The Chicago purchasing managers index startled markets on November 27th by surging from 45.9 in October to 54.3 in November. (Any reading over 50 suggests that manufacturing activity is expanding, while a reading of less than 50 suggests recession.) Unfortunately, the equivalent national numbers, released on December 2nd, showed a less perky jump from 48.5 in October to 49.2 in November, leaving it in recession for the third consecutive month (see chart).

ECONOMIST: Is America's remarkably resilient economy over the worst?

The search juggernaut is faced with the endless task of reading and ranking the ever-expanding Web's billions of pages, the equivalent of putting the Earth's population in order from tallest to shortest every few minutes.

FORBES: Condemned To Google Hell

Boyd cautioned against reading Delta's emphasis on expanding its international business as a sign it will cut back on domestic routes, arguing that more international flights enhances the domestic operation by creating more demand to shuttle Europe-bound passengers to East Coast airports like Atlanta and New York.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Both ideas could increase the e-reader audience by expanding the ways and places to buy e-books and providing real-world incentives for reading.

FORBES: Kobo CEO On The Future Of E-Readers And Google Books