Stock Making Money

Trevor Ginn runs the online baby and nursery shop Hello Baby. Hello Baby’s first iPhone app, Peek-a-boo Baby Rattle, cost the company $750 and receives 3,000 downloads a week.

Many leading major brands, including Audi, Zippo, Orange and Cadbury, are using branded iPhone apps as a way to reach their target audience. It’s not hard to see why when more than 3 billion apps have been downloaded, and iPhoneclass="blippr-nobr">iPhone users are generally young and affluent. A branded iPhone app is a combination of product and entertainment, but most importantly, it cannot be perceived as advertising. When done right, it’s a great way to not only increase brand awareness but drive direct traffic.

These days, branded apps are not just for big corporations with money to burn. They are well within the reach of every small business. A simple, but effective iPhone app can be launched for as little as $750. Here’s how.

Step 1: Pin Down a Useful Idea

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that your app has to be groundbreaking or fiendishly clever. Develop a simple app that has a real use for your target audience. For example:

• A world clock that converts multiple time zones (for a watch manufacturer or retailer)
• A customized MMS message generator to celebrate special occasions (for a gift store)
• A baby rattle (baby product manufacturer or retailer)

The app need not be revolutionary or unique, but should be visually attractive, easy to use and serve a useful purpose. The iPhone is designed to be simple and intuitive to use, so your app should be too.

Step 2: Write Up a Spec

Writing a specification document will focus your ideas. It is also the blueprint for the app, which is to be given to the development team. The better the initial specification, the more likely it is that the app will be a success. Never assume that a developer is a psychic and will automatically know what you want. A good spec should have the following elements:

• A functional description. Draft a detailed explanation of the functionality of the product. You should detail, for example, the navigation, functions of each screen and what happens when buttons are pressed.
• Diagrams (or “wireframes”) of the screens. This can be done using Google Docsclass="blippr-nobr">Google Docs, Visio or even PowerPoint.
• Style guidelines. To help the designer determine the look and feel, describe the target audience for the app and give examples of designs you admire. Remember, to cut costs, stock images can be cheaply bought from sites like iStockPhotoclass="blippr-nobr">iStockphoto.

Step 3: Find a Developer/Designer

You can usually hire freelancers at a lower cost than an agency. Building an app will require both design and coding skills. You may not be able to find someone who is good at both, so hiring two freelancers is not uncommon.

Sites such as Elance and oDesk allow freelancers to be sourced from all over the world. By posting the spec on one of these sites and asking for quotes, you will receive multiple offers. Create a shortlist and ask these people for examples of work and references before making a choice. Finally, before staring the project, you should agree on a deadline and specific milestones. The freelancers may require an upfront payment before starting, which is normal, but don’t pay more than 50% up front.

Step 4: Design, Build and Test

Once you have selected your team, the project is ready to start. Each project will have three basic stages.

1. Design. The designer will turn the wireframes into a visual design./> 2. Build. The coder will build the app based on the spec using the visuals./> 3. class='blippr-nobr'>Testclass="blippr-nobr">test. Testing should ensure that the functionality detailed in the spec is present and also that the app is robust enough to deal with real users.

Once the work has started, monitor the progress carefully and ask for frequent updates. Always encourage your team to talk directly to each other during the build as this will speed up the development process.

Step 5: Launch It

class='blippr-nobr'>Appsclass="blippr-nobr">Apps are published in the iTunes store through a service called iTunes Connect. Once submitted, an app can take several weeks to be approved and be available for download.

There are numerous press and blog outlets that may be interested in covering the release and features of your app, so use the launch as an opportunity to get some PR for your business. Write a press release and distribute it to:

• Press release distribution sites
• iPhone app directories, review sites and blogs
• Publications in your industry

Also, don’t forget to talk up your app on your company’s own blog, Facebookclass="blippr-nobr">Facebook and Twitterclass="blippr-nobr">Twitter pages.

More App Dev Resources from Mashable:

- 5 Musts for Mobile App Marketing/> - HOW TO: Build an App for Your Small Business/> - Top iPhone Developer Discusses the Future of Media Apps /> - HOW TO: Develop iPhone Apps With Staying Power

Image courtesy of class='blippr-nobr'>Flickrclass="blippr-nobr">Flickr, mzdoherty.

