Thursday, October 29, 2009

Y! Alert: The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com

Yahoo! Alerts
My Alerts

The latest from The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com

An Object Lesson In Governmental Failure: Derivatives Reform Top
If you want to understand why Congress seems completely incapable of checking the power of Wall Street, look back to a hearing on the Hill last October 7, and the subsequent events surrounding it. On that day, the House Financial Services Committee hosted a panel on reform of the market for derivatives, the financial instrument which played such a notable role in the country's economic meltdown.
 
Droid vs iPhone: Reviews Compare Smartphones Side By Side (POLL) Top
Droid vs iPhone reviews say that the battle is on between the two products. The smartphones are similar, though a closer look reveals each has its advantages. The iPhone 3GS has more than 93,000 apps compared to the 10,000 currently available for the Motorola Droid. But the Droid trumps the iPhone on megapixels with 5.0 to 3.0. Spencer Ante of Business Week says that despite all the media buzz, the Droid could be negatively affected by Verizon's bold strategy: With the Droid and another phone from HTC, Verizon is placing a big bet on the unproven Android. The software is popular with techies and has attracted enough support from developers that 10,000 apps are available for download to Android phones, but it hasn't yet caught on with consumers. In addition, Verizon risks confusing customers with the sheer number of devices it's introducing. "Greater choice is not a guarantee of a greater quarter," says Richard Doherty, research director at Envisioneering Group. Technologizer finds that the Droid has "better specs" and calls the Android operating system by Google "promising," though it also notes the many similarities between the products. WHAT DO YOU SAY?
 
Tamara Conniff: "Glee" Goes Mobile Top
Like millions of fans worldwide, I'm obsessed with the TV show "Glee" - it's "High School Musical" for adults. All the characters are brilliantly flawed with loveable dark sides, smart wicked humor, songs that I love and love to hate, and I see my own dorky high school self in each episode. I am also obsessed with mobile -- I follow Neil Diamond on Twitter and he tweeted about how much he loved the character Puck's rendition of "Sweet Caroline" on a recent episode. Many will go through withdrawal during the World Series when "Glee" goes on brief hiatus. While you can follow "Glee" on Twitter, the show has taken it a step farther - fans can pick up their phones and leave messages and possibly even talk to the actors in character. Fascinating. They've partnered with social voicemail company SayNow. Their demo is largely teens - some studies say teens are much more likely to connect to voice messaging than to Twitter - the personal link is deeper and spam is less. The Jonas Brothers, for example, have received over 22 million phone calls from fans. The Jonas Brothers leave a message, fans call in and hear it, leave a message back, leave messages for other fans, and every once in a while may even get a live Jonas. Janet Jackson once answered a call from her SayNow account and the fan was so stunned he could only stutter "Janet??? On my god!" But having "Glee" characters leave messages and interact takes it to a new level - fans interacting with fictional characters. Followers can dial 419-329-4868, the area code for Lima, Ohio, home of "Glee" McKinley High School. It will be interesting to watch. How many fans will call in? Can it work for a TV show whose viewership touches multiple demos? Or is it really just a teen phenomenon. Will voice ever be as big as Twitter? Call and find out. More on Twitter
 
Advertisement: Watch WHITE COLLAR on USA Tonight Top
Watch WHITE COLLAR on USA Tonight
 
Poltroon: What Bill O'Reilly Doesn't Want You To Be (VIDEO) Top
Poltroon was the Word of the Day on the O'Reilly Factor with Bill O'Reilly today. The definition was not given, but O'Reilly said it's something viewers should not be. A quick trip to Dictionary.com tells us that the word means, "a wretched coward." Synonym: craven. But today didn't just include an unusual word. The delivery of that word wasn't exactly smooth. WATCH HERE: More on Bill O'Reilly
 
