The Googleteer(tm) and William Hung
Our capped (yes "capped") crusader really came through with this search:
"william hung" and "15 minutes of fame"
about 2,380 hits
Google Search: "william hung" "15 minutes of fame"
Thursday, April 15, 2004
New Bootnewt sing-alongs
Newt is long gone, but the Boot-Newt sing-along page continues to be updated with songs even Al Franken would be proud of.
Recent additions include "Richard Clarke Shut up" (sung to the tune of "Start Me Up" and "Condi" sung (of course) to the tune of "Wendy".
The Boot Newt Sing Along Page - Over 2,000 Political Song Parodies
Newt is long gone, but the Boot-Newt sing-along page continues to be updated with songs even Al Franken would be proud of.
Recent additions include "Richard Clarke Shut up" (sung to the tune of "Start Me Up" and "Condi" sung (of course) to the tune of "Wendy".
The Boot Newt Sing Along Page - Over 2,000 Political Song Parodies
Citigroup posts $5.27 BILLION in QUARTERLY Profit
The same company that has lobbyists permanently squatting in the halls of Congress lobbying for creditor-friendly bankruptcy law changes just posted $5.27 BILLION in profits for one quarter. By my dead reckoning, this makes the company as profitable as the entire global auto industry put together.
Look at another way - the same day, Apple Computer posted $46 million in profits. This makes Citifinancial 115 times as profitable as Apple Computer.
In addition to making megabucks off of high interest rate credit cards in a low interest rate environment, Citigroup has now digested Associates Financial and is making megadollars off of home mortgages that some would call predatory.
Still, if Citigroup's lobbyists have it their way, thousands of working Americans who get behind on Citigroup's credit cards will be turned into defacto indentured servants and prevented from obtaining a fresh start in bankruptcy. That's America folks.
The New York Times > Business > Citigroup Tops Expections With $5.27 Billion in Earnings
The same company that has lobbyists permanently squatting in the halls of Congress lobbying for creditor-friendly bankruptcy law changes just posted $5.27 BILLION in profits for one quarter. By my dead reckoning, this makes the company as profitable as the entire global auto industry put together.
Look at another way - the same day, Apple Computer posted $46 million in profits. This makes Citifinancial 115 times as profitable as Apple Computer.
In addition to making megabucks off of high interest rate credit cards in a low interest rate environment, Citigroup has now digested Associates Financial and is making megadollars off of home mortgages that some would call predatory.
Still, if Citigroup's lobbyists have it their way, thousands of working Americans who get behind on Citigroup's credit cards will be turned into defacto indentured servants and prevented from obtaining a fresh start in bankruptcy. That's America folks.
The New York Times > Business > Citigroup Tops Expections With $5.27 Billion in Earnings
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Cartrivision - Check out Home Video circa 1972!
Cartrivision - The First VCR with Prerecorded Sale/Rental Tapes in 1972
Cartrivision - The First VCR with Prerecorded Sale/Rental Tapes in 1972
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
From the "More than I wanted to hear" file
Jay Leno writing in his Popular Mechanics column about his 1955 Buick that was just restored with a new 620 horsepower engine, a Corvette suspension and other upgrades:
To me, this car is significant. It was what I drove when my wife, Mavis, and I first dated. We went to a secluded spot, and all the normal things happened, and it was great. Then we got married. Years later, we said, "Why don't we try to re-create that special moment?"
He goes on, but do you really want to hear it?
FYI, this car was also featured in Autoweek.
Jay Leno's Garage: Building A Better Buick
Jay Leno writing in his Popular Mechanics column about his 1955 Buick that was just restored with a new 620 horsepower engine, a Corvette suspension and other upgrades:
To me, this car is significant. It was what I drove when my wife, Mavis, and I first dated. We went to a secluded spot, and all the normal things happened, and it was great. Then we got married. Years later, we said, "Why don't we try to re-create that special moment?"
