Brian Banmiller's blog

You can sell almost anything on the internet. But making money off of someon’e soul may be a first.

At a recent online auction a woman in New Zealand made history by auctioning off what she claims to be the disgruntled souls of two people that were haunting her home. The spirits were put up for bidding earlier this week by Avie Woodbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.  read more »

In this changing economy it pays to go green and now it might even taste good too.

Lola is a Formula Three racing car developed by students at the University of Warwick in Britain. The car has a top speed of 135 mph and can race from zero to sixty in 2.5 seconds. Under the hood is a 2.0 liter BMW engine, and in the gas tank is leftover chocolate, carrots, potato starch and flax.

Lola also features a radiator that converts ozone back to oxygen and brake pads made from cashews are being developed. One of the car’s designers, Kerry Kirwan says Lola uses materials that would otherwise have ended up in a landfill. Kirwan says the car lets people engage with recycling without the finger wagging.  read more »

Not paying your traffic fines is illegal. Not paying your traffic fines when you’re a civil servant is just embarrassing.

Last week an investigation at a Bulgaria tax office found that more than 400 tax inspectors had failed to pay their traffic fines. This was part of a nationwide crackdown on government employees who don’t pay what they owe. The National Revenue Agency said they’ve seen an increase in fraud since the recession began and are only trying to recover lost revenue.  read more »

The recent Toyota recalls, safety concerns and congressional hearings may have you steering towards a different dealership. But the company might still be worth a second look.

According to a recent U.S. News and World Report article there are a couple of reasons why you should consider the Japanese auto giant for your next car purchase. For example now could be the best time to buy. The company will eventually recover but until then dealerships will be forced to slash prices and cut you a bargain to move some of their inventory that has been scandalized by the recent recalls.  read more »

It takes a desperate man to rob a bank, but it takes a stupid man to rob the same bank twice.

This recession has many people turning to extreme measures to stay afloat. But one man in Germany was so desperate for some extra cash he attempted to make a forced withdrawal from his local bank, not once but twice and in a 24 hour time span. A police spokesman says the 50 year old felon was released from jail for holding up a bank in northern Germany. A few hours later he returned to the same bank, flashed a pistol and said “I was here yesterday and I want money again today.”  read more »

It seems like every few months a new gadget is being unveiled as the new hot item; but in the tech world, very few have staying power.  read more »

Tax season may not be your favorite time of year, especially if you’re an IRS agent.  read more »

Forget the teachers, books and dirty looks. Some of your most important business lessons can’t be found in the classroom.

CareerBuilder.com has come up with four important lessons for success in the workplace. They asked employers and employees what vital skills always seem to be missing and number one on the list is communication. Experts say tools like small talk, reading between the lines and public speaking can give you the advantage in almost any situation. Bronwyn Saglimbeni, a Public Speaking and Media Coach says one of the most overlooked communication tools is active listening. Saglimbeni says most of the time people listen with the intent to answer versus listening to fully understand what is being said.  read more »

Vacation time is approaching and nothing says memories like a hotel in the side of a hill or one that used to house prisoners.

MSN Travel has put together a list of the most unusual hotels in the world. And while the accommodations might take some getting used to they could be well worth your money. And there’s something for everyone. For example Waitomo New Zealand features the Hobbit Motel, designed after Hobbiton from the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. And for all you movie buffs the “Lord of the Rings” set is just 70 miles away.  read more »

While this recession has you scrambling for a second job and pulling from your retirement, check out your attic. What you find could just be one of a kind.

Fifteen years ago an unnamed comic book collector bought a copy of the 1938 Superman comic book for $115,000. This past week he sold it for a record breaking $1,000,000. The previous high selling price for the same comic was $317,000.  read more »