Rep. Ed Markey: Time for Net Neutrality Top
Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took a historic step towards developing new rules to safeguard the free and open nature of the Internet, fulfilling a key campaign promise of President Obama's and kicking off a process that has been years in the making. If adopted, the Commission's net neutrality protections will ensure that users have unfettered access to all lawful online content and applications. These measures, which will be crafted over the coming months by the FCC, are urgently needed to preserve the openness and competition that have made the Internet the most successful communications medium in human history. Since its earliest days, the Internet has been guided by the principles of non-discrimination and freedom. That means that all ones and zeros are treated equally and special interests and Corporate America can't direct Internet traffic to serve their own purposes at the expense of the public. From the very beginning of the Internet, this electronic equality has enabled users to innovate, to get their voices heard, to launch new services and business enterprises, and to participate in cultural communications across the planet. Whether you're in the Fortune 500 or the freshman class at the University of Massachusetts, the Internet treats your online activities in the same manner. Whether you're trading stocks or selling socks, the true genius of the Internet is that you never have to ask permission to innovate. That has always been the genius of the Internet's architecture. But that genius is now under attack - threatened by the prospect that corporations will seek to erect roadblocks on the information superhighway, charging telecommunications tolls every time you visit your favorite website or blog or even watch a video clip. Some corporations are now seeking to provide fast Internet speeds only to those who can afford to pay. Such a two-tiered system would be a radical, wrong-headed departure from the Internet's historic rules of the road and a new financial burden on consumers. As the Internet continues to evolve, we are now faced with a choice. Can we preserve this wildly successful medium and the freedom it embodies, or do we permit a few large corporations to fundamentally alter how the Internet has historically functioned? Do we retain a level playing field or do we allow the imposition of new fees and the artificial creation of slow lanes and fast lanes for content providers on the Internet? I strongly believe that we must enshrine basic principles of openness and fairness into the rules governing how Internet service providers operate - giving the FCC the authority to be the proverbial cop on the cyber beat, to ensuring that these principles of freedom and competition are upheld in the marketplace. In this way we can preserve the best of what the Internet is even as it continues to evolve. The FCC has taken an historic step. Still, we should also ensure that future administrations do not cast aside net neutrality rules. To prevent this from happening, I believe it would be useful to incorporate these principles into law. That's why in July, I introduced H.R. 3458, the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, along with my colleague in the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA). Our bill, which is also cosponsored by House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA): • Stipulates that unfettered access to the Internet to offer, access, and utilize content, services, and applications is vital for consumers and our economy; • States that our country's global leadership in high technology stems directly from Internet policies that embraced competition and openness, ensuring that telecommunications networks are open to all lawful uses by all users - policies that now may be under threat if the ability of Internet content, service, and application providers to reach consumers were frustrated by interference from broadband telecommunications network operators; • Calls for the United States to adopt a clear network neutrality policy preserving the open nature of Internet communications and networks based on non-discrimination while also permitting Internet service providers to take action to protect network reliability, prevent unwanted electronic mail, and thwart illegal content consistent with the overarching principle of non-discrimination; • Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to promulgate rules that ensure that providers of Internet access service abide by the duties established in the bill, including not blocking or impeding consumers' ability to access lawful content, applications or service; not preventing consumers from attaching any lawful device that does not harm the provider's network; and providing consumers with detailed information about their Internet service; • Makes clear that nothing in this legislation affects any law or regulation addressing prohibited or unlawful activity, including any laws or regulations prohibiting theft of content. Our bill applies these network neutrality principles only to lawful Internet content. It does not undermine carriers' ability to perform network management, nor does it hinder carriers' capacity to fight piracy, or spam, or impact parents' ability to utilize content controls. The FCC is now in the early stages of developing the rules of the road for the Internet, and our bill, which directs the FCC to undertake such a rulemaking process to preserve the Internet's openness for all users, is a complement to the FCC's efforts. Now more than ever, as this historic process unfolds and the legislation advances, the voice of the online community - from bloggers to gamers, from artists to small business entrepreneurs, from software engineers to those folks who just sent their first email - now is the time to rise up to defend internet freedom. Anyone reading the words on this blog has a vital role to play - get your voice heard, register your opinion, express your viewpoint. The future of the Internet may depend upon it. More on Technology
 
