Being Citybroke is about perspective. It’s about seeing glitter in the gutter and a sense of humor when life is giving you everything you don’t exactly want and you’re hanging on for a dream that you sometimes can’t remember.
It’s not sales or survival - it’s an electronic letter from the trenches. It’s what suits who make $60K in at age 24 can’t even imagine. It’s Freedom. It’s Poverty. It’s Broken. It’s Beautiful.

Monday, December 31, 2007

New Year - New Second Jobs.

You might be getting a pay raise in the next half year, but probably not. Unless you have a consuming 9 to 5 (consider yourself very lucky) you ought to consider a second stream of cash-only income to augment your pitiful paycheck.
What to do? What to do?
First, consider every possible second job you could have. You might be a wannabe docent during the week, but why not pet-sit neurotic westies on the weekends while their owners travel? Breaking into new circles might have unforeseen networking benefits, too.
Look at the $ angle and be creative:

  • If you aced your AP tests, consider teaching groups of kids (4?) for $80 an hour for 2 hours on Saturdays. That' a quick hundred and sixty bucks.
  • Do you like home design/improvements? Offer to help your banker buddy pick a great room color and paint their space for a buck fifty and five beers. Room painting can be cathartic and the creative element of designing the space will be cool, too.
  • Be a middleman. Help your artist buddies get their work out there. Talk to coffee shop and bar owners to see if they want sweet free art on display in their joints. Set up a profit-sharing agreements for art that gets sold off the wall and take a little of the top for yourself. Everybody wins.
  • Offer to scan your buddy's mom's old family photos. Help her out by creating a super hi-res photo archive and then tuck them away in acid-free paper and seal them in plastic. That way the kiddies can still view and share great grandpa's baptism pics and the originals are safe. Look at the hours it takes and charge at least $15 an hour. See if her friends want the same thing done and become a personal archivist on weekends. You'll get better at it while your reputation grows and so does your hourly rate.
  • Consider second jobs that might actually help you professionally. If you work in PR consider advising individuals and small growing firms with basic tips about their webites/events etc. If you work in accounting consider helping your entrepreneur buddies with some weekend lessons on cash flow analysis and exit strategies. If youwork in fashion, find some bored rich chicks and collaborate with a tailor to make them custom accessories and clothes. They can pay for you time/talent and help you build a resume.
  • If you are totally type-A, consider being an organizing consultant (a growing field!) and help people manage their stuff by getting rid of excess and encouraging few strategic investments at The Container Store.
  • Mainly, be useful. If you are artistic, design custom baby announcements and shoot the kid, too. New parents are too busy for that stuff.
You might find you like your second job better than your first and that you can make more money. So don't look at a second job as a bad thing, it's a way to help yourself financially and it might help you find your dream job.

Mitt Romney - CB CV


Beginnings: Born into prestigious Mormon family with $ and political roots

In his 20's: Attended Stanford 2 semesters (age 19), spent more than 2 years in France as Mormon missionary then graduated BYU at age 24. Got a MBA/JD from Harvard at 28. Interned for Boston Consulting Group after graduating. Married at age 22 - never divorced
Currently
AGE 60 MA Governor

Worth:
between $190mil and $250 mil
Got his money by: Born rich, but made most of his on dough as a successful businessman. He is the founder and former CEO of Bain Consulting.
Top Contributors:

Goldman Sachs $181,425
Merrill Lynch $147,200
Marriott International $115,000
opensecrets.org
Source: Wiki (w/ excellent footnotes) and Yahoo Fin, CNN inside politics
Check out his sons' blog Five Brothers. It is slick and interesting. A delightful blend of good-looking Mormon men, Patriots commentary, and brilliant political positioning. Love him or hate him, his marketing machine is ahead of the curve.

Monday, December 24, 2007

Bloomingdales 40% off already reduced sale ends tonight!

Shop online tonight and get an extra 40% off. You'll get the best selection of goods and enjoy almost an extra half off the reduced ticket price.

CityBroke Candidate Profiles: When they were young, how they made their $, how much they've got and their top 3 donors.

When Conrad Black was first arrested for stealing huge amounts of money from his [then] company, Hollinger International, I was working as an editorial assistant for a British newspaper. One of the journalists shrugged at the news and said, "People just don't change much from who they are in their youth." He explained that as a teenager Black had been expelled from his prep school for selling exam papers. Being born into a very affluent Canadian family, he had no need for the money. He just didn't give a damn about the rules.
In light of this story, it isn't so shocking that later in life he'd treat his company like a personal piggy bank. He always did what he wanted knowing that the consequences would never fit the crime.
He was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison in December 2007 for his conviction on three counts of fraud and one count of obstruction of justice (Associated Press, December 10, 2007.)

CityBroke CV's
I don't care who candidates dated in college or what they smoked or they snorted. I am more interested in whether they
were they a self-involved d-bag or a decent person I wouldn't mind sharing a cube wall with. I'm also looking for signs that indicative of principle and a desire to serve. We'll report what candidates were doing in their 20's, how they made their money and how much they are worth. So for any of the candidates that I think matter, I'll be putting together a CB CV. Rudy "I'm a huge fake" Guiliani will not be profiled.

Hillary Clinton - CB CV

http://www.nohillaryclinton.com/blog/blog_images/HR.jpg
Beginnings: Grew up middle class in Illinois.

Her 20's: Graduated Wellesley undergrad. Attended Yale Law and became an attorney. Civil rights activist and advocate for education reform. Married Bill Clinton at age 22 - never divorced
Currently AGE 60 NY Senator

Worth: $39.9 MILLION
Got money by: Lawyering, Authoring, Investments
Top 3 Contributors** according to opensecrets.org
DLA Piper $356,100*
Goldman Sachs $350,050
Morgan Stanley $323,550
*DLA Piper is a massive law firm
**The organizations themselves did not donate , rather the money came from the organization's PAC, its individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families. Organization totals include subsidiaries and affiliates.
Source: Wiki, sanfranciscosentinel.com, hillaryclinton.com

Friday, December 21, 2007

Office Ethics Sliding Again

The Ethics Resource Center is reporting that business ethics are back down to pre-Enron levels. (Hey - that could be because those ratfinks got off so easy! Although I bet Ken Lay is sorry now.) According to Patricia Harned, president of the ERC, "56 percent of 1,929 respondents at a broad range of companies said they witnessed ethical misconduct on the job within the past year." [as quoted by the Christian Science Monitor]
What does it takes for schools and companies to prioritize a culture of high moral standards? Better question: is it even their job to inculcate students and employees with a basic understanding and appreciation of right and wrong?
I say yes. When you join a company you align yourself with its mission statement. If its only goal is to profit regardless of ethical considerations, then that company is a bad corporate citizen and a second-rate employer. Hour for hour - your job is your life. Whether you are cutting lawns or interest rates, your job ought to have dignity. If your company doesn't care about ethics, and you are a thinking honest person, then you are going to die a little each day at work. Or maybe you'll get sucked into the gray or, more likely, you'll only work hard enough not to get fired.
Check out "Bad Behavior Goes Back to Work" csmonitor.com [when you visit an ad for The Economist pops up - are they affiliated?]

Useful Financial Planning Website?

feedthepig.com is sponsored the the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and The Ad Council. It's supposed to give tools to young broke folks so that they can one day understand how money operates. Lessons on credit, savings, budgets etc.
Getting started, I check out its recommended sister site: 360financialliteracy.org. It has a wheel of lifestages that a clueless consumer can click on to learn about what they should already know at their age and circumstance. I just got referred here by feedthepig and the closest thing I can find to where I am at is "career," "entreprenuer" or "life crisis." -Okay pig, you know I exist. Where's the one for a check-to-check twenty-something?
So I check out "careers." None of the links worked. Disappointing. I'm calling these guys. I did. We'll be in touch. Nice lady.
Back to business. I was able to get "Establishing a Financial Safety Net Started" to wake up finally. It begins with a good question: "How much is enough?" Their answer: 3-6 months of living expenses should be tucked away for a rainy day.
Hmm...If your paycheck is tiny, the bad news is that your incoming $ probably matches your outgoing $. Therefore, saving is tough. The good news is that used are used to be poor so your "living expenses" are fixed and low.
I did the math and after subtracting what I pay to work 9-5 (clothes, subway etc) I need about 9 grand to get by for 6 months. See - I'm broke so you could sponsor me and I'd cost about the same as a UNICEF kid. Bonus.
I'm awaiting Feedthepig's reply, but I will keep you posted about more useful article and tools.

"The feeling of being hurried is not usually the result

of living a full life and having no time. It is on the contrary born of a vague fear that we are wasting our life. When we do not do the one thing we ought to do, we have no time for anything else- we are the busiest people in the world."

