dog Around The World ?
Here's a note of the firms which came out Top in a number of countries / regions in terms of announced M&A deals for the period 01.01.2007 - 30.09.2007.
Worldwide
Goldman Sachs - $1.135 trillion, 377 deals
Any European Involvement
Morgan Stanley - $571.9bn, 169
Any UK Involvement
UBS - $320.4bn, 91
Any French Involvement
Goldman Sachs - $87.7bn, 23
Any German Involvement
Goldman Sachs - $83.6bn, 29
Any Italian Involvement
Citi - $134.8bn, 23
Any Spanish Involvement
JPMorgan - $137.4bn, 18
Any Benelux Involvement
Goldman Sachs - $200.7bn, 25
Any Nordic Involvement
Goldman Sachs - $20.7bn, 14
Any Americas Involvement
Goldman Sachs - $718.9bn, 245
Any US Involvement
Goldman Sachs - $659.9bn, 227
Any Latin American Involvement
Citi - $23.4bn, 36
Any Canadian Involvement
RBC Capital Markets - $140.1bn, 52
Any Asia Involvement (ex-Japan)
UBS - $53.7bn, 28
Any Japanese Involvement
Nomura - $29.1bn, 119
Any Australian Involvement
UBS - $51.7bn, 31
Any New Zealand Involvement
Goldman Sachs - $2.3bn, 2
Any South Korea Involvement
Citi - $14.2bn, 3
Source - Thomson Financial
Worldwide
Goldman Sachs - $1.135 trillion, 377 deals
Any European Involvement
Morgan Stanley - $571.9bn, 169
Any UK Involvement
UBS - $320.4bn, 91
Any French Involvement
Goldman Sachs - $87.7bn, 23
Any German Involvement
Goldman Sachs - $83.6bn, 29
Any Italian Involvement
Citi - $134.8bn, 23
Any Spanish Involvement
JPMorgan - $137.4bn, 18
Any Benelux Involvement
Goldman Sachs - $200.7bn, 25
Any Nordic Involvement
Goldman Sachs - $20.7bn, 14
Any Americas Involvement
Goldman Sachs - $718.9bn, 245
Any US Involvement
Goldman Sachs - $659.9bn, 227
Any Latin American Involvement
Citi - $23.4bn, 36
Any Canadian Involvement
RBC Capital Markets - $140.1bn, 52
Any Asia Involvement (ex-Japan)
UBS - $53.7bn, 28
Any Japanese Involvement
Nomura - $29.1bn, 119
Any Australian Involvement
UBS - $51.7bn, 31
Any New Zealand Involvement
Goldman Sachs - $2.3bn, 2
Any South Korea Involvement
Citi - $14.2bn, 3
Source - Thomson Financial
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It's not just business, it's personal
If you have a shared vision, starting a company with a buddy can work out well. But watch out for the pitfalls
DIANNE RINEHART
Special to The Globe and Mail
October 10, 2007
If life can come full circle by the time you're 30, then it certainly did for Eryn Green and Tamar Wagman. The two Toronto women first met as toddlers in nursery school, and three years ago teamed up to launch a baby-oriented small business together.
"I never thought in a million years that we would go into business together," says Ms. Wagman, 33, of their lifelong friendship. "We didn't sit there in nursery school writing up a business plan!"
Still, when the inspiration hit for their Sweetpea baby-food company, it seemed a natural fit for their skills: Ms. Green had just spent five years writing business plans for other companies at Ernst & Young, and Ms. Wagman, whose background is in hospitality, had recently had a baby and was frustrated she couldn't find healthy, flavourful baby food.
As well, each woman was at a crossroad: Ms. Green wanted to work for herself and Ms. Wagman had just left her job with a catering company and was looking for new opportunities.
The Globe and Mail
Over lunch one day, Ms. Green told Ms. Wagman she was looking for a new challenge. "You should make baby food," her friend replied, "because what's out there is horrible." At the time, Ms. Wagman and her chef husband were making their own baby food and freezing it in ice-cube trays.
The two women began doing research and quickly realized that the market was ripe for an organic, preservative-free baby food frozen in 29.6-millilitre (one-ounce) cubes, so parents could pop out the exact amount needed.
Still, they were surprised when their idea was applauded by friends - though the notion of pals going into business together was not.
"Everyone warned us against it," says Ms. Wagman.
Indeed, going into business with friends can be problematic for entrepreneurs, experts say.
"It can sometimes get in the way of making good business decisions," says Elspeth Murray, who teaches entrepreneurship at Queen's School of Business in Kingston, Ont.
"When you complicate the business with friends or family, all of a sudden it's not just business relations that are at stake, but friends, thanksgiving dinner, the family network - whatever," Dr. Murray warns.
"One of the biggest questions is, how will you maintain the friendship if the business doesn't go well, or the business if the friendship doesn't?" she asks. "You have to have that conversation up front."
Stewart Thornhill, who teaches entrepreneurship at the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey School of Business, agrees. Friends entering a business are too often like couples in love, "the last thing they want is a messy legal document," Dr. Thornhill says. "They're starting out with rose-coloured glasses."
