Business

Grad school is crazy…

by John on March 6, 2013

Updates have been pretty slow around here, but financial circumstances related to having a fiancee in grad school have forced me to take up another job elsewhere on the web. While my own sites will have to be limited to a part time gig on nights and weekends, working online still manages to keep the bills paid in a small town with no local economy to speak of. Theoretically, the new arrangement should be a little bit more stable for a one-income house dealing with the wake of an increasingly fickle Google algorithm.

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Skipping Black Friday felt good

by John on November 24, 2012

The term Black Friday was introduced to the American culture at some point back in the 1960s, but back then journalists advised people to stay at home to avoid the congestion and bad attitudes that go along with rampant consumerism and masses of shoppers who are hunting for the next deal. At some point in the last ten years, this dark day seems to have morphed in to an actual celebration of all the greediest and most selfish instincts we have. This year, however, I had a great Thanksgiving and all I had to do was tune Black Friday out. Did I miss out on big savings… or stumble across an even sweeter deal?

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Sprint update: Always dispute bogus charges

November 17, 2012 Business

A lot of people tend to panic when they receive notification of debt collection activity, and more than a few have paid up on false claims just to protect their credit rating or business’ reputation. It is important to remember, though, that you don’t have to give in to the shakedown because there are legal protections available to those who dispute debt claims being made against them. My recent experience with Sprint has already shown some positive results, and we’ve barely even begun the dispute process! Find out how to protect your credit score and bank account from shady businesses and their favorite debt collectors.

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Five o’Clock Fred’s 8 Funny Drawbacks To Working In A Cubicle

May 23, 2012 Business
8 Funny downsides to working in a cubicle

Five O’ Clock Fred presents a humorous look at some of the downsides to working in a cubicle. If you’re already stuck in one from nine to five you might not need a reminder, but you might still get a good laugh out of it!

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Facebook IPO aftermath: This status update brought to you by Morgan Stanley

May 21, 2012 Business
Facebook for sale

In the aftermath of the Facebook IPO, there are some clear winners and clear losers – as well as a lot of unanswered questions about the role of the banks underwriting the stock. Why, exactly, are some of the biggest banks convinced the stock is worth twice what the revenues would imply? Here’s one theory…

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The joys of health insurance while self-employed

May 19, 2012 Business
Good luck with that insurance

Shopping for health insurance can be a frustrating task, but if you know what the jargon means it gets a whole lot easier. With costs the way they are and customer service at all time lows, a little bit of comparison shopping can go a long way.

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Lessons from the dropped domain backorder that got away

May 12, 2012 Business
Finding dropped domains

Registering a quality new domain is no small task, so web publishers are increasingly turning to backorders and auctions to secure the brands and keywords they’re after. Find out what I learned from a recently failed attempt to grab a great domain through the backorder process.

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Facebook Aims Big with an Overpriced IPO

May 5, 2012 Business
Big banks will buy in quickly

Facebook is seeking to raise big money in an IPO that values the company at nearly $100 billion. However, such a valuation puts the price to earnings ratios in a rather unsustainable place that will require big growth and aggressive monetization.

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The secret of success… is often failure

December 22, 2011 Business

A vast majority of new businesses and startups will fail – so then what is an ex-entrepreneur to do? The experiences earned in running your own business can be valuable, so knowing when it call it quits and how to follow through with a backup plan could be the greatest success pulled from the ashes of a stalled out business plan.

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Diversify to Manage Surprises

October 3, 2011 Business

Diversifying your web holdings is a great way to avoid the disruptions caused by shifting affiliate options and bigger economic trends. Find out more about the benefits and risks of the online diversification strategy.

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