Fortune Magazine didn't have to shop around to find the most powerful woman in the United States - she's Meg Whitman, the 49-year-old chairman and CEO of eBay.
For the second year in a row, she tops the list of the magazine's 50 Most Powerful women.
And she practices what she preaches.
She bought seven new businesses this year for a total of $1.3 billion.
In second place is Anne Mulcahy (search), 52, the chairman and CEO of Xerox (XRX), who helped boost the company's net income by 138 percent.
Making the biggest leap is Brenda Barnes (search), the 51-year-old president and CEO of Sara Lee (SLE), who rocketed to No. 3 from 39th place last year, thanks to her promotion to head the troubled $19 billion company.
Oprah Winfrey, 51, rose two positions, to No. 4, thanks to her "awesome cultural influence" as chairman of Harpo Productions, which includes her TV show with 9 million viewers a day and her latest magazine success, "O at Home."
And Martha Stewart is back in the power seat, despite being a convicted felon who served time in the slammer.
After her lies to the Securities and Exchange Commission got her kicked off the list for a year, the 64-year-old domestic diva has climbed to the No. 21 spot.
As founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, "her position doesn't begin to hint at her command," Fortune says.
"Her cultural clout remains remarkable."
In ninth place is Karen Katen, 56, who heads the Human Health division of Pfizer, which produces 88 percent of revenues for the world's biggest drugmaker.
She also has been with Pfizer longer than the tenure of any other name on the list: 31 years.
Eight women have made the list every year since Fortune started it in 1998: Oprah; Katen; Hearst president Cathleen Black, 61, (No. 34); Avon CEO Andrea Jung, 47, (No. 5); Ogilvy & Mather CEO Shelley Lazarus, 58, (No. 26); MTV CEO Judy McGrath, 52, (No. 10); Time CEO Anne Moore, 55, (No. 13); and Lucent CEO Pat Russo, 53 (No. 14).
Monday, October 31, 2005
Friday, October 21, 2005
Rosewood Telephone
If you ever wanted a hand carved (dragon) rosewood telephone (with Chinese buttons), now you can have it...Check it out over here.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Babies For Sale On eBay
A Chinese internet user set up an online auction for babies on eBay Eachnet, the China arm of C2C internet firm eBay.
The online auction was posted on October 16, offering babies younger than 100 days from central China's Henan Province, one of the country's poorer regions. Baby boys were being sold at a minimum of $3,469.64, while baby girls were being sold at a minimum of $1610.90.
The posting has since been removed, an eBay (China) official said Thursday.
The online auction was posted on October 16, offering babies younger than 100 days from central China's Henan Province, one of the country's poorer regions. Baby boys were being sold at a minimum of $3,469.64, while baby girls were being sold at a minimum of $1610.90.
The posting has since been removed, an eBay (China) official said Thursday.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Buy Your Own Search Engine
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
The $1,825 Atari 2600 Game
Check it out over here.
I don't even know where to begin with this one, so I'll just give you the auction description...
For sale is a copy of Pepsi Invaders/Coke Wins for the Atari 2600. This is one of the rarest Atari games ever produced. In fact, there were only 125 ever made, making it extremely rare, and extremely collectable. The game was produced and distributed only to Coca-Cola employees. I acquired my copy of this game in a bag of games purchased at a flea market, upwards of 10 years ago. It has stayed pretty much unplayed for years now, and I had no idea it was anything special until I read about it online. The cartridge is fully playable and in pretty good shape, it only has a few scuffs on the front, from normal use. The cartridge was produced with no label. I am aware that reproductions of this rare game exist, but considering the length of time I have owned the game, I have nothing but full confidence that this game is original, especially considering I would assume all reproductions of this game are a fairly new thing. I considered offering a full money back guarantee with this game to show my confidence, but it was pointed out to me that someone could switch out the inside and send it back. So, just to be safe, I am selling this cartridge AS/IS, NO REFUNDS. But I dont think that should deter anyone from bidding, because I cant imagine this one being a reproduction. Once the auction has ended, we can discuss the shipping (and insurance), I only charge actual shipping costs. Feel free to message me with any questions, I would be more than happy to help. Thank you, and happy bidding!
I don't even know where to begin with this one, so I'll just give you the auction description...
For sale is a copy of Pepsi Invaders/Coke Wins for the Atari 2600. This is one of the rarest Atari games ever produced. In fact, there were only 125 ever made, making it extremely rare, and extremely collectable. The game was produced and distributed only to Coca-Cola employees. I acquired my copy of this game in a bag of games purchased at a flea market, upwards of 10 years ago. It has stayed pretty much unplayed for years now, and I had no idea it was anything special until I read about it online. The cartridge is fully playable and in pretty good shape, it only has a few scuffs on the front, from normal use. The cartridge was produced with no label. I am aware that reproductions of this rare game exist, but considering the length of time I have owned the game, I have nothing but full confidence that this game is original, especially considering I would assume all reproductions of this game are a fairly new thing. I considered offering a full money back guarantee with this game to show my confidence, but it was pointed out to me that someone could switch out the inside and send it back. So, just to be safe, I am selling this cartridge AS/IS, NO REFUNDS. But I dont think that should deter anyone from bidding, because I cant imagine this one being a reproduction. Once the auction has ended, we can discuss the shipping (and insurance), I only charge actual shipping costs. Feel free to message me with any questions, I would be more than happy to help. Thank you, and happy bidding!
