The 10 Most Addictive Sounds in the World | Fast Company

10 Most addictive sounds in the USA is more appropriate, but still quite interesting-
The 10 Most Addictive Sounds in the World | Fast Company

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How Much Are the Vikings Worth to Minnesota? And to YOU?

What would you pay to keep your team? But c'mon, we all know that the Vikings LOVE the sub-zero weather of Minnesota-hey why not go back to an open roof stadium and all the frostbite you can handle?
How Much Are the Vikings Worth to Minnesota? Enough to Build a New Stadium? - WSJ.com

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Japan’s Wages Declined 1.6% in September, 16th Straight Drop - Don't you just hate when that happens??

Japan’s Wages Declined 1.6% in September, 16th Straight Drop - Bloomberg.com

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Clear and succinct take on the financial crisis

I love when we get these unemotional analyses in clear and fairly easy to understand terms:
Jeremy J. Siegel: Efficient Market Theory and the Crisis - WSJ.com

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Wisdom from Lake Wobegon

Garrison Keillor's take of some sour grapes being tossed around the airwaves and internet:
Petulance and Peace Prize -- chicagotribune.com

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Paper Bags as Fashion Statements-As if you didn't already know

Make sure you get the branded paper bag-those flimsy department store paper bags will NOT do-
Paper Bags as Fashion Statements - NYTimes.com
I have an economic activity measure I use: the shopping bag index. The range is usually 0 to 3 for the average number of shopping bags people have in the main shopping districts-not very scientific, I know. Just to clarify-re-used shopping bags do NOT count...
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Japan finally drops tax on subsidiary dividends

Joining the US and many European countries, Japan will drop the tax on dividends from consolidated subsidiaries, which should stimulate more corporate investment. Keep watching-there is a strong chance that newly available investment funds will start flowing to environmentally positive domains-alternative energy, fuel cells, solar technology, wind technology-all areas where Japan is a technological leader but lags in technology exploitation to business.
2009/08/16 01:30 - Corp Tax Change Seeks To Free Up Funds For Investment

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Micro-Bubble? A Global Surge in Tiny Loans Spurs Credit Bubble in a Slum - WSJ.com

Microfinance-the tiniest loans-turns into a Micro-Bubble
A Global Surge in Tiny Loans Spurs Credit Bubble in a Slum - WSJ.com
Sounds like borrowing from Peter to pay Paul...now who would even consider borrowing from one bank to pay another? Plenty of us-so it's not just a developed country disease, I guess.
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Really? - The Claim - Some Dogs Look Like Their Owners - Question - NYTimes.com

This is quirky and goofy, but I couldn't resist. I see some pretty outrageous dog clothes in Tokyo, and I kind of doubt the dogs picked it out themselves!
Really? - The Claim - Some Dogs Look Like Their Owners - Question - NYTimes.com

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This is a MUST read: Tokyo Underworld –before it gets to the Theater Near You! | Japan | Japan Travel | Nihon Sun

Tokyo Underworld – Coming to a Theater Near You! | Japan | Japan Travel | Nihon Sun
It is not only a different view of Japan, it is largely true-sure, some of the activities are a bit larger than life, but then again anything could have happened in those confusing days.
Non-Japanese who worked in non-mainstream areas lived a fairly insulated life-architects, gangsters, sports figures, entertainment figures. The connections between these exists to this day.
I had the unique opportunity to verify some of the contents of the book through a descendant of one of the leaders of a gang affiliated with Machii in the book-he said "anything is possible with those guys."
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With Jobs Scarce in Japan, Women Become Professional Flirts - NYTimes.com

The Grey Lady goes PINK!
With Jobs Scarce in Japan, Women Become Professional Flirts - NYTimes.com

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Fashion Mags Unfashionably Slimmer - Forbes.com

Fashion Mags Unfashionably Slimmer - Forbes.com
Japan no longer has Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire is done this month and Figaro is going to a monthly format-ad pages are way down year on year. tough times for printed mass-luxury.
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2009/07/15 04:53 - Twitter To Begin Japan-Only Service For Cell Phone Users

So will the proliferation of iPhone help Twitter grow in Japan? There are plenty of SNS sites on mobile phones, but can they compare?
2009/07/15 04:53 - Twitter To Begin Japan-Only Service For Cell Phone Users

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I love my iPhone, but what's the big deal about 3.0??

Apple sells more than a million iPhone 3GS models for opening weekend

A longer battery life may be worth the hardware upgrade, however-
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Calvin Klein didn't just get racy this week

Why all of a sudden have people gotten so bent out of shape at a racy jeans billboard by Calvin Klein? It's not like we have never seen this stuff before...I think it's hot, hot, hot.

Russian Oil Magnate Launches $490 Million Luxury Yacht - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News - FOXNews.com

Looks like someone is emulating Ernst Blofeld:
Russian Oil Magnate Launches $490 Million Luxury Yacht - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News - FOXNews.com

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Goldfish --Catch these guys!

Catch Goldfish-New CD available, but the first one is super cool!!

Christian Lacroix Files for Protection From Creditors - NYTimes.com

Christian Lacroix Files for Protection From Creditors - NYTimes.com

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Japan incentives on energy-efficient gadgets lifting sales at electronics retailers - Los Angeles Times

Japan incentives on energy-efficient gadgets lifting sales at electronics retailers - Los Angeles Times

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Thanks Jeff!

Jeff Immelt gave a great talk today at the American Chamber of Commerce-
The key takeaways were:

• The financial services industry is going to be more regulated so we have to learn to deal with that.
• The government has moved in next door. There is going to be more interaction and interface with the government, so we had better get good at it.
• Now is the time to go where the business is-not to sit back and gird waiting for the recession to end. Make sure you cover all your price points in all your areas.
• The recession will end. If you take some risks now to go out and build some solid foundations for growth, your business will take off when the recession ends.
• Green and Eco are good businesses-GE has profited from ecoimagination initiatives-and Walmart has taken a lead in reducing carbon. If Walmart does it, that means it can be done inexpensively and efficiently.
• Don't get constipated-enjoy the ride-keep upbeat