But to be successful, friends-turned-partners need to spell out what will happen in each eventuality - ranging from how one partner will exit the business, to how a buyout would work, to tie-breaking clauses. "Go into this loosey-goosey and you're asking for trouble," he advises.
Friends of Ms. Wagman and Ms. Green gave them similar advice, insisting the two draw up a shareholders agreement covering all aspects of their small business. They did - though it took them four years to negotiate, because they were too busy, working six days a week, on their product. Sweetpea baby food is now available nationally in 250 stores, including Costco, Babies R Us, Whole Foods, Longo's, Highland Farms, and select Shoppers Drug Marts.
In the past two years, while revenues doubled, the friends say they have had only two minor disagreements. "When you're upset about something you have to talk about it," advises Ms. Green, 33.
Another pair of "friendpreneurs" agree that openness is key to running their small business. Last April, Sari Nisker, 33, and Casey Soer, 32, launched Spynga, a Toronto fitness club devoted to yoga and spinning classes, as well as holistic health regimens.
At first, the Spynga duo, who have been friends since Grade 6, found that their different working styles led to lots of conflict. "In the beginning it was hard not to take things personally," says Ms. Soer. "But now we've come to this balance, recognizing that business is business and our friendship is our friendship."
One helpful strategy is that they oversee different aspects of the business, says Ms. Nisker. "Casey handles operations, does the hiring and staffing and scheduling. I do the marketing and the promotional stuff."
That separation of duties and clear concept of what the business is about works for Ms. Green and Ms. Wagman, too. While they both do all Sweetpea sales and marketing together, Ms. Green takes care of the financial strategy and business planning, and Ms. Wagman oversees food sourcing, dealing with suppliers and product development. "We never overlap," says Ms. Green.
This division of labour is something business analysts say is rare among friends, who often have similar interests and strengths, and can have a huge effect on whether the business will succeed. The Sweetpea founders follow another rule to avoid conflict: they copy each other on every e-mail "so we don't step on each other's toes," says Ms. Wagman.
Another harmonizer, they say, is the fact they have a similar work ethic. "We sacrifice a lot of family time to devote to the business," says Ms. Wagman, "and it would be difficult if one of us felt we were working a lot harder than the other."
Dr. Thornhill says that is one of the stickiest situations for friends in business: "Often there is a real - or perceived -inequity that gets in the way."
Ms. Nisker and Ms. Soer say another thing that keeps them focused on their Spynga business, and out of conflict, is that they not only have the same goal, but also share the same aesthetic sensibilities and passions about how to get there.
"We have the same vision in terms of how we want to grow the business and where we see ourselves," says Ms. Nisker.
The two friends were living and working in New York City when the idea clicked to offer classes combining both their passions: Ms. Soer's cycling and Ms. Nisker's yoga. They realized their shared vision - creating fun classes and a life-changing experiences for customers - would be the driving force and bond for their business partnership.
Still, plenty of business problems can stem from friendship, warns Becky Reuber, who teaches entrepreneurship at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management.
"The danger is exacerbated by the extent to which the business is your family income, the extent to which your family's fate hangs on the business," Dr. Reuber says. "If your whole family fortune is riding on the business, your spouse is going to be anxious, the rest of your family is going to be anxious, and that anxiety will create a lot of pressure," including the fact that spouses may try to involve themselves in the business decisions.
And friends have to be prepared that their partnership may fall apart, Dr. Reuber warns. "Businesses evolve and suddenly one partner decides they have enough money and want to take life easy, while the other partner wants to keep going, or one partner thinks the business is doing badly, while the other may be convinced they have a way to make it succeed."
It's then that a trust in your partner's integrity and judgment are necessary, if the partnership is to survive, she says.
Dr. Thornhill suggests that friends ask themselves this: "If that person weren't your friend, would you be in business with them? Do they have the right skill set? Apply the same filters to a friend as someone you would hire off the street."
On the upside, "it can be great doing business with friends," says Dr. Thornhill. "You have an immediate trust factor in the other person's skills and ability, and if the business is doing well, there is nothing better. "
Making it work
Some tips from the experts about running a business with a friend:
Put your plans and how to deal with contingencies in writing. "First and foremost, write a partnership agreement," says Stewart Thornhill, who teaches at the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey School of Business. "So many do it with a handshake and a smile. It should be like a prenup."
It's best if each friend has complimentary skills. To prevent conflict, you should define beforehand which different areas of the business each person will handle.
Have a solid business plan.
Hire a board of advisers who can give advice removed from the bonds of friendship.
If you don't trust your friend's judgment and integrity, don't go into business with him or her, advises Becky Reuber, of University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management.
Remember, business is business. Your friendship is separate.
Dianne Rinehart
DIANNE RINEHART
Special to The Globe and Mail
October 10, 2007
If life can come full circle by the time you're 30, then it certainly did for Eryn Green and Tamar Wagman. The two Toronto women first met as toddlers in nursery school, and three years ago teamed up to launch a baby-oriented small business together.
"I never thought in a million years that we would go into business together," says Ms. Wagman, 33, of their lifelong friendship. "We didn't sit there in nursery school writing up a business plan!"
Still, when the inspiration hit for their Sweetpea baby-food company, it seemed a natural fit for their skills: Ms. Green had just spent five years writing business plans for other companies at Ernst & Young, and Ms. Wagman, whose background is in hospitality, had recently had a baby and was frustrated she couldn't find healthy, flavourful baby food.