Sunday, October 16, 2005
World's Fastest P-51 Mustang
The crew was both shocked, humored, and somewhat awed to find a true piece of air racing history for sale this week... on eBay. We're also now searching for any spare change we can find, calling our rich uncles to ask "just how they're doing", and hitting the boss up for rather substantial raises (E-I-C Note: Ah, no.)"Dago Red", a legend among pilots and crowds alike at the Reno Air Races, is for sale. And it's for sale on -- it bears repeating -- eBay, the online auction site better known for potential low, low prices for household items, cars, jewelry, clothes, books, and Britney Spears' old bras... pretty much everything except an airplane (although there are actually plenty of those for sale on the site, too.)
But what about an airplane that features a "4000+" horsepower engine, is the current 5-time consecutive National Unlimited Class Champion, and has posted a still-unbroken record speed of 517.06 mph in the 15km category? It's no joke: the heavily-modified P-51 Mustang, built in 1982 from the wreckage of a plane originally manufactured in 1944 and is today almost unrecognizable from the original, is being sold on the online site.
And, at the current bid of $950,100, it still hasn't met the unlisted reserve price.
A little steep, perhaps -- but to be fair, the price not only includes one hot mamma-jamma of an airplane, but also the accessories necessary in keeping such an aircraft in the air, including: a 48' support trailer, two engines, a 29' RV, tug, two engine stands, and "miscellaneous parts, equipment, and supplies."
Considering that prices of authentic P-51s still hover north of $1 million -- when you can find one for sale -- this is probably an amazing deal.
While we search for wealthy benefactors, you can check out the auction for yourself at the link below. But remember, this is a serious auction, and eBay has gone after people in the past who have artificially inflated auction prices. This is no joke, so conduct yourself accordingly. Bidding is set to end on October 20 at 9am PDT.
If you can afford it, and want a unique (and very, very, VERY fast) piece of history, have at it. All we ask of Dago Red's eventual new owner is that you please remember your friends. In the meantime, we'll be bidding on the R/C powered "DAGO RED" model also for sale on the site, engine and radio not included, currently showing a price of $6.49. We can almost swing that...
Kelly Carlson Refuses To Sell Sex Doll On eBay
The sexy 29-year-old, who plays former porn star Kimber Henry alongside Julian McMahon in the cosmetic surgery drama, prefers to keep the life-size sex toy in her lounge and it made Carlson's cleaner think she was dead.
She says, 'I became very protective of that sex doll, because it looks like me and I dont want anyone violating it. So instead of putting it on eBay kept her at home. That certainly startles visitors! When I first brought the doll home, I forgot to tell my cleaner. When she let herself in and saw it all stiff and still, she thought I'd died. She ran out of the house crying and called the police!'.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Church For Sale On eBay
A church congregation plans to sell its vacant former church on eBay to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Bidding on the former North Meridian United Methodist Church will start at $1, the Rev. Randy Davis said. Bidding will begin Monday and end Oct. 27.
Davis is pastor of Redkey United Methodist Church, which was formed in December when members of North Meridian and Main Street United Methodist churches voted to combine.
The new congregation uses the larger Main Street building in the town of about 1,400 about 15 miles northeast of Muncie.
Church members recently voted to sell the old 7,000-square-foot church, furnishings and parking lot on the online auction site. They will donate the proceeds to hurricane relief through the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
"I don't think many people have tried something like this," Davis said. "But we just thought this is the way to go. It'll widen the market for us."
Some of the old church's furnishings, including pews, will be auctioned separately.
Bidding on the former North Meridian United Methodist Church will start at $1, the Rev. Randy Davis said. Bidding will begin Monday and end Oct. 27.
Davis is pastor of Redkey United Methodist Church, which was formed in December when members of North Meridian and Main Street United Methodist churches voted to combine.
The new congregation uses the larger Main Street building in the town of about 1,400 about 15 miles northeast of Muncie.
Church members recently voted to sell the old 7,000-square-foot church, furnishings and parking lot on the online auction site. They will donate the proceeds to hurricane relief through the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
"I don't think many people have tried something like this," Davis said. "But we just thought this is the way to go. It'll widen the market for us."
Some of the old church's furnishings, including pews, will be auctioned separately.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Britney Spears' Bra
The bra was one of dozens of wardrobe items and other personal belongings that Spears put up for bid on eBay to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina, and bidding on the bejeweled undergarment had surpassed $60,000 before it was withdrawn on Saturday, eBay spokesman Hani Durzy said on Monday.In a message posted on her official Web site, Spears, 23, told fans she was "concerned that some of you might be confusing this bra with something that it's not."
