Up For Debate

The dreadful hoax that passes for "debating the issues" is the main reason I swore off cable television news this year.

You know what I'm talking about: The opposing lineups of usual-suspect pundits relegated to tiny on-screen boxes on either side of the screen. The host posing some nutty question, and one "expert" after another attempting to boil a complicated policy discussion down into a 15-second sound bite.

Almost inevitably, the thing devolves and a shouting match ensues. The issues don't get anywhere near a full airing. Then, the host announces s/he has to "leave it there" and move onto another pressing agenda item, usually the celebrity scandal du jour.    

Well, the debate format has not deteriorated completely, as I learned this year when I belatedly found Intelligence Squared US, a British export that started in New York City in 2006. The format, a series of live,  Oxford-style debates, pits top thinkers on really important issues. Because there are rules and sufficient time allotted to real discussion, the debates are interesting and enjoyable.

I find the debates a tonic to the ridiculous nonsense on TV. It's especially valuable to have both leading conservatives and liberals participating. Too often, we have one side or the other preaching to their own base and there's no airing of ideas across the ideological divide.

The lineup for 2012 has just been announced. While it would be a lot of fun to attend one in person, for those of us who can't, there are a number of ways to watch them online or on PBS or hear them on NPR or on a podcast. Check them out and let me know what you think.

Tax Essentials

'Tis the season to be jolly. And 'tis the season for small business owners to think about that gripping topic: Tax planning.


I wrote about some year-end tax planning tasks last month. 


If you're looking for additional help, check into the live web chat hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration this Thursday at 10 a.m. Pacific/1 p.m. Eastern time. Chat participants will get "valuable information on how to prepare now with useful tax savings tips and a set of red flags on mistakes to avoid." 


You can submit questions now at the SBA website and log in Thursday to watch CPA Edward S. Karl, of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, answer others' questions about tax deductions and credits business owners can use.

Babbling Fish

Another one of those weird, unintentionally hilarious auto-translations of a column popped up in my Google Alerts today.

According to Movimento degli Africani, I am the "Intelligent Answers" columnist. I suppose the wording could have been a lot worse!

Here's just a snippet:

Once tiny organization proprietors understand what the quantities mean, they are able to strategy more knowledgeably and steer clear of getting blindsided, says Hettinger. Edited excerpts of his current conversation with Intelligent Answers columnist Karen E. Klein comply with.

I wouldn't say the translation software did a very good job with the headline. It changed "Building a Business vs. Making a Living" into "Developing a Enterprise vs. Creating a Residing."

Ouch. I think I'll stick with my own editor, who does a great job writing headlines - in English.

How AdWords Works

How exactly does Google make money on its AdWords and who determines which ads go where and what they cost?

The answer is pretty complicated, as illustrated in this infographic from WordStream.

"Millions of web advertisers really don't understand this," WordStream founder Larry Kim says. Um, yeah, no wonder they don't understand it! Whew ...

Don't Blow It

Retail sales are up this holiday so far and that's a good thing for the economy.


But what's good on a macro level is not always good on a micro level. If you are someone who finds herself in serious debt come the first of the year due to holiday overspending (or seriously overweight due to holiday overeating!), here are some moderation tips from personal finance author Dani Johnson, author of "First Steps to Wealth."

Cut down on your activity level: Stop feeling obligated to attend every party. If you normally commit to 15 holiday events between work and family, cut it down and only attend half -- the most important ones. Give yourself permission to be in control and remember it is okay to say “no.”
Stop buying gifts nobody needs: Make a pact with your friends and family to give back instead. Pool a percentage of the money you were going to spend on gifts and give a “secret blessing” to somebody who is truly need. Bringing food to a family in need will cost much less than buying gifts.
Set attainable New Year's resolutions: Make sure you are aiming high but being realistic. Use the time off to organize your finances and plan for the year ahead. Knowing where you stand financially dramatically decreases stress.
Give yourself the gift that keeps on giving: I am not talking about a flat screen TV. Pay off your debt! You will feel better about yourself and set the stage for a great year ahead.

Compete to Win

Another exhibit in the ongoing discussion about women in business.

This one asks "Are women competitive enough?" and points out that women are plenty competitive - with each other! - over men, clothes, etc.

Some interesting discussion follows in the comments.

Meanwhile, here's an illuminating infographic from The Economist on women in the labor force internationally. It was brought to my attention by SwayMaker on Twitter - thanks SM!

Sin or Survival?

What's the best business idea? One that appeals to our "sinful nature" or solves our worst problems?

An intriguing question from one of my readers: I answer it in this week's column.