As well, each woman was at a crossroad: Ms. Green wanted to work for herself and Ms. Wagman had just left her job with a catering company and was looking for new opportunities.
The Globe and Mail
Over lunch one day, Ms. Green told Ms. Wagman she was looking for a new challenge. "You should make baby food," her friend replied, "because what's out there is horrible." At the time, Ms. Wagman and her chef husband were making their own baby food and freezing it in ice-cube trays.
The two women began doing research and quickly realized that the market was ripe for an organic, preservative-free baby food frozen in 29.6-millilitre (one-ounce) cubes, so parents could pop out the exact amount needed.
Still, they were surprised when their idea was applauded by friends - though the notion of pals going into business together was not.
"Everyone warned us against it," says Ms. Wagman.
Indeed, going into business with friends can be problematic for entrepreneurs, experts say.
"It can sometimes get in the way of making good business decisions," says Elspeth Murray, who teaches entrepreneurship at Queen's School of Business in Kingston, Ont.
"When you complicate the business with friends or family, all of a sudden it's not just business relations that are at stake, but friends, thanksgiving dinner, the family network - whatever," Dr. Murray warns.
"One of the biggest questions is, how will you maintain the friendship if the business doesn't go well, or the business if the friendship doesn't?" she asks. "You have to have that conversation up front."
Stewart Thornhill, who teaches entrepreneurship at the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey School of Business, agrees. Friends entering a business are too often like couples in love, "the last thing they want is a messy legal document," Dr. Thornhill says. "They're starting out with rose-coloured glasses."
But to be successful, friends-turned-partners need to spell out what will happen in each eventuality - ranging from how one partner will exit the business, to how a buyout would work, to tie-breaking clauses. "Go into this loosey-goosey and you're asking for trouble," he advises.
Friends of Ms. Wagman and Ms. Green gave them similar advice, insisting the two draw up a shareholders agreement covering all aspects of their small business. They did - though it took them four years to negotiate, because they were too busy, working six days a week, on their product. Sweetpea baby food is now available nationally in 250 stores, including Costco, Babies R Us, Whole Foods, Longo's, Highland Farms, and select Shoppers Drug Marts.
In the past two years, while revenues doubled, the friends say they have had only two minor disagreements. "When you're upset about something you have to talk about it," advises Ms. Green, 33.
Another pair of "friendpreneurs" agree that openness is key to running their small business. Last April, Sari Nisker, 33, and Casey Soer, 32, launched Spynga, a Toronto fitness club devoted to yoga and spinning classes, as well as holistic health regimens.
At first, the Spynga duo, who have been friends since Grade 6, found that their different working styles led to lots of conflict. "In the beginning it was hard not to take things personally," says Ms. Soer. "But now we've come to this balance, recognizing that business is business and our friendship is our friendship."
One helpful strategy is that they oversee different aspects of the business, says Ms. Nisker. "Casey handles operations, does the hiring and staffing and scheduling. I do the marketing and the promotional stuff."
That separation of duties and clear concept of what the business is about works for Ms. Green and Ms. Wagman, too. While they both do all Sweetpea sales and marketing together, Ms. Green takes care of the financial strategy and business planning, and Ms. Wagman oversees food sourcing, dealing with suppliers and product development. "We never overlap," says Ms. Green.
This division of labour is something business analysts say is rare among friends, who often have similar interests and strengths, and can have a huge effect on whether the business will succeed. The Sweetpea founders follow another rule to avoid conflict: they copy each other on every e-mail "so we don't step on each other's toes," says Ms. Wagman.
Another harmonizer, they say, is the fact they have a similar work ethic. "We sacrifice a lot of family time to devote to the business," says Ms. Wagman, "and it would be difficult if one of us felt we were working a lot harder than the other."
Dr. Thornhill says that is one of the stickiest situations for friends in business: "Often there is a real - or perceived -inequity that gets in the way."
Ms. Nisker and Ms. Soer say another thing that keeps them focused on their Spynga business, and out of conflict, is that they not only have the same goal, but also share the same aesthetic sensibilities and passions about how to get there.
"We have the same vision in terms of how we want to grow the business and where we see ourselves," says Ms. Nisker.
The two friends were living and working in New York City when the idea clicked to offer classes combining both their passions: Ms. Soer's cycling and Ms. Nisker's yoga. They realized their shared vision - creating fun classes and a life-changing experiences for customers - would be the driving force and bond for their business partnership.
Still, plenty of business problems can stem from friendship, warns Becky Reuber, who teaches entrepreneurship at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management.
"The danger is exacerbated by the extent to which the business is your family income, the extent to which your family's fate hangs on the business," Dr. Reuber says. "If your whole family fortune is riding on the business, your spouse is going to be anxious, the rest of your family is going to be anxious, and that anxiety will create a lot of pressure," including the fact that spouses may try to involve themselves in the business decisions.
And friends have to be prepared that their partnership may fall apart, Dr. Reuber warns. "Businesses evolve and suddenly one partner decides they have enough money and want to take life easy, while the other partner wants to keep going, or one partner thinks the business is doing badly, while the other may be convinced they have a way to make it succeed."
