January 2009 - LisaRidgely

Beware Latest Computer Worm

The spread of a worm affecting Microsoft Windows has exploded this month, infecting millions of PCs all over the world with a sleeper virus that gives hackers access to personal information. The virus is called “Downadup” or “Conflicker”...

Published 01-22-2009 by Lisa Ridgely

Filed under: Software

Billionaires Make 2009 Predictions

Ask the some of the world’s richest people what 2009 will look like, and they’re just as scared as the rest of us. Of course, it’s hard to believe that billionaires will be going to bed hungry anytime soon — but a handful of members...

Published 01-08-2009 by Lisa Ridgely

Retail's Pain Being Passed Along To BSCs

A true victim of low consumer confidence, retail is not doing well. For an industry that depends on the holiday season to bulk up annual profits, indicators so far haven’t been promising. Consumers aren’t planning to spend much more than last...

Published 12-18-2008 by Lisa Ridgely

Whole New Meaning To Contracting Profits

Pardon the pun, but with the official declaration of recession this week, it seems that for many consumers and businesses, profits have been contracting for a while. The economic stimulus package of early 2008, apparently, wasn’t enough to keep...

Published 12-04-2008 by Lisa Ridgely

Reminder To Occupants: Wash Hands

Now that it’s cold and flu season (at least it has been around here), it’s a good time to remind building tenants of that basic golden rule of good health and hygiene: wash your hands, and wash them well. Just because people have gotten their...

Published 11-20-2008 by Lisa Ridgely

Are More BSCs Buying Used?

With budgets being stretched nearly to the breaking point — and some building service contractors will unfortunately break, and go broke, in 2008 and 2009 — contractors need to save money now more than ever. The good news is: gas prices have...

Published 11-06-2008 by Lisa Ridgely

Uniforms Appreciated

One establishment I frequent, a fitness center, has recently hired a new member of the cleaning crew who works very visibly during peak hours. From my observations in the past, the custodial staff have always worn the same thing: a polo shirt and black...

Published 10-23-2008 by Lisa Ridgely

Economy Influencing Illegal Immigration?

Is the amount of illegal immigrants entering the U.S. any kind of indicator of the country’s economic health? Some who study immigration statistics argue it is. According to the Pew Hispanic Center , the pace of illegal immigration has decreased...

Published 10-09-2008 by Lisa Ridgely

Phones Continue To Get Smarter

Just when you thought Google couldn’t take over more of your life: T-Mobile introduces the G1, which uses Google’s new Android operating system and features a touch screen, a keyboard-like typepad and Wi-Fi connections. Also at hand will be...

Published 10-02-2008 by Lisa Ridgely

Give Online Networking A Try

I am relatively young by some standards — I have a few years to go before I hit the median American age of 35.3 years (the highest it’s ever been) — but when it comes to technology, I can feel pretty old. When I joined Facebook a couple...

Published 09-03-2008 by Lisa Ridgely

Open Communication

A sense of humor will get you far in this world – if for no other reason than preserving your own sanity. And in business, it can pay dividends for executives to be able to laugh easily and heartily with their employees. Don Zerivitz, president...

Published 08-18-2008 by Lisa Ridgely

BSCs Can Learn From Airlines

After having wrapped up our August issue, which featured a cover story on building service contractors’ solutions to squeezed profit margins, I heard a story that made the cost issues faced by the cleaning industry look relatively peachy. A recent...

Published 08-14-2008 by Lisa Ridgely

Growth Offers Little Consolation

It looks as if the road to "recession" has been avoided, at least for now. Commerce Department data shows the economy grew 1.8 percent during the second quarter — meager, yes, and a little short of the 2 percent predicted, but better than...

Published 08-01-2008 by Lisa Ridgely

Immigration Debate Still Simmering

With the 2008 presidential election coming up this fall, the subject of illegal immigration will likely be making headlines with renewed fervor. Though it won’t be as important to most Americans as the economy is, it’s definitely a hot topic...

Published 07-17-2008 by Lisa Ridgely

Americans Thinking Green This Fourth

Red, white and blue might have to make room for another hue this summer, as Americans cut back on travel during the holiday weekend for the first time since the millennium began due to record gas prices. In this context, I'm referring to green - in...

Published 07-03-2008 by Lisa Ridgely