Brian Gongol
Facebook changes its default privacy settings
People would be well-advised to check out their own settings promptly. Some unfortunate unintended consequences are already emerging. Like previously-private photos of the CEO showing up for all the world to see. The social-networking site has made plenty of mistakes and will continue to do so in the future.
Big tax hike on the way for the UK
The VAT (basically a sales tax) is jumping from 15% to 17.5% on New Year's Day. That's going to hurt. But then again, things are going to hurt much worse if the country doesn't get its national debt under control -- it's already at 55% of GDP. Why should Americans care? Because our debt-to-GDP ratio is at 80% and rising. In other words, Britain's tax hikes are like a peek into America's future.
Editor & Publisher magazine killed off
The magazine that has served the newspaper industry forever is summarily executed. Not a particularly reassuring condition for the newspaper industry.
How much are we doing online?
How the volume of activity on the Internet compares to things like the amount of content published in the New York Times on a daily basis or the number of letters sent each year
Don't anger the Tetris god
(Video)
Wikipedia's list of defunct retailers
Some were simply merged with others, but many faded away. That's why 100-year business plans matter. They keep businesses from wasting all of their employees' energy and owners' capital on failure.
Slick roadways...unnatural causes
