An expose of bad businesses and their unethical practices

It looks like Martha Stewart may have Teflon on more than just her pots.  Although the stock is still significantly lower than it was a year ago, advertising  sales at her eponymous magazine are advancing and shareholder's loyal enough to have stuck with the company through Ms. Stewart's courtroom drama are being rewarded with a 50 cent per share dividend. Wall street is loving it.

The woman who single-handedly made homemaking seem chic is even enjoying expansion into broadcasting via Sirius Satellite radio. In April, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. (Public, NYSE:MSO) made a deal to broaden it's merchandising into Macy's - clearly a step up from discount retailer K-Mart.

It's a fabulous turn-around when one considers that not long ago, with a conviction for lying to the SEC, Ms. Stewart faced a well-publicized stint in prison. Once out, she began an ill-fated and unfortunate attempt at finding a night-time television audience beyond housewives and women enchanted with "good things."

So what it is that's giving this company a second chance? Perhaps it's because the company has gone back to doing what it does well. The magazine is aesthetically attractive, and Ms. Stewart is at her best when she's acting as the arbiter of good taste, rather than calling for heads to role during weekly televised firings. Many would agree that having her "Apprentice" show canned was a favor in disguise.

Martha Stewart Living needed to get back to their core product, that is, selling consumers (mostly women) a do-it-yourself version of an upper-class lifestyle.  It may be naive, but those who aspire to live like Martha Stewart, would prefer not to cloud their fantasies with the tawdry prison-life or nasty boardroom antics.