For more Mobile coverage:

class="f-el">class="cov-twit">Follow Mashable Mobileclass="s-el">class="cov-rss">Subscribe to the Mobile channelclass="f-el">class="cov-fb">Become a Fan on Facebookclass="s-el">class="cov-apple">Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

OK, so there’s this Democratic president who’s really good on spending. Meaning, he does it a lot. Among the most ever, in fact.

For more than 18 months he spent like there was no midterm.

He authorized the government takeover of a car company. When in doubt — or not — get the government involved. Something about saving jobs, union jobs.

But now the government’s getting out by selling stock. And it looks to be making money. Which is an unknown thing in government but in private business usually involves getting back more money than was put it. It’s called a profit. He couldn’t bring himself to say the word. But that’s what it is, a profit for taxpayers.

So do you think that profit will be returned to taxpaying shareholders whose money saved the day?

Here’s how that president put it:

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody. Good afternoon. Today, one of the toughest tales of the recession took another big step towards becoming a success story.

General Motors relaunched itself as a public company, cutting the government’s stake in the company by nearly half. What’s more, American taxpayers are now positioned to recover more than my administration invested in GM.

And that’s a very good thing. Last year, we told GM’s management and workers that if they made the tough decisions necessary to make themselves more competitive in the 21st century — decisions requiring real leadership, fresh thinking and also some shared sacrifice –- then we would stand by them.

And because they did, the American auto industry -– an industry that’s been the proud symbol of America’s manufacturing might for a century; an industry that helped to build our middle class -– is once again on the rise.

Our automakers are in the midst of their strongest period of job growth in more than a decade. Since GM and Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy, the industry has created more than 75,000 new jobs. For the first time in six years, Ford, GM and Chrysler are all operating at a profit.

In fact, last week, GM announced its best quarter in over 11 years. And most importantly, American workers are back at the assembly line manufacturing the high-quality, fuel-efficient, American-made cars of tomorrow, capable of going toe to toe with any other manufacturer in the world.

Just two years ago, this seemed impossible. In fact, there were plenty of doubters and naysayers who said it couldn’t be done, who were prepared to throw in the towel and read the American auto industry last rites.

Independent estimates suggested, however, that had we taken that step, had we given up, we would have lost more than 1 million jobs across all 50 states. It would have also resulted in economic chaos, devastating communities across the country and costing governments tens of billions of dollars in additional social safety net benefits and lost revenue. 

That wasn’t an acceptable option –- to throw up our hands and to quit. That’s not what we do. This is a country of optimistic and determined people who don’t give up when times are tough. We do what’s necessary to move forward.

So these last two years haven’t been easy on anybody. They haven’t been without pain or sacrifice, as the tough restructuring of GM reminds us.

And obviously we’ve still got a long road ahead and a lot of work to do -– to rebuild this economy, to put people back to work, to make America more competitive for the future and to secure the American Dream for our children and our grandchildren.

But we are finally beginning to see some of these tough decisions that we made in the midst of crisis pay off. And I’m absolutely confident that we’re going to keep on making progress. I believe we’re going to get through this tougher and stronger than we were before.  Because just as I had faith in the ability of our autoworkers to persevere and succeed, I have faith in the American people’s ability to persevere and succeed. And I have faith that America’s best days and America’s — and American manufacturing’s best days are still ahead of us.

Finally, I just want to embarrass a couple of people. Ron Bloom and Brian Deese are key members of the team that helped to engineer this rescue of GM and Chrysler. So it had not been for these two gentlemen, a whole lot of people might be out of work right now. We are very proud of them and I figured that I’d go ahead — you can see they’re all looking sheepish — point them out to you. So thank you very much, everybody.

(Malcolm is the Top of the Ticket blogger at latimes.com/ticket )

Update (AP): Here’s the clip. The good news? We’ve only lost $4.5 billion on share sales thus far.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

bench craft company

Sen. Rockefeller: FCC should shut down Fox <b>News</b> and MSNBC « Hot Air

You see, Rockefeller says he hungers for quality news and believes that the FCC should play a part in facilitating that end. He believes that without the extremes of Fox News and MSNBC, the American people would have more faith in their ...

