Tuesday, 24 May 2011

Chrysler to pay off $7.5 billion in debt

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Chrysler plans to pay back $7.5 billion worth of high-interest bailout loans to the U.S. and Canadian governments on Tuesday.
This includes the $5.8 billion the carmaker owes in loans to U.S. taxpayers and the $1.7 billion it owes to the Canadians.
This doesn't mean that Chrysler is debt-free. In fact, the automaker took out additional loans last week to help pay off older debt. But the company said it could save $300 million in annual interest payments through refinancing.
Under its current debt structure, Chrysler is paying between 7% and 14% interest on U.S. loans and as high as 20% interest on some of its Canadian loans.
In February, Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Chrysler and Fiat, the Italian automaker that owns a controlling stake in Chrysler, said his company needs to replay "shyster loans" to the governments. He later apologized for his comments.

Chrysler to pay back loans

On May 2, Chrysler reported its first quarterly profit since 2006. In fact, Ford (F, Fortune 500) and General Motors (GM, Fortune 500) also reported profits for the first quarter, the first time since 2004 the Big Three all reported profitable quarters.
Repayment of the loans will still leave U.S. taxpayers about $2 billion short, in shares that are still held by the U.S. government. Treasury and the Canadian government will both continue to hold minority stakes in the company.
The U.S. government might be able to recoup some of that money when Chrysler holds an initial public offering later this year or next. To top of page

Monday, 23 May 2011

An end of magic

An end of magic

Arthur C. Clarke told us, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

Head back to the 1800s with a Taser or a Prius or an iPad and the townsfolk will no doubt either burn you at the stake or worship you.

So many doors have been opened by technology in the last twenty years that the word “sufficiently” is being stretched. If it happens on a screen (Google automatically guessing what I want next, a social network knowing who my friends are before I tell them) we just assume it’s technology at work. Hard to even imagine magic here.

I remember eagerly opening my copy of Wired every month (fifteen years ago). On every page there was something new and sparkly and yes, magical.

No doubt that there will be magic again one day... magic of biotech, say, or quantum string theory, whatever that is. But one reason for our ennui as technology hounds is that we’re missing the feeling that was delivered to us daily for a decade or more. It’s not that there’s no new technology to come (there is, certainly). It’s that many of us can already imagine it.

A marketing lesson from the apocalypse

A marketing lesson from the apocalypse

If you're reading this blog, then the world didn't end, at least in my time zone.
How does one market the end of the world? After all, you don't have a big ad budget. Your 'product' is something that has been marketed again and again through the ages and it has never worked. There's significant peer pressure not to buy it...
And yet, every time, people succumb. They sell their belongings, stop paying into their kid's college fund and create tension and despair.
Here's the simple lesson:
Sell a story that some people want to believe. In fact, sell a story they already believe.

The story has to be integrated into your product. The iPad, for example, wasn't something that people were clamoring for... but the story of it, the magic tablet, the universal book, the ticket to the fashion-geek tribe--there was a line out the door for that. The same way that every year, we see a new music sensation, a new fashion superstar. That's not an accident. That story is just waiting for someone to wear it.
And the some part is vital. Not everyone wants to believe in the end of the world, but some people (fortunately, just a few) really do. To reach them, you don't need much of a hard sell at all.
Too often marketers take a product and try to invent a campaign. Much more effective is to find a tribe, find a story and make a product that resonates, one that makes the story work.
That's the whole thing. A story that resonates and a tribe that's tight and small and eager.
I hope you can dream up something more productive than the end of the world, though.

