Don’t feel bad for Knicks’ sensation Jeremy Lin just because he played poorly in the team’s Thursday night loss to LeBron James and the Miami Heat. Lin will be the most discussed player during the NBA All-Star weekend in Orlando, …
Odd Spending
Casino’s ‘Fat Tuesday’ Promotion Rewards Overweight Gamblers by the Pound
We hear a lot about the high costs of being overweight—that, for instance, obesity adds $150 billion to our annual health care costs. Yesterday, though, at a casino in Florida, there was a financial bonus for being heavy: …
The Redboxification of the American Shopping Experience
What will the vending machines of the future look like? What’ll they sell? Perhaps the question should be: What won’t they sell? Coinstar, the company that owns DVD kiosk giant Redbox, is testing out new machines that’ll sell …
Ohio School Uses Gift Cards to Bribe Kids to Attend Class
If you’re one those people who thinks kids today have it easy — maybe you had to walk uphill to school, both ways, in the snow — well, this is going to sound like another step towards societal decay: Students at one high school in Ohio are rewarded with Visa gift cards just for showing up.
Top 10 Celebrity Bankruptcies
Hottest Must-Have $300 Accessory on the Ski Slopes: Helmet Cam
If you’ve been skiing lately, you’ve probably noticed odd metallic boxes protruding from the helmets of skiers and riders tearing down the slopes. The devices aren’t designed to make skiing or boarding easier, or even more fun. …
The Secret to Memorable Vacations: Keep ’Em Short and End ’Em Sweet
In an earlier post we described research showing that people get more long-lasting satisfaction from money spent on experiences than money spent on material goods. If you read that post and took it to heart — humor us — an …
Bad Drivers May Be Asked to Pay More For Homeowners Insurance
The burgeoning business of predicting risk is a sprawling and sometimes intrusive one. Some insurers and even employers use credit reporting data to try and gauge if a person will be a careful driver, or a dependable worker. A …
Plastic Surgery as Economic Indicator
Most plastic surgery procedures are considered non-essential, or elective—as in, the patient can elect to have work done, just don’t expect health insurance to cover it. Or as in: When the economy’s shaky and money is tight, it …
The ‘Linsanity’ Effect: NY Knicks’ Guard Jeremy Lin’s Surprise Success Leads to Sold-Out Arenas, Jerseys
The phenomenon of undrafted Harvard grad and previous NBA benchwarmer Jeremy Lin is translating into serious money, as Knicks’ ticket prices soar and stores can’t keep up with demand for Lin jerseys and “Linsanity” merchandise.
Pizza Hut Valentine’s Day Special: Pizza Selling for $10,010*
*The deal also includes flowers, limo service, fireworks, a videographer, photographer, and a red ruby ring—that you’re supposed to propose with. Whether you propose before or after eating pizza, breadsticks, and cinnamon …
Deep-Fried Romance: Candlelit Valentine’s Day Dinners at Waffle House, White Castle
The Waffle House and White Castle are each well-known for a few things. One is famous for hash browns that are “scattered and smothered,” the other sells sliders in 30-pack “Crave Cases.” One is proudly beloved by rednecks and …
