B2B - "Business to Business"
Managing Your Business Finances
If you want to succeed in business, you need to know about financial management. No matter how skilled you are at creating a product, providing a service, or marketing your wares, the money you earn will slip between your fingers if you don't know how to efficiently collect it, keep track of it, save it, and spend or invest it wisely.
Poor financial management is one of the leading reasons that businesses fail. In many cases, failure could have been avoided if the owners had applied sound financial principles to all their dealings and decisions. Financial management is not something that you can leave to your banker, financial planner, or accountant you need to understand the basic principles yourself and use them on a daily basis, even if you plan to leave the more complicated work to hired professionals. read more..
Teaching Money
Up until they start earning a living, and sometimes well beyond that, kids are apt to spend money like it grows on trees. This lesson will help you put your children on the road to handling money responsibly.
Long before most children can add or subtract, they become aware of the concept of money. Any 4-year-old knows where their parents get money - the ATM, of course. Understanding that parents must work for their money requires a more mature mind, and even then, the learning process has its wrinkles. For example, once he came to understand that his father worked for a living, a 5-year-old asked, "How was work today?" "Fine," the father replied. The child then asked, "Did you get the money?" read more..
10 Questions to Ask When Working With an Accountant
Solely relying on free or inexpensive online small-business accounting tools instead of investing the services of a trained professional accountant can be a costly mistake that entrepreneurs make all too often. Don’t be one of them. read more..
7 Marketing Alternatives to SEO (Infographic)
There's more to building your brand's awareness than SEO. Allocating a budget for these ideas can help PR and marketing pros produce better results. read more..
World Bank cuts China’s growth forecast
The ​World Bank has cut its growth forecast for China for the next two years as world’s second largest economy faces tighter global monetary conditions. read more..
Holiday sales seen rising 4.1 percent
FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2013 file photo, Ripan Bhowmik looks at cameras while shopping at Best Buy in Overland Park, Kan. Americans are expected to spend at the highest rate in three years during what's traditionally the busiest shopping season of the year, the National Retail Federation said Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014. read more..
8 Tips for Effectively Getting Through Job Loss
How to Deal With Unemployment & Get Hired Again Soon read more..
Wall Street little changed after selloff
U.S. stocks see-sawed around the unchanged mark in early trade on Monday after the S&P 500 suffered its worst weekly drop since May 2012 and the Dow moved into negative territory for the year on global growth concerns. read more..
The Secret of How Ordinary People Can Give Millions to Their Communities
Americans are known around the world for their generosity. During 2013, U.S. households gave an average of about $3,000 to charity, adding up to a total of more than $335 billion nationwide. For many charities, every contribution -- no matter how small -- is important to achieving their missions. read more..
AP analysis: Top donors in gubernatorial campaign
Donors to the campaigns of Republican Gov. Tom Corbett and his Democratic challenger, Tom Wolf, have given $48.2 million so far in 2013 and 2014, according to campaign finance reports submitted to the state by the two campaigns. Corbett has received about $20.5 million; Wolf has received about $27.6 million. The figures are current through Sept. 15, the latest data the campaigns were required to make available. read more..
PURCHASING DIVISION
About the Purchasing Division
The City of Pearland Purchasing Division is responsible for procurement of the materials, equipment, supplies and services necessary for City departments to perform their respective functions. The City strives to obtain quality goods and services at competitive prices, while maintaining a fair and open environment for participating vendors. read more..
City Awarded Certificate Of Achievement For Excellence In Financial Reporting
Each year, the City of Pearland Finance Department produces a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. This year, just as in the past 38 years, the City's CAFR has received annual recognition from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada. read more..
9 Holiday Savings Tips
During the holiday gift buying frenzy, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed about not having enough money to spend on your loved ones. You do not have to go into debt to show how much you care. With some careful planning and creative gift giving, you can enjoy some holiday cheer without the financial fear. read more..
RUSH INSURANCE GROUP OFFERS COVERAGE FOR HURRICANE SEASON
Rush Insurance Group is an insurance agency in Houston dedicated to providing insurance services to protect thousands of individuals' and businesses' assets. The agency covers a wide range of insurance services and products, with rates that are extremely competitive on top of impeccable service. With more than 20 years in the insurance business, the company stresses quality and consistency as it works to provide a higher standard of customer satisfaction. read more..
Parkway link to Dixie Farm Road set for spring
A project to link Pearland Parkway to Dixie Farm Road is under way, the next step in a long-range goal to extend the road into League City.
To make the link, the parkway is being extended approximately 4,500 feet from just east of Oiler Drive near Pearland High School.
Work to build the four-lane extension began in July. The road will include raised medians and sidewalks, and a small bridge will cross a segment of Cowarts Creek. The project also will provide installation of an underground storm sewer, median landscaping, and street and signal lights. read more..
