This week, Seattle-based social media company Social Strata said it will implement a revolutionary new leave system, starting immediately: All 13 full-time employees can now take as much paid leave as they want.

Continue reading Life's a Beach: Seattle Company Offers Unlimited Paid Vacation

Life's a Beach: Seattle Company Offers Unlimited Paid Vacation originally appeared on DailyFinance on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:30:00.

Filed Under: Company News, Technology

Keith Olbermann was already a renowned sportscaster when he rose to prominence as a political commentator. This was during the Bush Administration, when the left was badly in need of a forceful voice to rally around. Such was his popularity that MSNBC reoriented its entire primetime lineup around it.

Continue reading Is America Getting Over Keith Olbermann?

Is America Getting Over Keith Olbermann? originally appeared on DailyFinance on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:57:00.

Filed Under: People, Media

MGM Mirage (MGM) is mad as hell at New Jersey regulators, and it's not going to take it anymore. The casino operator is trying to unload its stake in the Borgata Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City's largest and glitziest gambling mecca, because New Jersey officials believe MGM's partner in Macau, Pansy Ho, is tied to organized crime through her father, Hong Kong billionaire Stanley Ho (pictured), The Wall Street Journal reported. Other states' regulators have cleared MGM to work with Ho, and MGM disputes the claims of New Jersey officials.

Continue reading Angry MGM Tries to Sell Casino in Poor Atlantic City Market

Angry MGM Tries to Sell Casino in Poor Atlantic City Market originally appeared on DailyFinance on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:26:00.

Filed Under: Company News, Economy, Media, Taxes

Experts estimate the recall of millions of Toyota Motor (TM) vehicles could cost the company tens of millions of dollars, but what about it dealers? Accounting for lost sales of both new and used cars, BusinessWeek estimates they could lose as much as $2.5 billion a month. That's a lotta Tundras-full of cash.

Continue reading Toyota Dealers Have That Lonely, Sinking Feeling

Toyota Dealers Have That Lonely, Sinking Feeling originally appeared on DailyFinance on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:10:00.

Filed Under: Company News, Technology, Honda Motor Co., Toyota, Autos

The Dow hasn't been up in January since 2007 and this year was no different. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ($INDU) fell 53.13 points on Friday closing at 10,067.33. The result: For the month of January the blue chip index was down 3.5%. The S&P 500 was down 3.7% falling to a three month low.

Continue reading Stocks Fall 3.7% in January: An Ominous Sign?

Stocks Fall 3.7% in January: An Ominous Sign? originally appeared on DailyFinance on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:50:00.

Filed Under: Investing, Microsoft, Apple

Your morning cup of coffee is going to cost more. As of July 1st 2010, the cost for goods and services in British Columbia and Ontario are going to increase.

Its seems that Apple isn't the only company that picked an unfortunate name to promote a new product recently. German luxury carmaker Audi has introduced a number of mock public-service announcements featuring the "Green Police" -- forest green-uniformed officers who give tips about saving energy. The Green Police campaign will get its widest exposure in Audi's Super Bowl commercial during CBS's (CBS) Feb. 7 telecast, according to AgencySpy.

Continue reading Audi's Super Bowl Ad Blunder: 'Green Police' Have Nazi History

Audi's Super Bowl Ad Blunder: 'Green Police' Have Nazi History originally appeared on DailyFinance on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:50:00.

Filed Under: Company News, Media

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, and Rudolph Penner, a fellow at the Urban Institute and former Congressional Budget Office director, both said Friday that an additional stimulus package would be required to improve the U.S. economy and allow the nation to avoid a double-dip recession.

Continue reading U.S. Can't Afford Not to Have a Second Stimulus Package

U.S. Can't Afford Not to Have a Second Stimulus Package originally appeared on DailyFinance on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:30:00.

Filed Under: Economy, People, Taxes

At first it seemed like bad timing. Oracle (ORCL) CEO Larry Ellison found his company going virtually head-to-head with Apple (AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs in dueling webcasts announcing major tech news on Jan. 27. It was no contest: Apple's iPad launch party easily overshadowed Oracle's get-together to highlight the completion of its $7.4 billion acquisition of Sun Microsystems -- so much so, that it appeared as if Oracle had made a rare publicity blunder. But maybe not.

Continue reading In Integrating Sun, Oracle Bets Big on a New Sales Strategy

In Integrating Sun, Oracle Bets Big on a New Sales Strategy originally appeared on DailyFinance on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:15:00.

Filed Under: Company News, Technology, Investing

"We must make this the decade of vaccines," declared business tycoon turned philanthropist Bill Gates today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "Vaccines already save and improve millions of lives in developing countries. Innovation will make it possible to save more children than ever before."

To put some force behind those statements, Gates, founder of software empire Microsoft (MSFT), and his wife Melinda also announced that their Gates Foundation will commit $10 billion over the next 10 years to help research, develop and deliver vaccines for the world's poorest countries. The new funding is in addition to the $4.5 billion that the foundation has already committed to vaccines to date.

Continue reading The Gates Foundation Makes a Bold, $10 Billion Pledge for Vaccines

The Gates Foundation Makes a Bold, $10 Billion Pledge for Vaccines originally appeared on DailyFinance on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:00:00.

Filed Under: Healthcare, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis