One out of fifty people use a top-20 "worst password", and one out of nine a top-500.

If you’re curious, these are the top three bad passwords…

1. 123456
2. password
3. 12345678

… but let’s go read the full list, just in case…

Tags: passwords, computer security

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According to Mercer, a consultancy firm, these are the most expensive cities in the world in terms of cost of living. The number next to each city is an index that compares it to the study’s base city, New York (100).

1. Tokyo 143.7

2. Osaka 119.2

3. Moscow 115.4

4. Geneva 109.2

5. Hong Kong 108.7

6. Zurich 105.2

7. Copenhagen 105

8. New York City 100

9. Beijing 99.6

10. Singapore 98

Of note: the only Latin American city in the top 50 is Caracas, Venezuela at #15 with an index of 93.3.

Tags: most expensive cities, cost of living

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Volvo

Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. is said to be interested in bidding for Ford’s Sweden-based brand. Geely, China’s largest private automaker, is also interested.

Opel

Beijing Automotive tried to acquire GM’s Opel brand in May, but failed.

Hummer

Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co., a heavy equipment manufacturer, has agreed to buy Hummer from GM at $500 million. The deal, however, may face objections from Chinese regulators.

Saab

If three current bidders can’t finalize a deal, Beijing Automotive also wants to bid on Saab Cars, a Swedish division of General Motors.

Tags: Geely, Beijing Automotive, Beijing Automobile, Beijing Auto, Volvo, Saab, Opel, Hummer, Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co., Sichuan Tengzhong, GM, General Motors, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, China, Chinese auto industry, Chinese automotive industry, Ford

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Harvard Business Review recently published a report indicating the "10 most common leadership shortcomings".

This list was based on analysis of 360-degree feedback data on 11,000 leaders, from which they evaluated the 10% least effective leaders.

The shortcomings are ranked by size of difference between successful and unsuccessful leader scores.

1. Lack energy and enthusiasm
2. Accept their own mediocre performance
3. Lack clear vision and direction
4. Have poor judgment
5. Don’t collaborate
6. Don’t follow the standards they set for others
7. Resist new ideas
8. Don’t learn from mistakes
9. Lack interpersonal skills
10. Fail to develop others

Tags: leadership

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Harvard Business Review recently published a report indicating the "10 most common leadership shortcomings".

This list was based on analysis of 360-degree feedback data on 11,000 leaders, from which they evaluated the 10% least effective leaders.

The shortcomings are ranked by size of difference between successful and unsuccessful leader scores.

1. Lack energy and enthusiasm
2. Accept their own mediocre performance
3. Lack clear vision and direction
4. Have poor judgment
5. Don’t collaborate
6. Don’t follow the standards they set for others
7. Resist new ideas
8. Don’t learn from mistakes
9. Lack interpersonal skills
10. Fail to develop others

Tags: leadership

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Chinese automaker Rongcheng Huatai Automobile has unveiled a new car called “Rover” in English; however its local name is pronounced “San-da-i-fe”. The vehicle looks exactly like Hyundai’s first-generation Santa Fe SUV.

A case of piracy, perhaps?

Not so… Hyundai says that Chinese automaker has acquired the rights to sell the Santa Fe, as well its overall design and engine, so that Rongcheng Huatai can develop its own version. Hyundai stopped producing this version of the Santa Fe in 2006.

Why did Hyundai do this?

"According to Hyundai officials, the company decided to enter into such a contract because it is difficult to prevent Chinese carmakers from copying its products."

Read it here.

Tags: Hyundai, Santa Fe, Hyundai Santa Fe, Rongcheng Huatai Automobile, Rongcheng Huatai, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, China, Chinese auto industry, Chinese automotive industry, piracy, Chinese piracy

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BMW responds to an Audi billboard with their own, click here to see this great marketing move…

Tags: BMW, Audi, great marketing

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This has to be the dumbest marketing idea in business history… surprsingly, it was launched by a company related to the financial sector…

Tags: marketing, dumb ideas, bad marketing, Zecco

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All we seem to hear lately are moans and groans (not saying they’re not warranted), so it’s refreshing to read thoughtful positive comments on things we can do in the auto industry to move forward.

Brand Pretorius, CEO of McCarthy Ltd., South Africa’s leading automotive group, recently spoke at Automechanika South Africa and shared insights that are surely applicable in emerging markets around the world.

General issues Pretorius thinks should be addressed:

• Dealer network rationalization, to ensure competitiveness of dealerships
• Better business terms between manufacturers, importers and local dealers
• Margin restoration on new/used vehicles, and parts and service

And more importantly in my view, some direct suggestions on what dealers need to do to survive today and, in the longer term, prosper:

• More efficient processes and operating systems
• Aggressive cost-cutting measures
• An improvement in staff productivity
• More focus on supplementary income from finance and insurance
• Increase level of customer retention
• Increase level of after-sales contributions

This ties directly into some recent posts on what auto dealers can do in times of crises, where the focus is on how process improvements paired with a good DMS (not necessarily ours can help a dealer move ahead.

Tags: Brand Pretorius, McCarthy Ltd, Automechanika South Africa, Automechanika, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, DMS, Autologica

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J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study says that these are the highest ranked for 2008.

1. Buick and Jaguar (122 problems per 100 vehicles)
2. Lexus (126)
3. Toyota (129)
4. Mercury (134)
5. Infiniti (142)
6. Acura (146)
7. Lincoln (147)
8. Cadillac and Honda (148)
9. Porsche (150)
10. Audi and Ford (159)
11. Hyundai (161)
12. Subaru (162)
13. Chrysler (165)
14. BMW (166)

The industry average for problems per 100 vehicles is 170. Subaru had the lowest score at 263.

Notable sub-par results: Mercedes Benz (184), Volvo (186), Hummer (221) and VW (260).

Tags: Buick, Jaguar, Lexus, Toyota, Mercury, Infiniti, Acura, Lincoln, Cadillac, Honda, Porsche, Audi, Ford, Hyundai, Subaru, Chrysler, BMW, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, J.D. Power

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