Smart, dumb, candybar, flip, and brick: a visual history of mobile phones
For most of their history, mobile phones have been shrinking. Small meant portable; it even, in the not too distant past, was a sort of status symbol. Remember Motorola’s runaway hit, the ultra-thin Razr? But something funny happened on the smartphone’s way to success. Years ago, your colleagues might have laughed at you if you couldn’t fit your phone in your pocket. If screen sizes continue to grow, you might want to invest in bigger pockets, a bulkier handbag, a man purse, or even a whole new way to carry your phone. Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that the Razr was Nokia’s runaway hit.
Social intranet adoption: how to encourage usage in your organization - Intranet Blog - ThoughtFarmer | Collaborative Culture
Arizona's ban on ethnic studies classes
Tucson High School Magnet student Evon Moreira protests with fellow students… (James S. Wood ) It's more than a little ironic that the same Arizona Legislature that spearheaded a ruthless, racially charged campaign against illegal immigrants also banned K-12 ethnic studies classes on the grounds that they promote hatred and division. Last month, after a court fight against the ban, the governing board of the Tucson Unified School District pulled the plug on its Mexican American studies program, which teachers say was designed to help middle school and high school students navigate in a complex, multiethnic world. I've never been much of a fan of ethnic studies, mostly because I think the politicized curriculum often lacks rigor and tends to be crammed with early 1970s "victim rhetoric" that can narrow students' sense of possibilities rather than broaden them. Both the ban's author, state Atty. The banishment of Tucson's Mexican American studies program suggests otherwise.
the ANTHROPOLOGiST
Transform Your Employees into Passionate Advocates - Rob Markey
by Rob Markey | 10:49 AM January 27, 2012 Employee happiness is becoming a hot topic among CEOs and in boardrooms, and it’s about time. The current issue of Harvard Business Review, which includes a series of articles focused on employee happiness, is just one more sign of the growing recognition that happy, engaged employees are more productive and generate better outcomes for their companies. But there’s also a risk in all this attention to “happiness.” My colleagues and I agree with that. That’s an ambitious goal, of course. 1. Real engagement — passionate advocacy — comes from making customers’ lives richer, and there isn’t much that HR alone can do to help employees achieve that. 2. 3. And it isn’t just customer-facing personnel who can learn from customer reactions. Loyal, passionate employees bring a company as much benefit as loyal, passionate customers.
Wisconsin Union Battle
The proposal by Mr. Walker, a Republican who was elected in November after pledging that he would get public workers’ compensation “into line” with everyone else’s, is expected to receive support next week in the State Legislature, where Republicans also won control of both chambers in the fall. The prospect left union leaders, state and local employees and some Democrats stunned over the plan’s scope and what it might signal for public-sector unions in the state. Union leaders began planning rallies in Madison and contacting lawmakers, pressing them to reject the idea. Mr. “I’m just trying to balance my budget,” Mr. State leaders across the country have talked about solving budget woes with actions that in other climates might have been politically impossible: cutting the salaries and pensions of government workers and limiting the power of labor unions. Among key provisions of Mr. Mr. But Mr. Wisconsin officials say Mr.
Fashionable Quote T-Shirts, Hoodies, Long Sleeve Shirts, and Bags by Quote Couture™
CEOs Who Tweet Held in High Regard
There may be new reasons for CEOs and CMOs to join the Twittersphere. According to a study by social media branding firm BRANDfog consumers and employees regard company leaders who engage on social media platforms positively. BRANDfog survey results indicate that consumers believe C-suite engagement in social media can benefit how they view a brand and its executive leadership. The majority of survey respondents, 78%, said CEO participation in social media leads to better communication, while 71% said it leads to improved brand image and 64% said it provides more transparency. In terms of importance, 86% of respondents rated CEO social media engagement as somewhat important, very important or mission-critical. A company’s social media presence also trickles down and influences purchase decisions. Selling social to the C-suite remains a challenge for many companies, though. Financial services firm ING Direct Canada is known for its tweeting CEO, Peter Aceto.
