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Friday, October 26, 2007Other Dates

Websites/phone numbers mentioned:

VirginMoneyUS.com - A new peer-to-peer lending site
ZenniOptical.com - Get discount prescription eyeglasses online or call 1-800-211-2105 (Editor's note: This website may not be accessible from some browsers)
MagicJack.com - Make unlimited local and domestic long-distance calls for $40/year

New camera technology makes spy cams a workplace reality

Clark is one man who's used to being on camera -- whether it's during the course of his TV work or when he's in the studio for his radio show. Camera technology has become so cheap that there's an eye in the sky almost everywhere you look. In fact, the studio where Clark works even has spy cameras hidden in fake air vents! The days of cameras just being in retail stores to combat shrinkage are over. Small businesses can now buy inexpensive camera systems online. The Dallas Morning News reports that franchise owners use them to monitor activity remotely over the Internet. This is great for employers, but many folks are uncomfortable about giving up their privacy. Some New York taxi drivers recently went on strike because they objected to having to put GPS systems in their vehicles so riders could track their route. Meanwhile, truck drivers are now spied on in real-time by their employers via camera. England is one nation that spies on its citizens several times a day on public roads. The benefit to this was seen after the recent U.K. terror attacks. Police were able to instantly generate pictures thanks to all the camera technology. There's a fine line here between the invasion of individual privacy and the potential benefit for capitalism, according to Clark.

Virgin mogul entering the peer-to-peer lending game

Richard Branson has a reputation for developing business ventures that give some very unfriendly industries a customer-service makeover. Two of his products in the U.S. market are the elegant discount-fare airline Virgin America and the pre-paid cell phone company Virgin Mobile USA. Now Branson wants to turn his attention to the banking field. While he doesn't yet own a bank, Branson is launching something called Virgin Money in Europe and the United States. VirginMoneyUS.com is designed to help you make loans to friends and family members. The company handles all the paperwork, including sending notices about payments and collecting on debts in the event of default. Whether you use Virgin Money or not, the important thing to remember when you lend to family or friends is that you must do an arm's length transaction. That means you have to charge the market rate of interest to avoid getting into trouble with the IRS. You can always forgive interest of up to $12,000 per year under gift rules, but your loan must be structured as the real thing.

Franchises are hot when economy cools down

We're in a cyclical time of increased entrepreneurship right now. This usually happens whenever the economy slows down and people get laid off. That's when mid-career corporate employees decide this is the last chance to go into business for themselves. They get swept away by presentations at hotel ballrooms touting the hottest business ideas and franchises. The funny thing is that the best time to open a new business is when you're in a down economy. That's when space and employees all come cheap. But beware that you must do your homework before buying a franchise. Very often corporate types who are used to bureaucracy have difficulty being the sole decision makers in their newfound businesses. So Clark's advice is to get your hands dirty first. Go and work in the field of the franchise you want to open. Don't tell the employer you're doing research, just get in there and empty out the garbage or sweep the floors! Make your mistakes on somebody else's dime and decide if you want to be in the business. Remember to keep your costs low and your risks lower.

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Do you think the new housing rules will help the ailing real estate market?
Yes, I'm optimistic for the future.
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