“Most people get sucked into a habit. Once we pay a certain price a few times, we stop asking questions about whether it’s reasonable and we just assume it’s the right amount.”
Are we ignoring the real causes of the financial crisis?
Oops. I forgot to link to this Q&A with University of Chicago economist Raghuram Rajan on Time.com when it went up. Here is it now.
Rajan made a big splash at Jackson Hole back in 2005 when he stood up in front of a room full of prominent economic policy makers and gave a speech about all the risk that was building up in the financial …
Cheapskate Wisdom from … Comedian Mark Normand
“Most bars serve at least one canned beer. Just find out what it is and bring it in yourself.”
Why You Shouldn’t Buy a Cell Phone Directly from a Wireless Provider
Handsets are often way cheaper when purchased at big-box retailers like Wal-Mart or Best Buy, or from online giant Amazon.
Moody’s CEO gives himself a performance review and decides he’s doing an OK job
Yesterday I went to the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission‘s hearing on ratings companies.* My story is supposed to go up on Time.com later today. (UPDATE: here it is now.) In the meantime, I’d like to share the most absurd moment from yesterday’s hearing.
One line of questioning revolved around how managers are compensated at Moody’s. …
The New Math on Wireless Plans: Bad News for iPhone ‘Data Pigs’
AT&T is getting rid of unlimited data plans, meaning—the horror!—people with iPhones and iPads might actually have to monitor usage.
It’s a Deal: Free Donuts on Friday, June 4
Friday, June 4, is National Donut Day, when Krispy Kreme is giving out free donuts (no purchase required) and Dunkin’ Donuts’ customers also get a freebie (with the purchase of any beverage).
The Gray Line Between Unemployment and Involuntary Entrepreneurship
Guess what? If you’re a freelancer or are otherwise self-employed, with no paid vacation, no 401(k) match, and no regular work schedule or salary, in certain circles you’re considered an entrepreneur—the same as somebody boldly starting up a business from scratch. And guess what? The number of “entrepreneurs” rose last year, especially …
Why Everybody Hates ‘Sex and the City 2’ So Much
It was made as if the Great Recession never occurred, and therefore seems badly out of touch, celebrating luxury, fashion, and materialism like the series has always done. Also, there’s the possibility it’s just a really bad movie.
Cheapskate Wisdom about … Whether a College Education Is Worth the Money
“One needn’t necessarily be a liberal-arts graduate to regard as distinctly and speciously utilitarian the idea that higher education is, above all, a route to economic advancement.”
It’s a Deal: 50% Off and Free Shipping at Coldwater Creek
Use the coupon code WHH9216 to get 50% off online orders from Coldwater Creek, with free shipping and no minimum order requirements. The code is valid through June 6.
Is BP’s stock a buy?
It’s a long held mantra on Wall Street to buy straw hats in winter. The notion is that you should buy the shares of a company when no body wants them, or when things look their worst. Buy at the low. So based on that logic here’s the question: Is BP’s stock a buy? That’s the case that Felix Salmon makes on his Reuters blog:
Did the
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