Archive for December 2nd, 2009

Cash for a Clunker? … GM’s gov’t-selected CEO gets the heave-ho.

December 2, 2009

In March, Pres. Obama and his “car czar” axed GM’s CEO Rick Waggoner and appointed  Fritz’ Henderson to replace him, change the organizational culture, and save the company.

Oops.

On Tuesday, the GM board forced Henderson to resign, and initiated a search for his successor.

Good luck.   

Bringing in new blood is likely to be pretty hard since the company’s major shareholder (Uncle Sam) is capping pay offers, and restricting bonuses. 

The paradox: GM needs somebody with great judgement … and anybody who would take the job is disqualified based on that criteria alone.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703735004574570370686365390.html?mod=article-outset-box

Posted in Autos - Travel | 1 Comment »

The Manhattan Declaration … gaining traction ?

December 2, 2009

Conservative Christians – who mostly sat out the 2008 election—seem to have gotten a second wind. 

The Manhattan Declaration – issued a couple of weeks ago by a group of Catholic and evangelical Christian leaders – focuses on “traditional values”:

(1) the sanctity of human life, (2) the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife, and (3) the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

If you thought the “culture wars” were over, think again …

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Manhattan Declaration – Summary

Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.

Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians are uniting to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them.

These truths are (1) the sanctity of human life, (2) the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife, and (3) the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

These truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society … and they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture.

Human Life

Although the protection of the weak and vulnerable is the first obligation of government, the lives of the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly are ever more threatened. 

We pledge to work unceasingly for the equal protection of every innocent human being at every stage of development and in every condition.

Marriage

Marriage is the original and most important institution for sustaining the health, education, and welfare of all.  But, the institution of marriage, is already wounded by  the false and destructive belief that marriage is all about romance and other adult satisfactions … leading to promiscuity,infidelity and divorce.

Marriage is about the unique character and value of acts and relationships whose meaning is shaped by their aptness for the generation, promotion and protection of life.

Marriage is not a “social construction,” but is rather an objective reality—the covenantal union of husband and wife—that it is the duty of the law to recognize, honor, and protect. 

Where marriage erodes, social pathologies rise.

Religious Liberty

Freedom of religion and the rights of conscience are gravely jeopardized.  Attacks on religious liberty are dire threats not only to individuals, but also to the institutions of civil society including families, charities, and religious communities.

The health and well-being of such institutions provide an indispensable buffer against the overweening power of government and is essential to the flourishing of every other institution … on which society depends. 

Full summary: 
http://manhattandeclaration.org/images/content/ManhattanDeclarationSummary.pdf

 

Posted in Philosophy | Leave a Comment »

It’s not what you know, but who you know … on your social network, that is.

December 2, 2009

Takeaway: Marketers have long used online media to manage their company’s reputation with consumers. However, in an effort to more precisely select and target profitable customers they have now turned the looking glass around on the consumer.

By analyzing the online behaviors and social networks of their customers, marketers believe they can determine who has been naughty and who has been nice.

In this world of increased transparency, who will come a-wassailing in your virtual neighborhood this holiday season?

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Excerpt from Fast Company, “How Rapleaf Is Data-Mining Your Friends Lists to Predict Your Credit Risk,” by Lucas Conley, November 16, 2009.

They say you can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep. By now, you probably already know your behavior on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook can get you fired, evicted, and even arrested–but what about your friends’ behavior? Upon reviewing your social networking friend list, the data-mining firm Rapleaf says it can help predict which ads you’ll pay attention to and whether or not you’re a worthwhile risk for a credit card or a loan–all without hacking into any accounts or breaking any laws.

Until recently, such data has largely been applied towards reputation management, helping brands, advertising agencies, and public relations firms hear what we’re saying about them. But as the volume of consumer data has grown, and the technology employed to gather, sift, and analyze it has advanced, organizations are turning the tables, asking what the data says about us. There is mounting evidence suggesting that your friends influence everything from your weight to your happiness.

Seventy percent of U.S. consumers claim they “definitely would not” allow advertisers to track their online behavior–even if they were to remain anonymous. It is therefore unlikely that consumers will react favorably to businesses monitoring and ranking their social footprints.

Rapleaf only aggregates publicly available information, and allows customers to opt out or register “to discover what information about you is available online and to edit your Internet footprint.” Rapleaf claims it is making ecommerce faster, cheaper, and easier for consumers and businesses alike.

By accessing its database of nearly 380 million consumer email profiles, banks, retailers, and anti-fraud firms, Rapleaf can quickly confirm legitimate customers and weed out scammers, cutting verification costs and improving the user experience. “Companies spend as much as $100 getting customers to their site. The goal is to filter out the bad people and keep as many good people as possible,” Rapleaf says.

Beyond simply helping verify your identity, Rapleaf claims information about your friends’ behavior can be used to better predict your behavior. For one company, Rapleaf adapted ads based on friends’ responses, ultimately tripling the click-through rate. Rapleaf’s Web site even suggests that clients “use friend networks to enhance … credit scoring.” Rapleaf explains: “Say someone would have been rejected for a credit card, but their social graph says their friends are good payers. Instead of saying ‘Rats, we couldn’t give this guy the card,’ they’ll be approved.”

“Social networking is part of the advertising-supported Internet,” he says. “It’s one of the free services we all enjoy. Now people are becoming aware there is a cost.”

Edit by BHC

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Full Article: http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/lucas-conley/advertising-branding-and-marketing/company-we-keep

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Posted in Internet - Soc Networking | Leave a Comment »