Are biodegradable plastics really worth the hype? | Live Science

December 1, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

We constantly see images of unsightly plastic pollution — rivers clogged with floating rafts of debris so dense you can’t see the water, beaches piled with plastic trash rendering them unfit for even walking on, plastic bags fluttering from roadside vegetation. Aesthetics alone make a compelling case that something must be done.

But unsightliness is the least of many problems with plastic pollution.

In a paper published July 2025 in the journal Nature, scientists presented an inventory of 16,325 known plastic chemicals and identified more than 4,200 as chemicals of concern — meaning they’re toxic, do not naturally break down in the environment, or accumulate in organisms. Released throughout the plastic life cycle, these chemicals constantly expose people and environments, often with serious consequences.

Businesses Are Collecting Data. How Are They Using It? | Business News Daily

November 21, 2025November 20, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Modern businesses run on data. Companies regularly capture, store, and analyze large amounts of quantitative and qualitative data on consumer behavior, to which they can apply predictive analytics to make better strategic decisions. Some companies have built an entire business model around consumer data, whether they sell personal information to a third party or create targeted ads to promote their products and services. Here’s a look at some of the ways companies capture consumer data, what they do with that information, and how you can use the same techniques for your own business purposes.

Types of consumer data businesses collect

The consumer data that businesses collect break down into four categories:

Personal data. This category includes personally identifiable information such as Social Security numbers, date of birth, and gender, as well as non-personally identifiable information like browser fingerprints, IP addresses, web browser cookies, and device IDs (which both your laptop and mobile device have).
Engagement data. This type of data details how consumers interact with a business’s website, mobile apps, text messages, social media pages, emails, paid ads, and customer service routes.
Behavioral data. This category encompasses transactional details such as purchase histories, browsing patterns, product usage information (e.g., repeated actions), session recordings, and qualitative data (e.g., mouse movement information and heat mapping).
Attitudinal data. This data type includes metrics on customer satisfaction, purchase criteria, product desirability, brand perception, and customer feedback scores.

Direct Costs vs. Indirect Costs: What’s the Difference? | Business News Daily

November 21, 2025November 20, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

As the owner of a startup or small business, understanding the distinction between direct and indirect costs is essential when pricing your products or services. When you know the true costs involved in producing and providing your goods or services, you can price them competitively and accurately. Additionally, many costs are tax-deductible according to current IRS guidance, so properly tracking both direct and indirect costs can help maximize your deductions.

What are direct costs?

Direct costs are expenses that a company can easily trace to a specific “cost object,” which may be a product, department, or project. Examples include software, equipment, and raw materials. Direct labor is also included, as long as it relates to a product, department, or project.

For example, when an employee is hired for a project either exclusively or for a set number of hours, their labor is a direct cost. If your company develops software and needs specific assets, such as purchased frameworks or development applications, those are direct costs.

Nvidia forecasts fourth-quarter revenue above estimates | Fast Company

November 20, 2025November 19, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Nvidia forecast fourth-quarter revenue above Wall Street estimates on Wednesday, betting on booming demand for its AI chips from cloud providers against the backdrop of widespread concerns of an artificial intelligence bubble.

The results from the AI chip leader mark a defining moment for Wall Street, as global markets looked to the chip designer to determine if investing billions of dollars in AI infrastructure expansion had resulted in towering valuations that potentially outpaced fundamentals.

The world’s most valuable company expects fiscal fourth-quarter sales of $65 billion, plus or minus 2%, compared with analysts’ average estimate of $61.66 billion, according to data compiled by the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG).

How to Undersell and Overdeliver | AllBusiness.com

November 19, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

We’ve all met them. The person who tells you they’ve found the only marketing firm worth hiring, developed the greatest product ever made, or bought the best (fill in the blank!) They speak in absolutes and hyperbole. They radiate certainty. And yet, instead of convincing us, their words plant seeds of doubt.

Why? Because the moment you speak in absolutes, most people stop believing you. The higher and more definitive the claim, the more it feels like an overreach. Overpromising—even with good intentions—almost always backfires.

The smarter, quieter alternative is to undersell and overdeliver. It’s a strategy rooted in humility, realistic self-awareness, and one often-overlooked skill: being approachable.

How to Spot a Deepfake Video | AllBusiness.com

November 19, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Videos have always been considered powerful pieces of evidence—“seeing is believing,” as the saying goes. But that old truth is now under attack. In recent years, a new type of video called a deepfake has emerged, which uses artificial intelligence to mimic the appearance and sound of an actual video or audio recording, even when the events depicted never happened. These convincing fakes can show public figures making false statements, place someone’s face into another person’s body, or even replicate a person’s voice to deliver messages they never spoke.

While some deepfakes are created for harmless entertainment, others are far more dangerous. They have been used to spread political lies, manipulate financial markets, and even give fake medical advice that could put people’s lives at risk. For example, AI-generated “doctors” have appeared on TikTok dispensing dangerous health guidance, complete with a fabricated backstory and digitally generated faces.

10 Business Apology Letter Examples | Small Business Trends

November 18, 2025November 17, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

In the fast-paced world of business, mistakes happen. Whether it’s a missed deadline or a product defect, how you handle these situations can make or break your reputation. A well-crafted business apology letter can turn a negative experience into an opportunity for growth and trust-building with your clients or partners.

Writing an effective apology letter isn’t just about saying sorry. It’s about acknowledging the issue, taking responsibility, and outlining steps to prevent it from happening again. By doing this, you not only mend relationships but also reinforce your commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. In this article, you’ll discover the essential elements of a compelling business apology letter that resonates with your audience and restores confidence in your brand.

Cyber Security Risks That Threaten Businesses | Business

November 17, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

What is cyber risk?

Cyber risk is the threat of data loss, property destruction, or ransom demands resulting from a hack of your company’s information technology (IT) systems. Cyberattacks can result in financial loss or disruption to your business. They can also harm your brand’s reputation if consumers don’t feel their information is secure with your organization.

Cyber risks can lead to computer system failure and the unauthorized use of information. If an unauthorized person gains access to your computer system and databases, they can halt your operations or steal your information unless you pay a ransom. This is why you need to have the right cybersecurity. With just a computer and internet connection, anyone, anywhere, can launch a phishing attack or leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for more sophisticated crimes. “This universality makes every unsolicited email, text or social media message a potential threat,” said Dr. Arun Vishwanath, author of “The Weakest Link.”

Hiring Tips for Small Business: How to Recruit Employees | Business

November 17, 2025 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Plan ahead.

Like other aspects of running a business, hiring all comes down to planning. If you’re desperate and have to hire the first candidate you see, you’re unlikely to get the best person for the job.

Instead, give yourself time to create a hiring process. This technique will help you proceed methodically, allowing you to get to know people and attract candidates who appreciate order and organization.

According to recent SHRM research, the average time to fill open roles has fallen from 48 days in 2023 to 41 days in 2024, indicating that companies adopting streamlined, planned approaches are seeing significant improvements in hiring efficiency.