Checking Work Email at a Funeral and Other Inappropriate Moments

Ingram Publishing/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Time off from work no longer means time off from checking company email and staying in contact with fellow employees.  But some occasions seem more inappropriate than others.

A new survey of workers at small and mid-sized businesses finds 10 percent of respondents admit to checking work email at a child's school event.  Nine percent have checked work email at a wedding, and 6 percent have done so at a funeral.  Six percent of employees have checked their work email while they or their spouse was in labor.

The survey, conducted by Opinion Matters on behalf of GFI Software, finds 81 percent of respondents check their work email on weekends, 55 percent check email after 11 p.m. and 59 percent keep on top of their work email while on vacation.

Despite the growing use of instant messaging platforms, email dwarfs other forms of office communication:

• 44 percent of respondents use email at work more than any other communications format.
  • 28 percent rely primarily on the phone.
  • 22 percent rely on face-to-face.
  • 6 percent opt for instant messaging.

• 76 percent of respondents said they typically reply to emails within one hour during work hours, with 32 percent replying within 15 minutes.
• Many employees use email for more than just communicating.  Fifty-eight percent use it as a means of storing and retrieving information.  The oldest saved email by a survey respondent was received back in 1994.
• Employees in the Southwest are the quickest to respond to email, with 42 percent replying within 15 minutes of an email arriving.  Only 27 percent of residents in the Midwest respond as quickly.
• Employees in legal, IT and telecommunications professions are more likely to respond to emails within 15 minutes.  Professionals who think that responding to an email within one working day is sufficient are more apt to work in education, retail, catering and leisure and arts and culture.
• 90 percent of respondents say email is a “blessing,” with just one in ten considering it a “curse.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Mexican Company Outsourcing Jobs to the United States

ABC News (MEXICO CITY) -- Within in the next three years, one out of three babies born in the United States will be Hispanic. Hispanic American families have become a force, soon spending $1.5 trillion a year on goods, creating jobs for the companies that jump on the opportunity.

While there has been a lot of talk about jobs being shipped across the border to Mexico, there is one company that is actually sending jobs to the United States.

The Mexico City factory of baking company Grupo Bimbo can’t keep up with demand in America. Hispanic Americans back in the United States can’t get enough of their breads and other goodies, including chips that taste like guacamole.

When Bimbo first began selling its products in the United States, it didn’t have any factories. Today, the company has 80 plants that have created 40,000 jobs in the U.S., and it will continue to add more.

In Victorville, Calif., the Dr. Pepper Snapple group is making Clamato juice, a product invented in the United States and made in California, Texas and New York, but wildly more popular in Mexico. ABC News’ David Muir found it everywhere, including a Walmart in Mexico City. He found drinks and even food made with Clamato juice.

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Another iconic American brand crossing into Mexico is cosmetics company Mary Kay. Sales in Latin America are skyrocketing with all of the products still being made in the United States, mostly in Dallas.

Local saleswoman Erika Urosa said it’s important to her clients that the products are made in the U.S. Many of the products have been tailor-made for sale in Mexico, even the fragrances.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Congressional Budget Office: Federal Deficit Is Lowest Since 2008

Ingram Publishing/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- The budget deficit will shrink to $642 billion in fiscal year 2013, its lowest level since 2008, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
 
Issues like an aging population and ballooning medical costs likely remain a threat for the long-term deficit, but at least in the short term things are looking quite a bit better than expected.
 
CBO's current deficit estimate is $200 billion below what it estimated in February of this year.
 
Among the factors contributing to this better outlook is the improving housing market.  Better-than-expected bailout repayments from the government-controlled housing agencies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac helped the country’s finances.
 
Another reason was a change in tax laws in January 2013 leading to higher taxes on upper-income households.
 
See the full report HERE.
 
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Another Amazing Fat Tuesday on Wall Street

Hemera/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed Tuesday at a new all-time high with a triple-digit surge of 123.57 points.

And it’s fitting that the Dow hit a new high of 15,215.25 on a Tuesday because it’s the 18th straight Tuesday that the industrials have finished the day higher than where they began.  This 18-for-18 streak started all the way back on Jan. 15.  The Dow since then is up more than 1,700 points. And, according to the statistical gurus at Bespoke Investment Group, over 1,400 of the 1,700-plus points gained since then on the Dow have come on, you guessed it, Tuesday. That’s 83 percent of all the gains in stocks since then coming on this one day of the week.

Asked why this is happening Bespoke’s co-founder Paul Hickey had this refreshingly candid response: “I have no idea why Tuesdays have been so strong. It’s pretty crazy.”

During the streak, none of the 30 stocks in the Dow has been up every single Tuesday. Materials manufacturer 3M has been the most consistent performer, up 16 of the past 18 Tuesdays, while Alcoa has been the worst performer, up only seven of the last 18 Tuesdays.

