Robert Trigaux
If Def Con is any measure, hackers are coming of age
Def Con 9, the ultimate hacker convention, was held this month in Las Vegas. Is Def Con's wild, anti-establishment culture giving way to more mature exchanges about the future of computer network security and the rights of free speech? Just a little. But this year, two experts from the Tampa Bay area attended to play key but different roles.
Helen Huntley
On money
Do some sleuthing before investing with someone new
Now what?
It's Monday night and you're due in Chicago for a Tuesday morning meeting. No problem, you think. But when you check the airport monitor, you see that a handful of flights, including yours, are canceled or delayed. You're stuck for the night.
Marketing takes an ugly turn
From Ugly Duckling Car Sales to Ugly tomatoes to a business that boasts "We Buy Ugly Houses," companies find the ugly-is-valuable theme works.
Loose change
ON THE MOVE: Nearly all 45 manufacturing companies responding to a recent survey have located or relocated a plant in the past five years. And 27 percent said their new facilities were being located outside the United States, according to the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI survey. The No. 1 factor behind location decisions: labor costs.
Retailers go after tax check spenders
From discount stores to do-it-yourself marts, merchants hope you'll want to spend your tax rebate with them.
Ten tips: How to choose a reputable credit-counseling agency
More Americans are fleeing to credit-counseling agencies for guidance about how to manage their debt. A reputable credit counselor can be a godsend, helping you repay your creditors at reduced interest rates, set up a personal budget and avoid bankruptcy. But beware: Not all agencies have your best interests at heart.