Fern Siegel: Stage Door: The Royal Family, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Memphis Top
The revival of the George Kaufman-Edna Ferber comedy The Royal Family is sheer perfection. A charming send-up of the illustrious Barrymores, theatrical and film stars of their day, this 1927 play is a charmer from start to finish. Set in a gorgeously designed East Side townhouse, the cast, particularly Rosemary Harris as matriarch Fanny Cavendish, Jan Maxwell as her talented daughter Julie, and Reg Rogers as the dashing, over-the-top brother, are heaven-sent. Parody never looked -- or sounded -- so exquisite. Now at the Samuel Friedman, The Royal Family is a reminder of how wonderful revivals can be -- especially when they are laced with zippy one-liners, lively direction and accompanied by a smart ensemble outfitted in beautifully rendered costumes. The play is a paean to acting and out-sized egos. A highly physical three-act, this eccentric, narcissistic clan is at home in artifice. "You have a career," Fanny reminds her gifted granddaughter (Kelli Barrett), "marriage is an incident." Fanny's brother (John Glover), a less-than-successful thespian, and his cheap, shrill wife (Ana Gasteyer) may be lesser lights, but they are inspired by the same gods. Similarly, wise, good-natured family agent (Tony Roberts) is enamored of his clients, a quirky, demanding brood. Fast-paced and fun, blessed with witty lines, a sumptuous set and smart direction, The Royal Family is worthy of its authors. Families are also the subject of a second revival: Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs at the Nederlander. The year is 1937, and the Jerome family of Brooklyn is a far cry from the extravagant Cavendishes. They are Jewish and poor, devastated by the Depression and frightened by the impending war. While Simon mines their domestic travails for humor, the laughs are commingled with tears. And thanks to director David Cromer, the comedy has been transformed into moving kitchen-sink drama. Pathos, not shtick, is the takeaway. Brighton Beach Memoirs is narrated by 15-year-old Eugene (Noah Robbins), a stand-in for Simon, who longs to be a writer. His honesty, burgeoning sexuality and insights are touching. He's a sweet kid with quirky charm, an older, knowing brother Stan (Santino Fontana) and an extended family: two cousins, luscious Nora (Alexandra Socha) and sickly Laurie (Gracie Bea Lawrence) and his Aunt Blanche (Jessica Hecht). His mother Kate (an incredible Laurie Metcalf) and father (Dennis Boutisikaris) support seven people -- each consumed by dramas real and heartbreaking. At a time when $17 meant the difference between survival and starvation, the concept of family values never seemed stronger. Simon peppers his poignant moments with one-liners, but the dark, grinding pain of existence --and resentment -- is never far from the surface. This round, Brighton Beach Memoirs , which is playing in rep with its soon-to-debut follow-up, Broadway Bound, , has real heft. Credit Metcalf's performance as a strong, nuanced figure and wonderful counterweight to a wisecracking Robbins, who is a find. Both are aided by a solid cast, in which each demonstrates their acting chops. There is much to savor in Simon's trademark comedy. Occasionally, the characters talk over each other, which may add to Cromer's realism, but detracts from the enjoyment. Still, this poignant production resonates long after you leave the theater. Memphis is a different American story. It's the mid-1950s, in a Tennessee city that's brimming with "race music" and racism. So when high-school dropout Huey Calhoun (Chad Kimball), with his hep-cat hat and cool ways walks into a black club on Beale Street, insisting he's in love with R&B and soul, the action stops -- literally. But Huey is one fast-talking, blues-lovin' man and gradually, he charms both skeptical blacks and suspicious whites. It's music as social salvation. Now swinging nightly at the Sam S. Schubert, Memphis , an original Broadway musical, is both paean to the era's music and a story of forbidden love. Huey falls for a Felicia, a talented black singer (a spot-on Montego Glover). The irony -- only a white DJ can get black music on the radio -- so Huey locks himself into a radio booth and spins some hot songs with even hotter talk. Suddenly, all of Memphis is hip, or as the song says, "Everybody Wants To Be Black on a Saturday Night." This being the South, that notion won't go unchecked by local brutes -- and Huey's subsequent splash will carry a price. To Memphis 's credit, the musical attempts to address serious issues, but the end result, despite some terrific performances, including Glover, Kimball and J. Bernard Calloway as her brother Delray, is a bit whitewashed. However, Kimball, who carries the show, rises to the occasion. His accent, his moves, his syrupy Southern drawl strike the right chord, as does Sergio Trujillo's choreography, David Gallo's sets and Paul Tazewell's costumes. Joe DiPietro and David Bryan produce some zippy, toe-tapping numbers. Memphis heats up, but fails to ignite.
 
