2013

article thumbnail

Mish Fined 8,000 Euros for Quoting French Blog

MishTalk

'A few days ago I learned, via a French blog, that I was fined 8,000 euros for quoting a French blogger. I would have known earlier, but the letter notifying me of the fine was sent in French. In an earlier express letter packet, I could make out a few of the words, in particular noting a summons to appear before a tribunal in France. Needless to say, I did not go.

article thumbnail

A legacy of Mandela

Seth Godin Blog

'Others can better write about Nelson Mandela''s impact on the world stage, on how he stood up for the dignity of all people and on how he changed our world. For those that seek to make a change in the world, whether global or local, one lesson of his life is this: You can. You can make a difference. You can stand up to insurmountable forces. You can put up with far more than you think you can.

55
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Injecting the Fun Factor into Customer Service

1 to 1

'Good customer service is difficult to come by these days, but even more elusive is fun service. Some companies like Southwest Airlines and Zappos rely on laughter to stand out from the competition. In fact, Zappos, famed for its customer service that goes the extra mile for customers, has created a company culture that instills having fun on the job.

article thumbnail

How Leaders Mistake Execution for Strategy - Strategy+Business

Strategy+Business

''

article thumbnail

PowerPoint Best Practices for Creating Stellar Presentations

Mastering data visualization in PowerPoint will help accelerate your career because it positions you as someone who can present data that drives business decisions forward. think-cell's PowerPoint Best Practices eBook was created specifically for professionals aiming to master the art and science of data-driven storytelling. What’s inside: Practical Insights: Uncover valuable tips for crafting engaging and persuasive presentations.

article thumbnail

Why Common Core Will Fail

The Nonprofit Consultant

'You''ve likely heard or read about Common Core by now. The latest in educational "fixes," promoted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Governors Association, and the Obama administration, the Common Core initiative was developed "to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce." And it will fail to improve our failing schools, wasting time, resources, and money in the process.

Nonprofit 116

More Trending

article thumbnail

Unnecessary Surgeries? You Bet! Doctors Treat Patients as ATMs; US Healthcare System Explained in Six Succinct Points

MishTalk

'There is little to no incentive in the healthcare industry to hold down costs. Worse yet, the rewards for performing unnecessary surgeries is huge, while the risks of doing them are essentially nonexistent. Here are a couple of articles that show what I mean. Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy Rises as Doctors Profit. Bloomberg reports Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy Rises as Doctors Profit.

article thumbnail

Rich Don't Pay Most of the Taxes (They Pay All of Them); Reflections on the "Almost Rich"

MishTalk

'Counting transfer payments such as foods stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, and other government welfare, Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis shows the top 40% pay 106% of all taxes (more than all of them). In turn the bottom 60% get money back. Please consider The rich do not pay the most taxes, they pay ALL the taxes by CNBC reporter Jane Wells. Buried inside a Congressional Budget Office report this week was this nugget: when it comes to individual income taxes, the top 40 percent of wage ea

Report 78
article thumbnail

Eight Choices for "Generation Wait"; Percentage of Young Adults Moving Hits 50-Year Low

MishTalk

'When you do not have job (or have a low paying job), and are stuck with education costs that you cannot possibly pay back, what do you do? Eight Unfortunate Choices You stay in school accumulating debt You go back to school accumulating debt You move back home You share an apartment with others You delay marriage You delay having kids You delay buying a house You wish and hope and pray for better times Those choices are not mutually exclusive.

Groups 78
article thumbnail

India Housing Bubble Bursts; Panic Coming Next

MishTalk

'On August 1, in India Housing Bubble Still Expanding I posted a series of charts by Deepak Shenoy, an economic blogger at Capital Mind in India. Those charts showed the bubble in India was alive and growing. Here is one of the charts and a small bit of commentary. As of March 2013, Prices have more than doubled since 2009. The All-India Index is at 211, from 100 in March 2009.

article thumbnail

How to Stay Competitive in the Evolving State of Martech

Marketing technology is essential for B2B marketers to stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape — and with 53% of marketers experiencing legacy technology issues and limitations, they’re researching innovations to expand and refine their technology stacks. To help practitioners keep up with the rapidly evolving martech landscape, this special report will discuss: How practitioners are integrating technologies and systems to encourage information-sharing between departments and pr

article thumbnail

Fiscal Crisis in Chicago: Pensions 31% Funded, Moody's Downgrades Debt 3 Notches, Pension Liability is $61,000 Per Household; Mish's Proposed Solutions