It's then that a trust in your partner's integrity and judgment are necessary, if the partnership is to survive, she says.
Dr. Thornhill suggests that friends ask themselves this: "If that person weren't your friend, would you be in business with them? Do they have the right skill set? Apply the same filters to a friend as someone you would hire off the street."
On the upside, "it can be great doing business with friends," says Dr. Thornhill. "You have an immediate trust factor in the other person's skills and ability, and if the business is doing well, there is nothing better. "
Making it work
Some tips from the experts about running a business with a friend:
Put your plans and how to deal with contingencies in writing. "First and foremost, write a partnership agreement," says Stewart Thornhill, who teaches at the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey School of Business. "So many do it with a handshake and a smile. It should be like a prenup."
It's best if each friend has complimentary skills. To prevent conflict, you should define beforehand which different areas of the business each person will handle.
Have a solid business plan.
Hire a board of advisers who can give advice removed from the bonds of friendship.
If you don't trust your friend's judgment and integrity, don't go into business with him or her, advises Becky Reuber, of University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management.
Remember, business is business. Your friendship is separate.
Dianne Rinehart
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HCC, chamber to hold jobs fair
Howard Community College, in cooperation with the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, will hold a fall job/career fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 2 in the college's Burrill Galleria, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia.
Representatives from a wide range of large and small companies and organizations will be on hand to discuss opportunities, accept applications and schedule interviews. Visitors are invited to bring resumes for review by the college's career counselors and can access the college's online database for local job postings.
Admission is free and open to everyone.
Information: 410-772-4840 or www.howardcc.edu/career.
Two scholarships announced by panel
The Howard County Committee for Business and Economic Diversity has announced two scholarship opportunities for high school seniors enrolled in the county's public school system: the Howard County General Hospital Rising Business Star Scholarship and the Earl H. Saunders Entrepreneurial Scholarship.
The $1,000 scholarships recognize a public high school senior who is a member of a minority group, a woman or is affected by a disability and has demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit by starting a small business, significantly assisting an existing business or developing a product.
Information or to download application forms: www.hceda. org/CBTD/scholarships.aspx.
Completed applications must be received by March 7. Winners will be announced at the 14th annual CBED Awards program and breakfast gala April 22.
Information: 410-313-6550.
Security firm moves to business center
Systems Security Services Inc., a company providing security consulting services to businesses, has moved its offices to the Howard County Center for Business and Technology Development.
The company integrates technical, physical, administrative and operational solutions to secure critical assets for businesses. A security training program is offered for businesses looking to provide on-site or off-site training for its employees.
Calendar
Sponsors sought // Kangaroo Kids, Howard County's children's precision jump-rope team, is seeking sponsors to help it expand its practice space. The nonprofit organization is seeking donations of 5 to 7 acres and a building or funds to help build a facility. www.kanga rookids.org.
Job skills // Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland will offer a program to help senior citizens learn job skills while working 20 hours a week with nonprofit organizations. The organization's Senior Community Service Employment Program is part of the Older Americans Act; participants must meet certain income requirements. Family and Children's Services has offices in Wilde Lake Village Center in Columbia and Whiskey Bottom Shopping Center in North Laurel, where it shares space with other agencies in the North Laurel-Savage Multiservice Center. Cheryl Ladota, 410-366-8351.
Workshop // The Baltimore Washington Chamber of Commerce will offer a Pre-procurement Fair Workshop from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. today at chamber offices, 312 Marshall Ave., Suite 104, Laurel. The workshop will offer guidance for maximizing opportunities for business development at this year's Baltimore/Washington Regional Government Procurement Fair, to be held from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 23 at the Greenbelt Marriott Hotel. The cost of the workshop is $25 in advance for members; $35 for nonmembers and at the door. Tickets to the Oct. 23 fair are $55 for members; $70 for nonmembers purchasing tickets by Oct. 21. Tickets at the door are $95. 301-725- 4000 or www.baltwashchamber. org.
Job fairs // Howard County General Hospital invites those seeking employment in nursing and allied health professions to attend one of two open-house job fairs, to be held in the hospital's main lobby, 5755 Cedar Lane, Columbia. The events are scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 17. Those who attend will be invited to tour the hospital units, meet management and staff, and learn about employee benefits, including help with college tuition for the children of employees, and participate in on-the-spot interviews. Light refreshments will be served. To see open positions and submit an application: www.hcgh.org. Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.
Vendors sought // Vendors are needed for Howard County's 50+ Expo, to be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 19 at Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia. The 50+ Expo offers a marketing opportunity for vendors interested in reaching senior citizens in the county. Fees for vendors vary. To request a vendor packet or reserve a space: 410-531-5472.
Health plan // Baltimore/Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce and Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are offering a limited health care plan to members. The plan, which does not require employer contributions or minimum employee participation, includes access to health care providers in Alliance PPO. Literature about the plan is available in Spanish. Shirley Redd, 301-725-4000.
Representatives from a wide range of large and small companies and organizations will be on hand to discuss opportunities, accept applications and schedule interviews. Visitors are invited to bring resumes for review by the college's career counselors and can access the college's online database for local job postings.