Hideki Matsui's World Series Home Run VIDEO: Yankees Lead Phillies In Game 2 Top
** SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO ** Click HERE to follow experts and fans from New York and Philadelphia LIVE on Twitter (AP) NEW YORK — Hideki Matsui and Mark Teixeira homered off an otherwise sharp Pedro Martinez, giving the New York Yankees a 2-1 lead over the Philadelphia Phillies after six innings in Game 2 of the World Series on Thursday night. A.J. Burnett was in control on the mound for the Yankees. He struck out seven, including Ryan Howard three times. The hard-throwing right-hander yielded four hits, one a run-scoring single by Matt Stairs in the second. Stairs' hit drove in Raul Ibanez, who made a diving catch in left field to help Martinez stay out of serious trouble. Throwing an array of soft breaking balls, Martinez fanned Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez twice each. Teixeira homered to right-center leading off the fourth for the Yankees, who were shut down by Philadelphia ace Cliff Lee in a 6-1 loss in the opener. Matsui snapped a 1-all tie with two outs in the sixth when he reached down and yanked a 1-2 breaking ball over the short porch in right. That gave the Yankees 16 homers this postseason, tying a franchise record. Rodriguez, however, was 0 for 7 with five strikeouts in his first World Series. It was the second World Series start for Martinez, one of the great pitchers of this era. He tossed seven shutout innings of three-hit ball for Boston in 2004 against St. Louis, helping the Red Sox win their first championship in 86 years. Now 38, the right-hander lacks the overpowering fastball he once had, but he still loves the big stage. Signed by the Phillies in mid-July after sitting out the first half of the season, he went 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA in nine starts down the stretch. Then, he allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings during Game 2 of the NL championship series at Dodger Stadium. Of course, Martinez had a long history of memorable moments at the old Yankee Stadium from his days with Boston. The familiar Bronx chants of "Who's Your Daddy?" began as Martinez started stretching in the outfield 30 minutes before game time. They picked up when Jeter led off the bottom of the first inning. The reference was to Martinez's priceless quote from 2004 with Boston. Frustrated after another loss to New York, the colorful pitcher said: "I just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy." He flummoxed the Yankees in the first inning, however, striking out Jeter with an 88 mph fastball and then Johnny Damon with a 75 mph changeup. With the Philadelphia infield playing a pronounced shift, Teixeira hit a towering popup that was caught by staggering shortstop Jimmy Rollins on the right side. Burnett looked good, too. After leading the AL with 97 walks this season, he threw a first-pitch strike to his first 11 batters – nine watched it go by. Chase Utley was intentionally walked in the third, extending his major league record to 27 consecutive postseason games in which he has reached base safely. Burnett fanned Howard with a breaking ball, stranding two runners, and pumped his fist as he walked off the mound. The Phillies gave Martinez a lead in the second inning. Ibanez blooped a two-out double that dropped on the left-field line and Stairs followed with a one-hop smash to the left of third baseman Rodriguez, who barely got a piece of it. The ball skipped off the edge of the infield grass and under Rodriguez's glove as he went to his knees. Ibanez easily beat the throw from Damon in left, and A-Rod glanced into his empty glove. Before that hit, Stairs had been 4 for 51 (.078) dating to July 1. Since June 25, his only RBIs had come on a solo homer against Pittsburgh on July 11 and a grand slam at Washington on Sept. 10. Burnett struck out Pedro Feliz to avoid further damage. Martinez froze Rodriguez with a 2-2 curveball to start the bottom of the second. Matsui singled but Ibanez made a diving catch in left field to rob Robinson Cano of a hit before Jerry Hairston Jr. flied out. The winner of Game 1 has gone on to win the past six World Series and 11 of the last 12. WATCH: More on Video
 
