01-20-21 | Shop Talk explores 10 British slang terms we should adopt when we travel to the UK or want to use here at home. Julia Morgan, a pioneering architect, is our Business Birthday. Caught my eye wonders how a man in Japan swallowed a toothpick. Hint—things did not come out well. Also, Bernard Spain, the holder of the copyright for the smiley face died in Philly last week.

01.19.21 | Golfer Justin Thomas is caught on live TV calling himself a gay slur when his misses a short putt. He apologized, but Ralph Lauren has dropped their sponsorship. A $20 bank note with a Del Monte sticker on it is poised to go for over 50K at an auction this month, and a Danish children’s cartoon about a man with a huge member has us wondering if such a show could air in the USA.

01.13.21 | Shop Talk explores the roles of makers and managers within an organization and how we can respect one another’s time. Alfred Fuller, of Fuller Brush Fame, is our Business Birthday. Caught my eye looks at the confusion of a Capitol rioter photo tagged Via Getty and the movie Grease does not hold up well with a new generation.

01.12.21 | The Home of the Whopper is heading back to the archives to create an updated new logo, packaging, uniform, and store design. How about fixing the menu? Amazon takes flight and Patagonia stays true by selecting causes and issues that are clear and direct to their company’s brand mission.

01.06.21 | Shop Talk summarizes a recent podcast from Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, that helps us start 2021 off right. Learn why goals don’t work without this key element. Anthony Scaramucci is our Business Birthday. Caught my eye looks at the popularity of Trump piñatas and Four Seasons Total Landscaping is holding an ALS Surf and Turf Gala this Spring.

01.05.21 | Welcome to 2021. Home Depot recalls 80,000 Mara ceiling fans built by Mara due to blades that may take flight. Tim and John found dark humor in the story. Then, GoDaddy pulls a not so nice holiday stunt to its employees and business is booming for wholesaler Books by the Foot as people continue to set-up “credibility bookshelves” for video conferences.

12.23.20 | Shop Talk looks at eleven 2020 trends we are tired of as the year comes to a close. For example, not every business meeting needs to be a Zoom call. Leonard B. Stern, the co-creator of Mad Libs, is our Business Birthday. Caught my eye covers the debate as to whether Mayor Pete is really the first openly LGBTQ member of a President’s Cabinet and Christopher Walken shuns technology.

12.22.20 | In searching for her birth family, a West Virginia woman discovers she is royalty from Western Africa. Then, an American and her Cayman Island boyfriend are charged and jailed for disobeying pandemic quarantine. Finally, President Obama releases his favorite books of 2020.

12.16.20 | Shop Talk looks at a recent article where Malcom Gladwell tells us that Hamlet was wrong. We all need to “stop overthinking and start doing because none of us knows the future.” Then, the U.S states with the most and least age bias when it comes to older workers is revealed. Yosemite Sam is our Business Birthday. Who knew that his real name is Samuel Michelangelo Rosenbaum? Caught my eye looks at the rising price of that ceramic Christmas tree, according to Martha Stewart, and George Clooney uses a Flowbee.