This is essentially a user-based tax. Those that travel more and put more wear and tear on the roads pay a higher amount. Now, I think that a bus wears down a road more than a car so the tax needs to be higher on diesel vehicles. I think it is but I am not sure about that.
The bottom line is that every study seems to indicate we have SIGNIFICANTLY underinvested in our countries infrastructure. Our gas taxes are some of the lowest in the industrialized world so why not increase taxes. This is a NO BRAINER tax that people should just suck up and deal with.....and I HATE higher taxes!
Dan Ross
http://www.danross.info/
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
My Horoscope for 2009
I've never been a person that is into astrology but I do look at it, from time to time, for amusement.
Here is the Pisces Outlook for 2009, according to Astrology.com. If you like what you read or are curious go out and check out yours today!
Pisces
2/19 – 3/20
Year 2009 Overview
In 2009, Pisces will enjoy swimming in new dimensions, as the highly charged Aquarius energy allows you to dream big and manifest your ideas. Your imagination soars, awakening a deep desire to seek spiritual truth and meaning in your life -- and in the world.
Your awareness and new perception helps to serve others. You are able to live freely in the world of transformation, and this encourages others to do the same. They feel supported by your wisdom and understanding. Your inspirational qualities are a large part of your purpose in the world -- your ability to heal and inspire.
At times, it may be difficult for you to live in this world of concrete realities, and conversely, sometimes it's hard for others to understand that all you want to do is live in a world of endless possibilities. As you learn to balance these polarities, harmony prevails.
Dan Ross
http://DanRoss.info
Here is the Pisces Outlook for 2009, according to Astrology.com. If you like what you read or are curious go out and check out yours today!
Pisces
2/19 – 3/20
Year 2009 Overview
In 2009, Pisces will enjoy swimming in new dimensions, as the highly charged Aquarius energy allows you to dream big and manifest your ideas. Your imagination soars, awakening a deep desire to seek spiritual truth and meaning in your life -- and in the world.
Your awareness and new perception helps to serve others. You are able to live freely in the world of transformation, and this encourages others to do the same. They feel supported by your wisdom and understanding. Your inspirational qualities are a large part of your purpose in the world -- your ability to heal and inspire.
At times, it may be difficult for you to live in this world of concrete realities, and conversely, sometimes it's hard for others to understand that all you want to do is live in a world of endless possibilities. As you learn to balance these polarities, harmony prevails.
Dan Ross
http://DanRoss.info
Ed hardy past hip now?
When Ed Hardy sweatshirts are found at Sams club they are clearly no longer "exclusive." Does this damage the brand name due to the retailer selling them and making the product affordable ? Is exclusivity part of the brand? I think so but what are your thoughts?
Dan Ross
http://danross.info/
Dan Ross
http://danross.info/
Monday, January 5, 2009
Best Internet Retailers by Satisfaction in 2008?
http://www.marketingcharts.com/interactive/top-40-online-retail-satisfaction-index-merry-outlook-for-some-but-not-others-7377/foresee-top-40-online-retail-satisfaction-indexjpg/
What is intriguing is that Amazon.com and Netflix.com are in the top 2 positions by a good margin. These companies are SOLELY online and don't have a physical prescence at all.
Dan Ross
http://www.DanRoss.info
What is intriguing is that Amazon.com and Netflix.com are in the top 2 positions by a good margin. These companies are SOLELY online and don't have a physical prescence at all.
Dan Ross
http://www.DanRoss.info
Sunday, January 4, 2009
New Year Resolution Success Rates Are VERY POOR!
From January 2009 Success Magazine:
Tony Robbins indicates that 80% of people forget their resolutions within one week and 98% have failed or forgotten their new year resolutions within six weeks.
1%-2% of people that attain them know why they want it, they put together a plan, then they execute it. They also model other successful people and take daily steps towards those goals. They measure their results versus their goals and keep them visible or engrained in their mind throughout the days/weeks until they accomplish their goals.
Dan Ross
http://DanRoss.info
Tony Robbins indicates that 80% of people forget their resolutions within one week and 98% have failed or forgotten their new year resolutions within six weeks.
1%-2% of people that attain them know why they want it, they put together a plan, then they execute it. They also model other successful people and take daily steps towards those goals. They measure their results versus their goals and keep them visible or engrained in their mind throughout the days/weeks until they accomplish their goals.
Dan Ross
http://DanRoss.info
Starbucks failing forward? A busted business decision?
Tonight, while coming home at 9:20 p.m., I stopped at a Starbucks with my girlfriend and noticed a car in drive thru, lights out at the store and workers walking out the front doors at the same time. Since we wanted to stop for a hot coffee & hot chocolate to enjoy while watching some rental movies we decided to go to McDonalds and enjoyed lower prices (reasonable) and a good product. Now, in our opinion, McDonalds is a more viable option as we had a pleasant experience with their hours/product and it was cheaper to boot! Starbucks new hours encourages people to try McDonald's McCafe coffees. I believe other consumers will agree with us on this.
Has Starbucks strayed from the image of their brand as a consumer friendly coffee hangout to one of "corporate coffee?" Will they end up with a new brand image and just be relegated to "that expensive coffee store" and will their brand get re-shaped by the competition via press/P.R./buzz. So far I haven't seen a big negative effect but I think there should be a high degree of concern.
The reason Starbucks ran into problems was due to cannibalizing sales from other stores, ridiculous overexpansion, not measuring store profitability, etc.
Longer hours may have hurt profitability but it helped them connect with their customers, some of whom read books, met with friends, etc. Now Starbucks is playing defense. They are no longer the hunter; they have become the prey. Customers are being met by dark stores and late night lattes are no more....Every choice has consequences and I think Starbucks EXTREME focus on profitability may have swung the pendulum too much towards short-term profitability vs. long-term success.
What are your thoughts? Has the profitability pendulum swung too far at Starbucks and have their recent decisions risked future profitability too much? Have they alienated any customers with their hour changes?
Dan Ross
http://www.DanRoss.info
Has Starbucks strayed from the image of their brand as a consumer friendly coffee hangout to one of "corporate coffee?" Will they end up with a new brand image and just be relegated to "that expensive coffee store" and will their brand get re-shaped by the competition via press/P.R./buzz. So far I haven't seen a big negative effect but I think there should be a high degree of concern.
The reason Starbucks ran into problems was due to cannibalizing sales from other stores, ridiculous overexpansion, not measuring store profitability, etc.
Longer hours may have hurt profitability but it helped them connect with their customers, some of whom read books, met with friends, etc. Now Starbucks is playing defense. They are no longer the hunter; they have become the prey. Customers are being met by dark stores and late night lattes are no more....Every choice has consequences and I think Starbucks EXTREME focus on profitability may have swung the pendulum too much towards short-term profitability vs. long-term success.
What are your thoughts? Has the profitability pendulum swung too far at Starbucks and have their recent decisions risked future profitability too much? Have they alienated any customers with their hour changes?
Dan Ross
http://www.DanRoss.info
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Web 2.0 - Reviews Intregal to Online Sales
Great article/info. today on MarketingCharts.com
According to NielsonOnline "Eight in ten online shoppers (81%) have read consumer-written product or retailer reviews when doing their holiday shopping this year........Customer reviews are an important research tool for online consumers, with 71% agreeing that consumer reviews make them more comfortable that they are buying the right product, Nielsen found."
This basically indicates that the power of web 2.0 (consumer's opinions posted online as an example) is growing.
Dan Ross
http://www.DanRoss.info
According to NielsonOnline "Eight in ten online shoppers (81%) have read consumer-written product or retailer reviews when doing their holiday shopping this year........Customer reviews are an important research tool for online consumers, with 71% agreeing that consumer reviews make them more comfortable that they are buying the right product, Nielsen found."
This basically indicates that the power of web 2.0 (consumer's opinions posted online as an example) is growing.
Dan Ross
http://www.DanRoss.info
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