Liberty Intercept Blog

As I was reading Chris Brogan's (Human Business Works) recent article about change and fear, the paragraph that struck me was this one: "Before Netflix, Blockbuster was a sure thing. Before Zipcar, you owned a car, borrowed a car, or rented a car. AirBNB has changed hospitality options. Square gives everyone the ability to be a credit card merchant when that wasn’t true as recently as a few years ago without a lot of hassle." I was a loyal Blockbuster customer until Netflix made renting movies so easy. Once Hulu entered the scene with their free online TV shows, the computer became my central source of entertainment. It was only about 50 years ago that my family sat around a single small black and white TV that had only three channels of entertainment. Big changes.

From the desk of Adam Robinson, Marketing Manager, Cerasis Inc. Google+

There are many reasons why disruptive technology, such as the Cerasis Rater web-based transportation management software aid in tackling holistic freight costs. Much like packaging, and protecting your invaluable company products is a part of doing business, often, the next step is shipping your products via full truckload, small package, or less-than-truckload. Like packaging, you want to make sure that when you look at investing in transportation, no matter how you do it, you have to look at all the cost factors, not just the price you see from a carrier. Does the carrier get your product to the customer in time often enough? Do they have enough insurance to cover you in case of a damaged freight situation, and finally, what is the freight cost to actually ship that?

We were energized during our time as exhibitors at EASTEC 2013 in Springfield, MA, last week. Building 3 of the facility was abuzz with innovation. Interested attendees, asking all the right questions, flooded the floor for all three days, including representatives from small and large manufacturers, local and international companies. The show truly lived up to it's tagline "human ingenuity, manufacturing brilliance". If you're involved in industry in the Northeast, or want to be, we recommend you get involved with EASTEC, sponsored by SME.

Forgers have been around since there have been things to forge; currency and art being the most sensationalized examples, but commercial goods make up the overwhelming bulk of forgeries. Recently, these types of forgeries have moved more into the mainstream and been accepted as part of modern culture. I find it compelling that we now willingly turn a blind eye to some forgeries (like the designer shoes pictured) because they appear as novelties, but we ignore the fact that billions of dollars (in merchandise and fake money as well as lost relics and works of art) are lost. Perhaps it is like a game: the forger vs. the world, with the goal to fool the masses.

For some of us it is that glorious beginning to a season where we are anxious to see how our team’s off season acquisitions will fare against the rest of the big league.  Others of us wallow in self-pity at Wrigley Field… either way I have always been captivated by the number of baseballs used during the course of an MLB.

From guest poster, Chris Iannucci: When I first began collecting coins and other collectibles about 10 years ago, I never gave much thought to proper storage and preservation. I just bought what I liked, and kept most items in a display case so I could view them from time to time or share them with friends or family. This gave me much enjoyment over the years.  

This year the ground hog, Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary (his actual full name, I am a sucker for formality) pronounced loud and clear, “Get ready for an early spring!” I was happy to hear this. The sportsman in me is begging to get outdoors after several months of being relegated to four walls of my apartment, with the occasional reprieve to the gym or the ski slopes. I am sure I am not the only one.

Over 110 million Americans tuned in to watch the Super Bowl in 2012, and for three straight years the Super Bowl has broken its own viewer record, priming this years’ (2013) to be, again, the most viewed television event in history (even before the official numbers come out). There is the typical build up and fanfare surrounding the event, and why not; it is the quintessential BIG American event. This year was different. The story lines set this one apart: two young coaches who are brothers (who probably have the fiercest rivalry and adoration for each other), an all-time great retiring, a mid-season second year backup quarterback turned sensation, and the list goes on. My favorite story line, albeit a quiet one, had to do with Joe Flacco.

Here's an excerpt from a fascinating article on the "Bored Panda" blog, self-proclaimed as "the only magazine for pandas." I've always thought of great packaging as art, in it's own way, but this is extraordinary.

Being involved in sports since childhood, the concept or reality of prizes and awards has been a constant over the years. Even in this politically correct age, where everyone needs to receive a ribbon for every attempt, some prizes still retain their value and worth. Prizes in sports follow the same theory as Olympic medals, (though with less fanfare and certainly with a lower precious metal content) which is to celebrate and recognize hard work, perseverance, and most importantly to represent and honor achievement and performance.