Watercooler Stories

EQ MAY DETERMINE 'THE APPRENTICE'

Emotional intelligence may be the deciding factor in who wins the dream job with Donald Trump on the NBC's "The Apprentice."

Muriel T. Anderson, of the University at Buffalo's School of Management, says contestants such as Sam Solovey, Tammy Lee and Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth were self-assured in their abilities but they failed to recognize how their behavior negatively affected others.

"Emotionally intelligent leaders work well with others, remain calm under pressure and can motivate themselves and others," she says.

However, the real challenge begins once the winner is chosen and he or she has to learn how to manage having "The Donald" as a real-life boss, according to Anderson.

'ALLERGY-TESTED INTERIOR' CAR

An independent group of experts has certified the interior of Ford Focus C-MAX consists of materials that reduce the risk of allergies to the lowest possible level.

The TUV Rheinland Group in Cologne, Germany, has given its "allergy-tested interior" seal of approval to the Ford car.

Ford abstained from using materials such as latex or nickel, which can provoke allergic reactions among allergy-sensitive people.

"Allergies are still being underestimated. They affect the lives of a great number of people of all ages," Derrick Kuzak, Ford of Europe vice president for product development, says in a statement.

ONE-THIRD SAY INSIDER TRADING OK

Nearly one-third of U.S. investors say they would trade on illegal inside information, according to a Money/investor class poll.

Thirty-two percent of investors say they would immediately buy or sell stock if they learned important news about the company before the news became public -- the definition of insider trading.

Despite positive economic reports, two-thirds of all investors report their own personal financial situation was either worse or about the same as a year ago, the poll says.

Investors who are registered to vote are split over who would do a better job managing the economy over the next four years -- 43 percent favor Republican President George Bush, while 41 percent favor Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

CRIME MAY NOT PAY AS MUCH

Crime may not pay as much as it used to -- the average U.S. bank robber gets away with about $4,400 dollars, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The first U.S. bank robber stole a lot more. In 1831, Edward Smith committed the first bank robbery in the United States at City Bank on Wall Street in New York City.

He used a duplicate set of keys after hours to steal $245,000 dollars.

Smith was caught, convicted and spent five years in Sing Sing in New York.