DealBook: Long Odds on a Big Facebook Payday

DES MOINES, Iowa — So you didn’t win Wednesday’s $360 million Powerball jackpot? Make that you and everyone else. A message early Thursday on the multistate lottery’s website said the jackpot has soared to $475 million after none of the tickets sold matched all the winning numbers in Wednesday night’s drawing: 2, 11, 26, 34, 41 and a Powerball of 32. The next drawing will be held Saturday.

The two big names in crowdfunding are Kickstarter and Indiegogo, but it turns out that you have plenty of other options that grant you a degree of control over your campaign that the bigger names don't.

It’s a sign of the times that a reputable economist, Dean Baker, can use the word “corruption” in the headline of an article describing two major trade deals under negotiation and no one bats an eye.

ByBlack Coral Research:One of the most-hyped IPOs in recent history was Facebook's (FB).

Ron Johnson's turnaround strategy for JCPenney was largely centered on "fair and square" pricing. This included weaning people off promotions and claiming to offer the lowest prices every day.  

Social media and big data are being used in an innovative new payday loan banking model that’s more Silicon Valley than Wall Street. Most interestingly, the operation seems to have more in common with old-fashioned hometown lenders than today’s giant banks or typical payday loan outfits. When people get nostalgic about community banking, they evoke a time when your bank really knew who you were. The manager knew your name and the tellers would ask how your kids were doing or wish you happy birthday.