Eric Hoffer

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Office Xmas Party Survival Tips

Now every company is different - so you are going have to use your skills to test "what is going to fly." Here are few little survival tips for newbies:
1) Sabotage - Know when it is occuring. Has someone been kindly filling your glass every 2 minutes? Is the chick who wanted your job asking you tricky questions in front of management? Solution: Eat some bread or run!
2) Wierdness - It happens. Suddenly Bob and Sherry from accounting seem to be talking about more than checks and balances. Dimwitted Carl and Tony think that their raised eyebrow references to "dance class" are totally below the radar. Solution: Eat some bread and run!
3) Beyond the buzz - It's hard being broke and being able to decline free fancy alcohol. (Tip - eat as much as you drink OR drink less!) When you start to feel like your boss is a good guy and your coworkers are actually pretty cool, just run. You are wasted.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

These are the cheap seats, not Mount Sinai

A great quote from Orson Welles, “I have the terrible feeling that, because I am wearing a white beard and am sitting in the back of the theatre, you expect me to tell you the truth about something. These are the cheap seats, not Mount Sinai.”

Well, I don't wear a white beard, but I can tell you the truth about something; the theater in New York is really getting to be a rip-off. "No shit!" you say, since I've heard around town this has been a reality for some time. But I just experienced it first hand when I purchased
(for the first time, having tricked my parents into buying me my dramatic experiences up until now) a ticket (for the "cheap seats") to see Claire Danes in Pygmalion.

I'm not complaining about the show - it was good if you can ignore the annoying, high-pitched dramatic screens coming from Claire Dane's mouth. However, we paid $60 for "partial visibility", which meant I had partial visibility, and my roommate had 1/4 visibility. It was like a little square of thespians through the black outline of many heads. (Which is funny because I was sitting behind two lesbians...so I was watching thespians between the heads of two lesbians. Anyway...)

So, I ask this...is $60 (1 week's groceries, 1 month supply cat food, 2 nights at the bar, 4 cab rides home) really worth it for a crappy view at an 'ish good show? I could see The Hold Steady 2 times plus drinks for that!

Now, I would pay $60 for "partial view" seats to see Claire Danes reenact My So-Called Life on stage...as a musical.


When you're traveling this holiday season, check your valuables.

That's right, dude, slip it in the belly of your plane. Or, you could end up like the 64-year old man who almost killed himself this morning chugging vodka. He tried to get on a plane with a bottle of vodka and refused to surrender his liquid gold to airport secuirty. He downed most of the bottle "and was quickly unable to stand or otherwise function, police said." The man missed his flight, but is likely to fully recover. Read More "Man in Dresden nearly dies after chugging vodka he refused to surrender to airport security."

Monday, December 10, 2007

Cities aggressively court yuspies. "Young Urban Single Professionals"

Because young-single-wage-donkeys are good for business.
- Yuspies happily work too much for too little.
- no Mat leave, minimal health care expenses, don't go to public schools, spend most of their earnings and pay taxes with the rest.
"These college-educated, never-married 25- to 39-year-olds are the dream demographic for any human resources person...For governments, Yuspies are an open wallet. Smaller households mean fewer municipal needs. "No kids means no use of public schools, but singles pay the same homeowner taxes," says Thomas Coleman, head of the advocacy group Unmarried America. "Fewer cars mean less use of roads." Young singles claim few tax breaks, and "there's less use of the emergency services at hospitals," continues Coleman, ticking down his list. No divorce or child-support proceedings mean less use of the courts." Check out this USA today article that talks about how other cities are desperate to get us in their city limits.
I am looking forward to any initiaitives that NYC might have to "woo yuspies." City sponsored happy hours, gym memberships, age-based museum passes and subsidized air travel would be a start.

Free Stuff you shuld know about.

You know those friends who are always paying a fraction of what you pay for things you have to buy but do not want to research? Well, if this resonates with you, check out BusinessWeek's just announced 101 web freebies. From free (ad sales business model) software and virus protection to BBC sponsored French lessons. Check it out.

Home iPod speaker system for $19.99

Altec Lansing IMMINI inMotion Portable Audio Speakers for iPod mini or nano usually retails at $130. That's $110 more.
Check it out.

Take this personality test.

It's a hit around the office. Myers Briggs Free online test

There are 16 types of persons according to this personality theory. My favorite thing about this sort of analysis is that they get into all your wierd hangups. They even will predict messy desk versus clean desk as well as what you are like at work and at play.