Admission is free and open to everyone.
Information: 410-772-4840 or www.howardcc.edu/career.
Two scholarships announced by panel
The Howard County Committee for Business and Economic Diversity has announced two scholarship opportunities for high school seniors enrolled in the county's public school system: the Howard County General Hospital Rising Business Star Scholarship and the Earl H. Saunders Entrepreneurial Scholarship.
The $1,000 scholarships recognize a public high school senior who is a member of a minority group, a woman or is affected by a disability and has demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit by starting a small business, significantly assisting an existing business or developing a product.
Information or to download application forms: www.hceda. org/CBTD/scholarships.aspx.
Completed applications must be received by March 7. Winners will be announced at the 14th annual CBED Awards program and breakfast gala April 22.
Information: 410-313-6550.
Security firm moves to business center
Systems Security Services Inc., a company providing security consulting services to businesses, has moved its offices to the Howard County Center for Business and Technology Development.
The company integrates technical, physical, administrative and operational solutions to secure critical assets for businesses. A security training program is offered for businesses looking to provide on-site or off-site training for its employees.
Calendar
Sponsors sought // Kangaroo Kids, Howard County's children's precision jump-rope team, is seeking sponsors to help it expand its practice space. The nonprofit organization is seeking donations of 5 to 7 acres and a building or funds to help build a facility. www.kanga rookids.org.
Job skills // Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland will offer a program to help senior citizens learn job skills while working 20 hours a week with nonprofit organizations. The organization's Senior Community Service Employment Program is part of the Older Americans Act; participants must meet certain income requirements. Family and Children's Services has offices in Wilde Lake Village Center in Columbia and Whiskey Bottom Shopping Center in North Laurel, where it shares space with other agencies in the North Laurel-Savage Multiservice Center. Cheryl Ladota, 410-366-8351.
Workshop // The Baltimore Washington Chamber of Commerce will offer a Pre-procurement Fair Workshop from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. today at chamber offices, 312 Marshall Ave., Suite 104, Laurel. The workshop will offer guidance for maximizing opportunities for business development at this year's Baltimore/Washington Regional Government Procurement Fair, to be held from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 23 at the Greenbelt Marriott Hotel. The cost of the workshop is $25 in advance for members; $35 for nonmembers and at the door. Tickets to the Oct. 23 fair are $55 for members; $70 for nonmembers purchasing tickets by Oct. 21. Tickets at the door are $95. 301-725- 4000 or www.baltwashchamber. org.
Job fairs // Howard County General Hospital invites those seeking employment in nursing and allied health professions to attend one of two open-house job fairs, to be held in the hospital's main lobby, 5755 Cedar Lane, Columbia. The events are scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 17. Those who attend will be invited to tour the hospital units, meet management and staff, and learn about employee benefits, including help with college tuition for the children of employees, and participate in on-the-spot interviews. Light refreshments will be served. To see open positions and submit an application: www.hcgh.org. Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.
Vendors sought // Vendors are needed for Howard County's 50+ Expo, to be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 19 at Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia. The 50+ Expo offers a marketing opportunity for vendors interested in reaching senior citizens in the county. Fees for vendors vary. To request a vendor packet or reserve a space: 410-531-5472.
Health plan // Baltimore/Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce and Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are offering a limited health care plan to members. The plan, which does not require employer contributions or minimum employee participation, includes access to health care providers in Alliance PPO. Literature about the plan is available in Spanish. Shirley Redd, 301-725-4000.
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These Desktops Mean Business
Businesses in the market for new
desktop computers should take heart, as there are several great new
models to choose from. Some are general business computers, which would
be at home in an office of any size, but we're also seeing more that
are geared towards small businesses, as well as "green" computers,
which will save money in energy costs at the same time they're helping
the environment.
While it's seldom true that one size fits all, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M55e
is an exception. This Editors' Choice desktop is equally at home in a
small or mid-sized business as it is in a huge conglomerate. It comes
with top-notch hardware, and forward-looking technologies galore.
The Dell Vostro 200,
on the other hand, is aimed squarely at smallish (1 to 30 employees)
independent offices. It includes a host of small-business resources, as
well tech support geared to offices that can't or won't staff a
full-time IT person. It also comes with goodies such as 10GB of online
storage.
Although not marketed as an SMB (small-to-medium-business) PC, the HP DX2300
is priced with that market in mind. Though the base model is saddled
with an aging Pentium 4 processor, the system has all your typical
employees will need, and is highly expandable should you require more.
Businesses are learning the value of "green" computing, not only to
the environment and their reputations, but to the bottom line. The
energy efficiency of eco-friendly computers not only saves electricity
and money in operating them, their cool running also reduces the firm's
air-conditioning bills. The HP rp5700 Desktop PC is a general business PC that meets stringent ecological standards, and it's built to last.
No matter what size business you're in, if you're involved in the
purchase of desktop computers, there are some exciting new models well
worth your time to check out.
Featured in this Roundup
Lenovo ThinkCentre M55e ($1,259 direct, $1,619 with 22-inch widescreen LCD monitor)
Lenovo's
latest business desktop comes in a small form factor, offers Intel's
latest components (including integrated Intel GMA 3000 graphics, a
dual-core Core 2 Duo processor, and DDR2 667-MHz memory), and has such
enterprise-worthy features as a fingerprint reader, a communications
headset, and a webcam.
