Here’s Why You’re Paying $200 to Rent a Clunky Set-Top Box | Bloomberg

September 26, 2016September 26, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Imagine watching TV without paying the cable company for the blinking set-top box, using a gadget of your choice that makes it easy to switch between cable channels, streaming programs and online shows.

The idea, simple in concept, is proving difficult in execution.

U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler is pushing a plan to force cable companies to give up their control over set-top boxes, “unlocking” the marketplace as he puts it.

But he’s drawn opposition from lawmakers in both parties, not to mention some of the most active corporate lobbyists in Washington. Comcast Corp. and the cable industry — which stands to lose $20 billion a year in box rentals — say it’s unnecessary and are fighting it. So are Hollywood studios, DirecTV owner AT&T Inc., and CBS Corp. Even a fellow commission Democrat said Wheeler’s plan set for a Sept. 29 vote is flawed.

Can tech keep the world’s bees buzzing? | BBC News

September 23, 2016September 21, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The plight of the honey bee is a major cause of concern for the world’s scientists, environmentalists and the food industry, not to mention beekeepers.

Bees play a crucial role in the survival of many of the crops in our food chain – one in three mouthfuls of food depends on the pollinating insects, according to the British Beekeeping Association – but their numbers are significantly declining.

A recent US report said that American beekeepers lost 44.1% of their hives between March 2015 – April 2016 – the highest rate of decline since the annual study began six years ago.

How to Use Content to Create Trust With Users | Entrepreneur

September 23, 2016September 21, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Q: How can an online publication startup create trust with its users?

A: We’re creating more content than ever these days and with the rise of companies getting smart on content marketing the volume is just going to go up. There’s so much content out there from bloggers, companies and online publications, so how do you stand out from the crowd? How do you build an audience and how do you earn their trust?

These are some of the most common questions I get asked when it comes to content and the answer is always the same: be unique, entertaining and memorable.

This Is What Happens When You Drink Only Water For 30 Days | Life Hack

September 23, 2016September 21, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The body—each molecular cell, tissue, and organ—relies upon water to remain alive and workable. Water provides a kind of health therapy, along with sustaining your life. It greatly impacts specific body operations and the maintenance of good health.

When you only drink water as your primary beverage, outstanding things can happen. Undertaking a special water regimen is not easily achievable for some, but positive consequences are possible. Here’s what can happen when you drink only water for 30 days, without changing your diet or exercise routine.

Most Millennials Want to Be Like Zuckerberg: Work Flexible Hours, Call the Shots | NBC News

September 22, 2016September 20, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Millennials are six times more likely than baby boomers to set up shop for themselves, according to a new survey. And, sorry, Mom and Dad, their new role model is none other than Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

In an effort to understand the future of work, GoDaddy and Morar Consulting surveyed 7,291 professionals in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Hong King, India, Mexico, Singapore, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

How Adam Fleischman Built Umami Burger Into an Empire | Inc.com

September 22, 2016September 20, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

How long did it take you to figure out the Umami burger recipe?

About five minutes. I was trying to start a business around umami, a savory flavor that’s found in every country’s cuisine. Basically, I Googled the foods highest in umami and took out my cast-iron pan and improvised a recipe with some ground beef. The concept of the restaurant was also quick. I just wanted to make Umami Burger gourmet, an adult place that had waiters and served alcohol.

The Science of Boredom | Live Science

September 22, 2016September 20, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Although boredom is as familiar a feeling as excitement or fear, science has only begun to understand what makes people bored. Recently, six scientists who emerged after living for a year in isolation on the Mauna Loa volcano as part of the HI-SEAS (Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation) experiment, which simulated the isolation that future space travelers might experience traveling to and living on Mars, said that boredom was their biggest challenge.

Boredom “has been understudied until fairly recently, but it’s [worth studying] because human experience has consequences for how we interact with each our and our environment,” said James Danckert, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Waterloo in Ontario in an interview with Live Science.

Tiger Beer creates Air Ink – first ink made from air pollution via Marcel Sydney + Graviky Labs | Campaign Brief

September 21, 2016September 20, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Tiger Beer, in collaboration with MIT-spinoff Graviky Labs and agency Marcel Sydney, has launched Air-Ink; an innovative range of pens, markers and spray cans made from air pollution.

To create Air-Ink, unique devices were developed to capture soot from vehicles’ exhausts. These were fitted to trucks, ferries, chimneys and even cranes around Hong Kong and India. The captured pollutants were then purified and turned into safe, reliable ink for everyday use.

Overall, 150 litres of Air-Ink has been produced, approximating to 2500 hours worth of diesel car emissions.

Why You and Your New Business Idea Need to Embrace Reviews | CoolBusinessIdeas.com

September 21, 2016September 20, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

So, you’ve come up with a cool business idea, given it an online presence and now the masses are starting to take notice. Things are going well, but as your business starts to grow you need to find ways to engage customers and get them to part with their cash. One of the best ways to encourage them to hit the buy button is to use reviews.

According to the experts, customer reviews, expert reviews and ratings are extremely effective at boosting customer confidence which, in turn, makes them more likely to make a purchase. As outlined by BrightLocal, 88% of consumers use reviews to determine the quality of a business. Surveying 2,104 US and Canadian consumers, BrightLocal found that only 12% of people don’t read reviews, which suggests that they should be seen as a priority for all online businesses.

5 Tips for Effective Online Reputation Management | All Business

September 21, 2016September 20, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

All businesses need to keep track of an online reputation. It only takes a couple of hours for a bad customer experience to go viral and impact your bottom line. It’s even worse if you don’t know it’s happening and you’re not on top of the situation. Here’s what you can do to improve your online reputation management:

1. Know What’s Going On With Your Brand

The first step to effective online reputation management is understanding what is being said about your brand. You need to be aware of what is happening with your brand, and what others are saying. There are brand monitoring tools like Mention that can help you holistically manage your brand and keep on top of your reputation. Another good idea is to set up Google Alerts so you can see what others post about you.