Jack Bouroudjian, CEO of Chicago trading firm Bull & Bear Partners, told ABC News he isn’t surprised that we are seeing strength on Tuesdays.  ”Monday gives everyone time to digest all the news from over the weekend. By Tuesday everyone realizes that the news is not bad enough to stay in cash.”

Jack Ablin, the chief investment strategist for Harris Private Bank, laughed when told about the streak and said, “Can’t explain it, but it’s pretty impressive.” Perhaps, he added, the streak owes its strength to the underlying economy, meaning that lot of reports about the economy are released by the government on Tuesday.  As to whether he would advise clients to buy on this trend he wryly said, “If we get to 30 weeks I might start telling people to do it.”

The Nasdaq Composite, meanwhile, gained 23.82 points, closing at 3,462.61 -- its best session since October 2000. The S&P 500 rose 16.57 points, or one percent, closing at an all-time high of 1,650.34.

Energy stocks were the top advancers on the S&P index, with Marathon Oil Corp., whose shares were up 2.4 percent, and Valero Energy Corp. with shares up 2.3 percent, leading the sector gains, according to MarketWatch. Hess Corp. shares weren't far behind, climbing 1.9 percent Tuesday.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

What to Expect at Google's Big Conference

KIMIHIRO HOSHINO/AFP/GettyImages(NEW YORK) -- Last year at Google's annual I/O conference, skydivers above the Moscone conference center in San Francisco jumped out of planes, landed on top of the building and ran down into the auditorium filled with Google software developers and members of the media. The plane jumpers were wearing Google Glass, and thus Google introduced one of the most talked-about products in the technology industry.

On Tuesday, Google kicks off this year's I/O conference at that very same location. The company has set expectations lower, saying it plans to focus on software developers and not products this year, but perhaps that's just its way of saying there won't be any big skydiver-worthy spectacles. The search giant is still expected to announce a handful of products and new features at its main keynote, which begins on Wednesday, May 15 at 9 a.m. PT.

Here's what we expect to see at Google's biggest event of the year.

Android Updates
Google has been known to reveal new additions to its Android operating system for phones and tablets at the show, but this year the company isn't expected to announce a complete overhaul of the software. "It's not a time when we have much in the way of launches of new products or a new operating system," Google's Senior President Sundar Pichai, who leads Google's Chrome OS and Android teams, said in an interview with Wired this week. Android watchers don't expect to see the next full version of Android -- Android 5.0, also called Key Lime Pie -- but they do expect to see smaller updates in the form of Android 4.3.

Android Hardware: An Updated Nexus 7?
Last year at the conference, Google introduced the $199 Nexus 7 tablet. This year some expect a new version of the tablet to be revealed. According to 9to5Google, the new Nexus 7 will have a 5-megapixel camera, wireless charging and a higher 1920 x 1200-resolution screen. A Nexus 11 made by Samsung and a Google smartwatch has been hinted at, but there have been no strong reports that those products will be introduced in San Francisco this week.

Google Play Games
Google also focused on its Google Play – its Android store for apps, music, movies and other multimedia -- last year. This year, there's speculation that Google may release a major gaming area to the store with a service called Google Play Games. The service is said to be like Apple's Game Center, with group play functionality. Google just updated the design of Google Play for Android.

Google Plus and Messaging
Google hasn't discussed its Google Plus social network in a while, but that's expected to change this week. There are reports that a new Google messaging service called Babel will be announced. The service would allow you to chat with friends across Android, Chrome, iOS, Google Plus and more. Android Police spotted code that indicates that Google is testing the service now.

Restyled Google Maps for Web
Google has done some really nice design work on its Google Maps apps for the iPhone and Android, but it now seems to be focusing on the web version of its maps product. According to leaked screenshots, Google will release a new design for its web app with new icons and styling.

Google Glass Updates and Apps
So the Google skydivers might be stuck back in 2012, but this year lots of people at the conference will be wearing Google's computerized glasses. With the Explorer Edition of Google Glass just beginning to get into the hands of early adopters, there is bound to be talk of new apps for the wearable device. Perhaps Google will also discuss the public availability of the product.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Three Arrested in Facebook Stock Scam

Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Three men who claimed special access to Facebook stock were arrested Tuesday.

In the hype surrounding Facebook's initial public offering, federal prosecutors say Eliyahu Weinstein and Alex Schleider of New Jersey and Aaron Muschel of New York "took advantage of the buzz...to fleece unsuspecting investors."

Court records say the men convinced a New Zealand resident identified by the initials G.C. to wire nearly $7 million by claiming special access to pre-IPO Facebook shares.

