Category: News and Views

The Autopilot Tech That Could Be a Total Game-Changer for Drones | WIRED

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Intel invented a new sport on stage at the Consumer Electronics Show this year: drone pong.

To play, four men stood around around a drone hovering in place. As each one approached the drone, it would float away from him, much like the digital ball in the classic video game Pong, and drift toward another person. He could then “pass” it to the next person by approaching the drone.

It’s a simple game, but it was one of the most talked about demos at CES this year because the technology that makes it work is quite complex. The drone had no remote control operator; instead it could “see” people approaching and and move away from them thanks to an autopilot system built by German company Ascending Technologies based in part on Intel’s RealSense 3D cameras.

This was more than a flashy demo. The AscTec Firefly pong drones are a real product from Ascending Technologies, and they will ship with the new autopilot technology later this year. Intel likes them so much, the chipmaker has bought a minority stake in Ascending.

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9 Tips For Improving Your Bookkeeping in the New Year | Business News Daily

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Doing a less than stellar job keeping track of your business finances? Maybe your New Year’s resolutions should be to get your financial house in order.

To help, Greg Jones, CEO of Bookkeeping Express, a franchise bookkeeping services offers the following financial tips for business owners to financially prepare for the New Year.

  • Review bank statements and credit card statements

These statements should always come to the business owner or card holder unopened.  Review them thoroughly before passing them to the bookkeeper or other employee, thereby preventing unauthorized checks or credit card usage.  These are the biggest losses within a small business.

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The Science Of Spanking: What Happens To Spanked Kids When They Grow Up? | Up Worthy

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You know what the most annoying thing in the world is when you are a parent? Other people telling you what to do as if they know better. Backseat parenting drives me crazy. Until I’m the one doing it. I have dear friends who spank their kids, and I always try to talk to them about the science of it. They always respond with, “I know what’s best for my kids, just like you know what’s best for yours.” Which is exactly what I’d say if someone told me that I was doing it wrong. Every kid is different. Every kid has their needs.

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The SBA and Serendipity | Jim Ely

~ knjohn ~ 2 Comments

Serendipity

(ser-uhn-DIP-i-tee)

Luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for

Coined by novelist Horace Walpole based on the fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip. The Princes were supposedly making these happy discoveries they were not looking for.

_____________________________________________

TIP OF THE WEEK

Serendipity comes with SBA 7(a) loans.

The IRS has issued a new Form 4506-T and all SBA 7(a) and 504 related requests for IRS tax transcripts must be submitted to IRS Service Centers using the new IRS Form 4506-T (Rev. August 2014).

Continue reading “The SBA and Serendipity | Jim Ely” →

Verizon Has Approached AOL for Possible Takeover or Joint Venture | Bloomberg

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Verizon Communications Inc. has approached AOL Inc. (AOL) about a potential acquisition or joint venture with the Internet company to expand its mobile-video offerings, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The wireless carrier hasn’t made a formal proposal to AOL, and no agreement is imminent, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private. Speaking at a conference today, Verizon Chief Executive Lowell McAdam said the company isn’t having “significant acquisition discussions” and is more interested in partnerships with media companies and content providers, rather than buying them.

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5 PR Tips For Startups And Growing Brands Leveraging Social Media For Growth | Adrants

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Social media transformed classic PR and is offering startups and growing brands endless new possibilities to drive traffic to their digital and physical storefronts. It sounds like the best of all worlds; blending new media with old media, right? Any startup has the ability to set up a Twitter account or Facebook page, yet you still must follow traditional public relations rules on these channels.

Issues may come up as businesses rely too heavily on social media at the expense of proven public relations strategies. All too often, we have seen first-hand during the dawn of social media the horrific (and hilarious) errors which were made as clients jumped in too fast.

Murray Newlands, along with Drew Hendricks, has authored a new book, How to get PR for your Startup: Traction which includes 5 guidelines for avoiding typical pitfalls.

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Housing in 2015 Will Grow, but Not Back to Long-Run Average | Businessweek

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The thump of air hammers and the whine of mini-dozers will be heard a bit more in 2015. Housing construction should continue to climb back in the new year, although it probably won’t get all the way back to its long-run average. “We are in a slow march back to normal,” David Crowe, chief economist with the National Association of Home Builders, said in a December statement.

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Secrets to Financing a New or Growing Business | All Business

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Obtaining funds to start a new business or to expand an existing one can be a challenging and exciting experience. Before lenders and investors can commit to funding, they will want to know there is a high chance that your business will be successful.

Certain areas need to be addressed and prepared such as a coherent and comprehensive business plan that includes marketing strategies, financials, product or service offerings, competitor analysis, and short- and long-term growth strategies.

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