Daily Inbox, Author at Daily Inbox

9Aug

By Daily InboxNo Comments

Business

Chat Bots Are Taking Over the World

America's most popular teenage chat app just made a bold marketing move. The creators of the app launched a new feature that could end up being the future of the advertising industry, or could at least breach a new marketing territory regarding how different brands interact with each other and consumers. Social media reputation management is critical to any type of brand management, and without it minor issues can become major public relations disasters. But what if people conversed directly with brands and companies via bots? This is what Kik, a popular teen chat service (similar to WhatsApp) is doing. There may be nay-sayers out there already saying that the chat box is nothing new, and most of us have AOL's Instant Messenger in mind when it comes to talking with bots. Kik users ar...

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Race to LaGuardia as Business Group Pits Bike Against Public Transportation

9Aug

By Daily InboxNo Comments

Local

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Race to LaGuardia as Business Group Pits Bike Against Public Transportation

Not all public and private transportation services are created equal, and when it comes to getting to the airport on time, travelers to LaGuardia Airport in Queens may want to think carefully about how they get there to catch a flight. One New York City business group, the Global Gateway Alliance, compared transportation methods between the firm's executive director, Stephen Sigmund, and six summer interns. Sigmund rode a CitiBike, a three-speed bicycle that can be rented for a small fee. The other interns took various forms of public transportation to travel from midtown Manhattan to LaGuardia in Queens. The findings? The bike was actually faster than some other means of transportation, coming in directly in the middle. The winner of the race was an intern named Fiona, who took a yell...

Yankee Fan Stuns Sports Fans By Generously Returning An Expensive Red Sox Ring

9Aug

By Daily InboxNo Comments

Sport

Yankee Fan Stuns Sports Fans By Generously Returning An Expensive Red Sox Ring

A Yankee fan has shocked supporters of the Boston Red Sox with his generosity. "Manhattan restaurant owner Luigi Militello could hardly believe it when he found the shiny 2013 championship ring on a restroom sink at his Luke's Bar and Grill on Thursday night," ESPN reports. Militello stunned U.S. sports fans by amicably returning the Red Sox ring, in spite of being a die-hard Yankee devotee. The ring, in addition to baring the Red Sox symbol, was incredibly expensive. The token contains real diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, all set in a 14-carat white gold band. The ring also proudly displays "a Boston Strong logo and an image of the team's bearded ballplayers," according to ESPN. The ring's owner, Drew Weber, also owns a minor league Red Sox baseball team in Massachusetts. The Red Sox ...

Should Students Be Able To Discharge Student Loan Debt Through Bankruptcy?

7Aug

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Business

Should Students Be Able To Discharge Student Loan Debt Through Bankruptcy?

Many Americans turn to bankruptcy as a means of debt relief. In fact, it has become quite common as 1 out of 70 households in the United States files for bankruptcy. In July of 2013 alone, there were a whopping 87,684 bankruptcies filed according the Bankruptcy Institute. Similarly, according to the American Journal of Medicine, nearly 62% of bankruptcy filings in the United States are due illness, and as a result, medical related expenses and bills. Unfortunately, not all debt can be discharged through bankruptcy. Student loan debt cannot be discharged by bankruptcy, and continues to burden thousands of college graduates, many of whom are struggling to find high-paying jobs during this economic recession. However, many graduates may soon be typing "how to find a bankruptcy lawyer" into...

Californians Trying to Conserve Water During Drought are Fined For Brown Grass

7Aug

By Daily InboxNo Comments

Local

Californians Trying to Conserve Water During Drought are Fined For Brown Grass

Laura Whitney and her husband, Michael Korte, thought they were being good citizens when they chose to conserve water during drought season in Southern California. Rather than watering their lawn daily, they cut down to twice a week in order to not waste water. Instead of being congratulated, though, the couple received a threat from the city of Glendora. If their lawn isn't greener in 60 days, they will receive a $500 fine. Whitney and Korte received the city's notice on the same day that the state approved mandatory outdoor watering restrictions, and their situation represents that of many Californians, who find themselves between a rock and a hard place, or in this case, a green lawn. "Despite the water conservation efforts, we wish to remind you that limited watering is still ...

