Monday, May 20, 2013

Rise of the Machines

Written by
Ted Craig
on
May 16, 2013

I'm late posting this blog because we had trouble connecting to our own website using the computers at our office. Yesterday, I went to pick up some dry cleaning and their computers were down. They said I was lucky my order was easy to find, otherwise it would have been a long wait.

Sometimes dealing with technology becomes frustrating. Of course, in the old days, you wouldn't even be reading this blog, so I guess I can't complain too much.

Just Turn Your Pretty Head and Walk Away

Written by
Ted Craig
on
May 15, 2013

Oh, I was fired up this morning. I came across plenty of ignorance about the Tesla issue, including Duke's Mike Munger blovating again (he's very proud of his ignorarnt display). I was ready to rant and shake my fist. Then I realized it would have little effect on the outside world. We all understand the reality behind protecting franchise laws, just as we understand the way buy-here, pay-here really works. But other people only know the little they want to know. Sometimes, you just have to walk away.

Money Begets Money

Written by
Ted Craig
on
May 14, 2013

Yesterday's Wall Street Journal had two articles that told you all you need to know about the state of the economy. One reported how IPOs are set to raise the most cash since before the crisis. The other was about the TV upfronts, explaining that networks invested in about 100 pilots this year, a much larger amount than the past few years.

The spigots are opening. The more money flowing around, the more people and companies spend and invest. The more people spend and invest, the more money is generated.

Notice this is all happening despite the increase in the payroll tax. I argue that nobody noticed when it went down and nobody noticed when it went up. That's why behavioral economics don't work: people don't pay attention. Thankfully.

The First Law of Finance

Written by
Ted Craig
on
May 08, 2013

My younger daughter is a saver and my older daughter is a spender. The other day, the 8-year-old came to me and complained the 16-year-old had "borrowed" money from her and now she had none. I asked her, "How did you expect your sister, who never has any money, to pay you back?" She couldn't give me an answer. And that's how she learned the first law of finance: Never lend out money unless you have a plan to collect it.

Random Thoughts on Cars and Carmakers

Written by
Ted Craig
on
May 05, 2013

Some random thoughts on car makers and their products: The three segments Chrysler depends on are trucks, SUVs and minivans. Three segments that Europeans don't get are trucks, SUVs and minivans. Yet, Europeans have tried to run the company for most of the past 15 years. Toyota is starting to seem more like GM, with Lexus as the new Buick. Finally, crossovers are minivans for people who don't want to admit they drive minivans.


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