Saturday, 21 May 2011

FLOWER


 
As every flower lover knows, flowers have a language of their own. Every sentiment is expressed in one form or another by these delicate blooms. Of course, even the experts disagree on the "true meaning" of many flowers and most have different meanings to different people. So, while all flowers convey thoughtfulness and love, here are some of the more traditional flower meanings, according to one source. See, if you agree. And, remember, a gift of flowers for a special someone will always create its own personal meaning, too.
ACACIA -
Concealed Love, Beauty in Retirement, Chaste Love
AMBROSIA -
Your Love is Reciprocated
AMARYLLIS -
Pride, Pastoral Poetry
ANEMONE -
Forsaken
ARBUTUS -
Thee Only Do I Love
ASTER -
Symbol of Love, Daintiness
AZALEA -
Take Care of Yourself for Me, Temperance, Fragile Passion, Chinese Symbol of Womanhood
BACHELOR BUTTON -
Single Blessedness
BEGONIA -
Beware
BELLS OF IRELAND -
Good Luck
BITTERSWEET -
Truth
BLUEBELL -
Humility
CACTUS -
Endurance
CAMELLIA (PINK) -
Longing for you
CAMELLIA (RED) -
You're a Flame in My Heart
CAMELLIA (WHITE) -
You're Adorable
CARNATION (GENERAL) -
Fascination, Woman Love
CARNATION (PINK) -
I'll Never Forget You
CARNATION (RED) -
My Heart Aches For You, Admiration
CARNATION (PURPLE) -
Capriciousness
CARNATION (SOLID COLOR) -
Yes
CARNATION (STRIPED) -
No, Refusal, Sorry I Can't Be With You, Wish I Could Be With You
CARNATION (WHITE) -
Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman's Good Luck Gift
CARNATION (YELLOW) -
You Have Disappointed Me, Rejection
CATTAIL -
Peace, Prosperity
CHRYSANTHEMUM (GENERAL) -
You're a Wonderful Friend, Cheerfulness and Rest.
CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE) -
Truth
CHRYSANTHEMUM (YELLOW) -
Slighted Love
CROCUS -
Cheerfulness
CYCLAMEN -
Resignation and Good-bye
DAFFODIL -
Regard, Unrequited Love, You're the Only One, The Sun is Always Shining when I'm with You
DAISY -
Innocence, Loyal Love, I'll Never Tell, Purity
DANDELION -
Faithfulness, Happiness
FERN -
Magic, Fascination, Confidence and Shelter
FIR -
Time
FLAX -
Domestic Symbol
FORGET-ME-NOT -
True Love, Memories
FORSYTHIA -
Anticipation
GARDENIA -
You're Lovely, Secret Love
GERANIUM -
Stupidity, Folly
GLADIOLI -
Give Me a Break, I'm Really Sincere, Flower of the Gladiators
GLOXINIA -
Love at First Sight
HEATHER (LAVENDER) -
Admiration, Solitude
HEATHER (WHITE) -
Protection, Wishes Will Come True
HOLLY -
Defense, Domestic Happiness
HYACINTH (GENERAL) -
Games and Sports, Rashness, Flower Dedicated to Apollo
HYACINTH (BLUE) -
Constancy
HYACINTH (PURPLE) -
I am Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Sorrow
HYACINTH (RED OR PINK) -
Play
HYACINTH (WHITE) -
Loveliness, I'll Pray for You
HYACINTH (YELLOW) -
Jealousy
HYDRANGEA -
Thank You for Understanding, Frigidity, Heartlessness
IRIS -
Fleur-de-lis, Emblem of France, Your Friendship Means so Much to Me, Faith, Hope, Wisdom and Valor, My Compliments
IVY -
Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection
JONQUIL -
Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy, Desire for Affection Returned
LARKSPUR (PINK) -
Fickleness
LILY (WHITE) -
Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You
LILY (YELLOW) -
I'm Walking on Air, False and Gay
LILY (CALLA) -
Beauty
LILY (DAY) -
Coquetry, Chinese Emblem for Mother
LILY (EUCHARIS) -
Maiden Charms
LILY (TIGER) -
Wealth, Pride
LILY OF THE VALLEY -
Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Return to Happiness, Humility, You've Made My Life Complete
MAGNOLIA -
Nobility
MARIGOLD -
Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy
MISTLETOE -
Kiss me, Affection, To Surmount Difficulties, Sacred Plant of India
MONKSHOOD -
Beware, A Deadly Foe is Near
MOSS -
Maternal Love, Charity
MYRTLE -
Love, Hebrew Emblem of Marriage
NARCISSUS -
Egotism, Formality, Stay as Sweet as You Are
NASTURTIUM -
Conquest, Victory in Battle
OLEANDER -
Caution
ORANGE BLOSSOM -
Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage and Fruitfulness
ORANGE MOCK -
Deceit
ORCHID -
Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children
ORCHID (CATTLEYA) -
Mature Charm
PALM LEAVES -
Victory and Success
PEONY -
Shame, Happy Life, Happy Marriage
PETUNIA -
Resentment, Anger, Your Presence Sooths Me
PINE -
Hope, Pity
POPPY (GENERAL) -
Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination
POPPY (RED) -
Pleasure
POPPY (WHITE) -
Consolation
POPPY (YELLOW) -
Wealth, Success
PRIMROSE -
I Can't Live Without You
PRIMROSE (EVENING) -
Inconstancy
ROSE (BRIDAL) -
Happy Love
ROSE (DARK CRIMSON) -
Mourning
ROSE (HIBISCUS) -
Delicate Beauty
ROSE (LEAF) -
You May Hope
ROSE (PINK) -
Perfect Happiness, Please Believe Me
ROSE (RED) -
Love, I Love You
ROSE (TEA) -
I'll Remember Always
ROSE (THORNLESS) -
Love at First Sight
ROSE (WHITE) -
Innocence and Purity, I am Worthy of You, You're Heavenly, Secrecy and Silence
ROSE (WHITE AND RED MIXED) -
Unity, Flower Emblem of England
ROSE (WHITE-DRIED) -
Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue
ROSE (YELLOW) -
Decrease of Love, Jealousy, Try to Care
ROSEBUD -
Beauty and Youth, A Heart Innocent of Love
ROSEBUD (RED) -
Pure and Lovely
ROSEBUD (WHITE) -
Girlhood
ROSEBUD (MOSS) -
Confessions of Love
ROSES (Bouquet of Mature Blooms) -
Gratitude
ROSES (Single Full Bloom) -
I Love You, I Still Love You
SMILAX -
Loveliness
SNAPDRAGON -
Deception, Gracious Lady
SPIDER FLOWER -
Elope with Me
STEPHANOTIS -
Happiness in Marriage, Desire to Travel
STOCK -
Bonds of Affection, Promptness, You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me
SWEETPEA -
Good-bye, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time
TULIP (GENERAL) -
Perfect Lover, Frame, Flower Emblem of Holland
TULIP (RED) -
Believe Me, Declaration of Love
TULIP (VARIEGATED) -
Beautiful Eyes
TULIP (YELLOW) -
There's Sunshine in Your Smile
VIOLET -
Modesty
VIOLET (BLUE) -
Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I'll Always Be True
VIOLET (WHITE) -
Let's Take a Chance
ZINNIA (MAGENTA) -
Lasting Affection
ZINNIA (MIXED) -
Thinking (or In Memory) of an Absent Friend
ZINNIA (SCARLET) -
Constancy
ZINNIA (WHITE) -
Goodness
ZINNIA (YELLOW) -
Daily Remembrance
Source: AFS, Teleflora, and 1-800-FLORALS