He goes on, but do you really want to hear it?
FYI, this car was also featured in Autoweek.
Jay Leno's Garage: Building A Better Buick
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
Waa Waa Recorded Music sales slump 7.6%
The recording industry announced that the sales of recorded music sunk 7.6% last year. Naturally they attriute it to file traders. The real culprit is in the next office over, at the video divisions of the same conglomerates that control the record industry. DVD sales were up 45% last year, a $3 billion jump. The recorded music drop was just $.2 billion.
When I go to Best Buy with $25.00 in my pocket, I have to decide to buy a DVD or a couple CDs. I'm going to go with the DVD every time.
(Actually, I try to buy them pre-viewed at Blockbuster at 2 for $20.00.)
Maybe if the recorded music industry took a look at the sorry state of radio, they'd realize that nobody is buying music because nobody is hearing music.
CNN.com - Music slump: 'Worst may be over'? - Apr 7, 2004
The recording industry announced that the sales of recorded music sunk 7.6% last year. Naturally they attriute it to file traders. The real culprit is in the next office over, at the video divisions of the same conglomerates that control the record industry. DVD sales were up 45% last year, a $3 billion jump. The recorded music drop was just $.2 billion.
When I go to Best Buy with $25.00 in my pocket, I have to decide to buy a DVD or a couple CDs. I'm going to go with the DVD every time.
(Actually, I try to buy them pre-viewed at Blockbuster at 2 for $20.00.)
Maybe if the recorded music industry took a look at the sorry state of radio, they'd realize that nobody is buying music because nobody is hearing music.
CNN.com - Music slump: 'Worst may be over'? - Apr 7, 2004
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Credit Counselors get Raked over the Coals in Congress
While I was away, Congress held hearings on abuses in the credit counseling industry. (This is the same congress that wants to push consumers into the clutches of credit counselors through the new bankruptcy bill - but I digress.) Anyway, the head of Ameridebt took Fifth. The head of Cambridge Credit Counseling, Inc., John Puccio begged off testifying, claiming to have had a stroke. This is the same guy who made a $624,000 salary as the head of a "not-for-profit" credit counseling company in addition to the money he made from other related and non-related entities. In separate news, the Massachusetts Attorney General has Cambridge in his sights. I'll prepare a link when one is available
Credit Counseling Riddled With Fast-Buck Promoters, Congress Finds
While I was away, Congress held hearings on abuses in the credit counseling industry. (This is the same congress that wants to push consumers into the clutches of credit counselors through the new bankruptcy bill - but I digress.) Anyway, the head of Ameridebt took Fifth. The head of Cambridge Credit Counseling, Inc., John Puccio begged off testifying, claiming to have had a stroke. This is the same guy who made a $624,000 salary as the head of a "not-for-profit" credit counseling company in addition to the money he made from other related and non-related entities. In separate news, the Massachusetts Attorney General has Cambridge in his sights. I'll prepare a link when one is available
Credit Counseling Riddled With Fast-Buck Promoters, Congress Finds
Bottom Feeders Settle FTC Charges
In the FDCPA consumer bar, debt collection companies that buy charged off debt are called "bottom feeders". They are notorious for threatening suit and negative credit reporting in cases where suits are barred by the statute of limitations and credit reporting is barred by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Two of the biggest buyers of charged off debt just settled with the FTC, Camco and AM Financial.
They'll be back in one form or another.
Debt Buyer/Debt Collection Companies and Their Principals Settle FTC Charges
In the FDCPA consumer bar, debt collection companies that buy charged off debt are called "bottom feeders". They are notorious for threatening suit and negative credit reporting in cases where suits are barred by the statute of limitations and credit reporting is barred by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Two of the biggest buyers of charged off debt just settled with the FTC, Camco and AM Financial.
They'll be back in one form or another.
Debt Buyer/Debt Collection Companies and Their Principals Settle FTC Charges
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