Steve Parker: Nissan Leaf EV - Be first to see it in person! Top
Nissan has announced a US national tour of their new pure EV, Leaf, beginning with a first American public showing on November 13th in Los Angeles. Though not yet officially announced, the first public sighting of Leaf at a major auto show will be at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show which runs from December 4th through 13th. Leaf is ready for its close-up at the Tokyo Motor Show Much of the talk at this week's Tokyo Motor Show, the 41st iteration of that extravaganza, held in Makuhari, about ½-hour north of Tokyo, was understandably about EVs, hybrids and various other green technologies. Nissan, however, topped the competition by displaying a production version of Leaf, the only Japanese car maker at the show claiming they're not just working on a real-world, production EV, but showing one they'll be making and selling worldwide beginning in 2011. There's still room for overwrought fun, though. Toyota introduced a production version of their Lexus LF-A supercar, a $375,000, 552-horsepower monster with a 4.8 liter V10 engine. Only 500 will be built in total for the world and production commences in December, 2010. Much more at: www.Lexus-LFA.com. On the other hand, at Tokyo, Lexus displayed a production verison of their new LF-A supercar ... not very green, but a helluva lotta fun ... what do you think of the car's looks? Me? I'm not so sure ... Here's the Leaf tour information from a Nissan press release: Nissan North America announced that the Nissan LEAF zero-emission, all-electric car will make its North American debut in Los Angeles on Nov. 13. The Los Angeles showing will be the first time people in the United States will be able to see the five-passenger, five-door, gasoline-free car, which is embarking on a nationwide tour. The Nissan LEAF Zero Emission Tour will make stops in 22 cities, in 11 states, the District of Columbia, and Vancouver, Canada, offering the opportunity for interested drivers, media, civic partners, businesses and university students to learn more about the Nissan LEAF and the benefits of zero-emission driving. Interior of production Leaf Follow the tour, get updates on the final schedule and specific showings, and sign up for more information, at www.nissanusa.com/Leaf-electric-car. Look for the Nissan LEAF to make public appearances in the following areas during these times: Southern California Los Angeles: Nov. 13-17 Orange County: Nov. 18 San Diego: Nov. 19-21 Northern California Berkeley/Walnut Creek: Nov. 23-24 San Francisco: Nov. 25-29 Santa Rosa: Dec. 1 Sacramento: Dec. 1 San Jose: Dec. 3-6 Pacific Northwest Seattle: Dec. 8-12 Vancouver, Canada: Dec. 14-15 Portland, Ore.: Dec. 17-23 Rear 3/4 view of Leaf Southwest Phoenix/Tucson: Dec. 30-Jan. 5 Las Vegas: Jan. 6 Midwest/East Coast Detroit: Jan. 11-13 Knoxville/Chattanooga, Tenn.: Jan. 16 Middle Tennessee: Jan. 19-21 Washington, D.C.: Jan. 26-28 Raleigh, N.C.: Jan. 29 Orlando: Feb. 1-2 Texas Houston: Feb. 5-6 New York New York City: Feb. 9-14 Leaf's drivetrain Nissan is the only automaker committed to making all-electric vehicles available to the mass market on a global scale. Through the Nissan LEAF Zero Emission Tour, Nissan will be showcasing the electric vehicle and battery technology as well as the company's zero-emission mobility objectives. Nissan already has partnered on the development of an electric-vehicle infrastructure through partnerships in the State of Tennessee, the State of Oregon, Sonoma County, San Diego, Phoenix, Tucson, Washington D.C., Seattle, Raleigh, and Vancouver. Additional partnerships will be announced in the near future. In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling. Prototype Leaf instrument panel from an earlier version of the car More information on the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissan-usa.com/Leaf-electric-car and www.nissan-zeroemission.com (end Nissan release) By the way, those two websites are really fun. Also, while we're talking about the LA Auto Show and green technology, Green Car Journal (www.GreenCar.com) has announced its five finalists for their 2010 Green Car of the Year award. For the fifth consecutive year, the award will be announced during a press conference at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Dec. 3. The finalists are the Audi A3 TDI, Honda Insight, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Golf TDI (Prius was named Japan Car of the Year at the Tokyo Motor Show this past weekend). Will you be lining up to see Leaf in your area? And what do you think of the Green Car of the Year nominees? More on Inside DC
 
