Monthly Archives: September 2009

(Fake) diamonds are a girl’s best friend

September 30, 2009 – 6:00 am

by Reed Robinson WHAT’S HAPPENING Single guys know that a shiny ring finger on the left hand means do not disturb. Or at least that’s what women want them to think. Ms. Taken is a novelty ring meant to thwart the approach of less-than-desirable male suitors. It looks like a ring and works like a […]

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SEASON OF APOLOGY

September 29, 2009 – 4:00 pm

by Hans Eisenbeis At some point, of course, I will have to say “I’m sorry.” For all the things I’ve done and all the things I’ve left undone. Apologies are good for the soul if they’re sincere and they lead to a change in behavior. And as all our Jewish friends know, having attended Yom […]

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Muffler shop monos: From marketing tools to works of art

September 28, 2009 – 6:00 am

by Rocio Zamora Arzola WHAT’S HAPPENING Popular in Mexico and in Latino barrios of L.A., makeshift tin men called monos, made of old car parts, are being used by muffler shops, junkyards and auto repair garages as a way of promoting their business and appealing to their Latino clientele. The funky aesthetic behind these marketing […]

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Seeing your future, thinner self is a powerful weight loss tool

September 25, 2009 – 6:00 am

by Stefania Revelli WHAT’S HAPPENING For any dieter guilty of posting magazine pages of beautiful bods in easy-to cheat places like the fridge, there is ThinnerView, a service that lets consumers quite figuratively keep their eye on the actual prize — their future body (Springwise.com 8.26.09). Like most virtual makeovers, users upload a picture of their current […]

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Perky Jerky: The wide-awake meat treat

September 24, 2009 – 6:00 am

by Tim Barlow WHAT’S HAPPENING It all started with coffee, then energy drinks. Later arrived everything from caffeinated potato chips to donuts. Now Perky Jerky, the caffeinated beef jerky, is here, stopping meat cravings and drowsiness in one savory snack. Made with guarana, each Perky Jerky bag contains 150mg of caffeine, or almost two cans […]

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Multitaskers are bad at multitasking

September 23, 2009 – 6:00 am

by Reed Robinson WHAT’S HAPPENING You know the guy … the one writing a report, reading the news, checking Facebook, all while tuning in to his favorite Pandora station. We often wonder how he’s capable of such productivity. His secret: inefficiency. In a 2009 study, Stanford researchers tested two groups — regular multitaskers and non-multitaskers […]

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A DATE WITH FASHION

September 22, 2009 – 3:00 pm

by Nissa Hanna How do you coax consumers back into clothing stores? Fashion’s Night Out dangled irresistible carrots: celebrities, customization and cocktails. The global event, held September 9, was a rallying cry for retailers whipped up by Vogue and the Council of Fashion Designers of America. It was not retail as usual. In New York, […]

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Blacks and Latinos suffering the brunt of H1N1 in Boston

September 21, 2009 – 6:00 am

by Lisa Parks WHAT’S HAPPENING Minorities in Boston are being hit hard by swine flu. Blacks, one-quarter of the city’s residents, are 37% of the H1N1 cases. Latinos, 14% of the population, are more than one-third of the cases (NPR.org 8.19.09). Social circumstances are contributing to the disproportionate effects. Because low-income parents can’t afford to […]

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Triple-digit MPG claims have drivers turning their heads

September 18, 2009 – 6:00 am

by Stefania Revelli WHAT’S HAPPENING At 48 miles per gallon, the Toyota Prius is currently the gold standard in fuel efficiency (FuelEconomy.gov 9.09).  But it may not be for long. General Motors announced that its Chevy Colt EV, scheduled to be released in 2011, will get 230 city miles per gallon. Using the same (blurry […]

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Couple argues over finances… and likes it!

September 17, 2009 – 6:00 am

by Reed Robinson WHAT’S HAPPENING We know one of the biggest sources of intermarriage conflict is money. Relational conflict over purse-string issues is nothing new, but according to a recent study by a group of Big Ten Universities, humans may actually seek mates with contradictory spending perspectives. Researchers asked participants to evaluate the level of […]

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Young nonbelievers build their own communities

September 16, 2009 – 6:00 am

by Cree McCree WHAT’S HAPPENING Young nonbelievers are coming out of the closet. Instead of hiding their views, they’re meeting to share ideas in campus groups like the Secular Students Alliance and online communities like Friendly Atheist. One in four Americans under age 30 are atheists or agnostics according to the Pew Forum on Religion […]

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Podcast: Mad as Heck

September 16, 2009 – 6:00 am

Derek Stubbs and Hans Eisenbeis discuss Tea Party protests, 9/11 economics,  and Ben Bernanke’s recovery. Download this week’s economic podcast here: Mad as Heck: Bottoms Up Week 29 24 min., 5 sec.

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SCHOOL OF HEALTH

September 15, 2009 – 4:34 pm

by Stefania Revelli It’s that time of year again. “First day back” Facebook, MySpace and Twitter statuses abound. Store aisles are overstocked with packs of No. 2 pencils, themed folders and colorful lists of suggested school supplies, like … disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizers? It’s not so surprising, considering that one in three people believe […]

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ESPN Deportes striving for dominance in Spanish-language sports broadcasting

September 14, 2009 – 6:00 am

by Rocio Zamora Arzola WHAT’S HAPPENING Sports en español ESPN Deportes-style is getting a boost as the cable and radio network launches its first marketing campaign, simulcasts legendary sportscaster Jorge Ramos and broadcasts games from Spain’s elite La Liga soccer league. Big names on the sports and entertainment front, including soccer star Lionel Messi, boxer […]

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Drinkers buy low and speculate savings at Berlin bar

September 11, 2009 – 6:00 am

by Tim Barlow WHAT’S HAPPENING Market rules apply at Broker’s Bier Borse, where the price of each of the bar’s sixteen brews is determined by its popularity: The more a particular beer is purchased, the higher the price climbs, while the less desirable fall cheaper. A large electronic ticker overlooks the bar, updating prices every […]

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