Financial planning gets a dose of virtual reality
Fidelity Investments aims to change that equation with an experiment in 3-D technology designed to make money management seem more like a mesmerizing video game than mundane number crunching. Welcome to "StockCity," a virtual-reality landscape dotted with skyscrapers representing the stocks in a person's investment portfolio. A Web version is being released Wednesday at http://www.fidelitylabs.com , but StockCity ultimately is meant to be viewed on the Oculus Rift, a virtual-reality headset that still hasn't been released on the mass market. read more..
Palais Royal opens new Pearland store
Pearland Mayor Tom Reid checks out a "Bears That Care" as Bria Lundy (PR Director Stage Stores Inc) looks on. Stage Stores, Inc. is made a $100,000 donation to Toys for Tots at the grand opening of the newly relocated Palais Royal Department Store in Pearland, to kick off the holiday season and the 2014 "Bears That Care" program. read more..
US economy posts even stronger growth in Q3
In this Nov. 11, 2014 photo, 2015 Ford F-150s move along the production line at the Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Mich. The Commerce Department releases third-quarter gross domestic product on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014. read more..
Office-space slump a distant memory
Rendering of the Ivy District, planned for a Pearland site at Texas 288 and Beltway 8. It will include residential, office and retail, as well as a hotel, conference center and community building. read more..
Update: Patrick: I can push property tax relief through
Lt. Gov-elect Dan Patrick expressed confidence Sunday morning that he could accomplish one of his main legislative priorites, property tax relief, in the next legislative session.
In an interview on KPRC Newsmakers, Patrick said he has always supported lower taxes but now as the conservative leader in the Senate, tax cuts is something well within his power to accomplish.
Now, as lieutenant governor, I have a little bit more clout to push some issues through, Patrick said.
Patrick, the departing chair of the Senate's powerful Education Committee, will be succeeded by longtime ally Paul Bettencourt in Senate District 7. An earlier version of this post misstated that Bettencourt would succeed Patrick as the chair of the education committee, which Patrick's spokesman and consultant called to correct.
I'm still actually chair of education, at least until next Tuesday when Paul Bettencourt, who is taking my position at District 7 for west Harris County, takes over, but I was chair of education, Patrick told KPRC.
Bettencourt, a newly-elected legislator from northwest Harris County, has maintained a long personal friendship with Patrick. The pair serve as conservative talk radio hosts together on KSEV 700.
Patrick will be inaugurated on Jan. 20 at the Texas Capitol. He said Sunday that Inauguration Day, which will feature a barbecue with four tons of brisket, a concert featuring Lady Antebellum and an oath of office ceremony, required a fair bit of planning.
I married off a daughter a few years ago, Patrick recalled. It's like doing a thousand weddings at once. read more..
Keys to Business Success: 3 Lessons From the Masters
It's no secret, entrepreneurs aspire to achieve success by creating their own distinctive path and system. read more..
Need a Business Idea? Here are 55
Today, tens of thousands of people are considering starting a home based business, and for good reasons. On average, people can expect to have two and three careers during their work life. Those leaving one career often think about their second or third career move being to their own home. People who have been part of the traditional nine-to-five work force and are on the verge of retiring from that life are thinking of what to do next. The good news: Starting a home based business is within the reach of almost anyone who wants to take a risk and work hard. read more..
Finding The Right Business
Is it Time to Give Up? How to Know for Sure. read more..
Helping Women-Owned Businesses Get to the Next Level
The face of entrepreneurship is changing in America. Women-owned small businesses are one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy and are helping us recover from the Great Recession. read more..
Wal-Mart cuts health benefits for some part-timers.
Wal-Mart plans to work with DirectHealth.com to allow shoppers to compare coverage options and enroll in Medicare plans or public exchange plans. read more..
Challenges of Corporate Planning
The most successful business owners don't wait for growth to happen -- they take well-planned steps to improve their products or services, operations and delivery systems. This type of forward thinking requires a combination of research, accurate business records and entrepreneurial instinct. Putting all three together requires thoughtful planning and continued effort. read more..
How to Announce a Budget
Budget announcements keep employees informed on the financial state of the company. Employees often need to know budgetary information because it directly impacts how their projects and departments progress. It also gives them a transparent look at your small business's health, providing more insight into decisions. Before announcing the new budget, consider which information you plan to release and who will receive it. A standardized method of announcing the budget keeps all employees on the same page. read more..
Ways to Control Overhead Costs
Corporate overhead, if unchecked, can eat up your profits and potentially create a net loss before you realize it. Without a breakdown of your costs into production and overhead categories, you might not realize how much you're actually spending to run your company. Detailed financial reporting and budget variance analyses will help you keep your overhead to a manageable level. read more..
What Are the Basic Elements to a Strategic Partnership?
Strategic partnerships are mutually beneficial relationships between two firms. Just as large corporations can partner together, two small businesses can partner with one another. A small business can also partner with a larger company. In either case, firms should always sign a legally binding contract outlining their responsibilities and financial stake in the partnership. To forge an effective strategic partnership, a firm must thoroughly research its potential partners. The firm should consult with individuals who have worked with the prospective partner, as Lisa H. Buksbaum says in "Choosing Strategic Partners That Really Partner." read more..