Prosecutors say they used the money for themselves. In fact, Weinstein was under indictment in another scam and prosecutors say he tried to pay lawyers with ill-gotten gains from this one.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Microsoft's Windows 8.1: The Resurrection of the 'Start' Button?

Microsoft(NEW YORK) -- Microsoft will give Windows 8 users who have been frustrated with the big changes in its latest operating system a free update that will bring a host of improvements.

Last week Microsoft announced that it was working on Windows Blue, an update to Windows 8, which would address the complaints users have had about the new software for tablets, laptops and desktops. On Tuesday, in a talk at the JP Morgan Technology, Media and Telecom Conference, Microsoft CFO and CMO of Windows Tami Reller announced that the software would be called Windows 8.1 and that it would be a free download from the Windows store later this year.

Microsoft has said that a public preview of the new software will be available on June 26 for users. However, while it has not specifically stated what improvements will come with the refreshed software, Reller told ABC News last week that it would address the learning curve that many have felt in the switch.

Released last October, Windows 8 replaced the typical desktop with a Start Screen, which includes tiles or apps. One of the most common complaints about the software has been that the Start Button was removed. Many expect Microsoft will resurrect the Start button in Windows 8.1.

Reller wouldn't say whether the Start issue will be addressed, but added, "We have heard the feedback on that, and it's one of many pieces of feedback we have listened to with an open mind." Reller said Microsoft would detail the changes later in May.

Microsoft maintains that interest in Windows 8 has been strong. It recently announced that it had sold over 100 million licenses. However, the fact that Windows 8.1 will be coming only a year after launch is telling, says one analyst.

"By making the Windows 8.1 upgrade free, Microsoft is indicating they weren't satisfied with the experience," Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, told ABC News. "This is a very good step toward improving the somewhat negative sentiment about Windows 8 as a whole. But to turn the entire Windows 8 ship around, the market will need smaller, more-cost effective touch-based tablets and more titles in the Windows store, like Facebook."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Buying a Tesla Might Become Illegal in North Carolina

Tesla Motors(NEW YORK) -- A proposed bill in North Carolina would make it illegal for electric car maker Tesla Motors to use its direct-sales method to sell cars in the state.

The bill, which passed the state Senate in a unanimous vote Monday night, would prohibit car manufacturers or dealers from selling their cars to consumers without using a licensed dealer.

Manufacturers would be barred from "using a computer or other communications facilities, hardware, or equipment" to sell or lease a car to anyone in the state, according to the legislation.

If approved, the bill would render a car manufacturer like Tesla unable to legally sell cars in the state. Since the company bypasses traditional dealerships by selling directly to consumers and allows buyers to place their orders online, it would not meet the state's definition of a "dealer."

Tesla Motors, based in Palo Alto, Calif., and founded in 2003, made headlines when it created the first all-electric sports car, the Tesla Roadster. Tesla calls the Model S the "world's first premium electric sedan," and is priced at $49,900 to $97,900, based on battery options and upgrades.

Tesla Motors announced it turned its first-ever profit of $11.2 million for the latest quarter, and its Model S earned a rare near-perfect rating from Consumer Reports on May 9.

Robert Glaser, president of the North Carolina Automobile Dealers' Association, which supports the legislation, told ABC News that car manufacturers have been barred from selling directly to consumers in North Carolina since the mid-1970s. The only thing the bill changes, he said, is who qualifies as a dealer, which was updated to include manufacturers like Tesla that eliminate the use of in-state dealers.

"This bill doesn't change the law at all. Somehow, they've been selling cars in North Carolina, you know, and I don't know how it compares to that law," he said.

Glaser told ABC News that while the bill wasn't changed to directly target Tesla, the association wants the company to abide by state protocols.

"We believe that Tesla, like all the other auto dealers in the state, should get a license, appoint a dealer, fall under the protection of the Department of Motor Vehicles, and sell cars," Glaser said. “We just want them to play by the same set of rules that the other 7,000 dealers in the state do."

Glaser said there are minimal costs associated with appointing a dealer. All Tesla would need to do is to establish a franchise agreement with the dealer and send them cars, he said. The dealer, in turn, would need to be licensed and regulated by the DMV. The dealer would also be required to have a showroom, he said, but it may be as small as 96 square feet.

"It can be in a mall," said Glaser. "I just don't know why they don't do it."

Glaser said 49 new Teslas have been registered in the state from January to April. But the demand may soon be growing as the carmaker raises production.

The bill seems unlikely to impact the new health of the electric vehicle company since it doesn't sell many cars in the state.

While Tesla has stores and galleries across the United States, it does not have one located in the state of North Carolina. A Tesla service center, which provides roadside assistance, service and supercharging support, is available for vehicle owners in Raleigh, N.C., according to the manufacturer's website.

