Using demographic data to understand consumer trends

The U.S. Census Bureau offers a goldmine of demographic data for business research. This article from the July 7, 2008 issue of Advertising Age provides a good overview of how marketers can use this data to understand consumer trends.

(via ResourceShelf and the Hill Library blog)

Google virtual world

Google has entered the world of virtual reality with Lively.com, a new competitor for the likes of SecondLife. Officially in beta, the service was introduced through Google Labs but is also available at Lively.com. Read about it in the NYTimes.

I've entered SecondLife once or twice but still haven't found enough time or interest to do much more..... maybe this will be more incentive (?)...

iGoogle and copyright basics...

The featured wikiHow or "how to" of the day on iGoogle on July 2 was entitled "How to Understand Copyright Basics" - important information for students and all information users.

I recently heard someone summarize the copyright message, particularly with regard to the Internet and electronic media, with the following lesson: Just because you found it, doesn't mean it's yours.

And for those who don't have their own customized iGoogle search page, this is just another reminder or reason to try this Google feature, which allows you to keep all your frequently-used widgets on one nicely-organized page.

Facebook and politics and media spending....

The NY Times (July 7, 2008) profiles Chris Hughes, a 24-year old co-founder of Facebook who now heads the Barack Obama new-media campaign, My.Barack.Obama.com. His final quote in the article is a good summary lesson on using social networking tools, in business, politics, or any context:

“You can have the best technology in the world,” he said, “but if you don’t have a community who wants to use it and who are excited about it, then it has no purpose.”

Also, "Cashing in on Obama and McCain" (July 6, 2008) looks at the money spent on the presidential political campaign - almost $900 million to date (!) - and the businesses that profit from this spending, directly or indirectly.

public policy resources

PolicyArchive is "a comprehensive digital library of public policy research containing over 12,000 documents." Participating organizations represent the full political spectrum of viewpoints and the collection includes reports from the Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute, the Center for American Progress, and many more. Much of this important research is difficult to identify without going to each individual organization. The user-friendly website allows searching by topic such as economics, education, environment, human rights, etc. You can also register to receive email newsletters for particular topic areas.

(PolicyArchive.org was recently reviewed by ResourceShelf, #365.)

nation-building and the economic crisis...

In his June 26 column in the NY Times, Thomas Friedman addresses the widening economic crisis in the U.S. and the need for the U.S. political system to undertake profound nation-building. Despite sobering news in the financial and housing markets, a deepening energy crisis, rising unemployment, and weak consumer spending, Friedman seems hopeful: "We are a country in debt and in decline — not terminal, not irreversible, but in decline....."

The U.S. economic crisis is naturally a top concern for individuals and organizations. I just returned from the annual ALA library conference (thus no recent blog postings) -- the economic crisis and all its varied implications seemed to creep its way into every conference session and library discussion...

Big impact of small changes...

This brief article in Greener Design News highlights a new milk carton design and the resulting financial and environmental savings. It's always a bit hopeful to hear of positive results from small changes....

Greener Design is a good source for those interested in following the business of environmental design and green markets...