Great for watercooler fodder.

Finding your dream job

starts with asking the right questions. Liz Ryan asks some good ones in this BusinessWeek article:

"Typically, the more mature (heavy equipment manufacturing, for instance) the more conservative the corporate culture will be. How flat vs. how tiered an organization do I desire? If there are 14 levels of management between me and the CEO, my experience at work will be drastically different from how it will be if there are two. How "left-brain" vs. "right-brain" an organization do I want?"

wiki snack- Steve Jobs: bastard/college dropout. Picks fights/has good design sense.

According to Wikipedia:

- Jobs is currently the Walt Disney Company's largest shareholder.
- One week after birth, Jobs was put up for adoption by his unmarried mother.
- In 1972, Jobs lasted one semester at Reed College in Portland Oregon.
- Jobs had a public war of words with Dell Computer CEO Michael Dell, starting when Jobs first criticized Dell for making "un-innovative beige boxes."
- When Jobs spoke at the Stanford Commencement, he spoke frankly about his opinions on entrepreneurship, work, and life: "You’ve got to find what you love." ( the video at YouTube.com and the text can be found here)
"Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Cheap xmas Gift: College Football Gear for the Nostalgic Wage Slave

Remember the good old days? Well, somebody you care about likes to revisit his Glory Days around the clock. Get your Dad or brother or boyfriend a cosy and cheap ($29.99) hoody with their alums colors and emblem.
They also have monopoly games built around universities like "Michinopoly" as well as baby pacifiers in team colors. They have a lot of stuff on sale and can definitely deliver by Christmas.
Check it out Football Fanatics online

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. "

Annie Dillard

If you know someone who got rich on the internet this is fun to watch.


Forget Nyquil - Glug Honey!

Scientists are reporting that test subjects "who received a small dose of buckwheat honey before bedtime slept better and coughed less than those who received either a common over-the-counter cough suppressant." Honey is cheaper than cough syrup and won't leave you groggy. So stock up on honey before your winter cough kicks in. Read more on ABC.com

Rupert Murdoch buys Top Prayer Site

News Corp expects newly aquired Beliefnet to really "blow up" during the impending financial downturn. News Corp is also in the process of aquiring alanon.com, killmenow.com and divcorce360.

Monday, December 3, 2007

$5 for Hearst Mags

Now here's a great (and cheap) gift that keeps on giving. Hearst is offering $5 year long subscriptions on most of their publications like Esquire, Cosmo, Popular Mechanics. The perfect Christmas gift!

Go here Hearst $5 Sale

Daily Candy Sample Sales

If you have money - check it out.

What: Derek Lam
Why: Femme dresses, were $1,850, now $600; sweaters, were $650, now $200.
When: Dec. 6 & 7. Thurs. & Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: 601 W. 26th St., b/t Eleventh...

Friday, November 30, 2007

Party at the Natural History Museum Tonight

Taxidermied animals + Mark Zuckerberg + Dinosaur skeletons + DJ + cool planet/star show + birthday girl + drinks + fun people already attending/ $20 admission = a good call.
Hey, I'm going! (...anyone want to share a cab home?)
Friday, November 30, 2007 at 9:00pm
American Museum of Natural History
81st St. and Central Park West
Check it out

Garlic. Healthy & Cheap.

You probably aren't as health-minded now as you will be later in life. Hey - it's expensive! Fancy organic food is pricey and it's hard to not have fresh food go bad in your NYC fridge with an unpredictable schedule. (and happy hour specials, sponsored parties and generous friends with smokes make vice affordable) So - try and eat some garlic whenever you can because a garlic-rich diet protects against various cancers. And do it the right way:

"Many home chefs mistakenly cook garlic immediately after crushing or chopping it, added Dr. Kraus. To maximize the health benefits, you should crush the garlic at room temperature and allow it to sit for about 15 minutes. That triggers an enzyme reaction that boosts the healthy compounds in garlic."

Why isn't there a better alternative to Facebook?

