Brian Austin's Tumblr

Spirit Airlines features ad based on Tiger Woods' crash

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:19:20 -0500

Spirit Airlines features ad based on Tiger Woods' crash:

Ad shows a tiger crashing an SUV into a fire hydrant.

Waste no time when it comes to exploiting the topic du jour for advertising.

Restaurants Sue Vendor for Unsecured Card Processor

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Restaurants Sue Vendor for Unsecured Card Processor:

Threat Level details a class-action suit against Georgia-based Radiant Systems for producing a point-of-sale (POS) system that they say was not compliant with payment card industry security standards and resulted in an undetermined number of customers having their debit and credit card numbers stolen. The filing shows gross negligence on the part of Radiant and offers an interesting addition to the more high profile intrusions of TJ Maxx and Dave & Busters which preceded it.

I Was Wrong: There Probably Will Be an Electronic Pearl Harbor

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:00:00 -0500

I Was Wrong: There Probably Will Be an Electronic Pearl Harbor:

Ira Winkler says the emerging smart grid makes doomsayers’ unlikely predictions more likely

An excellent piece which revisits the last few years of doomsday predictions and the changes that have taken place which make those threats more likely now.

Why We Have An Independent Fed (and why it should stay that way.)

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:12:29 -0500

Why We Have An Independent Fed (and why it should stay that way.):

An independent central bank can focus on monetary policies for the long term; that is, policies targeting low and stable inflation and a monetary climate that promotes long-term economic growth. Political cycles, alas, are considerably shorter. Without independence from the political cycle the central bank would be subject to political pressures, which in turn would impart an inflationary bias to monetary policy. In this area politicians in a democratic society are shortsighted because they are driven by the need to win their next election. This is supported by empirical evidence. A politically insulated central bank is more likely to be concerned with long-run objectives.

Mecklenburg unemployment rises to 11.1%

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:54:19 -0500

Mecklenburg unemployment rises to 11.1%:

The unemployment rate in Mecklenburg County grew to 11.1 percent in October from 10.9 percent in September.

In October, 51,549 residents were unemployed among the county’s labor force of 462,755, according to the N.C. Employment Security Commission.

Unemployment continues to rise despite economic recovery, as was expected.

A less stuffy dress code is among GM's changes

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:39:23 -0500

A less stuffy dress code is among GM's changes:

The signs of change were everywhere during a recent visit to General Motors’ Detroit headquarters: blue jeans.

An employee memo earlier this month from GM’s Mary Barra, vice president of global human resources, announced the company’s button-down dress code was loosening up.

“As we work to create the New GM with a new culture that includes personal accountability, our existing dress code seems outdated,” Barra wrote. “Going forward, our dress code policy is ‘Dress appropriately.’ “

It’s been a change that has thrown some workers off.

One worker called Barra’s office “two or three times and said, ‘I really need to know if I can wear jeans,’ ” a person familiar with the call said.

The Cyberwar Plan

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:33:21 -0500

The Cyberwar Plan:

In May 2007, President Bush authorized the National Security Agency,
based at Fort Meade, Md., to launch a sophisticated attack on an enemy
thousands of miles away without firing a bullet or dropping a bomb.

At the request of his national intelligence director, Bush ordered an
NSA cyberattack on the cellular phones and computers that insurgents in
Iraq were using to plan roadside bombings. The devices allowed the
fighters to coordinate their strikes and, later, post videos of the
attacks on the Internet to recruit followers. According to a former
senior administration official who was present at an Oval Office meeting
when the president authorized the attack, the operation helped U.S.
forces to commandeer the Iraqi fighters’ communications system. With
this capability, the Americans could deceive their adversaries with
false information, including messages to lead unwitting insurgents into
the fire of waiting U.S. soldiers.

[…]

The “Distressing” Gap The initial gap was caused by...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:14:54 -0500

The “Distressing” Gap

The initial gap was caused by the flood of distressed sales. This kept existing home sales elevated, and depressed new home sales since builders couldn’t compete with the low prices of all the foreclosed properties.

The recent spike in existing home sales was due primarily to the first time homebuyer tax credit.

But what matters for the economy - and jobs - is new home sales, and new home sales are still very low because of huge overhang of existing home inventory and rental properties.

If the comments are ugly, the code is ugly

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:52:53 -0500

If the comments are ugly, the code is ugly:

Harsh words, I know, but I’ve come to believe it’s true.

The Pirate Bay Trackers Go Offline Forever

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:47:18 -0500

The Pirate Bay Trackers Go Offline Forever:

Good news for filesharers, bad news for the industry.

The decline of music piracy holds lessons for other industries

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:15:20 -0500

The decline of music piracy holds lessons for other industries:

Carrot and stick methods have worked to curb piracy, but mostly carrots.

The Hasan Case: Overt Clues and Tactical Challenges

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:14:00 -0500

The Hasan Case: Overt Clues and Tactical Challenges:

Insight into the attack by U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan at Fort Hood, Texas.

CHART OF THE DAY: The Hires-And-Fires Gap Brings Good News For Job Seekers

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:45:23 -0500

The unemployment rate is still miserable, but it’s not entirely bad news — at least if you find clever ways of slicing and dicing the data.

Lowe’s 3Q earnings drop 29.5%

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:43:25 -0500

Lowe’s 3Q earnings drop 29.5%:

Lowe’s Cos. Inc.’s reports net income of $344 million, or 23 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter, down 29.5 percent from $488 million, or 33 cents per diluted share, in the same quarter last year.

The retailer’s earnings have been hurt by the recession’s impact on demand for home-improvement purchases.

Adventures in IT: The Windows server migration that wouldn't go away

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:21 -0500

Adventures in IT: The Windows server migration that wouldn't go away:

In the midst of a massive datacenter consolidation, a techie discovers that the devil is in the details when dealing with a problem server

Lender CIT Group files for bankruptcy

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:15:27 -0500

Lender CIT Group files for bankruptcy:

CIT Group, a major lender to small and medium-size businesses, filed for bankruptcy protection Sunday afternoon, a process that almost certainly will wipe out the federal government’s $2.3 billion investment in the company.

Ford posts surprise $1-billion profit

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:29:06 -0500

Ford posts surprise $1-billion profit:

After closing more than 10 plants and slashing 45% of its workforce since 2006 in its long-ailing North American division, the Dearborn-based automaker today reported net income of $997 million, or 29 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $161 million, or 7 cents per share, a year ago.

Why Redbox Terrifies Hollywood

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:37:22 -0400

Why Redbox Terrifies Hollywood:

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that low budget Redbox video rental kiosks are on to something, but what’s not apparent is why the studios see it as such a threat. President Mitch Lowe contends that the studios are acting irrationally and maintains that Coinstar, parent company of Redbox, wants to do a deal with Hollywood.

Care for a draft beer with your groceries?

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:25:11 -0400

Care for a draft beer with your groceries?:

Myrtle Beach store offers 4 selections; it’s said to be the first such setup in the Southeast.

According to sources Piggly Wiggly allows store management to make decisions like this on a store level. I’m sure this will be a hit if it doesn’t spark too much “moral” outrage.

Obama plans big pay cuts for Chrysler, GM execs

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:48:26 -0400

Obama plans big pay cuts for Chrysler, GM execs:

“They ought to think through what they are doing and they ought to understand that a year ago a lot of these institutions were teetering on the brink and the United States government and taxpayers came to their defense,” Axelrod said in an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.”