Posted on by Miss Brook$

#1 secret of business success revealed!

In an interview with the founders of California Pizza Kitchen, a Newsweek article revealed their #1 business-success secret. Hold on to your hats, folks, it’s gonna be a shocker: they were really well capitalized.

In other words, to make money they needed money — lots of it.

I know this is a revelation to all those out there who hope to make a go of it without any money behind them or believe in the power of prayer to run a business, but it might not be so shocking to anyone who has actually tried to run a business.

In the same issue a few pages later was an article gushing about this obscene yacht built by the guy who used to run HP. What’s the message?

Money makes the world go round.

PS: This is a toss-off post, I’m swamped right now and this has been sitting in my admin panel for a couple months now. I found the story hilarious in a way the journalists never intended. I’m sure it’s on the Newsweek site, but I’m not feeling like digging for links at the moment.

Posted on by Miss Brook$

alter egos

I have to wonder what Amanda Brooks, Amanda Brooks, Amanda Brooks and Amanda Brooks think when they Google their name and my site pops up.

Should I be concerned if Amanda Brooks’ movie choices continue to be sub-par? Or if she becomes a parenting guru? Or if I get invited to a NYC charity event? What if they start getting requests for appointments? And should I get Amanda to do a round of photos for me?

Posted on by Miss Brook$

give me germs!

An article in Newsweek alerted me to a company that produces stuffed-toy microbes. It really does! I’m weird, but I think they’re really cute. (Not that I’m interested in encounters with the real deal.)

According to the article, the shop in Harvard’s Square that sells the germs reports that gonorrhea is a favorite, especially around Valentine’s Day. Cynical? Realistic? Sick humor?

The next time I go in a toy store, I’ll be on the lookout for more germs than usual.

Posted on by Miss Brook$

update: strip clubs and the $2 bill

I wrote about strip clubs using the $2 bill and its effect on the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing (the Mint).

According to a Newsweek article this week about the declining use of actual currency, notes that in 2006, all US currency totaled $784 billion with an estimated $400 billion in actual circulation. This article also stated that in 2007, the government will print about 9.1 billion individual bills, 95% to replace worn currency.

According to the article referenced in my previous post, in 2005 the orders for $2 bills totaled $122 million (and the number is expected to rise). That’s not a significant percentage of the amount of currency in circulation, but I’m betting it’s a significant percentage of the bills to be printed. I wish I had access to all the numbers and information I want to be able to accurately determine the effect of the adult industry on the US Mint, but that probably won’t happen.

It’s fun to speculate, though.