Michelle Malkin » Sen. Rockefeller: One-Man Cable <b>News</b> Death Panel

Doesn't Rockefeller have a ton of money with which to develop his own network news operation if he wishes? Why doesn't he deploy his own capital and take the risk associated with free enterprise activities if he believes it is warranted ...

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

bench craft company

Trevor Ginn runs the online baby and nursery shop Hello Baby. Hello Baby’s first iPhone app, Peek-a-boo Baby Rattle, cost the company $750 and receives 3,000 downloads a week.

Many leading major brands, including Audi, Zippo, Orange and Cadbury, are using branded iPhone apps as a way to reach their target audience. It’s not hard to see why when more than 3 billion apps have been downloaded, and iPhoneclass="blippr-nobr">iPhone users are generally young and affluent. A branded iPhone app is a combination of product and entertainment, but most importantly, it cannot be perceived as advertising. When done right, it’s a great way to not only increase brand awareness but drive direct traffic.

These days, branded apps are not just for big corporations with money to burn. They are well within the reach of every small business. A simple, but effective iPhone app can be launched for as little as $750. Here’s how.

Step 1: Pin Down a Useful Idea

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that your app has to be groundbreaking or fiendishly clever. Develop a simple app that has a real use for your target audience. For example:

• A world clock that converts multiple time zones (for a watch manufacturer or retailer)
• A customized MMS message generator to celebrate special occasions (for a gift store)
• A baby rattle (baby product manufacturer or retailer)

The app need not be revolutionary or unique, but should be visually attractive, easy to use and serve a useful purpose. The iPhone is designed to be simple and intuitive to use, so your app should be too.

Step 2: Write Up a Spec

Writing a specification document will focus your ideas. It is also the blueprint for the app, which is to be given to the development team. The better the initial specification, the more likely it is that the app will be a success. Never assume that a developer is a psychic and will automatically know what you want. A good spec should have the following elements:

• A functional description. Draft a detailed explanation of the functionality of the product. You should detail, for example, the navigation, functions of each screen and what happens when buttons are pressed.
• Diagrams (or “wireframes”) of the screens. This can be done using Google Docsclass="blippr-nobr">Google Docs, Visio or even PowerPoint.
• Style guidelines. To help the designer determine the look and feel, describe the target audience for the app and give examples of designs you admire. Remember, to cut costs, stock images can be cheaply bought from sites like iStockPhotoclass="blippr-nobr">iStockphoto.

Step 3: Find a Developer/Designer

You can usually hire freelancers at a lower cost than an agency. Building an app will require both design and coding skills. You may not be able to find someone who is good at both, so hiring two freelancers is not uncommon.

Sites such as Elance and oDesk allow freelancers to be sourced from all over the world. By posting the spec on one of these sites and asking for quotes, you will receive multiple offers. Create a shortlist and ask these people for examples of work and references before making a choice. Finally, before staring the project, you should agree on a deadline and specific milestones. The freelancers may require an upfront payment before starting, which is normal, but don’t pay more than 50% up front.

Step 4: Design, Build and Test

Once you have selected your team, the project is ready to start. Each project will have three basic stages.

1. Design. The designer will turn the wireframes into a visual design./> 2. Build. The coder will build the app based on the spec using the visuals./> 3. class='blippr-nobr'>Testclass="blippr-nobr">test. Testing should ensure that the functionality detailed in the spec is present and also that the app is robust enough to deal with real users.

Once the work has started, monitor the progress carefully and ask for frequent updates. Always encourage your team to talk directly to each other during the build as this will speed up the development process.

Step 5: Launch It

class='blippr-nobr'>Appsclass="blippr-nobr">Apps are published in the iTunes store through a service called iTunes Connect. Once submitted, an app can take several weeks to be approved and be available for download.

There are numerous press and blog outlets that may be interested in covering the release and features of your app, so use the launch as an opportunity to get some PR for your business. Write a press release and distribute it to:

• Press release distribution sites
• iPhone app directories, review sites and blogs
• Publications in your industry

Also, don’t forget to talk up your app on your company’s own blog, Facebookclass="blippr-nobr">Facebook and Twitterclass="blippr-nobr">Twitter pages.

