In response to Aislynn Sherry's Blog

How do you feel about a driverless vehicle? Would you be an advocate for this type of technology?

Aiylynn's article was about designing vehicle to vehicle communication so cars can drive on there own and communicate with each other. The technology would be so good that you wouldn't have to drive the car. You sit there and its does all the work for you. The biggest issue there having right now is reliability and safety. Because if they design a car to drive completely on its own and it crashes liability will stir, no different then the Toyota issues. I would be skeptical to get in a car I had no control over. But it is a interesting idea, they say that most accidents can be avoided, so if this technology works then I'm all for it. But it would take me a while to get used to that technology. I like control while driving. 

Foxconn and low wage chinese employees.

Foxconn technologies one of the worlds largest technology producers in is hot water. They have been pointed out for unethical behavior towards there employees. Giving them very low wages and dangerous work environments. Apple is a big player in this situation and has many products produced by Foxconn and employees mainly in China. Now that they have been spotted for doing this type of behavior another big issue has risen. How much to pay the Chinese workers? The chinese economy is very equal people are all equally poor, but the gap is getting bigger between the rich and the poor so many are getting upset over this unethical situation. The chinese government is very strict on how they pay employees and how its spent. So the simple answer is not so simple, by paying the Chinese workers more it will change the whole persecutive of the economy and will hurt what the Chinese governments purpose. It would help the average chinese employee over all with living standards and such but will change things also as a result. If you were Foxconn would you be this unethical? Would you give lots back to the employees? Why or why not?


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/20/technology/pressures-drive-change-at-chinas-electronics-giant-foxconn.html?ref=business

How reliable is the news your reading?

When you read the news or some newspaper do you think about the truth behind the story? Many of us pick a newspaper and just start looking at articles that interest us. Or we look at the newspaper to see what's going on in the world around us. When I read the news paper I'm always reading further into them then necessary not thinking about if the article is true or not, but always thinking how bad was that situation or just to intrigued. I was looking at some facts and ratings on how truthful many new sources are and the ratings weren't overly high. Well known newspapers like the New York Time only has a rating of 8%. The Wall Street Journal has a 7% rating. I found these to be on the lower side due to how much public awareness they get. Do you read the newspaper much? If so, do you think of truth behind the story? Is it really true?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/02/60minutes/main6454361.shtml  

In response to Chris Beland's question on Should Starbucks sell Beer?

If starbucks was selling Beer in there coffee Shops it would take me alittle while to adjust to this new expansion. It sounds like a great idea for places out in California where its warm and beer and wine looks good in the warm weather. Also Starbucks is a high class coffee Shop where many people with class and money shop. I cant imagine seeing coffee shops around here serving beer and wine with a coffee, or even serving beer or wine. It sounds like a risk taking on the alcohol aspect into the coffee scene where they have been so successful for the higher class. But like I said it could work out in the warmer weather areas for the wealthily mothers to go and have a glass of wine and chat instead of a coffee. I wouldn't find myself buying a beer or wine from starbucks I don't even buy coffee from starbucks around here. I find it to be hard to find a location and also the price of the coffee is on the high side, so as a result ill just go to another shop or DD. It will be interesting to see what happens as a result of exploring something completely different from coffee.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

After watching the video clip on Green Mountain Coffee Roasters in class last week I was intrigued. So I decided to look a little deeper into what there all about. Green Mountain Coffee is all about “revelation in every cup” and getting the coffee “from the tree to the cup” in the most efficient way possible. They have over 600 employees and are expanding at a rapid rate. For such a large business and so many decisions being made there organizational chart is relatively flat.  Many employees have the chance to get in touch with the CEO if major issues arise, and communication is key in this business and is what makes them so successful. When questions arise the employees are able to make the decisions and control the work as needed, this is another key aspect to the company. People all work in their best interest of the company and make there own decisions as a result this helps cut down on meetings and lost time off the job. Green Mountains sales have really increases due to the fact of the Keurig coffee maker and the K- cup addition. There net sales are up 102% this year compared to last.  Looking at their balance sheets and income statements they’re looking very good in the coffee industry compared to others. This new invention with the Keurig has put Green Mountain on the map. How may of you have Keurigs? Do you drink Green Mountain Coffee? I have a keurig and enjoy a nice cup of GMC in the morning. 

In response to Brooke's grocery store marketing Scheme

The question was have you ever fallen for the grocery store scheme, on placement of the items that catch our eye and how the things we need are in far places, have you been fooled? So many stores have this scheme and its amazing how we all have fallen for it at some time or another. I sure have, I go into the store trying to buy the simple gallon of milk and come out with a whole carrage full of useless cheap food. I stroll through the store and even with my blinders on its hard not to stop and look and all the items. The grocery store is a money pit, i shop there and always buy more then i need. I try never to go on an empty stomach or ill just buy two of everything. Bad Idea. So i have fallen for this scheme and it gets me every time.

Facebook IPO, Wednesday. Would you buy?

Facebook is looking to go public Wednesday with its first IPO. It will be the first time the web user site will be selling stock to the public. IPO means the first time a company starts to sell shares of its company to the public through the stock exchange. It seems to be a real great idea. How much would you all be willing to pay for a share of facebook to become an owner? Do you think there's money to be made here? How much would you all buy? I know that facebook is a real great site and so many people use it, but an example of a an IPO a couple months ago was Groupon and they were also very liked by the public and many people used it. It went public selling shares and two weeks in the shares of the company began to loose value and not do well at all. Do you think this kind of thing could happen to facebook? Check out the site: