Brian Burnsed

Recent Articles by Brian Burnsed

November 7, 2009

Bond Debacle Sinks Jefferson County

The stench that started rising from the sewers of Jefferson County, Ala., earlier this decade has grown all the more foul. Last month former Birmingham Mayor and ...

November 4, 2009

Unemployment Bill, With Extras, Passes Senate

After weeks of political wrangling, the Senate finally put the Unemployment Compensation Act of 2009 to bed. It passed the Senate unanimously on the evening of Nov. 4 ...

November 1, 2009

Tax-Loss Carryback Provision Glides in Congress

Congress appears to be on the verge of giving a $30 billion-plus handout to U.S. corporations but—unlike so many other spending provisions—this one is provoking little...

October 29, 2009

Interchange Fees Make Strange Bedfellows

In the latest round of credit-card reforms, issuers and retailers are both playing the consumer-friendly angle. Currently lawmakers are debating whether to cut ...

October 21, 2009

Rattner: General Motors CEO Wagoner Had to Go

Despite the more than 60 billion of U.S. taxpayer dollars pumped into the rescue of General Motors and Chrysler, their futures remain hazy, Steven Rattner, the former ...

October 16, 2009

Credit-Card Fee Reform Stays on the Back Burner

Credit-card holders got relief earlier this year when Congress pushed through legislation to eliminate some of the card industry's sneakier practices. But store ...

September 10, 2009

Six Sigma Makes a Comeback

Here's one more reason why the world may face a jobless recovery: Six Sigma. In an attempt to boost earnings without putting more people on the payroll, companies are ...

September 1, 2009

Six Sigma in Action: Six Sigma Goes Shopping

A look at how several major U.S. companies used Six Sigma to cut costs

August 6, 2009

Calorie Postings: Yum! Wants Them Everywhere

Increasingly, restaurant chains are being forced to tell customers how fattening their food is. On July 1, California became the latest state to impose calorie ...

July 30, 2009

Discount Shopping for Luxury Cars

To clear space for 2010 models, many luxury carmakers are offering great deals on '09 models.