Hardwoods are Flooring the Competition When it Comes to Resale Value

7Aug

By Daily InboxNo Comments

Business

Hardwoods are Flooring the Competition When it Comes to Resale Value

When selling your home, a hardwood floor can be the best decision you can make to appeal to potential buyers. More and more people are installing hardwood floors in their homes, not only for their own enjoyment, but to increase the resale value of their home. When a potential buyer is looking at a home, he or she will often be more interested in a home with hardwood flooring, over those with carpeting or tile. Hardwood flooring is often more resilient and timeless than other floor coverings. Carpet can be very dated and difficult to clean, while tile can show wear and tear, and grime in the grout area. A national survey by the National Wood Flooring Association showed that a whopping 99 percent of real estate agents agreed that homes with hardwood floors are easier to sell. 82 percen...

FBI Releases Warning About Illegal Air Conditioning Coolant

7Aug

By Daily InboxNo Comments

Lifestyle

FBI Releases Warning About Illegal Air Conditioning Coolant

The FBI has released a new safety warning, and the potential threat is none other than refrigerant. As polluting coolants are phased out of the market, illegal air conditioning coolants have been popping up on the market, and according to new reports, these coolants may actually be incredibly dangerous.The FBI is now warning people that coolants that haven't been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency may be more dangerous than just being a potential threat to the environment -- some of these illegal coolants contain propane, which is extremely flammable and can explode when placed near heat sources. ABC News reports that coolant-related explosions have been rare -- but "rare" still implies that explosions have, in fact, been caused by dangerous refrigerant products.The surge in u...

Airbus Reveals Electric Plane Prototype at International Airshow

7Aug

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Business

Airbus Reveals Electric Plane Prototype at International Airshow

On July 18, 2014, Airbus revealed an all-electric prototype plane called the E-Fan 2.0 at the Farnborough International Airshow in Farnborough, England. Scheduled to go on sale in 2017, the two-seater plane is designed for short-term flights and will be used primarily for pilot training. However, this new development in aircraft design promises future developments in the company's work for alternatively-fueled aircraft.The E-Fan 2.0 is a 500-kilogram plane powered by two 30-kilowatt electric motors, which work together to power two ducted fans attached behind the cockpit. The aircraft can fly at speeds reaching 124 miles per hour, with a cruising speed of 99 miles an hour. A smaller third motor attached to the front landing gear allows the plane to reach speeds of around 37 miles per hour ...

Amazon Rumored to Enter Payment Processing Industry with New Hardware

7Aug

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Business

Amazon Rumored to Enter Payment Processing Industry with New Hardware

According to 9to5Mac.com, Amazon may soon be entering the world of payment processing with its own hardware. Payment processing, or the way retailers accept credit and debit cards for their business, is used to transfer money from the customer to the merchant. Current speculation posits that Amazon is developing their own card reader in order to enter yet another portion of the retail market. The rumors arose when 9to5Mac.com got hold of internal documents from office supply giant Staples, which showed an item listed as "Amazon Card Reader." The site considers this evidence that Staples will begin stocking the product sometime in August; Staples currently stocks their own card readers, along with ones made by PayPal and Square. The documents also reveal that Amazon's card readers ...

Why is the Nonprofit Group Adaptive Design Creating Custom Furniture Out of Cardboard?

7Aug

By Daily InboxNo Comments

Business

Why is the Nonprofit Group Adaptive Design Creating Custom Furniture Out of Cardboard?

Furnishing your home is fun, but that fun can fade somewhat as you realize how expensive it can be. Thankfully, there are ways to save money and still get beautiful furniture for your home. You can find amazing furniture online, often at a cheaper price than you'd find in the store. Some of it will be used, but others will be brand new. You can find affordable quality furniture stores in person as well. Outlet shops and vintage shops will often have affordable solid wood furniture that you can buy. In some vintage and antique shops, you might even find Amish heirloom furniture. Depending on your personal taste, this could be the showcase of your home. When you're buying furniture, it is important to know both your budget and what you want to get. However, sometimes it pays to be flexible....