We hear a lot about the high costs of being overweight—that, for instance, obesity adds $150 billion to our annual health care costs. Yesterday, though, at a casino in Florida, there was a financial bonus for being heavy: …
Don’t Make These Mistakes at Your New Job
Taking on a new assignment is exciting. But it’s not easy. Here are three common mistakes people make when moving to a new job and how to avoid them:
‘ING Direct’ Name to Disappear: Customers Disgusted as Capital One Swallows Favorite Online Bank
Ever since the Federal Reserve approved Capital One’s takeover of ING Direct, customers have feared that their beloved bright-orange online bank would change. Turns out they were right to be scared, as a recent notice is circulating announcing that the “ING Direct” name will disappear, probably next year. What else is going to change?
New Comcast Service Aims at Netflix as Video Wars Heat Up
Comcast, the nation’s largest cable company, is launching a new video-on-demand service aimed squarely at Netflix, in a move that illustrates accelerating competition for advantage over the digital living room. The new service, …
Hey, They Were Listening: Some Banks Reinstate Free Checking
Consumers love to gripe about the scarcity of free checking and ever-increasing bank fees. But something funny happened in the second half of 2011 that belies the narrative of being nickel-and-dimed by the big banks: The …
Which Retailers Have the Most Satisfied Customers?
A new study reveals that people who shop at Amazon, Costco, Publix, and Nordstrom are among the happiest consumers of late. Walmart and Netflix customers, on the other hand, aren’t particularly pleased.
Curious CapitalistEconomy
Will High Gas Prices Hurt Obama?
Fears over conflict in the Middle East are pushing gasoline towards the $4 per gallon mark. What will that mean for the presidential elections?
Boo! Ghostwriting Grows in Age of ‘Book as Badge’
The craft of ghostwriting is a dark art of sorts, replete with secrecy and scandal. But lately, it’s also becoming a booming business.
Ghostwriters, once the preserve of politicians and celebrities, are in demand by a
…
Your Facebook Profile Can Predict Your Job Performance
It can take as little as 10 minutes for someone to go through your Facebook profile and predict how you’ll perform in the workplace.
The Return of Television Rabbit Ears?
Getting TV stations through the airwaves may seem like an anachronism in the age of streaming video online. But actually, the rise of Hulu and Netflix seems to be helping the rabbit ear industry.
Gas Prices Already Top $4 a Gallon in Three States
Consumers have been warned to expect a gallon of regular to cost $4 by springtime. For drivers in three states, four bucks or more per gallon is already a reality.
Compete To Be Unique, Not the Best
Most companies want to be the best at what they do. But in the vast majority of business, there is no such thing as “the best.” Trying to imitate rivals will get you nowhere: It’s impossible to do exactly what your competitors are doing and end up with superior results. Customers choose different products and services for different …