Does Maximizing Customer Satisfaction Maximize Profitability?
Maximizing customer satisfaction makes an important contribution to maximizing profitability, although other factors such as cost control, productivity and marketing strategy also impact the bottom line. By maximizing customer satisfaction, you can increase the opportunity for repeat sales to customers, while reducing the cost of sales and marketing. Customer satisfaction helps to increase customer loyalty, reducing the need to allocate marketing budget to acquire new customers. Satisfied customers may also recommend your products or services to other potential customers, increasing the potential for additional revenue and profit. read more..
Small businesses carving niches in burgeoning Pearland
Like owners of other small businesses who have found a niche in Pearland, Eric Hammond and Jeremy Perrine of Pearland Coffee Roasters can tell you who is coming and when.
"A high percentage of our customers have been coming in every day, and we know exactly what they get every time they come in," said Perrine, who with Hammond opened the shop at 4106 Broadway after buying the assets of Antigua Coffee House, then Pearland's only locally owned coffee shop, in 2010.
But even with the comfort of having loyal, familiar customers, owners of small businesses like Pearland Coffee Roasters, www.pearlandcoffeeroasters.com, can easily see that nothing stands still in the city's evolving business atmosphere. read more..
The Seven Characteristics of Rational Social Organization
Around the turn of the 20th century, sociologist Max Weber theorized that industrialization and capitalism were changing how our social institutions, including workplaces, form and function. Traditional societies form groups and do things based on values, relationships and inheritance. Modernization, Weber said, displaced traditionalism in favor of rationalism. Rational cultures set goals and choose the most efficient way to meet those goals. Weber found that social organization based on rationalism has seven characteristics. Todays businesses still exhibit these characteristics. read more..
What Is Social Responsibilty for an Organization?
An organization has a variety of responsibilities to its stakeholders, including employees, customers, vendors and stockholders. But it also has a social responsibility -- conducting its business in a manner that benefits society as a whole. This responsibility extends to individuals who may not be stakeholders -- those who do not directly participate in the company's financial success or use the company's products or services. read more..
Organizational Structure of a Social Service Organization
For nonprofit businesses dedicated to providing individuals and communities with social services, organizational structure might not sound like a pressing concern. But establishing a framework that allows a business to perform effectively and also remain solvent is as essential to a neighborhood soup kitchen as it is to an international Fortune 500 company, says the Community Toolbox, a community development group. If you're just starting a social service organization, or if the one you're in needs retooling, find out which structures are working for others and how a deliberate organizational structure will benefit your business. read more..
The Importance of Marketing for the Success of a Business
The heart of your business success lies in its marketing. Most aspects of your business depend on successful marketing. The overall marketing umbrella covers advertising, public relations, promotions and sales. Marketing is a process by which a product or service is introduced and promoted to potential customers. Without marketing, your business may offer the best products or services in your industry, but none of your potential customers would know about it. Without marketing, sales may crash and companies may have to close. read more..
Elements of Strategic Business Plan Objectives
Strategic business plan objectives provide the specific details about what a company's expectations are for meeting their identified goals. While goals are broad, objectives must be clear enough that, after the plan has been implemented, two independent observers can tell whether or not the objective has been met. read more..
When Planning Business Strategies, What Are the Most Important Elements for Firms to Focus On?
Strategies are long-term goals that help a business move onward and upward, rather than short-term objectives that simply improve day-to-day operations. The key to identifying the most important elements of a strategic plan is to choose goals and objectives that expand your potential without straining your resources or creating too much risk. Understanding some of the most basic elements of strategic planning will help you create the best long-term goals for your company. read more..
Amending a Partnership Agreement
A partnership is a business structure in which two or more people operate a for-profit business. The partnership agreement -- which may be oral, written or implied based on the actions of partners -- details the elements of the partnership as agreed to by the partners. Partnerships that do not have agreements are subject to control under state laws governing partnerships when legal action is required. Amendments to a partnership agreement change specific provisions of the agreement, such as profit shares or management. read more..
What Is a 50/50 Partnership Agreement?
More than 552,000 employer firms opened for business in 2009, according to the Small Business Administrations Office of Advocacy. Many of these businesses formed under the legal definition called a partnership. Two types of partnership arrangements exist --general partnership and limited partnership. Partners entered into a 50/50 partnership agreement can dissolve the partnership at any time. Also, when a partner involved in a 50/50 agreement dies, the partnership automatically gets terminated. read more..
Overhead Costs in a Service Industry
Your success relies on your ability to successfully allocate your costs. Under-pricing your services can drastically affect your abilities to pay your overhead costs. At the same time, underestimating your potential overhead can dramatically affect your profit margins. Allocating costs effectively is one of the toughest jobs of a small business owner, according to the University of Omaha. read more..
