Katrina an eye-opener for small businesses

Some small business article that I found interesting : Katrina an eye-opener for small businesses Disaster preparedness now more of a priority, but planning can be tricky read it here: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12172726/

Existing home sales fell back in December

From Econoday Report: "Existing home sales fell back in December, down to a 6.69 million unit rate compared to a downward revised 6.92 million in November and expectations for 6.80. Sales rose slightly in the Northeast and Midwest but fell in the South and West." Tell us about it .... From personal experience: we have been trying to sell our townhouse condo for almost 3 months now. It's been really slow. The market is packed with condos for sale, and the competition is great. There are rumors that this whole real estate bubble will blow up soon and prices will drop, so consumers are holding back home purchases, and shopping around, browsing in the market. Some news about the Oil market: Oil prices hit fresh high, then dips below $72 Traders worry Gulf crude supply may be hit by efforts to rein in Iran read about it here: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12400801/

Would I lie to you ?

I have recently been addressed by a young student who's also a relative of mine, and asked to give my personal advice and opinion about an" investment" offer this person received. I am calling it an "investment" because what it really is - is a pyramid scam, and I only had to hear a few details to immediately suspect it's a con. So here's a link to a very interesting article from Business Week small business section. http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/apr2006/sb20060417_521030.htm?chan=smallbiz_smallbiz+index+page_getting+started as well as another link http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/12/cops2.htm to an article from the Federal Trade Commission in Washington DC. Read and educate yourselves before you get tempted into LOOSING your money in Pyramid scams !

Changes in Wal-Mart ? interesting...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12357363/ It's been more than six months since I have last posted on this blog, and guys - it's time to get back to business ! Here's a link to an interesting article about WalMart and the last changes concerning health insurance provided for employees. I must say I am happy to read these news. For the last few months I've been doing my outmost not to shop there because I was concerned about rumors regarding exploitation of employees there. However, the last part of this article still worries me... : "Unions contend the company’s benefits are too stingy, forcing taxpayers to pick up more of the cost as the workers lacking coverage turn to the government. “This is what’s so cruel: They’re basically expanding health care coverage to workers who can’t afford it because their pay is so poor and the health care deductibles and premiums are so high,” said Chris Kofinis, spokesman for WakeUpWalMart.com, a group funded by the United Food and Commercial Workers union.