More App Dev Resources from Mashable:

- 5 Musts for Mobile App Marketing/> - HOW TO: Build an App for Your Small Business/> - Top iPhone Developer Discusses the Future of Media Apps /> - HOW TO: Develop iPhone Apps With Staying Power

Image courtesy of class='blippr-nobr'>Flickrclass="blippr-nobr">Flickr, mzdoherty.

For more Mobile coverage:

class="f-el">class="cov-twit">Follow Mashable Mobileclass="s-el">class="cov-rss">Subscribe to the Mobile channelclass="f-el">class="cov-fb">Become a Fan on Facebookclass="s-el">class="cov-apple">Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

OK, so there’s this Democratic president who’s really good on spending. Meaning, he does it a lot. Among the most ever, in fact.

For more than 18 months he spent like there was no midterm.

He authorized the government takeover of a car company. When in doubt — or not — get the government involved. Something about saving jobs, union jobs.

But now the government’s getting out by selling stock. And it looks to be making money. Which is an unknown thing in government but in private business usually involves getting back more money than was put it. It’s called a profit. He couldn’t bring himself to say the word. But that’s what it is, a profit for taxpayers.

So do you think that profit will be returned to taxpaying shareholders whose money saved the day?

Here’s how that president put it:

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody. Good afternoon. Today, one of the toughest tales of the recession took another big step towards becoming a success story.

General Motors relaunched itself as a public company, cutting the government’s stake in the company by nearly half. What’s more, American taxpayers are now positioned to recover more than my administration invested in GM.

And that’s a very good thing. Last year, we told GM’s management and workers that if they made the tough decisions necessary to make themselves more competitive in the 21st century — decisions requiring real leadership, fresh thinking and also some shared sacrifice –- then we would stand by them.

And because they did, the American auto industry -– an industry that’s been the proud symbol of America’s manufacturing might for a century; an industry that helped to build our middle class -– is once again on the rise.

Our automakers are in the midst of their strongest period of job growth in more than a decade. Since GM and Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy, the industry has created more than 75,000 new jobs. For the first time in six years, Ford, GM and Chrysler are all operating at a profit.

In fact, last week, GM announced its best quarter in over 11 years. And most importantly, American workers are back at the assembly line manufacturing the high-quality, fuel-efficient, American-made cars of tomorrow, capable of going toe to toe with any other manufacturer in the world.

Just two years ago, this seemed impossible. In fact, there were plenty of doubters and naysayers who said it couldn’t be done, who were prepared to throw in the towel and read the American auto industry last rites.

Independent estimates suggested, however, that had we taken that step, had we given up, we would have lost more than 1 million jobs across all 50 states. It would have also resulted in economic chaos, devastating communities across the country and costing governments tens of billions of dollars in additional social safety net benefits and lost revenue. 

That wasn’t an acceptable option –- to throw up our hands and to quit. That’s not what we do. This is a country of optimistic and determined people who don’t give up when times are tough. We do what’s necessary to move forward.

So these last two years haven’t been easy on anybody. They haven’t been without pain or sacrifice, as the tough restructuring of GM reminds us.

And obviously we’ve still got a long road ahead and a lot of work to do -– to rebuild this economy, to put people back to work, to make America more competitive for the future and to secure the American Dream for our children and our grandchildren.

But we are finally beginning to see some of these tough decisions that we made in the midst of crisis pay off. And I’m absolutely confident that we’re going to keep on making progress. I believe we’re going to get through this tougher and stronger than we were before.  Because just as I had faith in the ability of our autoworkers to persevere and succeed, I have faith in the American people’s ability to persevere and succeed. And I have faith that America’s best days and America’s — and American manufacturing’s best days are still ahead of us.

Finally, I just want to embarrass a couple of people. Ron Bloom and Brian Deese are key members of the team that helped to engineer this rescue of GM and Chrysler. So it had not been for these two gentlemen, a whole lot of people might be out of work right now. We are very proud of them and I figured that I’d go ahead — you can see they’re all looking sheepish — point them out to you. So thank you very much, everybody.