MishTalk

'Move over Detroit. The fiscal crisis in Chicago is far bigger. Pensions 31% funded. Moody''s downgraded Chicago Debt 3 Notches (just 4 steps above junk). City debt on negative watch. Pension Liability is $61,000 Per Household ($23,000 Per Capita). Via email, Ted Dabrowski at the Illinois Policy Center writes. While all eyes are focused on a solution for Illinois’ state-run pension systems, Chicago’s own debt crisis is looming.

article thumbnail

Texas Welfare Recipient Says "Working is Stupid"

MishTalk

'Please consider the viewpoint of a 32-year old Austin Texas welfare recipient who says working is stupid because she gets nearly free housing, food stamps, a welfare check, and other handouts. Mike "Mish" Shedlock [link] Mike "Mish" Shedlock is a registered investment advisor representative for SitkaPacific Capital Management. Sitka Pacific is an asset management firm whose goal is strong performance and low volatility, regardless of market direction.

article thumbnail

France Seeks Another Tax on Facebook, Google And YouTube, to Finance "French Culture" Cinema

MishTalk

'The economic stupidity in France is astounding. It''s hard keeping up with all the inane ideas of President Francois Hollande''s socialist administration. Here''s another one of Hollande''s ideas for your amusement. RT reports French broadcasting watchdog CSA eager to tax YouTube, Facebook, Dailymotion France''s Superior Council of Audiovisual, an independent broadcasting authority, wants to impose taxes on media giants like YouTube, Facebook and Dailymotion to force them to contribute to finan

Finance 78
article thumbnail

Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis: Spain Levies Consumption.

MishTalk

'MISHS. Global Economic. Trend Analysis. Home. Contact. Advertisers. Sitka Pacific. Recent Posts. Featured Links. GoldMoney: The Best Way to Buy Gold & Silver. Dollar Collapse News on the Dollar's Death Spiral. Minyanville Business and Market News. Patrick Housing Crash News Top Housing and Commercial Real Estate News. Get Involved The State of the Unions Finances: A Citizens Guide.

article thumbnail

Savings Consultants Are Needed in Today's Market More Than Ever

Savings Consultants are needed in today’s market more than ever. With an increase in expenses, businesses are looking for opportunities to save. Often unknown to businesses are savings in expense reduction, specialized tax savings, specialized savings including medical underpayments, health benefits cost reduction, zero cost processing, and more. Blue Coast Savings, with over 20 years in business, assists Savings Consultants in helping these companies move toward more profitable businesses.

article thumbnail

Income Inequality Explained: Why Wages Don't, Won't, and Can't Keep Up With Productivity

MishTalk

'By now, everyone is well aware that real wages have not kept up worker productivity. But why is that? The Fed, government bureaucrats, and economists are puzzled by the phenomenon as well as what to do about it. I can explain easily, but first let''s zero in on what is happening. Workers Don''t Share in Companies'' Productivity Gains. In stark contrast to the great American dream, CNN notes Workers don''t share in companies'' productivity gains.

article thumbnail

Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis: Avalanche of City Debt.

MishTalk

'MISHS. Global Economic. Trend Analysis. Home. Contact. Advertisers. Sitka Pacific. Recent Posts. Featured Links. GoldMoney: The Best Way to Buy Gold & Silver. Dollar Collapse News on the Dollar's Death Spiral. Minyanville Business and Market News. Patrick Housing Crash News Top Housing and Commercial Real Estate News. Get Involved The State of the Unions Finances: A Citizens Guide.

Trends 78
article thumbnail

Italy's "Pitchfork Protests" Spread to Rome; Interior Minister Warns of "Drift Into Rebellion"

MishTalk

'Over the past four days "pitchfork protests" have spread to numerous cities, disrupting road and rail travel in protest of the state of the economy. The pitchfork movement started with a loose group of Sicilian farmers concerned about rising taxes and cuts to agricultural state funds, then evolved into a nationwide umbrella grouping of truckers, small businessman, the unemployed, low-paid workers, rightwing extremists and ultras football supporters according to IBTimes.

article thumbnail

Reflections on "A Moral Obscenity": How Long Ago Was a War Against Syria Decided?

MishTalk

'Secretary of State John Kerry says the use of chemical weapons in Syria is " a moral obscenity ". With that clue (and many others), note that Obama prepares wary US public for war with Syria. The White House has begun to prepare a wary US public for military action in Syria, with a flurry of well-publicised meetings of the administration’s national security team, backed by a statement by secretary of state, John Kerry, calling the regime’s use of chemical weapons “a moral obscenity”.

article thumbnail

TOOLS and METHODOLOGIES for developing DECISION SUPPORT PACKAGES

This White Paper targets opportunities for Management to develop proficiency in the Decision Framing and Analyses element of input to Decision, & Risk Analyses for Major Project Funding Decisions.

