Swine Flu & the Economy

This is a 2007 video of the BRILLIANT Laurie Garrett discussing pandemic readiness. Her talk is in relation to the H5N1 virus, but covers the 1918 Swine Flu Outbreak, as well as our current state of preparedness for handling such an event. Since Mexico is ground zero for the swine flu virus that has all the world's attention, I have been watching that country's governmental response to the problem. Yesterday they decided to suspend...

Someone You Should Know

Barry Schwartz is BRILLIANT!Here he talks about a new pathway to turning around the fortunes of all members and organizations within our society.I find his section on education particularly illuminating.Enjoy!...

70% off HOME PRICES?

Homes that sold for $275,000 in 2006 are selling for $80,000 now.The problem is there's still loads of inventory on the market at these unbelievably low prices.Read the Forbes article by Matt Woolsey H...

Uh Oh!

After 5 months of predicting (but ultimately praying I was wrong) this is where this company was headed, the shoe dropped on a Giant.The Guardian of UK's headlines reads:America's Second Largest Shopping-mall Owner CollapsesRead the article H...

Cost Plus Joins the Coupon Camp

Our friends over at Cost Plus World market are going the Borders Books route. Coupons may bring a small bump in new customer business, but ultimately they train your regular customers when to shop...and that ain't good.Print it out and save 25%.More details H...

Who's Going To Pay For All This?

We are, that's who!This weeks must read article, from the New York Times."Cities Turn To Fees To Fill Budget Gaps"Essentially it lists things that are usually paid for with our tax dollars, such as street lights and emergency services response teams, being charged to us directly. Please take the time to read the article H...

Opposite Day!

I spent the better part of last week listening to everyone on television and the newspapers telling me "we have reached the bottom!" Since I was juggling so much over the past 10 days or so, I had no opportunity to ensure that the people that dwell in reality remain firmly grounded in the facts.It seems that whenever the Dow Jones goes up, and it went up plenty...

How the Olympics ARE Already Benefitting Chicago

I will say out front, I am not in support of the Olympic Games being held in the city of Chicago. There are too many reasons to list, but I will give you just one to chew on; Our city has not been it's beautiful self for quite some time.The potholes that pock the city streets are not new, they were here, for the most part, since last winter's tremendous snowfall...

Please Listen to Nassim Taleb

He is BRILLIANT!I really cannot believe he is making the television rounds. Please note the music played over his voice for the last 90 secon...