(Malcolm is the Top of the Ticket blogger at latimes.com/ticket )

Update (AP): Here’s the clip. The good news? We’ve only lost $4.5 billion on share sales thus far.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

bench craft company>

Sen. Rockefeller: FCC should shut down Fox <b>News</b> and MSNBC « Hot Air

You see, Rockefeller says he hungers for quality news and believes that the FCC should play a part in facilitating that end. He believes that without the extremes of Fox News and MSNBC, the American people would have more faith in their ...

Michelle Malkin » Sen. Rockefeller: One-Man Cable <b>News</b> Death Panel

Doesn't Rockefeller have a ton of money with which to develop his own network news operation if he wishes? Why doesn't he deploy his own capital and take the risk associated with free enterprise activities if he believes it is warranted ...

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

bench craft company

bench craft company

bench craft company

Sen. Rockefeller: FCC should shut down Fox <b>News</b> and MSNBC « Hot Air

You see, Rockefeller says he hungers for quality news and believes that the FCC should play a part in facilitating that end. He believes that without the extremes of Fox News and MSNBC, the American people would have more faith in their ...

Michelle Malkin » Sen. Rockefeller: One-Man Cable <b>News</b> Death Panel

Doesn't Rockefeller have a ton of money with which to develop his own network news operation if he wishes? Why doesn't he deploy his own capital and take the risk associated with free enterprise activities if he believes it is warranted ...

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

bench craft company

Trevor Ginn runs the online baby and nursery shop Hello Baby. Hello Baby’s first iPhone app, Peek-a-boo Baby Rattle, cost the company $750 and receives 3,000 downloads a week.

Many leading major brands, including Audi, Zippo, Orange and Cadbury, are using branded iPhone apps as a way to reach their target audience. It’s not hard to see why when more than 3 billion apps have been downloaded, and iPhoneclass="blippr-nobr">iPhone users are generally young and affluent. A branded iPhone app is a combination of product and entertainment, but most importantly, it cannot be perceived as advertising. When done right, it’s a great way to not only increase brand awareness but drive direct traffic.

These days, branded apps are not just for big corporations with money to burn. They are well within the reach of every small business. A simple, but effective iPhone app can be launched for as little as $750. Here’s how.

Step 1: Pin Down a Useful Idea

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that your app has to be groundbreaking or fiendishly clever. Develop a simple app that has a real use for your target audience. For example:

• A world clock that converts multiple time zones (for a watch manufacturer or retailer)
• A customized MMS message generator to celebrate special occasions (for a gift store)
• A baby rattle (baby product manufacturer or retailer)

The app need not be revolutionary or unique, but should be visually attractive, easy to use and serve a useful purpose. The iPhone is designed to be simple and intuitive to use, so your app should be too.

Step 2: Write Up a Spec

Writing a specification document will focus your ideas. It is also the blueprint for the app, which is to be given to the development team. The better the initial specification, the more likely it is that the app will be a success. Never assume that a developer is a psychic and will automatically know what you want. A good spec should have the following elements:

• A functional description. Draft a detailed explanation of the functionality of the product. You should detail, for example, the navigation, functions of each screen and what happens when buttons are pressed.
• Diagrams (or “wireframes”) of the screens. This can be done using Google Docsclass="blippr-nobr">Google Docs, Visio or even PowerPoint.
• Style guidelines. To help the designer determine the look and feel, describe the target audience for the app and give examples of designs you admire. Remember, to cut costs, stock images can be cheaply bought from sites like iStockPhotoclass="blippr-nobr">iStockphoto.

Step 3: Find a Developer/Designer

You can usually hire freelancers at a lower cost than an agency. Building an app will require both design and coding skills. You may not be able to find someone who is good at both, so hiring two freelancers is not uncommon.

Sites such as Elance and oDesk allow freelancers to be sourced from all over the world. By posting the spec on one of these sites and asking for quotes, you will receive multiple offers. Create a shortlist and ask these people for examples of work and references before making a choice. Finally, before staring the project, you should agree on a deadline and specific milestones. The freelancers may require an upfront payment before starting, which is normal, but don’t pay more than 50% up front.

