Jun
24
$11-a-pack cigarettes
June 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment
It's not a good time to be a smoker. New York City smokers already pay the highest cigarette taxes in the nation, but a new state law will push those taxes even higher this summer. The state legislature approved a bill adding a state tax of $1.60 to every pack sold, effective July 1. The [...]
Jun
24
YouTube wins Viacom battle
June 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment
After a three year war, Google triumphed over Viacom on Wednesday as a federal court ruled that Google's YouTube subsidiary is not liable for its users' copyright infringements. A U.S. district court in New York ruled that YouTube is covered by a "safe harbor" clause in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which protects service providers [...]
Jun
18
Mexico invests in more U.S. brands
June 18, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Huge Mexican corporations are snapping up U.S. brand names, opening U.S. factories and investing millions north of the border. Everything from Thomas' English Muffins to Borden milk, even Saks Fifth Avenue department stores. Mexican investors are taking advantage of low interest rates and depressed prices during the economic downturn to expand their holdings in the [...]
Jun
13
Wendy's/Arby's shares rise on takeover inquiry
June 13, 2010 | Leave a Comment
The Wendy's/Arby's Group Chairman said he's reviewing an overture from an unnamed group interested in acquiring the fast-food company. The disclosure sent shares up 31 cents, or 7.1%, to $4.65 Friday. There are few details about the inquiry, but the deal could include his participation and he said that he would work with financial advisers [...]
Jun
11
BP stock: Buy or sell?
June 11, 2010 | Leave a Comment
BP's stock has been gushing like the well itself and with BP's stock down almost 50%, or almost $90 billion since the April 20 rig disaster, is it time to buy or sell? There are still many unknowable, unquantifiable facts surrounding BP and the oil spill, so one thought is that now isn't the time [...]
Jun
8
How to Afford Anything
June 8, 2010 | Leave a Comment
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/how-to-afford-anything.htm The point here is that you shouldn't skimp on the items you really want. In his cases nice cars and cameras, just so you can have a decent house and a new mid-size car. The difference is frugal vs cheap. I'm thinking about this as I contemplate a $2700 treadmill and $1000 TV for [...]
Jun
4
McDonald's is recalling 12 million drinking glasses that it was selling to promote the new Shrek movie. The problem? The painted designs on the U.S made glasses contain the toxic metal cadmium. The U.S. CPSC announced the voluntary recall on Friday and warned consumers to immediately stop using the glasses. Long-term exposure to cadmium can [...]
Jun
3
Work at Wal-Mart, get college credit
June 3, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Wal-Mart employees will soon be able to earn college credit for their on-the-job training and experience. In a letter to U.S. associates, Wal-Mart Vice Chairman Eduardo Castro-Wright said the company is partnering with online educator American Public University to offer the college credits and tuition assistance to help employees get a higher education. Employees who [...]