Statistics show that 8 out of 10 of us typically get tax refunds. Financial Planners remind us that we’re basically getting our own money back from a government that got to borrow it without interest. The goal is to figure out your liabilities to the point where you don’t have…

Up Front: As details of Disney’s forthcoming streaming service begin to emerge, we learn that The Mouse will have the Simpsons and a library full of Disney magic. But with competitive pricing and a ton of exclusive content, the company aims to be a formidable foe to Netflix. Via @Vox…

Up Front: It’s Friday! Meet Katie Bouman, the woman who discovered the black hole everybody’s talking about. Wikipedia Isn’t Officially a Social Network. But the Harassment Can Get Ugly. Via @NYTimes Answers to yesterday’s advertising slogan quiz:  “Come Alive – You’re in the Pepsi Generation”, “Where’s the Beef?” Actress Clara…

Up Front: Coke creates a pigeon “flash mob” in 1960 by spreading grains for pigeons in Saint Mark’s Square, Venice, Via advertisingpics.tumblr.com. Quickly – How many of these slogans can you associate with their brands: “Come Alive”, “Where’s the Beef?”, “You can be sure if it’s..”, “I’d rather fight than…

Up Front: Tech Tuesday – The next versions of Apple & Google’s browsers will make it easier for websites you visit to track you. Firefox will be the only ecosystem to allow to disable this secret spy option. Via @BoingBoing According to NBC, 70% of us use social media. 80%…

Up Front: Automated music at your business in the days before Muzak. The Seeburg Select-o-Matic background music service, circa 1955. This unit played 45s. 4 years later, the Seeburg 1000 made its debut, which used special 9-inch, 16? rpm records, specially cut for businesses. What’s the secret to a long…

Up Front: A new proposed law in Australia would make social media networks liable for content people post there, raising an age old question: Who is accountable for what is done with the platforms, alcohol, weapons they may provide? Via @CNN I use MailerLite as my Email platform. Hard to…

Up Front: Congress takes aim at the 26 million Robocalls we endured over the past year. Via @WaPost Only a few companies own the network of underwater cables that take the Internet to the world. What happens if they become a “cartel”? At Disney’s CinemaCon presentation yesterday, producer Jonas Rivera…

Up Front: Antitrust and The Oscars – The Justice Department warns the Academy about limiting Netflix participation. Via @Variety ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Crashes Ticket Sites as Theaters Brace for New Record. Via @Bloomberg. And the new Joker trailer is super dark, sparking Oscar talk for Joaquin Phoenix as the Clown Prince…

Up Front: The saying, “Whole Foods = Whole Paycheck” is bugging its owners. Amazon is slashing prices on a ton of items this week. Via @CNBC. How to Talk with a Coworker Who’s Having a Tough Time Via @harvardbiz In an increasingly complex world, we appreciate the value of simplicity.…