Dennis Hopper Has Prostate Cancer Top
LOS ANGELES — Dennis Hopper has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is canceling all travel plans to focus on treatment, his manager said Thursday. The 73-year-old actor and artist is being treated through a "special program" at the University of Southern California, said Sam Maydew. Asked about Hopper's prognosis, Maydew said, "We're hoping for the best." He would not elaborate on the actor's condition. Hopper was forced to cancel his appearance at an exhibition of his artwork and photography at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne. Called "Dennis Hopper and the New Hollywood," the show celebrates "the work and life of an extraordinary filmmaker, artist and key figure in the evolution of Americas cultural scene from the 1950s to today." Hopper was hospitalized in New York earlier this month and treated for dehydration. The "Easy Rider" star recently finished shooting the second season of "Crash," a TV version of the Oscar-winning 2004 film. He plays maniacal music producer Ben Cendars on the series, which airs on the Starz network. Hopper also has several film projects in the works.
 
Frank Says "Too Big To Fail" Bill Will Be Changed Top
Democrats and Republicans ripped into Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner during a Congressional hearing Thursday , as Geithner defended an administration plan to address "too big to fail" financial firms. Legislators argued that the plan institutionalized "too big to fail" by requiring perpetual government assistance -- bailouts -- for failed firms deemed to be systemically important; that the plan's fund -- to be used in the event of a firm's failure -- should be prepaid by these firms, as opposed to being paid after the fact by the survivors; and that the proposal specified that a list of designated firms would be kept secret, which was neither realistic nor helpful. Federal bank regulators echoed that last point. FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair said it's not "realistic to try to keep this confidential." Comptroller of the Currency John Dugan added that "it's going to be hard not to disclose...who they are." "Through some combination of mandatory disclosures to shareholders and financial analysts [figuring it out]...it is likely most, if not all, would eventually be known to the public," said Federal Reserve Governor Daniel Tarullo. "We should be realistic here about what will or will not be known." A quick scan of the bill's language , though, shows that this isn't necessarily the case . But at the very least the language contributed to -- if not caused -- the confusion . On page 12 of the bill, which was released Tuesday, the new body created to watch over systemically important firms "is authorized to issue formal recommendations, publicly or privately, that a Federal financial regulatory agency adopt heightened prudential standards for firms it regulates to mitigate systemic risk." In short, the proposed council can publicly declare that regulators should apply tougher standards to these firms, thereby outing them as "too big to fail." But later, on page 17, the bill specifies that the new council and the Federal Reserve "may not publicly release a list of companies identified" as systemically important. "There was this confusion today," House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said in an interview with the Huffington Post. "It does look complicated." To that end, Frank said he's changing the bill, calling for the council to publicly recommend which firms will need tougher oversight by regulators. The effect will be that the public will know who is "too big to fail." Not that most wouldn't be able to figure it out, though. "If we polled the markets to find out which 20 institutions they believe are too big to fail, I am confident that there would be near-perfect agreement and that the list would very largely overlap that of the regulators," writes Douglas Elliott, a former investment banker and currently a fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, a think tank. More on Financial Crisis
 
