Accounting Error or Change in Estimate?

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On November 21, 2011, independent research firm, Gradient Analytics issued a report that questioned whether j2 Global appropriately treated the measurement of annual contacts with eFax customers as a change in estimate. Based on its examination of the j2 Global’s financial disclosures, applicable accounting rules, and limited feedback from the company, Gradient reported that “…the… Read more »

Pharma Bribery Settlements

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Pfizer Inc. will pay at least $60 million to settle allegations by the U.S. government that the drugmaker paid bribes to win overseas business, according to The Wall Street Journal. The paper, citing “people familiar with the matter,” said in an article published to its website Sunday that settlements are expected to be made public… Read more »

Expensive Steaks

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Fifty diners at some of the better steakhouse restaurants in New York City, including the Capital Grille, Smith & Wollensky, JoJo and Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, became victims of a scam perpetrated by seven waiters using lipstick-size electronic “skimmers” to extract data from the magnetic strips of American Express Centurion, or “black,” cards and other high- and… Read more »

New Estimates Out on the Cost of Having Children

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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the cost of raising a child to the age of 18 is now a breathtaking $226,920. The cost of raising a child has risen over $60K since 2000. As a result, families squeezed by the economy are opting to wait to have children, but also tell Christine Romans… Read more »

Shadow Work: How does it affect the Economy?

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Shadow work is a term coined 30 years ago by the Austrian philosopher and social critic Ivan Illich. For Dr. Illich, shadow work was all the unpaid labor — including, for example, housework — done in a wage-based economy. The conventional wisdom is that America has become a “service economy,” but actually, in many sectors,… Read more »

Wal-Mart Banking

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As Americans become more fed up with banks, who are they turning to to protest against Wall Street and outsized fees? The answer surprisingly is Wal-Mart. Customers cash work and government checks, pay bills, wire money overseas or load money on to a prepaid debit card for generally a low fee like $3, as compared… Read more »

The Big Bank of America Settlement

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On November 7, 2011, a federal judge gave final approval to a $410 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit affecting more than 13 million Bank of America customers who had debit card overdrafts during the past decade.  The settlement became final a week after Charlotte, N.C.-based Bank of America backed off a plan to charge… Read more »

Losing Millions

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Bankrupt professional athletes are a sad fixture on the sports scene, and they may or may not mess up more often than the average person who earns a lot of money really fast.  However, their troubles seem outsize because of their fame and the pathetic schemes they fall for. The stakes are particularly high for… Read more »

Slinky: Imitated but never duplicated

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Other manufacturers have tried and failed to duplicate the classic toy, which is why every Slinky sold in the world is still made in the U.S.A. It is estimated that more than 250 million Slinky’s have been sold worldwide. Questions: 1. In which city are Slinky’s made according to the video? 2. How was the… Read more »

Brother, can you spare $5

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Beginning Tuesday, Starbucks coffee drinkers can get their morning caffeine fix and help create jobs in small businesses across the country. According to CEO Howard Schultz of Starbucks, the company will accept donations for a program that helps raise money and spurs job creation by small businesses, at its almost 6,800 locations across the nation,… Read more »