| CES Dispatch--Toshiba's HD DVD Response
I'm in Las Vegas, doing the rounds of press conferences that kick off the annual Consumer Electronics Shows. Everyone lined up early for the most-anticipated one—Toshiba Corp.'s. If gadgets could look forlorn, Toshiba's three new HD DVD players looked just that sitting on stage ahead of the executives' speeches. Jody Sally, vice president of digital audio/visual equipment, which includes Toshiba HD DVD player lineup, looked on the verge of tears during her truncated three-minute presentation in which reports of HD DVD's sales progress became moot following Warner Brothers decision to exclusively support the rival Blu-ray high definition DVD format later this year. Sally tried to put on a good game face, though, noting that HD DVD unit sales over the holiday shopping period accounted for 49.3% of the market.
Tips for surviving a recession
Face it. The odds of a recession have grown. That's why the Fed slashed interest rates this week and why President Bush and Congress are eager to get checks into the hands of consumers. What should you do to prepare for a recession? "Two things you don't want to do is buy a second house and figure out how to sell the current one later or quit your job and figure out how to get another one later," says Jeff Lancaster, a principal with money management firm Bingham, Osborn & Scarborough. Many experts say the housing and job markets are likely to get worse before they get better. That's because economic stimuli generally take six to 18 months to have an impact. Recessions aren't officially recognized until months or years after they happen, but some economists say one has begun.
Evolution continues at gateway corner
Where Brentwood meets Franklin around the intersection of Franklin Road and Moores Lane, a miniature city seems to be sprouting out of cleared dirt as several mixed-use developments join the area's isolated but growing commercial market. "If you look at the Franklin future land-use plan, it identified this intersection of Franklin Road and Moores Lane as an activity center," said Greg Gamble, a land planner with Centrum-Nashville LLC. "The interesting thing about the intersection is on all four corners, you have physical constraints. You have hillsides and physical barriers that really create an enclave." .
Bob Ford: For loathing, we'll take Manhattan. Hey, even the Giants don ...
Hate is ugly. It is a waste of energy, a drain on our skimpy emotional resources. It is a sign of weakness and certainly not worth ascribing to anything as globally unimportant as sports. In the case of New York, however, perhaps a minor exception can be made. Boston? You can't hate Boston. You can't hate Faneuil Hall or the North End or the Freedom Trail. You want to hate Paul Revere? You go right ahead. One if by land, two if by sea, it sticks to you and bounces off me. Boston has won a bunch of sports championships recently. As Phil Sheridan so accurately points out, this seems massively unfair since Boston and Philadelphia are old-school blood brothers. We shared misery. We shared disappointment. We shared Benj. Franklin and the Second Continental Congress, which was presided over in Philadelphia by Bostonian John Hancock for the purpose of forming a more perfect union and a darn fine insurance company, too.
Get ready Peyton, Eli's coming
Now, advertising and athlete endorsement experts say they won't be surprised to see the younger Manning showing up in a ton of new spots in the next year, even if the Giants lose to the heavily favored New England Patriots. A upset win could catapult Eli into the top echelon of athlete endorsers. "He could do $3 million just in local New York spots even if the Giants lose," said Bob Dorfman, executive creative director at Baker Street Partners, and author of the Sports Marketers' Scouting Report. "I'd say a Super Bowl ring is worth another $3 million to $5 million in national spots." .
Zales.com Gets Personalized for the Holidays
IRVING, Texas, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for the holidays, Zales.com offers a Personalized Jewelry section on their website, redefining what it means to customize gifts. "No longer are we talking about just engraving a name on an ID bracelet," said Steve Larkin of Zales.com. "With our online Personalized Jewelry collection, customers can personalize the face plate of a watch, customize hoop earrings with a name in gold lettering or even create a one-of-a-kind necklace that features two script names linked by a diamond accented heart." Zales.com personalization offers the opportunity to customize more than 800 unique pieces with birthstones, names, messages and metal color. Items that can be personalized include promise rings, couples jewelry, mother's rings, religious jewelry, men's items (such as cufflinks and money clips), children's jewelry, sports team wear, watches and even clocks and picture frames.
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