P&G's Alan Lafley: Look to the meaningful "outside".

The Consumer as Boss and Laboratory. For nine years, from 2000 to mid-2009, A.G. Lafley served as chairman of Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble. Lafley got the CEO job when he got it--in June 2000--in large part because the company was experiencing downturns, and stock price fluctuations, seldom seen in its 163-year history. During his watch, however, P&G doubled it sales, and grew its line of billion-dollar brands from 10 to 23. Some say the even-keeled and reflective Lafley elevated P&G's "art of the customer" to new levels. What is brand loyalty? What "moments of truth" lead a housewife, grocery chain, or government buyer to prefer Tide, Pampers, Crest or Pringles over competing brands? Who, exactly, are our customers? Why do they buy from us? When is price not so important? In May of 2009, and just before he stepped down as CEO, Lafley wrote "What Only the CEO Can Do" in the Harvard Business Review. Here's an excerpt, in which Lafley quotes the consultant-writer Peter Drucker (1909-2005) in comments Drucker made in 2004: "Inside there are only costs. Results are only on the outside." The CEO alone experiences the meaningful outside at an enterprise level and is responsible for understanding it, interpreting it, advocating for it, and presenting it so that the company can respond in a way that enables sustainable sales, profit, and total shareholder return growth. Alan George Lafley

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Counter-Moonbattery Alert: Throw the Bum Out

A Tea Party activist group in New Jersey has been given the green light by a state court to initiate a recall petition effort against Democrat U.S. Senator Robert Menendez. There's no question the odds of success are slim: A successful recall vote requires a fourth of the state's registered voters to sign the petition in order to get the issue on the fall ballot (Menendez' term ends in January of 2013). That would mean roughly 1.3 million such signatures are needed. "Given the will of the people embodied in our state organic law, and the dearth of clear precedent nullifying the people's enactments, we accordingly decline at this juncture to find our state constitutional provision and related stature permitting recall of a United States Senator to be unconstitutional," the Appeals Court found. The opinion added, "The silence of the federal Constitution [on recall] may well result in the conclusion that it may be done." The State Supreme Court has not even chimed in yet, so don't hold your breath for a first-ever U.S. Senator recall. What do the Democrats say about this? Exactly: "Tea Partiers are RACISTS!" It must get real tired to have but one retort for any activism against a Democrat politician who is not a pure-blood cracker. If Menendez gets ousted, he's always got shadow-puppeteering. Hat tip: The Daily Caller.

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Monaco Cayman Class A Motorhome 2011

Luxury has found its place in the Monaco Cayman Class A Motorhome 2011. Built on the 8 air bag proprietary Roadmaster chassis, the Cayman’s wide and stable platform offers improved drivability. Powered by a new 360 horsepower engine, this Monaco class A motorhome comes with four floorplans to choose from, including a full wall slide model, which offers more usable living space. And the Cayman comes with all the comforts of home, including ceramic tile throughout the living area, kitchen and bath, raised panel cabinet doors with hidden hinges, soft touch padded vinyl ceiling and an arched back wood booth dinette with sliding dinette top. The Cayman will set you back $226,350. Monaco Coach.

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Ben Stiller on "Between Two Ferns"

Funny or Die's original content has a pretty good hit rate -- about two thirds of their stuff ends up really funny. And one franchise the site regularly runs that always ends up in that laugh-out-loud two thirds are the "Between Two Ferns" segments, hosted by Zach Galifianakis. This week, "Between Two Ferns" interviews Ben Stiller. Stiller and Galifianakis try to talk about Stiller's new film Greenberg, but things don't go according to plan (do they ever?) For those unfamiliar with Galifianakis and "Between Two Ferns," think about what a low budget public access show hosted by a mentally disabled, lazy, overweight dude with a big bushy red beard would be like. Then add celebrities and a touch more insanity to the mix and you're starting to get the idea. When a new "Between Two Ferns" comes out, it's an Internet event. photo courtesy of Funny or Die Ben Stiller on "Between Two Ferns" originally appeared on About.com Web Humor on Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 at 10:17:19. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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Beauty Product Supplies

The #1 Online Source for Beauty Products Thinking about trying a new, rejuvenating, beauty aid? How about that Paul Mitchell shampoo, TIGI conditioner, or a Hot Tools flat iron you have always wanted? Well you have come to the right place. USA Beauty Supplies has the best prices on name brand beauty products. Prices have never been better and the selection is fantastic. Why USA Beauty Supplies? This is our 10th year in business (6th on Yahoo! Shopping) and we are here to stay. For a great selection, low prices, and fast service, there is no reason to shop anywhere else. We'll be here for you. The #1 online source for beauty products... Thanks for stopping by USA Beauty Supplies! This is our 10th year in business (6th on Yahoo! Shopping) and we are here to stay. USA Beauty Supplies is devoted to 100% Customer Satisfaction. If for any reason you are not happy with your order, email us and we will take care of you. We guarantee that all items purchased from USA Beauty Supplies are 100% authentic and original. All products we carry are fresh, brand new, and only from our authorized distributors. For a great selection, low prices, and fast service, there is no reason to shop anywhere else. Our prices can't be beat! Have a question? Email us at customerservice@usabeautysupplies.com for the fastest reply or contact us via our message call center toll free at 1-800-806-9858. Our mailing address: USA Beauty Supplies 9203 Highway 6 South Suite 221 Houston, TX 77083

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'NCIS' - 'Jurisdiction' Recap

(S07E18) At this point in 'NCIS,' every episode has a certain amount of fun in it just because we like the characters so much. It's the team interaction and the nuggets of character development that are generally more interesting than the mystery, although there was a clever, treasure subplot in this one. And there was someone new in the mix. For more on the anti-Gibbs -- or maybe she was more of the alter-Gibbs -- follow me after the jump. Continue reading 'NCIS' - 'Jurisdiction' Recap Filed under: OpEd, NCIS, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free Permalink | Email this | | Comments

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PM, trailing in Iraq vote count, complains of fraud

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Supporters of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki complained of vote fraud on Wednesday after new but incomplete results from a March 7 election showed their candidate trailing secularist challenger Iyad Allawi.

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Red River expected to rise; power restored in Northeast

The Red River at Fargo, North Dakota, was expected to reach major flood stage Wednesday as the National Guard and a small army of volunteers filled sandbags to keep the waters at bay.

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Hong Kong Lowers Threshold for Property Sales

Lawmakers approved a measure that will force holdout owners to sell apartments to a developer that buys at least 80% of a building's units. The new rule is expected to put prime real estate in play for development.

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Opinion: Longer school days are good

School districts nationwide are trimming funds, for custodians to school supplies, to address widening budget gaps. Even public schools in affluent communities such as Mill Valley, California, and Scarsdale, New York, are scrambling to make ends meet.

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