The Force.com platform takes common database mistakes and automatically fixes them without any effort by the user. One of the most exciting issues being addressed is that Force.com includes analytics and integration for databases, meaning the database can be used for things other than simply storing apps. To see the other four database mistakes being eliminated by Force.com, read the link below:

• 5 Common Database Mistakes the Force.com Platform Eliminates

Netflix has become the next big mainstream company to use a public cloud infrastructure. It moved its API to Amazon Web Services. The following article includes an informative slide show on why Netflix chose to move to the cloud, what the benefits are, what they’ve learned, and more. Since Netflix is a high-profile name to choose the cloud over their own data center, there are a lot of interesting lessons to be learned. Read the link below to learn more:

• Netflix Gains Significantly by Moving its API to the Cloud

We thought you might be interested in an event called Rocked the Recession. This two-day conference is bringing together entrepreneurs, professionals, and organizations who are thriving during the recession. The speaker and workshop lineup is filled with successful Chicago entrepreneurs and thought leaders. To find out more on what the conference is all about, check out the link below:

• Rock The Recession in 10 days: Get Tickets Now

A potential “next big thing” is emerging. “Big Data” is starting to generate some buzz. Defined within the article as, “an umbrella term that signifies the democratization of access to storage and analysis of large data sets,” it stands to change the way we look at data. With access to such large sets of data, there are a lot of areas that can use this information to make predictions, track epidemics, and so on. To read more about what you can do with Big Data, and where to find it, read the link below:

• Is Big Data the Next Big Thing?

If you’ve wondered whether IT decision makers see the cloud as a threat or an opportunity, look no further. In a survey of IT decision makers, many of whom are considered conservative, 9 in every 10 see the cloud as an opportunity rather than a threat. Their reasoning behind the thought is the cloud gives the opportunity to reduce IT infrastructure costs and manage peaks and troughs in system usage. To read more about why IT decision makers are excited rather than threatened by the cloud, read the link below:

• 9 in 10 See Cloud as Opportunity, Not Threat

Groupon started in Chicago. Watching it grow into a company that is potentially being bought for 6 billion dollars by Google has been exciting. By offering such a large sum for the company, Google is betting on the fact that local advertising on the web and the rise of social behavior online are two trends that are here to stay. Because Google doesn’t have any arms of their business in either of these Internet movements, it makes sense Groupon would be their next huge purchase. To read more about the potential Groupon acquisition, read the link below:

• Google Wants Groupon Because Social Ads Are the Future

We hope someone at Google noticed this Groupon earlier in the week before it expired. Looks like a pretty solid bargain:

• Google Should Use This Groupon for Groupon [Humor]