In Management, Keep it Simple
from BNet
Occam's Razor essentially says that all things being equal, the simplest solution is the best. The principle has implications in virtually every field of science, not to mention philosophy, aesthetics, marketing, economics, and yes, management. If for some reason you don't buy the word of a 14th-century Franciscan friar, it might interest you to know that Albert Einstein also believed the universe loves simplicity. More    

A Promising Sign for Small Business Loans
from BusinessWeek
It seems that the secondary market for Small Business Administration-backed loans may actually be thawing out a bit. Banks that make SBA-backed loans have historically been able to sell the guaranteed portion of these loans into the secondary market, freeing up their balance sheets to make new loans. The lack of liquidity in the secondary market is one of many factors that has been blamed for banks' reluctance to lend to small businesses during this economic crisis. More    

Product Showcase: CritterTrail® CritterTrail® habitats are designed for the health, security and comfort needs of your hamster or gerbil. Innovative features encourage interaction between owners and their pets. CritterTrail® is the only brand with Super Protect™ antimicrobial technology built-in to ensure a cleaner environment. Expandable Fun-nels™ and connectable accessories encourage activity and exercise. More info

Summers says U.S. Economic Free Fall has Ended
from Reuters
The sense of "unremitting free fall" in the U.S. economy has ended and the picture is no longer completely negative, but rather mixed, President Barack Obama's economic adviser Lawrence Summers said. "Six or eight weeks ago, there were no positive statistics to be found anywhere. The economy felt like it was falling vertically. Today, the picture is much more mixed," Summers said. More    

EPA Considers More Restrictions of Flea, Tick Pet Products
from Pet Product News
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported April 16 that it is intensifying its evaluation of whether further restrictions on the use of spot-on pesticide products for flea and tick control products are necessary to better protect pets. The increased scrutiny applies to both over-the-counter and veterinary channel flea and tick products for pets. More    

Nation's First Pet Airline Takes Off This Summer
from Zoo Too
Airplanes just got a little bit furrier. Pet Airways has announced it is launching the first pet-only airline service, with flights going to five major cities: New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. More    

Bones to Bon Appetit
from Petfood Industry
As pet food production remains lucrative and competitive even through a rocky economy, new product releases mirroring human food trends are causing a stir among the more established and premium pet food manufacturers, with their innovative approaches and niche clientele. The key trend of humanizing pets continues to be an important focus for pet food manufacturers, as more and more of these mimic products are released. More    

PIJAC Thanks Pet Owners, Hobbyists, and Others Who Care
from PIJAC
The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) gratefully recognizes the collaborative efforts of pet owners, aquarium societies, bird clubs, herpetological societies, hobby clubs, pet organizations, and pet industry members who took time to educate their communities and express their concerns about the proposed Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act (HR 669). More    

Symbol	Name	Last	Change
ALO	ALPHARMA, Inc.	36.94	0.00%
CENT	Central Garden and Pet Co	8.83	0.06%
CHD	Church & Dwight Co., Inc.	52.67	0.86%
CLX	Clorox Company	53.14	0.94%
CL	Colgate-Palmolive Company	58.55	1.25%
DLM	Del Monte Foods Company	7.57	0.07%
IAX	International Absorbents, Inc.	2.42	0.10%
JAKK	Jakks Pacific, Inc.	13.90	0.24%
KFT	Kraft Foods, Inc.	22.52	0.17%
ODC	Oil-Dri Corporation of America	15.88	0.12%
OPCO	OurPet's Company	0.00	0.0%
PECD	Pet Ecology Brands, Inc.	0.00	0.0%
PETS	PetMed Express, Inc.	15.50	0.49%
PETM	Petsmart, Inc.	23.00	0.12%
PFE	Pfizer, Inc.	13.49	0.06%
PG	Proctor & Gamble Company	48.14	1.05%
SGP	Schering-Plough Corporation	23.38	0.06%
SPC	Spectrum Brands, Inc.	0.00	0.00%
WOOF	VCA Antech, Inc.	24.17	0.46%

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