Posted by Christina Lopez on November 5th, 2011
Groupon may be the hot Internet company du jour, but it didn’t spring from a traditional startup bastion like Silicon Valley or Boston.
The group-discount firm that began offering shares to the public on Friday is headquartered in Chicago, and serves as proof that startup success can happen far from the coasts. On Thursday, Tennessee officials unveiled a plan that aims to smooth the path for entrepreneurs who are looking to cultivate a big idea in the Volunteer State.
Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty announced that nine “entrepreneurial accelerators” will be established throughout the state, including one that will be led by the University of Tennessee’s Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Lynn Youngs, executive director of the Anderson Center, said the ultimate goal is business and job creation and that a big part of the accelerator’s mission will be to make the region aware of resources that already exist.
He said any applicant who comes through the door will be evaluated and steered toward their best path for success.
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Posted by Samantha Martinez on November 2nd, 2011
Click this image for many LISTS of Exceptional Bloggers with Twitter Usernames for Follow Friday
Friday is a popular day for link roundups and Follow Friday recommendations.
Both are excellent ideas for bloggers and social media users to emulate.
I highly recommend you seek out other bloggers in your niche and physical geography.
Reach out to them by linking to and commenting in posts you appreciate.
Share and recommend them on Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon, Google+ and elsewhere.
Develop a group of bloggers who support each other’s efforts and recommend each other for Follow Friday on Twitter. E
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Posted by Christina Lopez on October 29th, 2011
A MEETING of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel ended this morning without the politicians making any comments.
Mr Sarkozy paid an unexpected trip to Frankfurt yesterday to the farewell celebration of European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet to meet Ms Merkel, European Union Council President Herman Van Rompuy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, the head of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde, Mr Trichet and his replacement, Mario Draghi.
The closed-door meeting in the Alte Oper of Frankfurt, where the event honouring Mr Trichet at the close of his eight-year term was held, preceded a meeting of EU heads of states and government over the weekend in Brussels.
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Posted by Samantha Martinez on October 27th, 2011
The websites of the UK’s fastest growing companies are losing sales, according to research from BT Business and Latitude. The analysis of the websites of the Real Business Hot 100, revealed that almost half are shutting out potential customers through missing web pages (404 error).
“These companies are top of the class for sales performance but at the bottom when it comes to capturing potential customers online,” explains Ivan Croxford, general manager digital marketing services, BT Business.
“By ignoring the opportunities that the Internet brings they’re disadvantaged in the current climate and are not equipped with all the tools available to market themselves and attract and retain customers. As more and more are looking online to conduct their daily lives both personally and professionally, these businesses are really missing a trick.”
So what can you do to ensure your site is alive and kicking?
1.
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Posted by Paul Thompson on October 25th, 2011
Science and Religion… here are two things that do not go together like birds of a feather, or peas in a pod, or pork chops in applesauce. But the two have to live together one way or another seeing as the world is technologically and scientifically developing at nearly the speed of light while the Light of Christ still illuminates the Bible Belt and beyond with the same intensity as ever. The two world views are bound to clash on most of the issues, but perhaps there is some common ground somewhere. Or maybe not. Here are some of the ways Christians try to resist the proven facts of science. Read more…
Posted by Christina Lopez on October 22nd, 2011
There is serious concern that Walmart will use its muscle to pursue its “anti-union philosophy” if its merger with local retailer Massmart goes ahead in its current form, the Competition Appeal Court heard on Friday.
Senior counsel Paul Kennedy, representing the South African Commercial, Catering, and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu), said that despite undertakings by the merging parties, there were concerns about employment, protection of worker benefits, and protection of the right to representation by their union.
“There is serious concern that Walmart uses its muscle to pursue its anti-union stance,” Kennedy said.
Walmart had a reputation and its approach could minimise rather than advance jobs, he said, adding that 1.3-million Walmart workers in the United States were not unionised.
Walmart’s approach and philosophy was a problem and the reason why structural intervention was appropriate, he said. Read more…
Posted by Paul Thompson on October 19th, 2011
There’s no debate that job creation is instrumental to an economic rebound. What is not so clear is how to spur hiring.
Speaking on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid urged members to pass legislation for hiring teachers and police officers, and made the argument that “private sector jobs have been doing just fine.”
According to the Labor Department, total non-farm employment has decline 3.7% between September 2008 and September 2011. During the same three-year period, private employment decreased by 3.9% and government employment dropped 2.6%.
But do those in the private sector have different opinions on where jobs need to be created more urgently? He Read more…