Business & Technology

By M.B. OWENS
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
When the new World Trade Center in New York is finally approved, the cost estimate is likely going to be well over $1 billion? So, who figures what the estimate will actually be? The answer is cost estimators.

By SANFORD NAX
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
One of the largest electronic recycling companies in California is hooking up with a Mexican partner to open operations south of the border.

Electronic Recyclers of Fresno will partner with the Burillo Azcarraga Group to develop Electronic Recyclers International Mexico, a joint venture that eventually could recycle up to 120 million pounds of used televisions, computer monitors, cell phones and other electronic waste per year, said John Shegerian, chief executive of Electronic Recyclers.

Many of those consumer goods contain harmful products such as mercury and lead, which can leach into ground water and have been banned from landfills in California.

By TAVIA GRANT
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
More than two billion people in the world have a cell phone. But for the world's largest mobile phone companies, a new race has begun for the next billion.

Most growth will come from the developing world, which already has more cell phones than now exist in the industrialized countries.

"By 2008, there will be over three billion people using mobile communications," said Johanna Liukkonnen, Nokia Corp.'s industry marketing manager.

By TOM ABATE
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
At Google, engineers are encouraged to spend a good portion of their time coming up with ideas. At Apple Computer, the focus is on catering to the customer with industrial design.

By GREG LAVINE
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
The cone snails are at it again.

University of Utah researchers have harvested yet another substance from cone snail venom that holds promise in treating pain in humans.

By TERESA F. LINDEMAN
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
In what could provide fodder for board room discussions at the H.J. Heinz Co., the Pittsburgh ketchup company held onto its place atop a customer satisfaction index _ while showing just enough weakness to send up a few flags.

Heinz still ranks number one on the American Customer Satisfaction Index's update of the manufacturing/non-durable goods sector.

By MAX MESSMER
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
"HOBBIES: I really enjoy wallpapering."

That's not the stick-to-itiveness we had in mind.

The example above highlights a common mistake made by job seekers: providing irrelevant details about non-work-related interests in application materials.

By MARY-BETH McLAUGHLIN
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Kathy Losey and Kelli Harshman started out with a simple mission and ended up joining the ranks of a growing number of mothers who run businesses from their homes.

"We wanted a cool diaper bag to carry around, so we decided we'd just make one and went and bought some fabric," said Losey.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006
TIP BOX

If you have to buy a last-minute gift, consider gift cards.

_ 92 percent of online shoppers believe that gift cards eliminate the risk involved with holiday gift-giving

_ Four out of five agree that gift cards are great last-minute gifts

_ Three-fifths say they have given a gift card to a spouse or partner as a holiday gift.

_Try American Express, Wal-Mart or Deluxe Card for gift cards that you can customize with the recipients name and short message and/or photo.

Source: Study conducted by BizRate.com.

By HELEN MALANI
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Admit it. You're guilty, as am I, of waiting until the last minute to do your holiday shopping. And let's face it, sometimes it shows in the gifts we wind up giving.