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Our way of keeping you in the loop. You can thank us later.

If passed, this law could change the online ad industry…


Consumer privacy shmivacy…

Similar to the Do Not Call Registry, the FTC is considering to implement a do not track list (as related to online advertising).

The idea of a universal opt-out is nothing new, and the industry has its own version in place through a trade group the Network Advertising Initiative, and companies such as Yahoo, Microsoft, Google and data exchange Blue Kai all allow consumers to opt-out of ad targeting.

But the idea of a federally-mandated system is reviving a long-held concern.

This may come as a surprise to some of you, but every single click you make, while surfing the Internet, is tracked by someone.  AND there are many companies out there, who are buying that information (your information).

Personally, I don’t think the government needs to regulate the Internet.

Further, it is my opinion that people need to become better educated about the ins/outs of the Internet.  For whatever reason, it seems like people feel ‘safe’ online, when, in fact they need to realize that while the Internet is a virtual world, it isn’t all that different from the real world…

I recently came across this website – www.pleaserobme.com – and recommend you check it out.

Filed under: Business, Social Media, Tech, , , , , , , , ,

Apple iPhone 4 = FAIL?


If you’re one of the thousands who ran out to buy the latest iPhone 4, and are annoyed with the constant dropped calls…Consumer Reports has come to the rescue with a fool-proof solution.

Duct tape.

Yes, for about $5 a roll, you can solve the issue on your $199 (and 2-year AT&T contract) phone.

Here’s a thought… Maybe Apple should focus on creating that AWESOME dependable product, rather than appease its brand fanatics by churning out new products each year.

Filed under: Business, Tech, , , ,

Join the friendly skies with your own flying car


The flying car is here folks.  THAT day has arrived.  The Terrafugia is reminiscent of the Jetsons.

The makers of this aircraft want their product to be classified as a “Light Sport Aircraft” so that people would only need 20 hours of flying time, to operate it.

According to its maker, the Terrafugia can transform from a roadable vehicle that can hit a highway speed of 65 mph to a winged aircraft in 30 seconds.

The plane version can cruise at about 115 mph (185 kph) and cover about 400 miles (644 kilometers) worth of turf before needing a refill of regular unleaded gas.

Oh right, and the price tag… a mere $200K.  In this day and age, when $1M, isn’t that big a deal..what’s $200K?

Filed under: Business, Tech, , , ,

FREE wifi at Starbucks starts TODAY!


Don’t forget!  Starting today – July 1st – Starbucks is offering their wi-fi services…for FREE!

Starbucks is partnering up with Yahoo! (amongst other companies) to ‘help enrich your [yes, YOU!] coffeehouse experience’.

What are Starbucks, Yahoo! (and other partnering companies) getting out of this?

On Wednesday, Yahoo! announced that over the next 3 years, they will repurchase $3B of their stock (in an effort to raise the value, by limiting the amount of shares in the market).    Starbucks’ stock (SUBX) isn’t doing too hot either.

Does brand loyalty necessarily = higher stock prices?  I wonder if free wi-fi is the answer…? I guess time will tell.

Filed under: Business, Marketing, Tech, , , , , , , , , , , ,

You won’t be able to skip these commercials…


…not because I’m promising that they’ll be awesome, but because literally, you won’t be able to.

This summer, if you happen to be shopping at one of nine Bloom grocery stores in Maryland and/or Virgina, don’t be surprised it you see a small tv screen on the shelf by the ketchup bottles.   Yes, my friends, you can view a commercial AS YOU SHOP.

In California, there’s talk about selling ad space ON license plates.  That’s really quite brilliant, if you ask me.

When the vehicle is moving the license plate would look like the ones we’re used to now, but when the vehicle stops for more than four seconds a digital ad or other message would flash. The license plate number would always be visible.

I recommend we all save clippings of our favorite print ads (emphasis on print/paper)…I’m thinking they’ll be considered “antique” before we know it.  🙂

Filed under: Marketing, Tech, , , , , , ,

BP Showdown on Tuesday


Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are aware that oil has been gushing in the Gulf of Mexico since the rig explosion on April 20th.

Some important events happening today:

Various oil execs (Shell, ConocoPhillips, Exxon) are expected to turn against BP at a hearing on Capitol Hill.  What better way to differentiate yourself… than point fingers.

BP’s day of fun will not end there.

The POTUS (President of the US) is planning to visit the Gulf today (which will be his second visit since the day of the explosion) and upon returning to the WH, will hold his first Oval Office speech.  The location of choice from which the POTUS will be speaking (Oval Office), illustrates the importance the speech.

The Brits aren’t too thrilled with the way that the US is treating BP.  To be honest, I had no idea how large a company BP was, and how vital it is to the British economy.

“[BP] It employs over 10,000 people here, its overseas revenues support our balance of payments and it generates nearly £6billion a year in taxes. Its shares are owned – directly or through pension funds – by 18million Britons, and its dividends amount to £1 in every £7 paid by British firms.”

I’m not sure what the hearing or the POTUS speech will actually do to help solve the problem, on the grand scheme of things.  As we speak, BP is trying to stop the leak…obviously they don’t want to hurt the environment, or continue to lose millions of dollars a day.   They need a creative idea (technology solution).  If you have one, you can submit it here, and the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) will review it and forward it on.

Now that would be a nice addition to your resume…

Filed under: Business, Tech, World, , , , , , , , , ,

Leaf vehicles go vroom


Electric vehicles don’t really make noises…and while some car makers advocate that their cars are quiet on the road, there’s quiet and then there’s noiseless.

Nissan has decided to add sound to their new line of electric vehicles – Leaf (would multiple cars be called Leaves?), which I definitely think is important.

What a cool job, huh? To be the one that decides what the car will sound like in motion?  Well, this is what the person with the cool job decided on.  Can’t say that I’m totally enjoying the space-age-y sounds…

Filed under: Business, Tech, World, , , , , ,

Good thing I haven’t purchased an online WSJ subscription yet..


Not sure why this mass web attack hasn’t hit the airwaves yet…but apparently it’s BIG.  Between 7,000 to 114,000 (right, that’s a huge range..) websites have been compromised, among them – the Jerusalem Post and WSJ.   Andre DeMino, a co-founder of the Shadowserver malware-tracking group believes that “this incident appears to be the worst since a large number of WordPress-based sites were hacked in April”.

Security researchers are still trying to figure out how hackers posted malicious HTML code on the web sites, that then redirects victims to a malicious web server which tries to install software on the victims’ computer.  If this virus is successful, it allows the criminals a way to remotely control their PCs.  Awesome.

Yet another reason why we shouldn’t completely do away with printed materials.  If I were reading a paper copy of the WSJ,  the only way the paper would be compromised…is if it got wet, which wouldn’t compromise my personal information, just the page itself by smearing the ink, and making it unreadable.

Filed under: Business, Tech, , , , , , , , , ,

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