12.09.20 | The lamp from ‘A Christmas Story’ and a Mer-man Ken Doll are what Caught Our Eye this week. Shop Talk explores the Zoom meeting, with many captains of industry believing they are becoming less productive as time moves on. Many predict that while working from home is far more accepted now, there is merit to having people back together in an in-person collaborative environment. The founder of modern-day frozen food, Clarence Birdseye, is our Business Birthday.

12.08.20 | Whether you read a book, listened to music, or enjoyed the solitude of the car, the daily commute was a certain kind of healthy alone time. Creating a fake commute by starting and ending your day with similar activities might be a smart way to balance your schedule. Then, USAA comes out as a great place for trans employees and allows them to bring their complete selves to work. Finally, Tim and John are perplexed by a new study that advocates watching live events that you attend through your mobile device rather than looking at the stage. Cue the Andy Griffith theme music.

12.02.20 | A couple in New York State find a stash of booze hidden in their home, and Sherwin Williams fires an employee for thinking outside the box. Shop Talk looks at traits of spenders versus savers. Much of our familial upbringing plays a key role. Gianni Versace, fashion designer and marketer, is our Business Birthday.

12.01.20 | The Lesbian and Gay Big Apple Corps (LGBAC), one of the first all-queer band groups ever in the country, became the first LGBTQ marching band to partake in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. They played Abba’s Dancing Queen. PETA asks us to boycott coconut milk from companies using monkeys to harvest the crop. Finally, married lesbian couples are more likely to divorce than gay married men.

11.25.20 | A Roomba robot vacuum versus dog poop caught Tim’s eye. As John said, unintended consequences! A Seattle man is brought back to life after being unconscious for 45 minutes due to hypothermia. Shop Talk looks at the most beautiful words in English according to Word Genius. Tim and John have the same favorite word from this list. Andrew Carnegie of US Steel fame is our Business Birthday.

11.24.20 | The Giant supermarket chain apologizes for an article in their Savory store magazine that helps consumers plan a “Super Spread” event along with nibbles for up to 32! Then, Tower Records is getting a new life online. Much about the Tower Records experience revolved around the in-store, so we’re skeptical. Finally, Durex wants us to be OK with the word “moist.”

11.18.20 | Chalk art creates havoc in a neighborhood and John Waters donates his art collection to the Baltimore Museum of Art. The museum in turn will rename the bathrooms “The John Water’s Restrooms.” Shop Talk explores the reckoning that cable TV is confronting from streaming services. Rose Knox of Knox Gelatin fame is our Business Birthday. You can thank Rose for the five-day work week and paid vacation. She also allowed men and women to use the same door!

11.17.20 | Ritz Crackers launches a new holiday campaign that reminds us, “Where There’s Love, There’s Family.” The spot features a few vignettes including an LGBTQ scenario. While we applaud Ritz, we question who sees these longer-form spots that do not appear in mainstream media such as cable or network TV. Then, an American is jailed in Thailand for his review of a hotel on Trip Advisor and Manscaped takes over Penn Station. Remember to keep yourself neat and tidy.

11.11.20 | Can anyone fill Alex Trebek‘s shoes? A fortune in Star Wars Dolls and the KFC Firelog caught our eye this week. Marge Margulies checks-in with some of her great pottery pieces and gift ideas as the holidays approach. Shop Talk looks at Netflix and their new linear service, and how do rail systems deal with lost Air Pods? John T. Dorrance of Campbell Soup fame is our Business Birthday.