HP DX2300 ($563 direct)
The
HP dx2300 minitower is an optimal worker-bee PC: not too expensive and
able to keep your clerical and frontline workers swarming on the
productive side.
Dell Vostro 200 ($899 direct, E-Value Code OC brde2ph)
Dell's
first small-business desktop is basically the business doppelganger of
the Inspiron: similar case, specs, and configurations, but it is all
business and comes with Vstore services that tailor it for the SMB
space.
HP rp5700 Desktop PC ($1,299 direct)
The HP rp5700 is an energy-efficient PC designed to keep your business running on a platform that lasts as long as possible.
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Monday, October 01, 2007
Tailored programmes for building leadership skills
In the past 10 months, four groups of senior managers from Axa Asia Pacific Holdings have undergone an intensive executive education course designed to deepen their knowledge of who they are and where their employer is going.
Each four-day residential course on emotional intelligence and futures thinking, run by Melbourne Business School (MBS) at a beachfront Hong Kong hotel, has cost the insurer and asset manager around HK$700,000, says Shubhro Mitra, regional organisational development director for Axa in Hong Kong.
A local programme may have cost less, he says, but "I don't think we could have got the competence and quality we are getting from the MBS." Demand for non-degree executive education programmes is on the rise in Asia's emerging markets as companies operating in the region seek to extend the focus of local leaders from operational imperatives to managing diversity, risk and innovation. Demand for such courses is also strengthening in Australia as the retirement of baby boomers and global competition for management talent have made building a strong executive pipeline a priority for many companies.
"As the war for talent gains traction, organisations have been demanding programmes that deliver management skills and leadership development in a relatively short time period," says Craig Hawke, director for corporate and executive education at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management in Sydney. While institutions in Asia now offer a raft of executive education courses, a growing number of Australia-based companies are engaging tried and tested business education providers to deliver programmes for their managers based in Asia or further afield.
"We have been doing good work with Axa [in Melbourne] which led them to ask us to help them out in Asia," says John Seybolt, dean of MBS, which is running 40 international executive programmes this year for 11 of its corporate clients. Customised programmes (designed for one company) are the fastest growing segment of the executive education field in Australia.
"The most important thing for us was to find a partner who was really prepared to put their content together in a way that was most useful for us," says Kate Lonergan, who oversees management development at Qantas.
The Australian airline has partnerships with two business schools: MGSM runs its in-house senior executive programme while the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) in Sydney runs a customised programme for its emerging leaders. "Our business is growing really fast and our main focus is ensuring we have an adequate pipeline of leaders coming through to enable that growth," says Lonergan. When choosing programmes, more employers are opting for those led by facilitators with significant real-world business experience. "The real test for us in selecting a programme is who is conducting [it]," says Mitra at Axa.
"The MBS facilitator for our future thinking course was great because he wasn't a professor; he was a former chief executive." While it is "still too early to say what changes in culture" have resulted from Axa's Asia Enterprise leadership programme, Mitra says some participants are already applying futures thinking in their strategy plans for 2008. Qantas has not yet formally assessed the extent of increased capability resulting from its senior executive programme. But Lonergan stresses that the residential-based courses run by MGSM are only one part of a nine-month programme that also includes executive coaching and on-the-job project work.
As employers increasingly view executive education as a key tool to retain and develop local talent, some companies are turning to business education to help prepare younger, or less experienced, employees for future leadership roles. BHP Billiton recently launched a three-year leadership development programme for 900 new graduates working at the miner's operations across the globe.
"BHP want to make sure that [participants] are prepared for leadership challenges in the early phase of their career and get wedded to the culture of BHP," says Seybolt of the MBS, which is running the programme in partnership with universities in Santiago, Chile, and in Cape Town.
"So they will want to stay with the corporation for a much longer part of their career." The desire to prepare future leaders for their roles more quickly and comprehensively also led to the launch last year of the Accelerated Learning Laboratory, a collaborative venture between the AGSM, the University of Sydney school of psychology and seven commercial partners.
About 40 Qantas employees are soon to start the programme, which includes simulations, role play, team-building and strategy exercises, as well as coaching and on-the-job assessments.
"The programme is very practical as the issues [participants] face in their work are replicated in the lab," says Lonergan.
"They are able to practise a new skill in a very safe environment until they get it right and then come back to the workplace and apply it. So they are making the mistakes in the lab, not on the job."
Each four-day residential course on emotional intelligence and futures thinking, run by Melbourne Business School (MBS) at a beachfront Hong Kong hotel, has cost the insurer and asset manager around HK$700,000, says Shubhro Mitra, regional organisational development director for Axa in Hong Kong.
A local programme may have cost less, he says, but "I don't think we could have got the competence and quality we are getting from the MBS." Demand for non-degree executive education programmes is on the rise in Asia's emerging markets as companies operating in the region seek to extend the focus of local leaders from operational imperatives to managing diversity, risk and innovation. Demand for such courses is also strengthening in Australia as the retirement of baby boomers and global competition for management talent have made building a strong executive pipeline a priority for many companies.