North Carolina is not the only state that bans car manufacturers from selling to consumers directly. Tesla's CEO Elon Musk is also wrapped up in a battle with Texas lawmakers regarding selling its cars directly to the public.

North Carolina DMV spokeswoman Marge Howell told ABC News the bill will need to be sent to the state's House of Representatives by Thursday, before it is put to a vote.

"It's a beautiful car," Glasser said of the Tesla. "Just play by the same set of rules that all the other dealers in the state do," he said.

ABC News' calls to Tesla Motors were not immediately returned.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Microsoft Adds Google Chat Support to Outlook.com

Microsoft(NEW YORK) -- Microsoft is continuing its mission of getting Google users to switch to its products.  And this time, it's not doing it with an aggressive advertisement or marketing campaign.

Microsoft announced on Tuesday that it is adding Google Chat support to its Outlook.com email service.  Users will be able to log in with their Google account, see their Google contact list on the right side of the e-mail window and start chatting with those contacts right from Outlook.com.

Microsoft introduced Outlook.com last July as a replacement for Hotmail.com.  The email service has a number of unique features, including Sweep, which sweeps newsletters, daily deal or social media alert emails into their own folder.

While there has been built-in Skype and Facebook chat in Outlook.com, Microsoft said that Google Chat support was one of the most requested features from users.

"One more thing people have been asking for before making the switch from Gmail to Outlook was the ability to chat with their Google contacts in Outlook.com," Dharmesh Mehta, senior director of Outlook.com, told ABC News.  "We think this is one last thing people needed to make that switch."

Google's Gmail, which has more than 425 million active users, was one of the first webmail services to integrate instant messaging right into the webmail service.

Since launching Outlook.com, Microsoft has launched a series of aggressive marketing campaigns aiming to get Gmail users to switch to Outlook.  In one advertisement, Microsoft showed how Google scans e-mails for key words and then surfaces paid ads based on them.  

Outlook only surfaces ads in the main inbox; not against messages and the content in them.

"We don't use the content of your email or your attachments, or anything else that's attached to your email. We don't use any of that information for targeting ads that we sell," Mehta said.

The Google Chat feature will begin rolling out to Outlook.com users starting on Tuesday.  All users should have it in the next few days.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Georgia Man Offering His Coca-Cola Recipe for $5M

ABC News(NEW YORK) -- A Georgia man believes he has found a copy of the recipe for Coca-Cola and is trying to sell the top-secret document on eBay for at least $5 million.

Cliff Kluge and his wife Arlene of Ringgold, Ga., said they purchased several old boxes of papers and letters at an estate sale around four years ago for about $100.  In the box of letters, the couple stumbled upon a 1943 recipe with references to one of the most popular soft drinks in the world today.

“When I saw this I just thought it was interesting, so I folded it up, stuck it in my purse and carried it around for a couple of weeks showing my friends,” Arlene Kluge told ABC News.

Taking no chances, the couple eventually put the recipe in a safety deposit box.  After thinking about it for a while, they thought they were sitting on the recipe for Coca-Cola.

“Whoever had typed this letter had seen the original recipe,” Cliff Kluge said.  “The letter always references Coke and products and stuff."

“We believe it is definitely related to Coca-Cola,” he added.

Cliff has put the formula on eBay with a starting bid of $5 million.  If you’re not one to play the bidding game, you can simply use the “buy it now” option and the recipe is yours for $15 million.  

No one has attempted to put a bid down and the auction ends later Tuesday.

Cliff showed ABC News a copy of the document with the important ingredients blocked out.  He reached out to Coca-Cola when he put the recipe on eBay.

“They told me they would call me back in seven to 10 days and they never called me back,” he said.

For more than 100 years, the company has guarded the super-secret formula for Coke. Company officials say finding their trade secret is no different than discovering the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot: It’s just not going to happen.

Coca-Cola did acknowledge the real recipe is located in Georgia, but not in Cliff’s home. The original recipe, made in the late 19th century, is locked away in a safe at the company’s headquarters in Atlanta.

“At least once a year, somebody shows up and says, ‘I have the original formula for Coca-Cola. How much do you want to pay me for it?’  Well, I don’t need to pay them anything for it because we have the only real one,” Ted Ryan, chief archivist at Coca-Cola, told ABC News.

“We know he doesn’t have the formula. There is only one copy.  He has what one of the many imitator copies floating around out there,” he said.  “So I’m going to go to sleep peacefully knowing that we still have our copy of the formula.”

The real recipe for Coca-Cola is considered the Holy Grail of soda pop and Coke fanatics have been searching for the formula for years.

Cliff says while he can’t guarantee it’s an exact replica of the original formula, he feels “pretty good” about what he found. “There’s just too many references to Coca-Cola throughout the entire recipe,” he said.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio