The Secret Behind Pop Hits: Swedish Songwriters; Group of Lyricists, After Writing Hits for Others, Seek to Create Their Own Star

April 1, 2014 Leave a comment

The Secret Behind Pop Hits: Swedish Songwriters
Group of Lyricists, After Writing Hits for Others, Seek to Create Their Own Star
HANNAH KARP
Updated March 21, 2014 9:34 p.m. ET
Over the past two decades, Swedish songwriters have had an outsize role in creating hits for American pop singers, from ‘N Sync’s 1998 hit “Tearin’ Up My Heart,” co-written by Kristian Lundin, to Kelly Clarkson’s 2002 smash “A Moment Like This,” penned by Jörgen Elofsson. Read more of this post

Filed under Life

Why Cash Is King Again; Worried About Data Breaches? There’s a Simpler Solution Than Turning to Bitcoin. Sally Beauty became the latest company to admit that hackers had broken into its computer systems.

April 1, 2014 Leave a comment

Why Cash Is King Again
Worried About Data Breaches? There’s a Simpler Solution Than Turning to Bitcoin.
BRETT ARENDS
March 21, 2014 3:49 p.m. ET
Paper or plastic?
Until recently the idea of using actual cash when you went shopping, instead of a credit or debit card, seemed to be becoming hopelessly old-fashioned. My local coffee shop has installed a new gadget on the counter so people can buy a coffee with their smartphones. Read more of this post

Filed under Macro Trends

It’s Funny How Humor Works; As Groucho knew, it’s a form of mental exercise that expands our flexibility and stamina

April 1, 2014 Leave a comment

It’s Funny How Humor Works
As Groucho knew, it’s a form of mental exercise that expands our flexibility and stamina
SCOTT WEEMS
March 21, 2014 7:09 p.m. ET
“I just shot an elephant in my pajamas,” goes the old Groucho Marx joke. “How he got in my pajamas I don’t know.”
You’ve probably heard that one before, or something similar. For example, while viewing polling data for the 2008 presidential election on Comedy Central, Stephen Colbertdeadpanned, “If I’m reading this graph correctly…I’d be very surprised.” Read more of this post

Filed under Life

Creativity vs. Quants: To be original, you need messiness and magic, serendipity and insanity

April 1, 2014 Leave a comment

Creativity vs. Quants
MARCH 21, 2014
Timothy Egan
Here’s how John Lennon wrote “Nowhere Man,” as he recalled it in an interview that ran just before he was murdered in 1980: After working five hours trying to craft a song, he had nothing to show for it. “Then, ‘Nowhere Man’ came, words and music, the whole damn thing as I lay down.” Read more of this post

Filed under Life

Astra Isn’t Immune to Competition; Company’s Revival Rests on Flimsy Foundations

April 1, 2014 Leave a comment

Astra Isn’t Immune to Competition
Company’s Revival Rests on Flimsy Foundations
HELEN THOMAS
March 21, 2014 1:21 p.m. ET
AstraZeneca, AZN.LN -0.33% laggard of the pharmaceutical sector, has put on a burst of speed.
The U.K. drug maker, trading at nearly 16 times forecast 2015 earnings, is now among the highest-valued of the large European pharma companies, closing in on Swiss rival Roche.RHHBY +0.92% That is quite a turnaround: Six months ago, Astra traded at a 20% discount to U.S. and European peers; a year ago, it trailed by 30%. Read more of this post

Filed under Macro Trends

Newer posts →