Not A Mystery
Rant
What Does A Verizon Moment Feel Like?
Talk about being “in the zone”. The final episode of Mad Men (Season 1) shows Don Draper coining the word Carousel for the gizmo that holds the slides on Kodak’s slide projector. And creating the Kodak Moment campaign to sell memories instead of hardware. Which got me thinking about what could top this bit of … Continue reading
Missing Front License Plates, With Just A Tad Of Respectability
The careful observer will have noted that the Bentley we saw in Santa Barbara last week was not sporting a front license plate. Wassup with that? My (protected) sources tell me that this is a (well known) trick used to disguise cars in case they are photographed by a traffic camera. The risk of spending $25 … Continue reading
Supersized Seats, Coming To A Theater Near You
What do theatre owners and airline executives have in common? Nothing. Well, actually they do both provide their services to seated customers, which should imply some sort of similarity. But in practice nothing of the sort. While the airlines constantly shrink their seats and services, theatre owners at least have a different take on customer … Continue reading
If You Can’t Trust Big Box Anymore, Who Can You Trust?
We all know that Big Government, Big Oil, Big Tobacco and Big Bank cannot be trusted. But I’ve always thought I could trust Big Box. Not any more. Up until now I had written off ever-shrinking product packaging evilness to manufacturer’s greed. You know, charge the same price but put less ‘stuff’ in the box. … Continue reading
Volcker Rule Gives Investment Banks A “Woodie”
The US Congress is getting close to passing new financial regulation, attempting to rein in our friends on Wall Street. Pending legislation would limit Investment Banks’ ability to trade for their own accounts, and effectively bar them from trading derivatives. The bankers are pushing back. Surprised? The big banks argue that the Volcker proposal is … Continue reading
Guess What, ATT Is The New Material Girl
Last week we noted ATT’s whining about a $1 billion [non-cash] charge they were being forced to take because of Obamacare. In fact the new law just eliminated a 7-year old scam allowing them to ‘double-dip’ by taking a tax deduction on healthcare premiums that were actually being paid (for them) by the government. A … Continue reading
Respect For The US Senate, Now An Oxymoron
As we approach April 15th., otherwise known as Tax Day, it’s time once again to mention the staggering corruption of the US Senate, the world’s ‘greatest deliberative body’. For well over three years (!) there has been an attempt to get rid of a loophole in the tax code granting hedge fund managers a lower … Continue reading
There Should Be A Term For Corporate Schadenfreude
Schadenfreude is a kind of personal term. It’s what you feel when someone like Eliot Spitzer stumbles. But how do I feel when an entire industry gets what it deserves? Today the UK Guardian reported that, Vodafone boss Vittorio Colao has warned mobile phone executives about Google’s growing power in the online advertising and search market, … Continue reading
Room With A View, And Then Some
Whenever I check into a hotel I play “Pretend”. I imagine that the hotel’s owners and employees are all on my team, and we are working together to ensure that I experience a great room and a wonderful ‘stay’ experience. Of course this fits the common definition of insanity, where you do the same thing over and … Continue reading
Betting Against The House Is Never Smart
Just when it looked like the financial system is coming back under control I discover that the term “Large Sophisticated Investor” is an oxymoron. When you gamble with the Big Dogs, normal practice is that you have to show your stake and throw some money into the pot before each hand. It’s exactly the same thing … Continue reading
Is That A Pistol In Your Pocket, Or Are You Just Glad To See Me?
Mae West was known for her bawdy quips, such as that famous Pocket Pistol quote. She made this remark in February 1936, at the railway station in Los Angeles upon her return from Chicago, when a Los Angeles police officer was assigned to escort her home. She first delivered the line on film in She … Continue reading
Just Another Mystery
- Weaving A Different Kind of Necklace
- Jumping into Spring
- The Art of Using Natures Bounty to Dye Cloth
- A Shibori Stitched and Felted Wrap
- Faux Fur, Vogue and Verve
- The Perfect Dance, Part 2
- The Perfect Dance
- The Vest That Mysteriously Turned Into A Purse
- Vintage Kimono Baby Booties
- Zipper, Keys, and a Linen Belt Buckle
Sterling Jewelry & Gifts
Not A Mystery 