How to Determine Inventory's Direct Labor Costs & Its Overhead Costs
Manufacturers have a whole host of costs that they must account for in the manufacturing process. The costs may be divided into two categories: direct costs and indirect costs. Indirect costs often are referred to as overhead costs, and result from the use of resources to support the manufacturing process. For instance, electricity used to run the factory is an overhead expense. Direct and indirect inventory expenses must be accounted for using generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Proper accounting methods make it simpler to determine direct labor costs and overhead expenses. read more..
The Best Practices in Measuring Customer Satisfaction
Customer retention and loyalty are essential to the long-term success of your business. Yet maintaining contact with customers and assessing their level of satisfaction is a challenge for many businesses. You can lose customers without even realizing that you've done something wrong or your products have failed to provide the expected relief or benefit. By consistently using best practices to track satisfaction, you can monitor your customer relationships. read more..
How to Manage Profit & Loss
Every business must focus continually on managing profit and loss to remain solvent. Profit is the money a company keeps after paying all of its expenses. A loss results from expenses exceeding the amount of sales a company makes in a specific accounting period. Companies must manage their income statements, also known as profit and loss statements, to keep earnings positive and expenses under control and in line with revenue. read more..
How to Improve Help Desk Customer Satisfaction
Customer satisfaction with a company's help desk can significantly impact the business as a whole. Customers call the help desk seeking answers or assistance, and help desk staff must respond in a calm and informing manner. Tracking customer satisfaction and consistently working toward improving it can help a company grow its business operations, increasing the numbers of new and returning customers. read more..
Getting A Business License
Getting a business license involves registering your business name and providing your contact information to a state or local agency so it can mail you periodic tax forms. In addition to these generic business licenses, there are also trade-specific licenses that attest to your competency in a field, certifying you to perform certain actions such as medical consultations or refrigeration repair. Be sure to obtain all necessary business licenses before beginning to operate your business. read more..
Do Social Organizations Effect Change on Employees?
The culture of your organization is, in part, affected by the types of social groups that flourish among the employees and that you, as the business owner, support. The culture of a company revolves around the core beliefs and common understandings of the organization as a whole. A company takes on the attitudes of its leaders, who direct and shape the standards for behavior utilized by the company. Involvement with a social organization can affect the basic culture of your company. read more..
Tactical and Operational Planning
Developing strategic plans is a necessary part of a business. Many types of business plans exist, and two common types of plans include a tactical plan and an operational plan. Tactical and operational plans both work to implement a firm's strategy. Although some similarities exist between tactical and operational planning, there are clear differences. Understanding the elements of tactical and operational planning helps you develop and implement your strategic goals. read more..
Hottest RadioShack tech gifts of 1984 holiday season laughable now
A RadioShack fansite has scanned in most every catalog that the electronics store has put out for the past 70 years. For the 2014 holiday gift-giving season we took a look at the items that were in high demand 30 years ago in 1984. read more..
Low Gross Profit Margin vs. Low Net Profit Margin
Gross profit margin and net profit margin are two of three common profit margins derived from your company's income statement. The other is operating profit margin. While each margin assessment offers different financial assets, they collectively show how well you earn profit from revenue. read more..
Tips on Designing Business Cards
Business cards are one of the simplest, most popular ways businesses market themselves, their products and services to potential clients, vendors and suppliers. Whether you're attending a networking event, hosting a seminar or meeting a potential vendor or client for the first time, a well-designed business card is a necessity. Before designing your card, consider your industry, target client and the personality of your business. read more..
The Meaning of Rational Choice Theory
Rational choice theory (RCT) theorists believe that most human decisions are based on maximizing a person's own benefits, while minimizing that which can hurt the individual, according to Business Dictionary. Small business owners should consider adapting the theory of rational choice into their business models as it can help predict and explain future consumer spending decisions. read more..
Small Business Internet Marketing Advice
If you're starting a new business, marketing yourself online is crucial. Not only does it help you to meeting your customers' needs, but it can help you reach out to new customers across the globe. New technology can be overwhelming, but when used correctly, it offers countless opportunities to expand and grow your customer base. read more..
Jacqueline Kennedy's Smart Pink Suit, Preserved in Memory and Kept Out of View
On the plane back to Washington, in her pink Chanel suit, caked with her husband's blood, Jackie Kennedy resisted all suggestions from aides that she clean herself up. Instead, she just said, Let them see what they've done. read more..
FALL 2014 FASHION TRENDS
THE TOP 10 COLLECTIONS FROM LONDON FASHION WEEK read more..
THE HOTTEST LIPSTICKS FOR FALL 2014
Rich reds, feminine berries and warm neutrals dominated lips on the fall runways and the best news is they're just as pretty and flattering off the cat walk. read more..
A Mini Makeover You Can Finish in a Day (or Less!)
interior Design
Houston designer gave her 70's-era home in Tanglewood new life. read more..
Pair designs vintage furniture with an eclectic twist
In a vintage furnishings version of fantasy football, you'd want to draft the talented trio behind the new concept shop Mrs. PK & Oz. read more..
Houston family bucks tradition to create artful, high-rise abode
The living area at the home of Matthew Emal and Shannon Langrand where they live with their children Colombe, 9, and Marcelo, 5, at One Park Place adjacent to Discovery Green Tuesday, April 1, 2014, in Houston. read more..
9 times you should wear a midi skirt this fall
Pearland friends open fashion forward and pet-friendly Rice Village store
Longtime friends Jacki Cosgrove and Penny Packer used to pore over issues of Vogue magazine at every opportunity when they worked together a construction company, owned by Packer's husband, Phil Packer. read more..
One-Minute Makeover Tip: Make the Most of Your Maxi
We firmly believe that it takes only a minute to change your look with the right ingredients and a fresh set of eyes. Today, we're helping refresh your wardrobe with one easy styling trick and a piece you likely already have in your closet. The arrival of Fall and Winter usually means we bury our Summer maxi dresses and skirts, but we're all about taking them out of hiding to well, maximize, their potential with a few seasonal layers. read more..
Bay Area docs decode Renee Zellweger's new face: A step too far?
Renee Zellweger arrives to the 2014 ELLE women in Hollywood Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California.
It's the face that launched a thousand quips: Hollywood actor Renee Zellweger has stepped out looking very different than usual, and everyone's talking about her new look mostly unkindly. It's the kind of cosmetic work that Bay Area doctors would likely discourage, because it does not hew to the natural aesthetic that prevails in Northern California. read more..
Yes To beauty wipes get new look from student designer
The next time you look at a beauty product, think about what made you pick it up in the first place.
The San Francisco-based Yes To line of natural skin care products (made with fruits and free of harsh chemicals) recently enlisted the help of students from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising to create limited edition packaging for its best-selling beauty wipes. read more..
Traditional exterior hides a modern marvel in Sixth Ward
Passers-by might not notice anything unusual about the two houses on Sabine Street, with their inviting front porches, Victorian-style eaves and pretty front gardens typical of restored houses in the Sixth Ward Historic District near downtown. That's unless someone happens to walk by when a family is sitting down to a meal in the glass-enclosed dining room, which from the street appears to hover several feet above the ground between the two structures.
"We wave at people who walk by, and they'll get really confused trying to figure out if we're inside or outside," said owner David Ansell, who designed the unusual setup with his wife, Bennie Flores Ansell, over the past 15 years. read more..
Dita von Teese: How to be sexy in Silicon Valley
When Dita von Teese visited San Francisco last month, the famed pinup had a packed schedule: There were two final performances of her full-length burlesque show, Strip Strip Hooray! at the Fillmore, and the launch of her lingerie line at Bloomingdale's.
It was completely sold out, she told us about the show and its diverse crowd. People were hanging from rafters. It was great. There is something about performing in San Francisco that is so much different than anywhere else.
Von Teese is a relatively frequent visitor to the Bay Area (she is known to stop by Dark Garden for costumes and corsets, and to visit Foreign Cinema with John Paul Gaultier). While fans were lining up to get their hands on her lovely lingerie at Bloomingdale's, we asked what we really wanted to know. Read more for her thoughts on being sexy in Silicon Valley and the so-called natural look, and browse the slideshows above and below to see her and the cast of Strip Strip Hooray in lingerie. Bonus: Her Halloween costume is epic. read more..
H&M Galleria opens noon Thursday
We've seen the H&M signs up for months. At last, H&M's fourth Houston store opens noon Thursday at the Galleria.
The 23,000-square-foot store will offer collections for ladies, men, young ladies and young men, with separate store within store sections for accessories, lingerie and its plus-size line. The affordable retailer has hired about 30 people for the store at Houston Galleria, almost all of them hired locally, adding to the approximately 15,000 H&M employees in the US. read more..
Houston couple's Braes Heights home feels roomier after redesign
Susie and Gary Stankowski had moved into their 5,300-square-foot house in Braes Heights from a nearby patio home because they wanted a yard for their two daughters, now 9 and 12. The four-bedroom house was new when they moved in, so they personalized it a bit, painting an entry wall dark red and covering a dining room wall with mosaic tile.
Yet despite their home's large size, there were some crowded corners, rooms that felt not quite big enough. A dining table in the breakfast nook nearly blocked access to the back door, and the living room furniture felt crowded together.
Last spring, the Stankowskis - she's a former graphic designer and stay-at-home mom, he's a hospital consultant - decided to hire a professional to brighten and update the rooms they wanted to enjoy the most. In the process, they learned that they have much more space than they realized - and that less isn't always more. read more..
Glossier: Emily Weiss's Makeup for Cool Girls
Can you put on that sexy music again? Emily Weiss asks her driver. The 29-year-old founder of Into The Gloss, arguably the Internet's most admired beauty site, is in the back seat of a Mercedes-Benz on Oct. 6 with her friend, the Canadian model Coco Baudelle. It's launch day for Weiss's new cosmetics line, Glossier, and they're hand-delivering boxes of products to randomly chosen Twitter (TWTR) and Instagram (FB) devotees around New York City, as well as celebrity acquaintances, including Ashley Olsen. read more..
Pure Marsala Matte Lip Creme
A limited-edition, moisturizing lipstick with a matte satin finish that showcases the Pantone color of the year for 2015 Marsala.
This satin finish moisturizing lipstick offers rich, matte color in a bold pop of neutral. Infused with resveratrol, an antiaging ingredient derived from red grapes, the creamy formula glides on and provides comfortable, all-day wear that rivals the lasting power of a lip stain. read more..
At Pitti Uomo in Florence, Put a Hat on It
FLORENCE, Italy In December 1929, Irving Berlin published a song with an irresistible but notoriously complex rhythmic pattern and lyrics about the custom in Harlem of putting on one's Sunday finery to parade up and down Lenox Avenue, Spending every dime/For a wonderful time. read more..
What Happened to Risk on the Red Carpet?
"Will that go off in a metal detector?Ryan Seacrest asked as he greeted Emma Stone, who met his gaze with a coy smile and plenty of attitude.
It took brass, she knew, to upend tradition, striding the red carpet as she did at the Golden Globes on Sunday night, not in a gown, but a silver-bodiced Lanvin jumpsuit showily sashed at the waist.
She was rivaled for chutzpah by the singer and songwriter Lorde, who stepped briskly to Mr. Seacrest's side in a midriff-baring brassiere top, loosely tailored evening jacket and billowing trousers, her Narciso Rodriguez ensemble a worldly nod to 1940s screen goddesses like Gene Tierney and Lauren Bacall.
Then there was Lena Dunham, who braved the gantlet of photographers, publicists, stylists and scribes, her oft-exposed curves concealed for once beneath a flame-red Zac Posen dress with an eye-catching up-and-down hem.
They were among a handful of high-luster personalities spiraling on E! network's GlamCam 360, their fashion choices uncommonly daring, looks that flew in the face of viewers most cherished expectations. read more..
Work From Home Like a Boss: Top Tech for Your Home Office
Working from home -- and making a decent living doing it -- demands discipline, focus and follow-through. Decking your work space out with some of the latest, greatest office tech doesn't hurt either. Having the right gear just might boost your productivity, that is if you don't let it drive you to distraction.
read more..
iPhone 6 deep-dive review: A major new step in design and performance
Apple's latest smartphone offers great hardware, but like all current iPhones, has been hurt by annoying iOS 8 glitches. read more..
Underwater Robots Could Sniff Out Smuggled Drugs, Weapons
A warning to all smugglers: A new underwater robot could be used to sniff out contraband — including weapons and drugs — hidden aboard ships. read more..
Nobel Prize goes to co-founder of Fremont light company
Startup lighting company Soraa scored the rarest of Silicon Valley distinctions Tuesday when its co-founder Shuji Nakamura won the Nobel Prize for physics. read more..
Zapanta: Net neutrality a matter of economics
A protester demonstrates last week across the street from the Comcast Center in Philadelphia. Some are calling for further FCC action to allow strong government protections for the open Internet. read more..
Technology
Tesla's 'D' adds all-wheel drive, safety features read more..
Women are claiming their place in tech history
Over the years, Ada Lovelace has been called her fair share of names that is, on the occasions when she has been remembered at all. read more..
Facebook, Apple pay for egg freezing, sperm donors
A Facebook worker waits for friends to arrive outside of Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. Facebook and Apple, long known for cushy perks such as free meals, laundry service and massages, are among some of Silicon Valley's biggest companies now eyeing reproductive expenses as the next batch of benefits to offer to their employees. read more..
Amazon hires 80K seasonal holiday workers
NEW YORK Amazon is hiring 80,000 seasonal workers for its distribution centers as it looks to improve its shipping efficiency during the crucial holiday season. read more..
IBM to pay $1.5B to shed its costly chip division
NEW YORK (AP) IBM will pay $1.5 billion to Globalfoundries in order to shed its costly chip division.
IBM Director of Research John E. Kelly III said in an interview Monday that handing over control of the semiconductor operations will allow it to grow faster, while IBM continues to invest in and expand its chip research.
IBM will make payments to the chipmaker over three years, but it took a $4.7 billion charge for the third quarter when it reported earnings Monday.
The company fell short of Wall Street profit expectations and revenue slid 4 percent, sending shares down 7 percent at the open of trading. read more..
Google's streaming music service adds mood to mix
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Google's music-subscription service will try to anticipate its listeners' mood swings as it amplifies its competition with Pandora, Spotify and other popular services that play tunes over the Internet. read more..
Review: Better cameras, less glare in iPad Air 2
CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) If I've seen you taking photos with a tablet computer, I've probably made fun of you (though maybe not to your face, depending on how big you are). I'm old school: I much prefer looking through the viewfinder of my full-bodied, single-lens reflex camera, even though it has a large LCD screen.
But as I tested out Apple's new iPad Air 2, I see why people like to shoot pictures with a tablet. Images look great on the large screen, and there's less guesswork about whether or not small details, such as lettering on a sign, will be in focus.
And what you see and get with the iPad Air 2 is a better camera. The rear one now matches the iPhone's 8 megapixels, up from 5 megapixels, and incorporates features such as slow-motion video. Packed with a faster processor, the 9.7-inch tablet is also 18 percent thinner and 7 percent lighter than the previous model, at about a quarter of an inch and just under a pound.
Apple is also updating its 7.9-inch iPad Mini, though the cameras, processor and dimensions haven't changed.
The tablets go on sale this week, starting at $499 for the iPad Air 2 and $399 for the iPad Mini 3. Both now have fingerprint ID technology to expedite online purchases through Apple Pay. Gold joins silver and grey as color choices, and pricier models have twice as much storage as before. read more..
Zuckerberg speaks Chinese, Beijing students cheer
Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg speaks during a dialogue with students as a newly-appointed member to the advisory board for Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management in Beijing, China. China may ban Facebook, but not its co-founder Zuckerberg, and he entertained an audience of students with a 30-minute chat in his recently learned Mandarin Chinese at the prestigious Beijing university. read more..
Apple Pay leaves out several store-branded credit cards
Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Toys R Us, were among the first retailers to accept Apple's new payment system last week, letting some customers check out by flashing their new iPhones near a reader at the register.
But Apple Pay left out a large chunk of the retailers most loyal shoppers.
The payment system does not yet accept several major store-branded credit cards, which are tied to coupons and reward programs. These cards are major drivers of sales for retailers.
Apple's really sabotaging itself, said Burt P. Flickinger, III, managing director of consulting firm Strategic Resource Group. Apple Pay will still revolutionize the industry. It will just revolutionize retail transactions a lot slower than it should. read more..
Softbank ready to splash $10B on India investments
In this May 10, 2012 file photo, Softbank Corp. President Masayoshi Son speaks during a press conference for the Global Green Grouth Summit 2012, in Seoul, South Korea. Japanese telecommunications company Softbank Corp. said Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014, it bought stakes in two Indian technology companies and could splash $10 billion on investments in the country over the next decade. read more..
Samsung vows changes after mobile profit plunges
A student tries out Samsung's Gear product at a Samsung Electronics shop in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014. Samsung Electronics Co. admitted erring in its smartphone strategy and vowed to overhaul its handset lineup after profit from those devices tumbled last quarter to the lowest in more than three years. The South Korean company, which climbed from smartphone laggard to top seller in the past three years, had prided itself on responding quickly to market demand and ability to tailor handsets to the needs of users and mobile carriers around the world. read more..
Hungary suspends Internet tax after huge protests
Thousands of demonstrators protest against an internet tax planned to be introduced by the Hungarian government for the second time in two days in front of the Ministry of National Economy in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014. Tens of thousands of protesters marched Tuesday against a plan by the Hungarian government to tax Internet use from 2015. The inscription on Guy Fawkes mask reads: "Unity, freedom!" read more..
Sony's quarterly loss balloons on mobile woes
In this Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014 photo, Sony Corp. President Kazuo Hirai leaves after a press conference at the company's headquarters in Tokyo. Sony's losses ballooned to 136 billion yen ($1.2 billion) last quarter as the Japanese electronics and entertainment company's troubled mobile phone division reported huge red ink. The poor result released Friday, Oct. 31, 2014 was despite a 7 percent increase in quarterly sales to 1.9 trillion yen ($17.3 billion) as performance improved in cameras, TVs and game businesses. read more..
UK spy chief says Web is command center for terror
A page of the British GCHQ official website, the government electronic and communications spy agency is pictured on a computer, Robert Hannigan, the new head of the agency made remarks in a British national newspaper, London, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. Writing in Tuesday's Financial Times, Robert Hannigan said that GCHQ and other British intelligence agencies know that IS extremists use messaging services like Facebook and Twitter to reach their peers with ease. He said spy agencies need to have greater support from the U.S. technology companies which dominate the Web in order to fight militants and those who host material about violent extremism and child exploitation. read more..
Review: Apple's iOS 8 provides a smarter type
In this Nov. 14, 2014 photo, Associated Press reporter Michael Liedtke demonstrates the Swype keyboard on an Apple iPhone in San Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) I never would have considered writing this review on my iPhone if I hadn't upgraded to Apple's new operating system, iOS 8.
With the free upgrade, typing on the iPhone's touch keyboard doesn't seems as tedious, cumbersome or infuriating as it did before, when a rather dim-witted "auto-correct" system would slip in words that made people look illiterate or, even worse, inappropriate. read more..
