| Left-handed stormtroopers fight for ecommerce site
An ecommerce website specialising in products for the left-handed has enlisted Star Wars stormtroopers as part of its sales arsenal. The business was first established in 1968 as a shop in Soho and set up an ecommerce site in 2000. Around 13 per cent of the population is left-handed. By last year the site - www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk - was responsible for 80 per cent of the business' turnover, so when the lease came to an end this summer the company became a purely online operation. The company's director Keith Milsom explained: "We used to print a 28-page mail-order catalogue which was the main part of the business, but the cost of printing and mailing took quite a big part of the profit generated. With the internet it's so much easier, if we have a new product we can put it up on the site the same day.
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OU looked like a legitimate national contender with four impressive non-conference wins to start the season. But the Sooners were gassed in the high altitude at Colorado where they squandered a big lead in a loss to the Buffaloes. They then responded by beating UT last week at the Cotton Bowl to keep their title hopes alive. The Longhorns qualify as one of the nation's biggest disappointments. Colt McCoy has been bedeviled by a sophomore slump and Jamaal Charles has been hamstrung with inopportune fumbles. The offensive line has struggled protecting McCoy and the Longhorns haven't been able to make big defensive plays in losses to Kansas State and OU. Tech still has hopes for their first South Division title, mainly because of a talented pitch-and-catch combo of Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree that threatens to obliterate the NCAA's record book after a fast start.
VIDEO: MRSA alert at the Royal Bolton Hospital
But from April 1, all patients admitted to the hospital, with the exception of life-or-death cases, will be swabbed. This will take place at the hospital, at GP surgeries or at clinics. Those found to be carrying MRSA or C-difficile who are not in need of urgent medical attention could be sent home with antibiotics. Hospital bosses hope the carpet and chair replacement plan will be funded by a bid for a £200,000 Government grant. The moves have been proposed because replacement chairs and flooring would be more easily cleaned and less likely to promote the spread of infection. Although rates of MRSA and the C-difficile are falling, Lesley Doherty, the hospital's director of nursing and performance management, admits MRSA infection rate targets are not being met.
Is Siebel's great news great for Oracle?
Well, well, well, look who remembered how to sell software! Siebel Systems, soon to be part of the Oracle land-grab, pre-announced a stellar fourth quarter today, with revenues up 20% from last year. That means one of three things: Oracle got an even better deal than anyone thought, now that Siebel's fate is assured customers are more willing to buy—especially at lower support costs than Oracle may charge, or Siebel salespeople are uncertain about their fates and selling like mad. The worst of all three for Oracle is the last one, and it's also the most likely. Let's say that's 100% of what's going on. Not great for Oracle, but not all bad either, at least in the long term. Yes, it means Oracle will have to rebuild its sales pipeline for a few quarters, just as it had to with PeopleSoft.
Halifax appoints behavioural targeting specialist
Halifax has appointed Omniture TouchClarity to carry out behavioural targeting. Omniture TouchClarity will now work on serving visitors to the Halifax site the most relevant content and product information. Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds TSB already use the technology on their own sites. Shoomon Perry, head of ecommerce at Halifax, said, "Halifax is committed to a strategy of taking business from our competitors by offering more value. We have the best products... .
'Draw-down has more to do with Afghanistan - not Iraq'
And experts warned it could go even higher next year, with plans for a new offensive that could involve up to 1,400 Scottish troops. The Black Watch battalion is tipped to move back to its Inverness barracks as it is no longer required in Northern Ireland and military sources say the troops are available for Afghan operations. The Highlanders are also expected to be sent to Afghanistan, having undergone the appropriate training in Canada. A former MoD official said it was disingenuous for Mr Brown to make a statement on Iraq and not Afghanistan. Steve Haines, now a professor of military strategy at Royal Holloway, University of London, said: "You can't talk about one without talking about the other. Playing around with 500 or so is not going to make a difference in either operation. "The draw-down has more to do with the need to strengthen infantry in Afghanistan.
(SUSAN TUSA/Detroit Free Press)
The year started off on a good note for General Motors Corp. and Mazda Motor Corp., which won 2008 bragging rights for North American car and truck of the year with the redesigned Chevrolet Malibu sedan and the Mazda CX-9 crossover. While the award -- determined by the votes of more than 40 automotive journalists -- doesn't necessarily translate to sales, it can be a useful marketing tool for automakers looking to prove they are committed to design and quality excellence. .
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