article thumbnail

Lettuce Bot - Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis

MishTalk

'MISHS. Global Economic. Trend Analysis. Home. Contact. Advertisers. Sitka Pacific. Recent Posts. Featured Links. GoldMoney: The Best Way to Buy Gold & Silver. Dollar Collapse News on the Dollar's Death Spiral. Minyanville Business and Market News. Patrick Housing Crash News Top Housing and Commercial Real Estate News. Get Involved The State of the Unions Finances: A Citizens Guide.

article thumbnail

3D-Printing Spare Human Parts; Ears and Jaws Already, Livers Coming Up ; Need an Organ? Just Print It

MishTalk

'Science marches on at a blistering pace. The star-trek "replicator" that seemed preposterously far-fetched is now here. For example: Accidentally cut your ear off? Just 3D print a new one. This week, researchers at Hangzhou Dianzi University. in China unveiled their Regenovo 3D printer. Unlike more familiar 3D. printers, which work with plastic or metal dust, Regenovo prints living. tissue – such as these little ears.

article thumbnail

Just How Distorted is the U.S. Unemployment Rate Number?

MishTalk

'On the first Friday of every month, I go through the jobs report and note the grossly distorted statistics. For example, please see BLS in Wonderland written Friday, September 6. Every month I conclude with a couple paragraphs like these: Grossly Distorted Statistics. Were it not for people dropping out of the labor force, the unemployment rate would be over 9%.

Data 78
article thumbnail

94.4% of Crisis Aid Went to the Financial Sector; Surprise? Or Not?

MishTalk

'Inquiring minds just might be asking "Where the hell did all the fiscal stimulus, financial aid, and monetary stimulus go?". It''s a damn good question. And I have the percentage answer for Spain (by Spain''s own admission). Results would be similar for any country you look at (including the US). For example, every penny of QE went to Wall Street and distressed banks, not the average Joe on the street.

article thumbnail

Why You Need to Use Case Studies in Sales and Marketing (and How to Start Now)

Case studies are proof of successful client relations and a verifiable product or service. They persuade buyers by highlighting your customers' experiences with your company and its solution. In sales, case studies are crucial pieces of content that can be tailored to prospects' pain points and used throughout the buyer's journey. In marketing, case studies are versatile assets for generating business, providing reusable elements for ad and social media content, website material, and marketing c

article thumbnail

Security Founder John McAfee: "Obamacare is a Hacker’s Wet Dream"

MishTalk

'Security founder John McAfee of McAfee Associates, a computer anti-virus company, reflects on Obamacare: " This Is A Hacker''s Wet Dream ". NEIL CAVUTO: What do you make [of Obamacare]? Obviously, a lot of people have been focusing on the law but not really cognizant of the privacy part of the law, and how hackers could have a field day with it. Is it that bad?

System 78
article thumbnail

US Debt Already Exceeds Debt Limit by $48 Billion Minimum; Gold vs. Debt Ceiling

MishTalk

'A few days ago, a reader sent me a chart of the price of gold vs. the national debt. The chart was a bit out of date so I asked Nick at Sharelynx Gold (my favorite proprietor of historical and current gold charts) if he had a similar chart. He did. And here''s the chart. Debt and Debt Ceiling vs. Gold. click on chart for sharper image. Please note that the current debt limit is $16.699 trillion.

article thumbnail

Illinois Teachers Pension Fund is 40% Funded, Drops Deeper Into Hole Despite Investment Return of 12.8%; What's the Solution?

MishTalk

'In spite of a 12.8% annual return, with an 8% return assumption, the Illinois Teachers Retirement System (TRS) fell another $3.5 billion in the hole. TRS pension underfunding grew to $55.73 billion as of June 30, 2013. Via email, the Illinois Policy Institute explains the growing liability. First, TRS only has $0.40 in the bank for every dollar it should have today to make necessary pension payouts in the future.

System 78
article thumbnail

Government Shutdown is a Fantastic Idea

MishTalk

'Looking for a reason to support a government shutdown? If so, please consider Obama Stripped to Skeleton Staff in a Government Shutdown. A U.S. government shutdown means President Barack Obama will have fewer people to cook meals, do the laundry, clean the floors or change the light bulbs, according to a White House contingency plan. About three-fourths of president’s 1,701-person staff would be sent home.

article thumbnail

The Art of Remote Collaboration: How to Successfully Whiteboard with Remote Teams

Just because we're working with a distributed team doesn't mean we have to abandon time-tested tools and methods like whiteboarding. Digital look-alikes often cramp creativity and all but eliminate the humanity of shared interactions. Hardware solutions are also limiting and, of course, expensive and immobile. In an increasingly digital and remote-first world, it’s important for us to select tools and processes that allow us to mitigate if not eliminate the above problems.