E-mail messages tell story of Clinton's failed bid

Atlantic Monthly article uses e-mails to expose the inner workings of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

France?s Faith in Nuclear Power

FLAMANVILLE, France — It looks like an ordinary building site, but for the two massive, rounded concrete shells looming above the ocean, like dusty mushrooms. (Read on Source)

Firms Step Up IP-Related Training for Associates

Worries about associate turnover and billing efficiency pressures from clients are prompting more law firms to pull IP associates away from their caseloads for specialized training. Some firms, such as Boston-based Ropes & Gray, are offering new internal training programs or revamping existing ones. Learning by watching other lawyers doesn't work anymore because associates want more guidance and mentoring, and clients want to keep billable hours in check, says Ropes & Gray partner Mark Bloomberg.

Where the Buffalo Roam

This bison refused to abide by the signs saying Slower Traffic Use Turnouts. He was coming right at me in my lane when I swerved to miss him. I'd put his weight at about 2,000 pounds, roughly the same as my rented Suzuki SUV. I tried to get him to roam back to the forest but he insisted on staying on the road and was last seen heading north to Montana.

Hayden Valley, lousy with bison. The males are rutting. They grunt a lot. Don't get too close.

Overachieving sunset on Saturday night, Yellowstone Lake.

Going Green: The Power of Ecofriendly Link Building

Renewable energy, ecofriendly business or ‘going green‘ are not new concepts, as companies like outdoor wear manufacturer Patagonia have been successful at balancing capitalism, profitability and responsibility. Since going green seems to be more popular than ever, and companies or individuals can take measures to tap into the natural ... (Read on Source)

Google Offers Inbound Link Advice

Google’s Maile Ohye concluded Link Week with a tutorial on inbound links. It says basically what SEO experts have been saying for years: content and inbound links are most important, and in that order.

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Freight Forwarding - Delivering what Customers Want

A new report on the freight services industry by Accenture says that two things separate the best performing freight companies from other shipping companies- mastery of standardised processes and the use of integrated IT. By applying automated processes, companies can cut the costs of freight transport, reduce errors and accelerate speed to market. Meanwhile, the use of integrated IT creates transparency for both freight companies and their customers as well as streamlining processes, increasing efficiency. Nowadays, customers looking to arrange shipping have increasingly high expectations of transparency. This has largely been created by their experience of other markets online. For example, passenger airlines now routinely offer flexibility, choice and transparency as standard. Few companies in the freight forwarding industry are able to meet these expectations yet. The only way of providing the speed and agility that customers want is to make significant changes to IT systems and put technology at the heart of the business. This can enable, for example, regular freight transport updates to customers as well as ensure that all critical data is available at all times to all concerned. A good freight company will automatically update the final recipient of the goods on progress related to the delivery, saving the customer time and trouble. This level of customer service creates a competitive edge, separating the winners from the losers. The freight transport companies that make the investment in IT and technology will be the ones that prosper in future. Another way that a freight services supplier can use IT to deliver what their customers want is to provide advice and guidance. With the growth of China import and trade with other emerging markets, many UK businesses are moving into international freight for the first time. These businesses want to be able to turn to their shipping company for a guiding hand. So as well as providing advice by telephone, the smart company is making increasing use of email newsletters to help provide the general information their customers want. And by making use of a virtual private network, freight companies can offer flexible working to staff, so that staff can work just as effectively wherever they are at the time. This can mean a faster, better freight service for customers as well as making it easier for companies to provide the 24/7 service customers increasingly demand. In future, as broadband speeds increase, it is perfectly likely that shipping companies will make regular use of video conferencing in their discussions with customers, even using video to introduce agents in their network in other countries, making their freight services feel more personal. Freight forwarding companies will also be able to include the use of video in their websites, perhaps to feature overviews of particular shipping destinations or to illustrate technical details. Use of video over broadband in this way will help customers better understand the international freight industry as well as help create differentiation for the individual shipping companies that seize the initiative. So through the integration and imaginative use of IT, a freight transport company can stay ahead of the game, giving their customers what they want.

Stephen Willis is Managing Director of R W Freight Services and has over 30 years experience in the International Freight and Shipping industry. <a href="http://www.rwfreight.co.uk">rwfreight.co.uk</a>

U.S. Morning Call for Friday, November 7, 2008

The European DJ Stoxx 50 this morning is trading 0.50 and Dec SPs are up 1.06...

Word of the Day: Optimization

Seasoned AdWords users know that to have successful campaigns you need to do more than simply set them up and let them run. To get the most out of your campaigns, you should consider  optimization , today's  (Ad)Word of the Day .  According to the AdWords Glossary, optimization is the process of modifying your ad campaigns to improve the ... (Read on Source)