Start a small biz with $500

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Description: Tweezerman founder Dal LaMagna says his company grew by being frugal with money and keeping stakeholders interests at heart. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report   Date: 11/11/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/smallbusiness/2010/11/11/sbiz_tweezerman_dal_lamagna_500_dollars.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion:  Explain the global success of this game? What does its success suggest about consumer behavior? What need does this product satisfy for… Read more »

A Pistachio Farmer, Pom Wonderful, and the FTC

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Description: California philanthropists Lynda and Stewart Resnick own a pistachio empire twice the size of Sacramento. Now they’re facing lawsuits over water control and the health claims of Pom Wonderful. Source:  Businessweek.com Date: 11/11/2010 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_47/b4204068352545.htm Questions for discussion: Summarize the business, legal, and moral issues in this report? Who do you side with in… Read more »

75 years later, Monopoly rolls on

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Description: A special look inside the Monopoly factory as the legendary board game celebrates its 75th anniversary.  Source: CNNMoney.com – video report   Date: 11/05/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/11/05/n_monopoly_birthday_factory.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion:  Explain the global success of Monopoly? What does its success suggest about consumer behavior? What need does this product satisfy for consumers? How do you… Read more »

Bitten by a billion dollar industry

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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 »

Baidu feels lucky in Q3

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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 »

Google 2.4% Rate Shows How $60 Billion Lost to Tax Loopholes

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Description:  Google Inc. cut its taxes by $3.1 billion in the last three years using a technique that moves most of its foreign profits through Ireland and the Netherlands to Bermuda. Source: Bloomberg.com   Date: 10/21/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-21/google-2-4-rate-shows-how-60-billion-u-s-revenue-lost-to-tax-loopholes.html Questions for discussion: Are Google’s actions unethical or illegal?  What does this report have to say about the… Read more »

Rum Battle in Caribbean Leaves Tax Hangover

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Description:  Rum and politics have made a fiery mix since America’s earliest days, when a young politician named George Washington won election to the House of Burgesses in colonial Virginia with the help of spiked punch at the polls. Source: NYTimes.com   Date: 10/15/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/business/16rum.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: What does this report have to… Read more »

World’s largest off-shore wind farm

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Description: Off of the coast of Great Britain, 100 wind turbines power 200,000 homes Source: CNNMoney.com – video report   Date: 09/23/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/09/23/n_gb_off_shore_wind_farm.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion:  Do you think this energy business would be as successful, without government subsidies? What role should government play in helping emerging enterprises establish themselves? Are subsidies fair to… Read more »

iPad clones hit shelves in China

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Description: As Apple launches the iPad in China, locally-made wannabes are released at a fraction of the price. Source: CNNMoney.com  – video report Date: 09/17/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2010/09/17/t_iclone_china.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion:  Do you think consumers will look at these devices as equivalents to Apple iPads?  How is Apple able to sell iPads at five times the… Read more »

Small business: Stop ignoring us!

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Description: Business owners from across the U.S. say the government should clarify its stance on taxes and do more to help them. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report   Date: 09/08/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/09/08/n_small_business_owners.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion:  Summarize the comments made by the small business owners in this report. Do you agree with their positions? Why are… Read more »