Posted by: Phil Mintz on June 23
The Midwest's farms and factories are being hit hard by the recession. BusinessWeek recently asked students in the business journalism program at the University of Missouri School of Journalism to see how communities in the region have been affected by the downturn. Here is another of their reports.
By Beth Carpenter and Sarah Orscheln
The city is nicknamed "Arkansas' Original Boomtown," but El Dorado's boom has turned to bust over the last few decades. This city of 20,000, just north of the Louisiana border, is supported by manufacturing companies like Chemtura, Pilgrim’s Pride and Murphy Oil .
Continue reading "Boom to Bust in El Dorado"
Posted by: Phil Mintz on June 23
The Midwest's farms and factories are being hit hard by the recession. BusinessWeek recently asked students in the business journalism program at the University of Missouri School of Journalism to see how communities in the region have been affected by the downturn. Here's one report, in text and video, about Dyersville, Iowa, home of the baseball field created for the movie Field of Dreams.
Story by Chris Dieterich and Katy Steinmetz
Video by Boris Korby and Angela Chao
"Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa."
In Dyersville, Iowa, at the Field of Dreams gift shop, kitschy slogans on turquoise magnets ring surprisingly true. And though it's not exactly heaven, Dyersville's 4,000 residents are faring better than most of the Midwest during the current economic slide.
Continue reading "The Recession's Impact on Dyersville, Iowa"
Posted by: Phil Mintz on June 23
The Midwest's farms and factories are being hit hard by the recession. BusinessWeek recently asked students in the business journalism program at the University of Missouri School of Journalism to see how communities in the region have been affected by the downturn. Here is one of their reports.
By Amanda Kushner and Sarah Koci
For residents of Eldon, Mo., a town of just under 5,000 in central Missouri, the closing of the Lloyd Belt car dealerships has been a severe blow. A town that once had three car dealerships, two owned by Lloyd Belt, is now devoid of the business the dealerships drew. It's also meant a loss of tax revenues and other support the business gave to the community.
Continue reading "Car Dealership's Closing Hurts Eldon, Mo."
Posted by: Monica Gagnier on June 19
Having lived in New York City for 23 years, I've learned the power of tips (particularly those paid in advance, which some might call bribes) to open doors. Of course, patronizing the same establishment for 20 years also will get you a table for eight on a Friday night when you haven't made a reservation.
I've previously blogged about how tipping seems to be going out of style in California's Coachella Valley. Now, I'm starting to think it may not ever have been in fashion here. What makes me say that?
Today, after getting my car washed in Palm Springs with a discount coupon given to repeat customers, I discovered that my car battery was dead. I pointed this out to man who had just hand-dried my car and whom I had tipped $3. He motioned to me to wait a minute and then reappeared a few minutes later with jumper cables.
After he jump-started my car, I went inside and asked the cashier to break a $10 so I could give the attendant another tip. When the cashier remarked, "Didn't I already give you change?" I explained what happened and that I wanted to tip the employee who had been kind enough to help me.
"There's absolutely no need to do that," she said. "That's not necessary."
I just smiled, walked away, and handed my savior $5. Good service should be rewarded, if you ask me.
By New York standards, I got a bargain. I avoided having to wait an hour for AAA to come jump-start me or the need to call a gas station and pay considerably more than $5.
Posted by: Monica Gagnier on June 11
At the yoga studio where I've been practicing, I overheard one of the young women who checks in people at the front desk mention that she also works at a golf resort in Indian Wells, Calif., to help pay her college tuition.
The other day, when no one else was around, I buttonholed Megan (not her real name) and asked her how her golf job was going.
In typical upbeat California fashion, she replied, "Great!"
I decided to push a little. "Really? My husband works at a golf course and the customers have really been stingy with tips this season," I said.
After looking around to make sure no one else was within earshot, Megan confessed, "Actually, things have been really bad this year. I work the drinks cart and I'm barely making enough to get by. Last year, I was doing great."
Megan has a theory: "Most people go to restaurants on a date or with a group. You can't not tip because of peer pressure. You don't want to look like a cheapskate in front of your date."
According to Megan, it's easier to stiff the gal who sold you a soda or the guy who cleans your clubs because you're usually by yourself when it happens.
I'm not sure about that because golfers often go out in groups. Nevertheless, based on my conversations with people like Megan, it appears that tips are down dramatically this year in the Coachella Valley, home of more than 100 golf courses.
I know that many Californians have gotten clobbered twice -- in the stock market and in real estate. But if you've got $160 for a round of golf, don't you have a dollar for the yoga girl who just sold you a cold one?
Maybe this is a California phenomenon. I'd love to hear from people who depend on tips. How's it going for you?