"As the war for talent gains traction, organisations have been demanding programmes that deliver management skills and leadership development in a relatively short time period," says Craig Hawke, director for corporate and executive education at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management in Sydney. While institutions in Asia now offer a raft of executive education courses, a growing number of Australia-based companies are engaging tried and tested business education providers to deliver programmes for their managers based in Asia or further afield.
"We have been doing good work with Axa [in Melbourne] which led them to ask us to help them out in Asia," says John Seybolt, dean of MBS, which is running 40 international executive programmes this year for 11 of its corporate clients. Customised programmes (designed for one company) are the fastest growing segment of the executive education field in Australia.
"The most important thing for us was to find a partner who was really prepared to put their content together in a way that was most useful for us," says Kate Lonergan, who oversees management development at Qantas.
The Australian airline has partnerships with two business schools: MGSM runs its in-house senior executive programme while the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) in Sydney runs a customised programme for its emerging leaders. "Our business is growing really fast and our main focus is ensuring we have an adequate pipeline of leaders coming through to enable that growth," says Lonergan. When choosing programmes, more employers are opting for those led by facilitators with significant real-world business experience. "The real test for us in selecting a programme is who is conducting [it]," says Mitra at Axa.
"The MBS facilitator for our future thinking course was great because he wasn't a professor; he was a former chief executive." While it is "still too early to say what changes in culture" have resulted from Axa's Asia Enterprise leadership programme, Mitra says some participants are already applying futures thinking in their strategy plans for 2008. Qantas has not yet formally assessed the extent of increased capability resulting from its senior executive programme. But Lonergan stresses that the residential-based courses run by MGSM are only one part of a nine-month programme that also includes executive coaching and on-the-job project work.
As employers increasingly view executive education as a key tool to retain and develop local talent, some companies are turning to business education to help prepare younger, or less experienced, employees for future leadership roles. BHP Billiton recently launched a three-year leadership development programme for 900 new graduates working at the miner's operations across the globe.
"BHP want to make sure that [participants] are prepared for leadership challenges in the early phase of their career and get wedded to the culture of BHP," says Seybolt of the MBS, which is running the programme in partnership with universities in Santiago, Chile, and in Cape Town.
"So they will want to stay with the corporation for a much longer part of their career." The desire to prepare future leaders for their roles more quickly and comprehensively also led to the launch last year of the Accelerated Learning Laboratory, a collaborative venture between the AGSM, the University of Sydney school of psychology and seven commercial partners.
About 40 Qantas employees are soon to start the programme, which includes simulations, role play, team-building and strategy exercises, as well as coaching and on-the-job assessments.
"The programme is very practical as the issues [participants] face in their work are replicated in the lab," says Lonergan.
"They are able to practise a new skill in a very safe environment until they get it right and then come back to the workplace and apply it. So they are making the mistakes in the lab, not on the job."
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GE (GE) says 50% of business will be overseas
The tipping point has come and GE (NYSE:GE) says that more than 50% of its sales will be international this year. The company, quoted by Reuters said "business in emerging markets was growing at more than twice the pace of developed markets and was likely to expand by 20 percent a year for the next several years."
GE is assuming that its sales in the US will actually slow while revenue in India, Russia, China, and other large overseas markets will pick up. Most of these emerging markets are improving their infrastructure which plays in GE's strength in industrial and infrastructure construction and management.
But, the news is double-edged. Governments in many developing countries are much less stable than they are in the . And, in markets such as Russia, Nigeria, Indonesia, China and Saudi Arabia, totalitarian governments may not elect to let companies pursue unlimited growth. Venezuela recently pushed out several international oil companies and there is no reason to believe that this kind of behavior will be isolated to that country
Increasing business in the developing work is as much about diplomacy as it is about products and services. GE may want to hire some people from the State Department.
GE is assuming that its sales in the US will actually slow while revenue in India, Russia, China, and other large overseas markets will pick up. Most of these emerging markets are improving their infrastructure which plays in GE's strength in industrial and infrastructure construction and management.
But, the news is double-edged. Governments in many developing countries are much less stable than they are in the . And, in markets such as Russia, Nigeria, Indonesia, China and Saudi Arabia, totalitarian governments may not elect to let companies pursue unlimited growth. Venezuela recently pushed out several international oil companies and there is no reason to believe that this kind of behavior will be isolated to that country
Increasing business in the developing work is as much about diplomacy as it is about products and services. GE may want to hire some people from the State Department.
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Citizen Media Business Issues: Overview
October 1st, 2007 by Ryan McGrady
(This is the second in a series of postings about citizen media business issues. See the introduction here.)
The recent rise of citizen journalism owes a lot to the lowering
cost and rising accessibility of the internet and online technologies.
We’re at the point where many citizen journalist websites are
increasingly difficult to distinguish from mainstream media sites in
terms of presentation and quality of content.
While it may be free and require little effort to create a Blogger account and editorialize about topics that interest you, developing and maintaining a citizen journalism site like OhMyNews, SlashDot, Gotham Gazette, or H2o Town
takes significant resources (whether it be money, time, or people). The
question then becomes how to either make money or at least recoup the
costs you incur.
