Lehman meltdown

Paul Krugman in today's NYT: Financial Russian Roulette. I say, fuck Lehman. It will most likely suck for everybody when the consequences are felt, but I and my offspring shouldn't be on the hook for the failure of a few assholes and their poor business practices.

"...if institutions need to be rescued like banks, they should be regulated like banks — why were we so unprepared for this latest shock?"

Taxpayers aren't an insurance policy; that's what the FDIC is for.

Posted on September 15, 2008 2:21 PM | link to this entry

Slow Food Trends

This article in the NYT, about the slow food movement, brings up a fascinating new trend: people are hiring gardeners to plant, maintain, and harvest a garden in their backyard. Have we become this lazy as a society?

Posted on July 23, 2008 8:47 AM | link to this entry

Gas mileage savings calculator

According to this gas mileage savings calculator, I would not save any money trading in my Jeep for a Honda Fit. Well, duh.

Posted on July 11, 2008 12:24 AM | link to this entry

Maryland Tech Tax Repealed

I didn't see this back on the 5th, but the Maryland tech tax was repealed. Halleleujah, amen.

Posted on April 15, 2008 8:02 PM | link to this entry

BoA to buy Countrywide

Is it just me, or does anyone else who has money deposited with Bank of America get nervous when reading this headline? It could be that they're just shoring up a bad investment, or making a smart one for the future. personally, I can't help thinking of A Night To Remember when I think of Countrywide.

Posted on January 11, 2008 4:15 PM | link to this entry

McDonald's Takes on Starbucks.

McDonald's is going to make Cappuccino. The employees at the McD's down the street can't make a smile successfully; I don't think they're going to compete with a real barista. Sorry, I'm a coffee snob: Anyone who chooses to drink the excrement made at a McDonald's deserves to pay any markup they'll charge. Me? I'll pay for good beans and brew it myself.

Posted on January 7, 2008 11:30 PM | link to this entry

Earth911

Hey, this is sweet. From Lifehacker, a handy site which has a searchable list of recycling options, from christmas trees to computer equipment. Be careful about the big-box stores taking computer equipment, though—we've had some disappointing experience.

Posted on January 2, 2008 3:56 PM | link to this entry

The Consumer's Guide to Fighting Back.

The Consumerist has posted an uber-directory of helpful steps and links in a Guide to Fighting Back, for those times when big companies have done you wrong. I don't like to think about it, but someday I will need this list.

Posted on October 30, 2007 8:53 AM | link to this entry

Baltimore Housing Slump

For Baltimore, Housing Slump Slows a Revival, from the NY Times. Bottom line: It's slowed, and there are a lot of unsold houses on the market, but there are a lot of local businesses still fueling growth.

Posted on October 4, 2007 3:06 PM | link to this entry

Credit Freeze information

File this one under "What-if:" TransUnion is now offering credit freezes immediately for a fee of $10. The way I understand it, a credit freeze blocks access to one's credit report and score, making it impossible for an identity thief to open accounts in someone else's name. The other two credit rating companies have not changed their policies yet. Here's a page with info for each state, and here's the Maryland information. (via)

Posted on September 20, 2007 9:18 AM | link to this entry

Kodak DC3400 Legacy Support

This is a link to Kodak's legacy support page for the DC3400. At some point, I'd like to hook this up to an old iMac and set it up to take time-lapse photos with Boinx iStopmotion.

Posted on February 20, 2007 1:46 PM | link to this entry

Tax Tips for the Self-Employed

via kottke, here are a dozen tax-saving tips for the self-employed. We're meeting with our tax pro this week, and some of these questions were already on our list.

Posted on February 12, 2007 8:52 PM | link to this entry

Senator Theatre in Foreclosure.

Sad news from Mobtown: Historic Senator Theatre to be sold at auction. "Tom Kiefaber, the Senator's owner, acknowledged yesterday that he is $90,000 in arrears on a $1.2 million mortgage he took out on the 900-seat theater five years ago."

I'm as guilty as anyone else for not having seen a movie up there in years. This is awful news.

Posted on February 6, 2007 1:15 PM | link to this entry

Opt-Out Links

Here's a handy list of opt-out links from Lifehacker, via the NYT. The credit card opt-out link is worth the price of admission alone.

Posted on January 23, 2007 11:09 AM | link to this entry

Kill-A-Watt

This little gadget plugs into a wall socket and displays just how much power any appliance or electrical device pulls when turned on. I'd buy this for the sheer geekery of it. (via)

Posted on December 21, 2006 2:23 PM | link to this entry

CarMD

Hmm, this is pretty cool. CarMD is a little gadget that plugs into your car's computer and diagnoses any problems it may have, along with estimates for repairs. Pretty slick.

