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.

12.15.20 | Sesame Street couple Bert and Ernie start a Twitter storm of speculation as Bert says he’s Ernie’s roommate and Bert says they are friends. What do you think? Elon Musk believes too many MBA’s are squelching creativity and value when it comes to corporate leadership. Due to the event, China has now recommended its flight attendants wear disposable diapers.

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.