Madoff sentenced “forever”
The Awl takes a well-deserved shot at Ponzi prince Bernie Madoff:
Bernie Madoff has been sentenced to 150 years in prison for his Ponzi scheme. That’s the maximum sentence, although Madoff has reportedly hinted that he could turn it into 350 for you with almost no risk.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Latest business news from The Onion
The Onion is too easy to link to so I generally avoid it. But this business story is a classic:
“World’s Worst Person Decides To Go Into Marketing”
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
…and such small portions
I’ve heard of “all you can eat” Internet plans, but this is taking it to a new level. (via Bifurcated Rivets)
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Auto industry scorecard: Who owns what?
The good folks at Consumer Reports offer this helpful organization chart for the automotive industry. While I knew that Ford owns a big chunk of Mazda, and that Fiat now holds Chrysler and Dodge, I didn’t know that India’s Tata Motors owns Jaguar and Land Rover.
This vehicle is produced by a subsidiary of Tata Motors.
For instance, BMW owns: Mini, and Rolls Royce
Fiat owns: Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lancia, Maserati; Chrysler, Dodge, and a 20 percent stake in Jeep.
Ford Motor Co. owns: Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo (for now), and still owns 13.4 percent of Mazda.
Much more if you click through.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
So long, Kodachrome
We waited up nights to open those golden boxes--like young children surprised with glee and knowing we could drift asleep again and that all was right with the world, and that there was still Kodachrome, and almost nothing else mattered.\
After 74 years, Kodak is retiring Kodachrome film. While some of the world’s best photographers have used it to produce some spectacular images, Kodachrome has been pushed to the fringes of photography.
From the AP (which couldn’t resist the bad Paul Simon joke in the hedline and the lede)
It enjoyed its heyday in the 1950s and ’60s but in recent years has nudged closer to obscurity: Sales of Kodachrome are now just a fraction of 1 percent of the company’s total sales of still-picture films, and only one commercial lab in the world still processes it.
See a slide show of iconic images shot on Kodachrome film.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Job application seeks TMI
The city of Bozeman, Mont. wants to know a lot about its job applicants, including their Internet passwords, according to this AP story.
Bozeman officials have been hammered with e-mails and phone calls ever since KBZK-TV of Bozeman reported the policy on Wednesday, including an excerpt from the city application form that states “Please list any and all current personal or business Web sites, web pages or memberships on any Internet-based chat rooms, social clubs or forums, to include, but not limited to: Facebook, Google, Yahoo, YouTube.com, MySpace, etc.”
The application then asks for the passwords for those sites. The city attorney said the application may be altered, but doesn’t completely back off the policy.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
A company with a heart
If you didn’t know it from watching its movies, Pixar is all heart. The California animation company granted a terminally ill’s girl last wish to see “Up.” From the Orange County Register
The company flew an employee with a DVD of “Up,” which is only in theaters, to the Curtins’ Huntington Beach home on June 10 for a private viewing of the movie.
Colby died about seven hours after seeing the film.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Switzer always liked the pitch
Barry Switzer has hired on as a spokesman for Dunkin’ Donuts, and a new set of ads trades on his willingness to do crazy stuff, along with his intensity as a coach — even when he’s coaching chess. (via Sporting Press)
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
The new phones are here!
AT&T uploaded a short video of its Fort Worth, Texas, distribution plant processing the new iPhone 3GS models. Customers are expected to line up Friday to buy the new gadget. The AT&T store at Penn Square Mall will open at 7 a.m. today, and the Apple Store there will open at 8 a.m. Mall doors open at 5 a.m. if you really want to get your geek on.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
You can see the recession in our eyes
Kiplinger.com has compiled a list of 10 “quirky” economic indicators that reflect consumers’ reaction to the recession. Several are related to our eyes:
Total eye-makeup sales at supermarkets and drugstores were up 8.5% in the one-year period that ended on March 22. In that period, more than $260 million was spent on eye makeup – in particular, eyeliner was up 9% and mascara almost 13%, the industry says.
And those sales may be an effort to cover up puffy, sleep-deprived eyes:
The 2009 Sleep in America Poll found that nearly one-third of Americans lost sleep because they were worried about their finances. The poll, by the National Sleep Foundation, also found that 10% of those people tossed and turned, specifically worrying about their jobs.
See the rest, including data on dating, alligators and mosquitos, at Kiplinger.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