Patricia Handschiegel: The New Power Girls: Influencers - Is The Company Your Company Keeps Hurting Or Helping Your Brand? Top
It's a chilly fall night at Hollywood's Roosevelt hotel as the 140 conference parties (three total!) go full swing poolside under the stars. Guests mingle and chit-chat as out of town revelers see familiar faces and catch up. Cabanas line the perimeter as wait staff deliver trays of cocktails. At a private suite to the side of the hotel's signature pool, some of the most influential people on the city's technology and business scene are gathered. A group of women, all friends, are perched on the outside chaise, laughing and talking business. The array of fashionable shoes proves it's not just about substance in this town, but style as well. They're bloggers, connectors, personalities, CEOs, founders, and execs that make business move here. As I sip from a glass of champagne, the words a friend recently said came to mind, "these are the most influential people you may not have heard of." It got me thinking. It seems real influencers don't need to hustle themselves constantly in the media and at conferences. Their work does the work for them. Take for example female founder and pioneering fashion media CEO Kathryn Finney of TheBudgetFashionista.com . Her reach into the market goes far past her more than 500 television and media appearances to a real, bonafide audience that respects and follows her advice. She's a soon-to-be twice author, an in demand speaker, and advisor who knows the business because she's done the work. She's had the ear of major brands for longer than any fashion blog in the business. A current campaign with TJ Maxx has been underway with enormous success. New Power Girls co-creator Meghan Cleary is another - ShopNBC tapped her for a shoe line because of her solid, real position and reach among shoppers and consumers, and saw one of the highest shoe sales to date with her on board. In a market where people can call themselves "experts" without even a formal job or real work history in the industry, or deem themselves "influencers" without a real audience, people like Kathy and Meghan are the people that brands should know. In fact, companies may need to be careful more than ever before. Traffic numbers can be gamed, media coverage is as easily attained through friendships and relationships and not necessarily real demand. Brands have seen backlash for selecting who they work with, how they present their products and worse. I know of at least three cases where it cost businesses their reputation, and at least five times where conference attendees complained about a panelist speaker having little or no experience in the industry. "It's easy for brands to be seduced by wanting to hire a celebrity (be it an actor or a well known web-brity)," said public relations guru Nicole Jordan , who has worked with some of the best brands in the market. "But the question I ask is - what does it really get you at the end of the day and does it equal credibility? Paying an 'influencer' to promote does not." With out a doubt, companies should do the homework when bringing influencers and experts, from Google search and requesting references to carefully evaluating whether or not someone's a fit for your brand. "If the social web has taught us anything," adds Jordan. "the people who can move mountains (aside of Oprah) are your natural evangelists who want to see you succeed, and are happy to help you." You'll know right away who that is. Hear what Meghan and I have to say about influencers here .
 
Carl Pope: Stop the Hand-Wringing -- 20% Is NOT Hard Top
It's really quite amazing. The main response at Tuesday's opening hearing of the Senate Environment Committee on the Clean Energy Act was that its 2020 goal -- a 20 percent reduction in U.S. emissions of greenhouse pollution -- was over-the-top ambitious. Senators, both Republican and Democratic, expressed grave concerns that such a goal would somehow tank the economy. In fact, it's somewhat alarmingly unaggressive -- and won't do as much as it should to jump-start the clean-energy revolution we need for economic recovery. It appears that those who complain that 20 percent is too ambitious haven't been tracking our progress for the past three years. Every year the Energy Information Agency (EIA) forecasts how much carbon dioxide the U.S. economy will emit over time. At the end of 2005, EIA projected that the U.S. would emit 7,500 million metric tons (mmt) of CO2 in 2020 -- up from about 6,000 mmt in 2005. That's a big increase. But in the three years following that forecast, 100 coal-fired power plants were canceled, 24 states adopted renewable-energy standards (which collectively added up to about 10 percent of national electrical generation), and Congress passed a 35-mpg fuel-efficiency standard. So at the end of 2008, EIA issued a new estimate, which was that America's CO2 emissions wouldn't grow at all between 2008 and 2020 -- and that by 2020, we would be emitting only 6,000 mmt. Then this year, as a result of the Obama administration's stimulus package, its adoption of even more aggressive vehicle fuel-economy and emission standards for 2016, the cancellation of more coal-fired power plants  , and the economic downturn, EIA projected that by 2020 emissions would actually decline to 5,900 mmt. So, in four years we have reduced our 2020 emissions trajectory by 1,600 mmt. Is it now too ambitious to take another ten years to reduce those 2020 numbers by a further 1,200 mmt, which is all that the Senate Clean Energy bill would require? Is it possible that we've already taken all the easy, cheap steps we can to reduce carbon waste in our economy? No way. Not even close. To illustrate, I prepared a little chart. It shows the progress we made from 2005 to 2009. Then, out at 2020, it shows the impact on our CO2 emissions of a few simple, affordable improvements we could make in our energy sector -- things that would create jobs, enhance our national security, and clean up pollution while speeding the economic recovery. Not only did I find 1,200 mmt of potential "no regrets, good investment" savings that we could make but I also found a little more. That's why the bar on the right goes a bit above the "business as usual" line -- we've got a few extra emission savings. A few examples: just continuing to improve vehicle performance from 2016 to 2020 saves another 109 mmt; state energy-efficiency standards could yield another 401 mmt. This package of steps -- which is only illustrative -- requires no increase in our energy bills. The savings from the efficiency measures would easily make up for the costs of things like switching from coal to natural gas and cleaning up old power plants. So my scenario is actually short of what we can and should achieve. And yet, all the Beltway crowd can do is moan, "It's too hard." Hey, Washington?  It's time to join America.
 
