The title of this post may make some of you suspect that I’m smoking something. How can I think genteel Europe could see public upheaval massive enough to overthrow long-entrenched, democratic regimes, in the way Arab countries have witnessed popular movements upset the political order? Well, maybe the Europeans aren’t ready to storm …
The Tightwad’s Tablet: Finally, a Decent (and Cheaper!) Alternative to the iPad
Apple all but owns the tablet market: More than 80% of the tablets sold are iPads. Will it finally face some legit competition this summer?
Post-Recession Lingo: Need-to-Know Phrases for Today’s Consumers
Adding to the list of post-recession terms such as “unbanked” (individuals without checking or savings accounts), “anti-dowry” (student loan debt holding you back from getting married or buying a house), and “Groupon remorse” …
Protect Yourself Against Harmful Rip-offs
Just in time for summer, a nonprofit environmental watchdog group announces the 2011 Sunscreen Hall of Shame—and that only about one in five sunscreens passes muster for safety and efficacy.
New Tech Bubble? More Like Tech Nation
The eye-popping IPO for Yandex, a Russian search engine few Americans have ever heard of, which managed to raise $1.3 billion on the NASDAQ, is raising more questions about whether we’re in a new tech bubble. So are we? Probably, …
The World’s Worst Credit Cards
What’s in your wallet? Hopefully, not one of these credit cards.
Bailout Wonder: How the Government Turned a Profit on AIG
Remember the basket case that was AIG. The giant insurance company became known for everything that was wrong with Wall Street: unchecked risk-taking; complicated, unregulated derivatives; and, most importantly, huge, unearned bonuses.The cover of TIME carried the headline “AIG = WMD.” In order to save the company the government had to …
It’s a Deal: 4 AMC Theatre Movie Tickets for $24
Group-buying specialist BuyWithMe has a new national promotion, in which $24 buys four Silver Experience tickets—good for a regular movie showing, with 3-D, IMAX, and other premium services costing extra—at AMC Theatres around the country. Tickets must be purchased by May 31, there’s a limit of one four-pack per customer, and …
You’ve Heard of Throwback Jerseys and Retro Clothing. But Old-School Cereal and Vintage Laundry Detergent?
A nostalgic “back to basics” movement has taken root in the world of product marketing, and the result is that everything from soda to fabric softener and Doritos to Ding Dongs now come in vintage-looking packaging with …
Will a Global “Happiness” Index Ever Beat Out GDP?
For several decades, economists have been dancing around the idea that economic growth doesn’t equal happiness. And yet, politicians and the media are constantly using growth rates as the way to assess whether a country is really getting ahead. Why? Because GDP is one of the few economic indicators that everybody measures and …
How Oprah Winfrey Implicitly Endorses Consumerism and Materialism
“For her, transformation is about self-esteem and about buying stuff.”
Bailout Bonus: Chrysler Pays Its Tab to Uncle Sam
There must be a sweet taste of revenge in Motor City these days, what with Chrysler having successfully raised $7.5 billion by selling bonds to Wall Street. Sure, the Fiat-run American automaker had to pay a stiff interest rate, but it did manage to raise money from the same folks who balked at taking a haircut when Chrysler was …
