Well, one more week down and only 14 shopping days left. Are you ready? Other than the Lakers backpack I bought my youngest brother (he’s 10 and I don’t fight it because the Bulls aren’t great) that was returned and a Target run for stocking stuffers, I am ready!
I’m finished speaking for the year. I’m finished with business travel for the year. I ate my last warm nuts and chocolate chip cookie in first class really early this morning. It’s all fun and games from here (except for the wireframes and tone board that are due for Project Jack Bauer a week from today, but that’s fun. Right?).
AND! We’re supposed to get a bunch more snow tomorrow. Two weekends in a row! I LOVE SNOW!!
Anyway. Following are the top five stories for the week ending December 10, 2010.
1. Online Retailer Charged with Fraud Threats. Last week I introduced you to Vitaly Borker, the CEO of DecorMyEyes who was using negative reviews and publicity to enhance his Google juice and increase his sales. Well, after he bragged to the New York Times about threatening people who lived in and around New York City, he was arrested earlier this week and held without bail. My mom always says that life isn’t fair, but boy that is justice right there! (Thanks to Johnny Russo for sending me the breaking news as it happened!)
2. Female Staff in Norway Ordered to Wear Red Bracelets During Their Period. Need I say more? Danny Brown left this little gem for me over the weekend. That’s right. An employer in Norway makes their female employees wear a red bracelet during their period in order to justify multiple bathroom breaks. I drink a gallon of water a day and pee every hour. Would I have to wear a red bracelet every day? You have to read it to believe it.
3. Google Should Be Happy Groupon Turned It Down. It’s no surprise I’m in shock about Groupon turning down a $6B offer from Google. What’s even more surprising is I spoke in Charlotte yesterday and more than half the audience hadn’t even heard about this deal. So I’m obsessed about something half the country hasn’t even heard about. BUT! Megan Beausang found this really interesting article that looks at things differently than I did. It talks about two theories, as well as an opportunity to buy Twitter. It’s good. Read it.
2. Feedburner Launches New Beta Design. For those of you who write blogs and use Feedburner to deliver the RSS feed, read this article from Jason Falls. Like Jason, I haven’t totally played with the new features to figure out if there are better analytics, but it’s something you should understand if you keep a blog.
1. Skype Staffing for a Big Push to the Cloud. This is pure speculation from TechCrunch, but it makes sense and sounds interesting. Skype has begun hiring web developers and cloud programmers for, what looks like, a big push for the cloud VoIP business. While it likley won’t mean a lot to us as individuals, if they’re able to offer a cloud-based calling service, they can approach big companies and begin to beef up their revenue and profit models for an IPO in the next 12-18 months.
And there you have it! May you find time to finish your shopping, have some hot chocolate, and sit by the fire while it snows this weekend!