9 posts and columns on Rhode Island

Hurricane Irene Is Over; Power Still Out for Many

in News on August 29, 2011 at 6:27 am PT

Hurricane Irene is now a memory, but the mess it left will take days if not weeks to clean up.
ireneNASA

Congress Is Officially Paying Attention to the Epsilon Breach

in Enterprise on April 7, 2011 at 1:46 pm PT

Have no fear, you consumers worried about the Epsilon data breach. Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota, and other members of Congress, are on the case.

News Byte

Overstock Ends Affiliate Marketing in Four States to Avoid Sales Tax

in Commerce on April 4, 2011 at 11:55 am PT

Overstock.com is no longer using affiliate advertising in four states to protest upcoming laws that will require online retailers to collect sales tax if they are marketing within state boundaries. The states are Rhode Island, New York, North Carolina and Illinois. Online retailers typically do not collect sales tax from customers in states where they do not have a physical presence, but the interpretation of presence is getting broader as states seek new revenue. Overstock will instead market directly to residents in those states by giving customers a credit worth about $30. In all, Overstock said, the program could cost about $4.5 million.

Amazon Takes Action in Illinois as War on Sales Taxes Continues

in News on March 11, 2011 at 5:00 am PT

Amazon.com Inc.’s battle with state governments over sales taxes is escalating. The online retailer on Thursday took action in Illinois, as it had threatened to do, to counter a new law aimed at forcing online retailers to collect sales taxes in the state. Hawaii, North Carolina and Rhode Island have enacted similar laws, and California is weighing action.

Viral Video: Awkward, Party of Aniston

in News on February 15, 2011 at 12:15 am PT

BoomTown is still cracking up over this video, another in the faux television talk show series on Funny or Die called “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis.” His genius of an unlikely pairing this outing: Reality star Tila Tequila and Jennifer Aniston.

News Byte

Another (Not Great) Newspaper Pay Wall Strategy: Shortchange the Web

in Media on October 20, 2010 at 9:39 am PT

Outside of a few outliers (like The Wall Street Journal), newspaper pay walls are unexplored territory. Which is why experiments like the ones the New York Times is conducting at its flagship paper and other publications are so interesting. But here’s one that probably won’t work: Rhode Island’s Providence Journal plans to run only excerpts from its print edition on its Web site–even for the paper’s subscribers.

Swipely Nabs $7.5 Million in Series A Funding for Social Spending (And to Attack Blippy!)

in News on May 11, 2010 at 1:59 am PT

Oh, joy: More venture bucks for more socializing of credit card information. Today, it is Swipely’s turn to grab the spotlight in the ever-crowded space to, as its press release so aptly says, “turn purchases into conversations.” BoomTown excitedly awaits the next big thing to be intrusively socialized, such as: Wipely (it records and shares every time you clean your bathroom), Diaply (don’t let your friends miss every diaper change!), and, of course, Hypely (every time a social category is overfunded by VCs, you get a poke).

Sun Rise, Sun Set

in News on April 7, 2009 at 3:16 pm PT

After the collapse of acquisition talks with IBM, Sun’s shares continue to take a beating. Plus, Twittering Rhode Island’s daily cash flow and bad news from Blockbuster. (April 7)

Hey There! RITreasury is Using Twitter!

in News on April 7, 2009 at 3:00 am PT

Twitter accounts are like… opinions: Everyone’s got one. Even Rhode Island’s Office of the General Treasurer, which recently announced plans to Twitter its way through the state’s fiscal crisis.
fail whale