Step 4: Design, Build and Test

Once you have selected your team, the project is ready to start. Each project will have three basic stages.

1. Design. The designer will turn the wireframes into a visual design./> 2. Build. The coder will build the app based on the spec using the visuals./> 3. class='blippr-nobr'>Testclass="blippr-nobr">test. Testing should ensure that the functionality detailed in the spec is present and also that the app is robust enough to deal with real users.

Once the work has started, monitor the progress carefully and ask for frequent updates. Always encourage your team to talk directly to each other during the build as this will speed up the development process.

Step 5: Launch It

class='blippr-nobr'>Appsclass="blippr-nobr">Apps are published in the iTunes store through a service called iTunes Connect. Once submitted, an app can take several weeks to be approved and be available for download.

There are numerous press and blog outlets that may be interested in covering the release and features of your app, so use the launch as an opportunity to get some PR for your business. Write a press release and distribute it to:

• Press release distribution sites
• iPhone app directories, review sites and blogs
• Publications in your industry

Also, don’t forget to talk up your app on your company’s own blog, Facebookclass="blippr-nobr">Facebook and Twitterclass="blippr-nobr">Twitter pages.

More App Dev Resources from Mashable:

- 5 Musts for Mobile App Marketing/> - HOW TO: Build an App for Your Small Business/> - Top iPhone Developer Discusses the Future of Media Apps /> - HOW TO: Develop iPhone Apps With Staying Power

Image courtesy of class='blippr-nobr'>Flickrclass="blippr-nobr">Flickr, mzdoherty.

For more Mobile coverage:

class="f-el">class="cov-twit">Follow Mashable Mobileclass="s-el">class="cov-rss">Subscribe to the Mobile channelclass="f-el">class="cov-fb">Become a Fan on Facebookclass="s-el">class="cov-apple">Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

OK, so there’s this Democratic president who’s really good on spending. Meaning, he does it a lot. Among the most ever, in fact.

For more than 18 months he spent like there was no midterm.

He authorized the government takeover of a car company. When in doubt — or not — get the government involved. Something about saving jobs, union jobs.

But now the government’s getting out by selling stock. And it looks to be making money. Which is an unknown thing in government but in private business usually involves getting back more money than was put it. It’s called a profit. He couldn’t bring himself to say the word. But that’s what it is, a profit for taxpayers.

So do you think that profit will be returned to taxpaying shareholders whose money saved the day?

Here’s how that president put it:

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody. Good afternoon. Today, one of the toughest tales of the recession took another big step towards becoming a success story.

General Motors relaunched itself as a public company, cutting the government’s stake in the company by nearly half. What’s more, American taxpayers are now positioned to recover more than my administration invested in GM.

And that’s a very good thing. Last year, we told GM’s management and workers that if they made the tough decisions necessary to make themselves more competitive in the 21st century — decisions requiring real leadership, fresh thinking and also some shared sacrifice –- then we would stand by them.

And because they did, the American auto industry -– an industry that’s been the proud symbol of America’s manufacturing might for a century; an industry that helped to build our middle class -– is once again on the rise.

Our automakers are in the midst of their strongest period of job growth in more than a decade. Since GM and Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy, the industry has created more than 75,000 new jobs. For the first time in six years, Ford, GM and Chrysler are all operating at a profit.

In fact, last week, GM announced its best quarter in over 11 years. And most importantly, American workers are back at the assembly line manufacturing the high-quality, fuel-efficient, American-made cars of tomorrow, capable of going toe to toe with any other manufacturer in the world.

Just two years ago, this seemed impossible. In fact, there were plenty of doubters and naysayers who said it couldn’t be done, who were prepared to throw in the towel and read the American auto industry last rites.

Independent estimates suggested, however, that had we taken that step, had we given up, we would have lost more than 1 million jobs across all 50 states. It would have also resulted in economic chaos, devastating communities across the country and costing governments tens of billions of dollars in additional social safety net benefits and lost revenue. 

That wasn’t an acceptable option –- to throw up our hands and to quit. That’s not what we do. This is a country of optimistic and determined people who don’t give up when times are tough. We do what’s necessary to move forward.

So these last two years haven’t been easy on anybody. They haven’t been without pain or sacrifice, as the tough restructuring of GM reminds us.