There are several sources of revenue and business models available. While the best option for you may be the ubiquitous Google AdSense
bar of text advertisements, there are many other options to be
considered that may better suit your site and your readers. Maybe, for
instance, you’d prefer to link your readers to Amazon,
where they can pick up that spectacular documentary you were raving
about or maybe your style is more conducive to offering cutely-branded
t-shirts.
Before you decide on a particular model, take some time to consider
what effects and implications each will bring. While a more detailed
review and comparison will come after the individual discussions, there
appear to be a few common factors to keep in mind. These core ethical
and/or strategic themes will probably come as no surprise:
Trust – Long-term success depends on the trust of
your readers, which doesn’t only relate to factual accuracy, honesty,
and reliability. If your readers love your content but feel tricked,
annoyed, or put off in some way by blatant money-making attempts, they
might think twice about returning. Beyond simply getting people to
return, trust also breeds referrals and links and therefore
exponentially-increasing traffic. Trust is paramount.
Value – The best kind of revenue model is one that
adds value to the reader’s experience. It provides an avenue for more
information, a convenient link to buy something relevant, or perhaps a
welcome deal on a product or service that the reader has interest in.
Creativity – Nobody wants to feel like a target
market or a potential ad click. Anybody who has used the web to some
extent knows how we subconsciously tune out certain types of marketing.
Numerous studies have been done on optimizing advertisement space in
terms of where people are most likely to look or click, but there’s
something to be said for less-scientific creativity.
(Ryan McGrady is a new media graduate student at Emerson College where he is studying knowledge, identity, and ideas in the information age.)
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What Is The Right Age To Start Up A Business?
Is it in the first flush of youth or as you get older and wiser?
Hmm… Well lets have a look shall we?
There’s much to be said for starting a business when you are younger. You have the energy to be working 24/7 plus as well you may not yet have a family so your focus could easily be on longer working days. That said, would you have the necessary skills to set up your business? Probably not.
You may never have had to sack anyone before or hire anyone. You may not be particularly savvy as to what a bank looks for in a business proposal. The fact remains that you may have built up little personal security such as a property against which to secure a bank loan. Your network of contacts may not be very well developed.
Anyway, enough of the down cast talking! On the upside, you will have bags of enthusiasm. You will probably have that all important “can do” attitude. Your dreams will seem totally achievable. Small problems will be just that - small and you will be able to get over them. You may have more of a disposable income with little to tie you down if you need to move to a different part of the country (or even a different country!) to start up the business.
One thing is for sure too - you won’t have any of the “baggage” that comes with old age. You know the, “Well it didn’t work out for my mate Jim when he went into business for himself, so I don’t think I’ll succeed either. I’m not even going to try it!”
Of course, on the flip side, with age does come that experience. You know what you are letting yourself in for and will be prepared to go it alone. You’ll have a clearer understanding of life in general, knowing that life never works out as planned and therefore you’ll probably be more cautious in your attitude of going self employed. You will have a clearer understanding of how a business should and shouldn’t work - probably having worked in commerce for a number of years longer than your junior counterparts. Banks and other institutions are probably going to be more comfortable lending money to a more mature person, plus you will have had time to build up some savings to fund your venture.
So what’s the perfect age to go it alone in business? Well there’s certainly advantages to both being young and old when you start up, but my money would be on being young enough to have the fire in your belly to do it, but old enough to know better whilst still being prepared to do it anyway!
Hmm… Well lets have a look shall we?
There’s much to be said for starting a business when you are younger. You have the energy to be working 24/7 plus as well you may not yet have a family so your focus could easily be on longer working days. That said, would you have the necessary skills to set up your business? Probably not.
You may never have had to sack anyone before or hire anyone. You may not be particularly savvy as to what a bank looks for in a business proposal. The fact remains that you may have built up little personal security such as a property against which to secure a bank loan. Your network of contacts may not be very well developed.
Anyway, enough of the down cast talking! On the upside, you will have bags of enthusiasm. You will probably have that all important “can do” attitude. Your dreams will seem totally achievable. Small problems will be just that - small and you will be able to get over them. You may have more of a disposable income with little to tie you down if you need to move to a different part of the country (or even a different country!) to start up the business.
One thing is for sure too - you won’t have any of the “baggage” that comes with old age. You know the, “Well it didn’t work out for my mate Jim when he went into business for himself, so I don’t think I’ll succeed either. I’m not even going to try it!”
Of course, on the flip side, with age does come that experience. You know what you are letting yourself in for and will be prepared to go it alone. You’ll have a clearer understanding of life in general, knowing that life never works out as planned and therefore you’ll probably be more cautious in your attitude of going self employed. You will have a clearer understanding of how a business should and shouldn’t work - probably having worked in commerce for a number of years longer than your junior counterparts. Banks and other institutions are probably going to be more comfortable lending money to a more mature person, plus you will have had time to build up some savings to fund your venture.
So what’s the perfect age to go it alone in business? Well there’s certainly advantages to both being young and old when you start up, but my money would be on being young enough to have the fire in your belly to do it, but old enough to know better whilst still being prepared to do it anyway!
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Sunday, September 30, 2007
Biz Stream is back!
After a looong absence from this site..We have decided to come back and revive the Biz Stream Dream.. :P anyway, so stay tuned for all the latest news from around the world.
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