BNET Blogs

I Chose My Hotel For Free WiFi and Amenities

Barbara E. Hernandez — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:18:58 PST

I went on a mini-vacation recently, mostly to visit family and write, and stayed at one of my favorite places -- the Comfort Suites in downtown Visalia, Calif. Because it's in a agricultural/agribusiness area, the clientele always seems evenly split between business and pleasure. Aside from the free continental breakfast with waffles and breakfast burritos, they also have free wireless Internet access. Previously we have written about how high-end hotels are less likely to offer such amenities, while budget or midrange lodgings often advertise their free service. (While some may think paying $80 a night is budget, at least in the San Joaquin Valley it's enough to expect a nice, up-to-date room.) The password was printed on my receipt and it was so painless to...

The Boss From Hell

Steve Tobak — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:15:33 PST

Early in my career I had a boss from hell. Sure, I've had lots of dysfunctional bosses - I was one myself. But this guy was different. I'm talking serious lunatic stuff here. Still, tragedy and comedy often go hand in hand, and this story is no exception. Can you top it?

Ads for Ketel One, Crown Royal and Chivas Regal Seem to Be Torn From Same Playbook

Jim Edwards — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:35:10 PST

Is it just me, or are the ad campaigns for Ketel One, Crown Royal and Chivas Regal all essentially identical? They all feature men in their 30s who live by some sort of unstated guys' code. Sure, the ads are all "different," but they all seem to have been shot from the same brief: Give us something to appeal to aspirant investment-banker types who think they live by a vanishing frat-tastic honor code. And shoot it with a lot of night scenes and heavy shadow.

Barney Frank Aide Blasts Media Report Alleging Lack of Progress on Financial Reform

Alain Sherter — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:02:31 PST

A House Financial Services Committee staffer tees off on a story in the National Journal that criticizes the Obama Administration's financial reform package

The House Busts The Budget By Passing a "Doc Fix"

Ken Terry — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:42:40 PST

The House passed a bill reversing expected Medicare payment cuts to physicians. The CBO estimates that the legislation will cost the government $210 billion over 10 years.

Peter Pitts' CMPI Targeted Over Anti-Healthcare Reform Video Game

Jim Edwards — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:39:06 PST

The Center for Medicine in the Public Interest is a "corporate front group" that sponsored the near-riots at town hall meetings on healthcare and spreads misinformation about healthcare reform, according to a report by ThinkProgress, a liberal blogging group. It even produced an anti-reform video game, "Super Race to the Hospital," the site alleges.

How Will Chrome OS Make Money? The Secret Is YouTube

Chris Dannen — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:56:58 PST

Yesterday Google showed off its forthcoming Chrome OS, leaving many to wonder how exactly the company will monetize it. The answer: it won't. Since Google derives 97% of its revenue from online ads, it simply wants you using a computer that is always online. Specifically, it wants you on a computer that is one click away from YouTube, which has been flourishing this quarter into a bona fide revenue engine. Why YouTube? Textual ads generate chump change compared to video advertising. And since Chrome OS machines won't store any data locally -- no music, no movies, no photos, no games -- users will go to the Web to be entertained even more than regular PC users. Google is working hard to make sure...

Aegis' Q3 Results Report Is a Joke

Jim Edwards — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:17:55 PST

It's not news that financial disclosure standards for European companies are lax compared to their U.S. counterparts, but the Q3 2009 "results" announcement just issued by British ad agency holding company Aegis (AEGS.L) illustrates just how lousy those low standards are.

Air Cars Have Major Range and Emission Challenges, Says Two New Studies

Jim Motavalli — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:56 PST

New academic studies cast doubts on the viability of cars powered by compressed air. The French-built air car's launch has been repeatedly delayed. But people love the technology--its a car running on air!

AP Copies Google: "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em"

David Weir — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:31:58 PST

The AP, which has long blamed Google and other Internet entities for "stealing" its content, obtained an early copy of Sarah Palin's book, scanned it, and started breaking news stories about it five days before it was officially released. Copyright violation? We ask an AP exec.