And obviously we’ve still got a long road ahead and a lot of work to do -– to rebuild this economy, to put people back to work, to make America more competitive for the future and to secure the American Dream for our children and our grandchildren.

But we are finally beginning to see some of these tough decisions that we made in the midst of crisis pay off. And I’m absolutely confident that we’re going to keep on making progress. I believe we’re going to get through this tougher and stronger than we were before.  Because just as I had faith in the ability of our autoworkers to persevere and succeed, I have faith in the American people’s ability to persevere and succeed. And I have faith that America’s best days and America’s — and American manufacturing’s best days are still ahead of us.

Finally, I just want to embarrass a couple of people. Ron Bloom and Brian Deese are key members of the team that helped to engineer this rescue of GM and Chrysler. So it had not been for these two gentlemen, a whole lot of people might be out of work right now. We are very proud of them and I figured that I’d go ahead — you can see they’re all looking sheepish — point them out to you. So thank you very much, everybody.

(Malcolm is the Top of the Ticket blogger at latimes.com/ticket )

Update (AP): Here’s the clip. The good news? We’ve only lost $4.5 billion on share sales thus far.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

bench craft company

bench craft company

Sen. Rockefeller: FCC should shut down Fox <b>News</b> and MSNBC « Hot Air

You see, Rockefeller says he hungers for quality news and believes that the FCC should play a part in facilitating that end. He believes that without the extremes of Fox News and MSNBC, the American people would have more faith in their ...

Michelle Malkin » Sen. Rockefeller: One-Man Cable <b>News</b> Death Panel

Doesn't Rockefeller have a ton of money with which to develop his own network news operation if he wishes? Why doesn't he deploy his own capital and take the risk associated with free enterprise activities if he believes it is warranted ...

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

bench craft company

bench craft company

Sen. Rockefeller: FCC should shut down Fox <b>News</b> and MSNBC « Hot Air

You see, Rockefeller says he hungers for quality news and believes that the FCC should play a part in facilitating that end. He believes that without the extremes of Fox News and MSNBC, the American people would have more faith in their ...

Michelle Malkin » Sen. Rockefeller: One-Man Cable <b>News</b> Death Panel

Doesn't Rockefeller have a ton of money with which to develop his own network news operation if he wishes? Why doesn't he deploy his own capital and take the risk associated with free enterprise activities if he believes it is warranted ...

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

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Sen. Rockefeller: FCC should shut down Fox <b>News</b> and MSNBC « Hot Air

You see, Rockefeller says he hungers for quality news and believes that the FCC should play a part in facilitating that end. He believes that without the extremes of Fox News and MSNBC, the American people would have more faith in their ...

Michelle Malkin » Sen. Rockefeller: One-Man Cable <b>News</b> Death Panel

Doesn't Rockefeller have a ton of money with which to develop his own network news operation if he wishes? Why doesn't he deploy his own capital and take the risk associated with free enterprise activities if he believes it is warranted ...

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

bench craft company

Sen. Rockefeller: FCC should shut down Fox <b>News</b> and MSNBC « Hot Air

You see, Rockefeller says he hungers for quality news and believes that the FCC should play a part in facilitating that end. He believes that without the extremes of Fox News and MSNBC, the American people would have more faith in their ...

Michelle Malkin » Sen. Rockefeller: One-Man Cable <b>News</b> Death Panel

Doesn't Rockefeller have a ton of money with which to develop his own network news operation if he wishes? Why doesn't he deploy his own capital and take the risk associated with free enterprise activities if he believes it is warranted ...

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

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Sen. Rockefeller: FCC should shut down Fox <b>News</b> and MSNBC « Hot Air

You see, Rockefeller says he hungers for quality news and believes that the FCC should play a part in facilitating that end. He believes that without the extremes of Fox News and MSNBC, the American people would have more faith in their ...

Michelle Malkin » Sen. Rockefeller: One-Man Cable <b>News</b> Death Panel

Doesn't Rockefeller have a ton of money with which to develop his own network news operation if he wishes? Why doesn't he deploy his own capital and take the risk associated with free enterprise activities if he believes it is warranted ...

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

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