Give your pet something unexpected over holidays
In this undated photo provided by GoPro, a dog wearing two GoPro cameras, one on his back and one on his chest, held on by what is known as a Fetch dog harness, dig into sand at an unknown location. GoPro Inc. Fetch dog harness fits over your dogs chest or back and holds the small, waterproof camera known for attaching to helmets, surfboards, cars and wrists to film rugged adventures. Sony, Garmin and Kurgo also make camera mounts for dogs. read more..
Aereo files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, file photo, Chet Kanojia, founder and CEO of television-over-the-Internet service Aereo, Inc., shows a tablet displaying his company's technology, in New York. Aereo says that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, saying an unfavorable ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court was too difficult to overcome. Kanojia said in a statement Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, on the company's website that the Supreme Court decision effectively changed the laws that had governed Aereo's technology, creating regulatory and legal uncertainty. read more..
Automakers aim to drive away car computer hackers
Chris Valasek, poses for a picture at the during the Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, in Los Angeles. Valasek, who helped catapult car hacking into the public eye when he and a partner revealed last year they had been able to control a 2010 Toyota Prius and 2010 Ford Escape by plugging into a port used by mechanics. read more..
Review: 4 shopping apps that will save you money
This June 18, 2014, file photo shows the app that links to shopping on Amazon.com on the new Amazon Fire Phone, in Seattle. The best tool for saving money while holiday shopping can be a smartphone packed with the right apps. read more..
Gift Guide: Gadgets for avid TV viewers
EDISON, N.J. (AP) For avid television viewers out there, the standard digital-video recorder that comes with your cable TV box just isn't enough.
TiVo and SlingTV can add to the TV watching experience. Here's a look at what each does and why you might want both. read more..
IPhone user tries to go back to BlackBerry
In this Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, file photo, BlackBerry's new BlackBerry Classic phone appears on display during a news conference, in New York. BlackBerry's new Classic aims to please its core users who love a physical keyboard. read more..
Beyond the Uber surge: How to get around on New Year's Eve
This Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 file photo taken in Newark, N.J., shows smart phones displaying Uber car availability in New York. The ride-hailing app expects this New Year's Eve to be its busiest night ever. Due to such high demand, and because it can, Uber is bringing back its surge pricing, a boon to drivers and a bane to passengers. Fares can increase by as much as sevenfold during the busiest time, which Uber says will be between 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. read more..
Sony case statements could cause bind, depending on evidence
In this Feb. 27, 2014 file photo, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James B. Comey listens to a question from a reporter during a media conference in San Francisco. The FBI director revealed new details Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, about the stunning cyberattack against Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., part of the Obama administration's effort to challenge persistent skepticism about whether North Korea's government was responsible for the brazen hacking. Speaking at the International Conference on Cyber Security at Fordham University, FBI Director Comey revealed that the hackers "got sloppy" and mistakenly sent messages directly that could be traced to IP addresses used exclusively by North Korea. read more..
Stray satellite signals help measure snowfall in arid West
In this Jan. 8, 2015 photo, Kristine Larson, a professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Colorado, pictured at work on the campus of CU in Boulder, Colo. Larson is using stray GPS signals that interfere with earthquake research as a tool to measure snow depth and soil moisture, providing valuable information to climatologists. read more..
Obama: With tech advances come privacy risks for US
President Barack Obama speaks at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offices at the Constitution Center in Washington, Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, about his plan to improve confidence in technology by tackling identify theft and improving consumer and student privacy. The president wants Congress to pass legislation requiring companies to inform customers within 30 days if their data has been hacked, a move that follows high-profile breaches at retailers including Target, Home Depot and Neiman Marcus. read more..
France sees 19,000 cyberattacks since terror rampage
French president, Francois Hollande, delivers a speech as he visits the Arab Institute building in Paris, France, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. President Francois Hollande says France's millions of Muslims should be protected and respected, but should also respect the nation's strict secular policies. Hollande spoke Thursday after three radical Muslim gunmen killed 17 people in France's worst attacks in decades. read more..
Google to stop consumer sales of Glass to redesign device
In this Feb. 20 2013 file photo, Google co-founder Sergey Brin wears a Google Glass device in San Francisco. Google on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015 announced it will stop selling its Internet-connected eyewear to consumers until the company can develop a more polished and affordable version that's less likely to be viewed as a freakish device. read more..
VC firms rain down cash on tech startups, is bubble brewing?
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014 photo, a woman leaves the headquarters of Uber in San Francisco. Venture capitalists poured a whopping $48.3 billion into U.S. startup companies last year, investing at levels that haven't been seen since before the dot-com bubble burst in 2001, according to a new report issued Friday, Jan. 16, 2015. The two biggest deals in 2014 were separate rounds of investment in Uber Technologies, the high-flying and controversial ride-hailing service, now valued at $41 billion. read more..
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