Description: AS the sun rose over the mountains circling Los Reyes, a town in the Mexican state of Michoacán, one morning in March 2009, a caravan of more than 300 heavily armed law enforcement agents set out on a raid. Source: NYTimes.com  Date: 11/06/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/technology/07piracy.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Summarize how Microsoft deals with… Read more »
Posts By: Brahm Canzer
Federal Reserve to buy $600 billion in bonds
Description: The Federal Reserve pledged on Wednesday to start a controversial new $600 billion bond-buying spree to rescue the economy from its current doldrums. Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 11/03/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fed-to-buy-600-billion-in-government-bonds-2010-11-03 Questions for discussion: How does this action by the Federal Reserve help stimulate the economy? What are the consequences associated with this action in the… Read more »
Fiat’s New Uphill Climb in the U.S.
Description: With the 500 subcompact, it makes an auspicious return to the Statesâ€â€but it’s a crowded market Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 11/04/2010 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_46/b4203024823719.htm Questions for discussion: Why is there concern about the potential success of Fiat in the American auto market? What does Fiat have going for it as it tries to establish itself?… Read more »
Bitten by a billion dollar industry
Description: Stephen Woolley, producer of “Interview with a Vampire,” talks about why we love horror, the supernatural and vampires. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report  Date: 10/29/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/10/29/n_vampires_halloween.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Explain the global success of this genre of film and publishing business. Do you agree with the analysis presented in the video? What… Read more »
Pogue: Six Factors for Highly Unsuccessful Products
Description: At the FailCon 2010 conference in San Francisco, New York Times technology columnist David Pogue identifies the stumbling blocks to success. Source: BNET.com – video report  Date: 10/27/2010 Link: http://www.bnet.com/videos/pogue-six-factors-for-highly-unsuccessful-products/479076 Questions for discussion: Do you agree with the explanations provided in the video? Provide one additional example that illustrates each of the errors… Read more »
Windows Phone 7 ‘Really’ Ad Sends the Wrong Message
Description: This clever ad campaign obscures Microsoft’s core Windows Phone message: This isn’t Windows Mobile. Source: PCMag.com  Date: 10/29/2010 Link: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2371747,00.asp Questions for discussion: After watching the advertisement that is embedded in the article, do you agree with the criticism made? Analyze the message sent to the audience watching the advertisement. Who is the… Read more »
Pontiac, 84, Dies of Indifference
Description: Pontiac, the brand that invented the muscle car under its flamboyant engineer John Z. DeLorean, helped Burt Reynolds elude Sheriff Justice in “Smokey and the Bandit†and taught baby boomers to salivate over horsepower, but produced mostly forgettable cars for their children, will endure a lonely death on Sunday after about 40 million in… Read more »
Monster roars. Good news for jobs?
Description: The job market may not exactly be healthy. Unemployment is still relatively high around the country and those who have been out of work a long time are really struggling to find permanent, well-paying jobs. Source: CNNMoney.com Date: 10/29/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/29/news/economy/thebuzz/index.htm Questions for discussion: How does Monster.com use technology to attract business away from… Read more »
Baidu feels lucky in Q3
Description: The Chinese search engine’s profits doubled after seeing a surge in customers following Google’s shutdown in China. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report  Date: 10/21/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2010/10/22/mkts_baidu_q3.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Why has Baidu’s profits grown so dramatically? Is this growth sustainable? How should investors look at the risk associated with this firm? Do you… Read more »
digits: Steve Jobs Jabs at Competition
Description: On yesterday’s earning call, Apple CEO Steve Jobs issued a string of criticisms about Apple’s rivals from Research in Motion and Google to unnamed companies making seven-inch tablets. Plus: what analysts have to say this morning about Apple’s growth overriding concerns. Peter Kafka and Jennifer Valentino-DeVries discuss on Digits. Source: Marketwatch..com – video report… Read more »