The message says eBay accurately described the bra as having been worn by Spears during a promotion for an HBO concert special, but "it is not the one I wore onstage during the 'Baby One More Time' performance."
"I feel the correct thing to do is remove this item from the auction because I don't want any of you to feel misled," she wrote. Spears did not explain how the confusion might have arisen.
Earlier during the auction, an eBay staffer had pulled the bra from the site after deciding that it violated company policy that bars listings for used underwear. But eBay executives later reversed the decision on grounds that the bra was really a piece of entertainment memorabilia, Durzy said.
Spears, who recently became a mother, has sold more than 60 million albums since she shot to fame in the late 1990s with her 1999 debut album "... Baby One More Time" and its hit title track, becoming a worldwide phenomenon at age 16.
With the subsequent albums "Oops! ... I Did It Again" and "Britney," Spears became the first female performer in the history of Billboard magazine to have her first three albums open at No. 1 on the U.S. pop charts.
eBay Buys VeriSign's Payment Gateway
eBay Inc. announced today it has purchased an online-payment business from Internet services company VeriSign Inc.
VeriSign has agreed to help the auction site secure transactions by supplying its customers with a two-factor authentication system.
Executives from San Jose-based eBay said the company will pay about $370 million for VeriSign's payment gateway business, which enables online merchants to process and manage electronic transactions. eBay plans to combine gateway with PayPal, its online payment service.
"VeriSign's payment gateway is a popular and market proven product that perfectly complements PayPal's existing payment services,'' PayPal president Jeff Jordan said in a statement.
The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval but is expected to close in the fourth quarter, the companies said in a statement.
As part of the partnership between eBay and Mountain View, Calif.-based VeriSign, eBay will buy up to one million authentication tokens. The tokens display a six-digit code that computer users must type, along with passwords, to gain access to networks. The code, which changes every minute as determined by an algorithm, is unique to each token. They are designed to deter identity theft attacks.
The tokens are expected to be made available to eBay customers on a global scale sometime next year, according to an eBay spokeswoman. She added that the company has not determined whether it will charge for the tokens.
VeriSign has agreed to help the auction site secure transactions by supplying its customers with a two-factor authentication system.
Executives from San Jose-based eBay said the company will pay about $370 million for VeriSign's payment gateway business, which enables online merchants to process and manage electronic transactions. eBay plans to combine gateway with PayPal, its online payment service.
"VeriSign's payment gateway is a popular and market proven product that perfectly complements PayPal's existing payment services,'' PayPal president Jeff Jordan said in a statement.
The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval but is expected to close in the fourth quarter, the companies said in a statement.
As part of the partnership between eBay and Mountain View, Calif.-based VeriSign, eBay will buy up to one million authentication tokens. The tokens display a six-digit code that computer users must type, along with passwords, to gain access to networks. The code, which changes every minute as determined by an algorithm, is unique to each token. They are designed to deter identity theft attacks.
The tokens are expected to be made available to eBay customers on a global scale sometime next year, according to an eBay spokeswoman. She added that the company has not determined whether it will charge for the tokens.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Prince Charles' Love Letters
Love letters allegedly sent by Prince Charles to a mystery girlfriend have been put up for sale on internet auction website eBay.
The letters, owned by Los Angeles-based royal collector Alicia Carroll, were on offer on eBay.com for £34,000.
One of the letters was said to be written in June 1980 - a year before he married Princess Diana.
The other five were sent in 1976 when Charles, who was then serving in the Navy, was regularly linked with a string of women.
In the 1980 letter - said to be written on official Windsor Castle notepaper - Charles complains of his frustration with the Press and not being able to sneak ladies into his hotel room during royal tours.
He refers to the pressure on him to wed by writing: "I shall just have to get married as soon as possible and then all these people will relax a little."
Another dated July 6 1976, when he was serving on HMS Bronington, expresses his desire to meet up with a girlfriend when his ship visits Canada.
"I wish I could come roaring across the Atlantic to make you feel less lonely," the letter says.
"I do hope you will be there because it would be glorious to have a chance of being alone with you for a moment."
A seven-page letter sent two months later apologises for his failure to meet in Canada.
The letters, owned by Los Angeles-based royal collector Alicia Carroll, were on offer on eBay.com for £34,000.
One of the letters was said to be written in June 1980 - a year before he married Princess Diana.
The other five were sent in 1976 when Charles, who was then serving in the Navy, was regularly linked with a string of women.
In the 1980 letter - said to be written on official Windsor Castle notepaper - Charles complains of his frustration with the Press and not being able to sneak ladies into his hotel room during royal tours.
He refers to the pressure on him to wed by writing: "I shall just have to get married as soon as possible and then all these people will relax a little."
Another dated July 6 1976, when he was serving on HMS Bronington, expresses his desire to meet up with a girlfriend when his ship visits Canada.
"I wish I could come roaring across the Atlantic to make you feel less lonely," the letter says.
"I do hope you will be there because it would be glorious to have a chance of being alone with you for a moment."
A seven-page letter sent two months later apologises for his failure to meet in Canada.
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