Monthly Archives: November 2004

Shoppers get Savvy: 40% of consumers shop Online

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Doris Hajewski:

They do plenty of buying in stores, but before they go, they check the family’s Christmas Web site, log in with a password and look at wish lists from their far-flung relatives.
When the Wildermans are ready to buy, they’ll be able to use retail Web sites and shopping portals such as www.pricegrabber.com or www.shopping.com to check prices. And they might look to their own in-box to find special offers from e-commerce sites where they’ve shopped in the past.
“I think the person who is into online shopping is addicted now,” said Lauren Freedman, president of the E-tailing Group consulting firm in Chicago. “The customer has become savvier.”

Begs the question: 40% (and growing) shop online, why do retailers spend so little on internet advertising (compared to legacy ad spending)?

Bowl Bound Badgers……

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Less than two hours after the Badgers drubbing at the hands of the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Wisconsin Alumni Association sent this email promoting bowl packages.

The football Badgers just finished a first-class season!
And while a bowl destination is still up in the air, one thing’s for sure: the Wisconsin Alumni Association will take you there!
As the UW’s official tour carrier, only the Wisconsin Alumni Association can promise:…….

Tax by the Mile

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Robert Salladay on the California DMV’s plans to replace the gas tax with a mileage tax based on miles driven:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday appointed a new Department of Motor Vehicles director who has advocated taxing motorists for every mile they drive ? by placing tracking devices in their cars.
The idea would mean a significant overhaul of how California collects taxes to maintain its often-crumbling roads. Under the plan, the state gas tax ? now 18 cents a gallon ? would be replaced with a tax on every mile traveled by each car and truck.

Interesting privacy issues here…

Chocolate Recipes for the Holidays

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Susan Stamberg presents several chocolate recipes for our review:

Stamberg talks to chocolate expert Fran Bigelow, author of the recipe book Pure Chocolate, about all things chocolate — chocolate sauce (“the magic of chocolate and cream”), chocolate espresso sauce (chocolate and coffee, a natural combination), and personalized chocolate chips (pick your favorite chocolate bar and cut it into small chunks).
Then, Stamberg pulls the conversation toward that certain holiday recipe that’s been a Thanksgiving tradition at NPR for more than three decades. (You know, the one that “sounds terrible but tastes terrific.” For details, click the link under Once More with Relish… at the top of this page.)

Dodge Cty Sherrif Todd Nehls Letter from Afghanistan

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Todd Nehls:

We delivered our truck full, yes truck full, on Sunday. The village had 160 families and over 500 children. As we drove into the village the children started running towards our vehicles to greet us. We spoke with the elders who advised us to just give the shoes to them and they will distribute later. I disagreed and told them that the soldiers wish to give the shoes out to the children on an individual basis. After the first 100 pairs, we lost a little control as we had difficulty matching shoes with children. Though our first foray into shoe distribution did not go as planned, the smiles could not be hidden. Parents were appreciative, Elders pleased, and the soldiers hearts were filled with personal satisfaction.

Wisconsin Governor Doyle Gets Utility Cash After Projects Approved

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Patrick Marley on local utility lobbying:

Political action committees for and employees of Wisconsin Energy Corp., Wisconsin Public Service Corp. and American Transmission Co. gave Doyle $50,660 just before or after their projects received key approvals, according to figures collected by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a non-partisan group pushing for campaign finance reform…
Between 2002 and June 30, 2004, people affiliated with the state’s gas and electric utilities gave Doyle $133,323, a 17-fold increase over the $7,911 such individuals gave Doyle from 1995 to 2001 when he was attorney general, the report found.