Refugees International: Pakistan: Inconvenient Truths Top
By: Patrick Duplat, Advocate "When they realize you're a Mehsud, they treat you like a suicide bomber who's wearing an explosive jacket." -- A displaced Pakistani from South Waziristan, quoted in Dawn Pakistan is in the midst of an internal conflict with severe humanitarian consequences. Tens of thousands of civilians fled South Waziristan in the past few days, as the Pakistani army continues its offensive against the Taliban in the country's northwest. With the UN declaring that 1.7 million displaced Pakistanis from the Swat and Buner districts returned home since July, it's easy to forget that this crisis has been going on for more than a year, and will likely continue for the foreseeable future. Indeed, while I was in Pakistan in early October most aid workers insisted that their biggest challenge will be to sustain the required level of aid in the coming months. More than 700,000 civilians remain displaced, the families who've returned will need help to rebuild their lives. The army's operations continue to displace thousands. The humanitarian community is preparing to launch a fundraising appeal for 2010 based on projections of future large scale displacement. It's hard to fathom why, in the words of a high ranking UN official, the Pakistani government "thinks the crisis is over." Yet funding is not the only concern. As the Overseas Development Institute , Oxfam and Refugees International (Protect People First, published on 26 October 2009) have all highlighted in our respective reports, aid is politicized and is not reaching the most vulnerable. The Pakistani government is a party to the conflict and is at the same time coordinating the relief effort. The humanitarian community, led by the UN, has found it difficult to collaborate with the government while ensuring that assistance is given on the basis of need, rather than serving as a political instrument. The dilemma is particularly flagrant in South Waziristan, where the government has kept most aid workers and journalists out of the area. A major international aid organization was escorted out of D.I. Khan, South Waziristan's neighboring district, when it tried to conduct an assessment there. UN agencies are forced to operate via 'remote control' through Pakistani aid organizations, with little oversight on how aid is distributed. Population movements are controlled, with some areas cordoned off by the military. Tribal allegiances are being played out as aid is handed out to one group over another, in an attempt to create or deepen tensions. In the face of such violations of humanitarian principles, human rights abuses by the Pakistani army and discrimination in assistance, the international community is remaining mostly silent. To avoid disrupting relations with a key ally on the war against the Taliban, the U.S. and the European Union have failed to raise these sensitive issues. As the head of an aid group told us, everybody is "afraid to deliver inconvenient truths" to the Pakistani government. But treating civilians like "suicide bombers" is not going to earn their trust -- and the international community should understand that it would be a pyrrhic victory if winning against the Taliban meant losing the population. More on Pakistan
 
House Report Reveals Details Of Investigations Into Lawmakers, Aides Top
House ethics investigators have scrutinized the activities of more than 30 lawmakers and several aides in inquiries about issues including defense lobbying and corporate influence peddling, according to a confidential House ethics committee report prepared in July. More on John Murtha
 

CREATE MORE ALERTS:

Auctions - Find out when new auctions are posted

Horoscopes - Receive your daily horoscope

Music - Get the newest Album Releases, Playlists and more

News - Only the news you want, delivered!

Stocks - Stay connected to the market with price quotes and more

Weather - Get today's weather conditions




You received this email because you subscribed to Yahoo! Alerts. Use this link to unsubscribe from this alert. To change your communications preferences for other Yahoo! business lines, please visit your Marketing Preferences. To learn more about Yahoo!'s use of personal information, including the use of web beacons in HTML-based email, please read our Privacy Policy. Yahoo! is located at 701 First Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94089.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)