Posted on December 15, 2006 10:46 AM | link to this entry

Peapod Rules

Peapod, how do I love thee? More ways than can be counted, especially when work is coming fast and furious, and I have barely enough time to dress myself let alone grocery shop. A nice man with a wide smile just dropped off a weeks' worth of groceries, and shopping took all of 15 minutes. The internet is awesome.

Posted on December 7, 2006 3:18 PM | link to this entry

Eyeglass Stores are for Suckers

Eyeglass stores are for suckers. This guy buys a pair of prescription glasses online for $81, and says they fit perfectly. Be sure to read the response and reply from an optometrist, which is a hoot. I'm considering this seriously—my last glasses cost about $350 total.

Posted on November 28, 2006 12:14 PM | link to this entry

10 Geek Business Myths

10 Geek Business Myths for startups. Good information here. (via)

Posted on October 2, 2006 2:28 PM | link to this entry

Long-Term Capital Management.

I love Wikipedia. Doing a Google search on an unrelated topic, I found this article, and I think I almost understand it.

Posted on September 27, 2006 9:33 PM | link to this entry

Motorcycle Research

I saw a ton of Kawasaki KLRs in San Francisco when I was out there, and remembered that a friend recommended it. I like the idea of a 60-MPG bike that works well on and off road, with lower insurance rates. An old aircooled BMW would look cool, but this is a practical ride.

Posted on September 17, 2006 3:37 PM | link to this entry

What Patents Cost.

This page gives an idea of how much patents cost, along with a pile of other good information about copyright and trademark. (via)

Posted on August 25, 2006 9:49 AM | link to this entry

HOWTO: Change brake pads.

HOWTO: Change your own brake pads. Not for the mechanically uninclined.

Posted on August 23, 2006 10:29 AM | link to this entry

Flood Insurance.

The End Times Are Upon Us, Insurance Division. Run, people, run away from Louisiana. The fact that this one judge will be hearing the bulk of the Katrina insurance cases bodes poorly for normal folks trying to rebuild.

Posted on August 15, 2006 4:22 PM | link to this entry

Freelance Rate Formula.

Freelance Rate Formula.
Having just sweated through a large proposal, I was having a hard time justifying my pricing. Until I read this article, when I got a reality check. Excellent reading.

Posted on May 4, 2006 10:20 AM | link to this entry

Zillow.com

Zillow.com
Instant real estate evaluations, based on some proprietary calculations and public data. Yikes! (via)

Posted on April 24, 2006 3:13 PM | link to this entry

Overvalued.

Overvalued.
A new daily fix, about houses that are way overpriced in markets that are way overvalued. Good times.

Posted on April 3, 2006 6:12 PM | link to this entry

Winged Cars.

Winged Cars.
More specifically, the RoadRunner/Charger winged race cars of '69-70. You may call them ugly, outlandish freaks (and the inspiration for a million winged rice rockets of the current day) but I find the subject fascinating. Also, check out Cars in Barns.

Posted on March 20, 2006 8:39 AM | link to this entry

Double Bass Links.

Double Bass Links. Someday, when i have a lot of money and some free time, I'm going to buy me an upright bass. Until then, this fellow has what could be called the largest pile of upright bass links on the internet.

Posted on March 16, 2006 11:04 PM | link to this entry

Saying No To Wal-Mart.

Saying No To Wal-Mart.
Everybody and their grandmother has linked to this, but it's a great story. The plastic chairs thing is a fascinating touch, and I wonder what it's supposed to convey to the vendors—humiliation or humility?

Posted on January 20, 2006 8:59 AM | link to this entry

Consumerist.

Consumerist.
From the folks who brought you Gawker. Horror stories about buying stuff.

Posted on December 7, 2005 4:58 PM | link to this entry

State Salvage.

State Salvage.
More weird stuff than you can shake a stick at. And it's next to the prison!

Posted on December 7, 2005 1:14 PM | link to this entry

Electronics Recycling

Electronics Recycling Oct. 22
Baltimore County recycling. I have an iMac and a pair of monitors that need to be disposed of properly.

Posted on October 17, 2005 4:20 PM | link to this entry

Crib Candy

Crib Candy
Just in time for me to not be able to afford any of it. Nice stuff, tho.

Posted on October 10, 2005 11:57 PM | link to this entry

Cool Stuff.

Cool Stuff.
There's all kinds of wacky stuff in here I'd buy. (via)

Posted on September 5, 2005 9:06 PM | link to this entry

Gas Station Prices.

Gas Station Prices.
MSN trying to out-Google Google. Still, it looks kind of handy... Update: doesn't work in Safari, naturally.

Posted on September 1, 2005 1:39 PM | link to this entry

Gulp.

Gulp.
Wow. I had no idea about this. I's a good thing we're nuking our credit card debt this month. (via)

Posted on August 26, 2005 4:36 PM | link to this entry