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The end of bureaucratic American journalism
Thanks to a Tweet from Joi Ito, I discovered that the great Dutch journalist and Japan expert Karel van Wolferen now has a blog. Or “Jottings,” as Van Wolferen calls it. Joi was linking to a jotting about the significance of Sunday’s election, but I quickly found my way to a long, undated essay on “
‘Honey, I’m Heading to the Mall to Pick up Some Health Care’
What the heck is an Aetna outpost doing sandwiched in between Lids and Mrs. Fields Cookies at the mall? Why, it’s trying to sell you health insurance, of course, just like Lids is trying to sell you hats.
The Supermarket Strikes Back
Tired of seeing shoppers migrate to Wal-Mart and Target for buying groceries, traditional supermarkets in southern California like Vons, Ralphs, and Stater Bros. are stepping up with discounts and promotions galore to attract customers.
From the Tobin tax to Buiteruptcy
Economist Willem Buiter has a reaction similar to mine to UK financial regulator Adair Turner’s suggestion that maybe we need a “Tobin tax” on financial transactions to shrink the financial sector down to size:
What problem would a Tobin tax on financial transactions solve? Lord Turner asserts, in an interview with Prospect magazine,
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The Store Brand Taste Test Challenge: They’re as Good as Big-Name Brands
Everybody knows that store brand foods—pasta, canned veggies, cookies, condiments, whatever—are cheaper than the national brands. The assumption is that the national brands taste better. Consumer Reports demonstrates that they don’t.
Cheapskate Wisdom from … Sociologist Andrew Hacker
“Children are the most expensive item in every family’s budget.”
Kaupthinking can be dangerous
Another fun thing I found on John Hempton’s blog. It’s an ad from back in the day for Kaupthing, the once high-flying, now effectively bankrupt Icelandic bank:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31U54cgf_OQ]
The catch-phrase of the first part of the ad—”We can, if we think we can”—is scary enough. Then there’s this bit:
We
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Kids Menus: Healthier Options, and More Options Period
Families just aren’t eating out that much. The number of groups with children visiting restaurants fell 5 percent over the last year, and it’s not because parents have suddenly tired of whisper-shouting and giving the evil eye to kids misbehaving in the booth.
Which Comes First: Financial Security or Baby?
Biological clocks, steady employment and income, and couples’ relationships are ducks that don’t always line up in nice, neat rows. This is especially the case during the recession. The uncertainty of the economy has pushed condom sales up and birth rates down.
What Will a Cheapskate Spend Good Money On? With Author Lauren Weber
Even a cheapskate has to spend money sometimes. I’ve asked various frugal folks—bloggers, writers, money-saving and consumer experts—to compile personal, totally subjective lists of the products, services, experiences, and other “things” they’re willing to shell out good money on. Because sometimes spending more is smarter, and if a …
Is It Better to Be Joe College or Joe the Plumber?
Going to college—the best college possible—used to be a no-brainer. But now, in light of the big loans and bad job prospects recent grads are facing, perhaps the equation has changed.