Steve Levy's Blog – October 2008 Archive (32)

FAS 157 and the Financial Crisis

William Isaac, FDIC chairman from 1978 to 1985 and now the chairman of a consulting firm that advises banks...rhetorically asked the participants [at a recent SEC panel on mark-to-market accounting] how the financial system could have come upon such hard times in under two years. "I gotta tell you that I can't come up with any other answer than that the accounting system is destroying too much capital, and therefore diminishing bank lending capacity by some $5 trillion," he asserted.… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on October 31, 2008 at 9:14am — No Comments

Does a Diversity Focus Perpetuate Racism?

"Advocates of 'diversity' are true racists in the basic meaning of the term: they see the world through colored lenses, colored by race and gender."

Read one person's thoughts here - be sure to read the comments too.

Might be tough to generate comments here on RBC - this isn't exactly the easiest topic to discuss.

Added by Steve Levy on October 31, 2008 at 8:42am — 12 Comments

I WANT MY BONUS! WAAAAAAAAH!

The Tooth Fairy cometh; I think Hank Paulson will somehow take care of his friends.

Added by Steve Levy on October 31, 2008 at 8:25am — 3 Comments

phonesourcing.techtrak

Next year people, next year... Can't wait to see how the current cybersquatters in recruiting handle this one.

Added by Steve Levy on October 31, 2008 at 8:18am — No Comments

Why are there still $2 ATM fees?

According to the article, now that we have a share in pretty much every bank in America (to the tune of $1,785.71per taxpayer), why are we still paying ATM fees? So many banks still aren't in tune with the reality of the market - surly help, pens that don't work at the counter, ridiculous end-of-year bonuses - even spending millions of dollars to name sports arenas; we have "Citi Field" here in NY - at $20 mil or so each year!… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on October 31, 2008 at 7:56am — 1 Comment

Be Like Slouch

I've always thought that Slouch was cool; as a result of getting to know him virtually, when we finally met in NYC some years back, I thought he was even cooler. You know what I'm talking about - Slouch is a smooth talking, cyber-squattin', mojo-with-a-phone homeboy from the mean streets of Toronto.

When I saw Jerry Albright's I-Wanna-Be-Like-Slouch picture (that it seems he took down after I talked to him about my idea), I knew I too wanted to be like Slouch.

So here's my… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on October 28, 2008 at 8:30pm — 7 Comments

Internet Sourcing Alters Your Brain

Gary Small, a neuroscientist at UCLA in California who specializes in brain function, has found through studies that Internet searching and text messaging has made brains more adept at filtering information and making snap decisions.

But while technology can accelerate learning and boost creativity it can have drawbacks as it can create Internet addicts whose only friends are virtual and has sparked a dramatic rise in Attention Deficit Disorder… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on October 28, 2008 at 5:25pm — No Comments

ERNIE ain't what it used to be

Looks like it's Ruffle Feather Monday here in Dieselville. This morning I read Interbiznet's ERNIE which has been so finely written by crusty ol' John "I'm contemplating my navel" Sumser since 1996 or so. Today's topic was another fawning piece by a supposed member of the new Rat Pack… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on October 27, 2008 at 5:30pm — 1 Comment

Recession-proof your career

The jobs are drying up, the jobs are drying up!

Not all of them

Added by Steve Levy on October 27, 2008 at 9:47am — 9 Comments

Kiss my tuchas hiring managers, HR and recruiters!

First it was strange job descriptions written by ignorant people (I'm being kind here; the comments were far more direct). Now, there are new comments about a follow-up post by the same author.

So without any editorials from me, a few of the more, ahem,… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on October 24, 2008 at 12:43pm — No Comments

It's Time for The Recruiter's Couch - Lie down and tell me about your problems

Taking a lead from Michael Szot over on newly minted LinkedIn and taking into account that it is Fridat somewhere in the world, please comment on what's bothering you. Let it all hang out. Tell good ol' Deez what's on your mind today...

Added by Steve Levy on October 24, 2008 at 9:59am — No Comments

if u cn reed this us cn bee a dyamic hed of hr

From one of the Yahoo recruiting groups yesterday; my impression is that if you're a recruiter searching for your head of HR, you really should spell check before sending. Doesn't anyone realize that you only get one chance at a first impression???

[one more thing - these cookie cutter specs do nothing to differentiate the position nor the company]

This is the real description listed under Wanted Dyamic Head of HR. Really. Things that are emboldened were… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on October 23, 2008 at 9:27pm — 7 Comments

I love Newman

Added by Steve Levy on October 21, 2008 at 9:09am — 1 Comment

A technorati thang...

Nothing interesting here - just claiming my Technorati Profile

Added by Steve Levy on October 20, 2008 at 5:33pm — No Comments

Web 2.0 and Social Networkng - a tech perspective

With all the talk on recruiting forums and blogs about Web 2.0, here's a tech look at Social Networking...

"Imagine being able to have an enterprise form that had all relevant transaction data complete with real-time updates from Twitter, Facebook or any other social networking app regarding conversations with the customer? Or being able to see who cross-shopped and then purchased a customized product and what they had been promised in terms of delivery date? This is… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on October 20, 2008 at 12:50pm — 4 Comments

A CFO Survey: Payroll Cuts Are Imminent

"More than half of the CFOs participating in a recent survey (56 percent)say that they expect the credit crisis to force them to cut payroll in the coming year. Further, 57 percent anticipate slashing operating costs by more than 5 percent, while 50 percent say they predict a decline in company revenues."

[The survey — which polled more than 100 executives who attended CFO magazine's CFO Rising West conference in Las Vegas this week — included reaction from chief financial… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on October 17, 2008 at 6:14pm — No Comments

If you're ever conducting a C-level IT search or more...

Top 50 most influential people in IT

Added by Steve Levy on October 16, 2008 at 9:40am — No Comments

Best diversity site that shouldn't be called a diversity site

HBCUConnect.com is bar none one of the best affinity sites on the web. I won't add any words of praise outside if you aren't associated with it, you aren't interested in diversity. And if your company isn't a sponsor, you're not spending your dollars wisely.

If you want a contact to discuss opportunities to support the site, contact me through RBC or just rummage around the site and contact Will (CEO) or… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on October 15, 2008 at 1:51pm — No Comments

Recruiters Selling Leadership

If leadership is "the art of getting others to want to struggle for shared aspirations" (Kouzes & Posner) where does that leave recruiting?

Added by Steve Levy on October 15, 2008 at 8:21am — 1 Comment

Use Pink Slips to motivate during challenging - and all other - times

I receive a monthly e-newsletter from the fine folks at Contented Cows and religiously read their blog. The following is in their current newsletter and is a wonderful read. If you like it, please read my previous post on Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and consider making even the smallest of donations.… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on October 15, 2008 at 7:13am — No Comments