Reasons I am ready to quit FB:

1) Too many people I don't want in my "face." I don't want people I work with in my "social network." I don't want my family and family friends seeing the profiles of my kooky New York friends. Facebook is mixing too many worlds. Good for FB's # of users bad for me.
2) Agressive ads. I hate the Volvo ads in my news feed. I hate the newsfeed JPeg of Gwen Stefani with the caption, "Hey, want to help me design something cool on HP.com?" [It's funny though, they can't target me that well because I didn't select a gender so I get neutered ads.] With their total costs-to-ad sales ratio I think they can make some effort to not be complete ad-whores when their users are their only real asset.
3) I've outgrown it. The fun of Facebook was the photos and finding people and there doesn't seem to be anyone I want to find or stalk so, where can I get an online network that is basically an online switchboard where you friend people you know and have access to people you've already friended?
4) It's getting creepy. I'm talking about the Boomers. With all these companies joining and old people sending each other martinis - it's becoming a strange massive reunion where a VP at my company probably sees when I friend someone or change my status. One Boomer agrees - read Daniel Lyons "Party Crashers on Forbes.com" (not available on FDC *!#*@ so refer to the Globe & Mail who republished it)

I Suspect Barack may have a Billionaire Backer in his corner.

Bloomie and Barack had a casual coffee this morning in NYC. So if Mike Bloomberg isn't going to be president he's committed to making sure no other New York politicians get to either.

The caption for this pic ought to be:
"Listen B, I'll give you some dough if I get to use Airforce One when I need it." Read more from AP.

Facebook chunk bought by the Richest Man in China.

Li Ka-Shing is the Bill Gates of Asia and now they both have a piece of Facebook. East and West meet inside Mark Zuckerburg's dark empire. Read more about the 60mil buy in.
Read more about Li
I'm pretty damn sure this Wiki entry was written by someone in his coporate com dpt:
"In spite of his wealth, Li has a reputation for leading a no-frills lifestyle, and is known to wear simple black dress shoes and an inexpensive Seiko wristwatch. Li is also regarded as one of Asia's most generous philanthropists, donating over $1 billion USD to date to charity and other various philanthropic causes. [5]
Li is often referred to as "Superman" in Hong Kong because of his business prowess."
"Superman?" I think I am going to take some time today to write my own wiki profile.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

"Hello, babies.

Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you’ve got about a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies — God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.”
-From Vonnegut's Godbless you, Mr. Rosewater

Speaking of voting...

This year I am going to vote. Last night I was at dinner with Aleks-ON-dra and it suddenly occurred to me that I ought to vote this year, BUT how? I had announced my decision out of nowhere and [accidently revealing she doesn't read my delicious blog] she was shocked. I asked her how to "vote" and she said I register at a Post office and then go to my precinct and have my say on election day. Sounds easy. I'll keep you all posted.

XO The Patriot

I Vote for New California

Someone I wish I was related to has posted a statement on The Cronus Connection (no, I've never heard of it but I like it) proposing Americans start our own country composed of only the Blue States, and call it New California (nice). My favorite parts:

  • "You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches.
  • We get Elliot Spitzer. You get Ken Lay.
  • We get the Statue of Liberty. You get OpryLand.
  • We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.
  • You will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans
  • 38 percent of Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale
  • 62 percent believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws
  • 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory
  • 53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11
My only question...where would we get our Wild Turkey, KFC, Waffle House, and grits? I guess I'll have to renew my passport. For the full awesome rant go here: Dear Red States

Tips Please...

I was getting a bunch of new tips a day and not so much any more. We can't do our jobs unless you do them for us. Please submit happy hours, cheap restaurants, ways to steal (legally,) upcoming concerts etc.

Cabelas Outfitter?

is the "World's Foremost Outfitter" that you and I have never heard of. It has some sweet deals on North Face gear. This Women's Apex Bionic Jacket is 89 bucks instead of $129. It has other good stuff at clearance prices in its bargain cave. Remember, if you don't "trust" the site, use AMEX.

iDesktop.TV - Youtube Content with a Better User Experience.

Check out Stomping Grapes iDesktop.TV Style. Thoughts?
You are also able to download videos, but I am too lazy to register. Impending copyright infringement issues? Methinks yes. Free movies, tv shows and clips in my future? Most definitely. Crimedog - stop harassing iSave! What do you think of this naughty site?!

Where are all those Give-one-Get-one Laptops headed?

"An OLPC spokeswoman said that donated laptops would be headed to countries such as Afghanistan, Rwanda, Cambodia, Haiti, and Mongolia--places that generally couldn't afford big laptop giveaways."
Hmm... read more
or
donate. Your $400 - and you "get one" of the computers - is tax deductible. I think there is a good chance I object to this, BUT I suppose if you can right off paying to attend a white tie gala you ought to be able to write off a $200 computer.

The New Yorker plagiarized The Far Side?!

That's like the Valedictorian cheating off the guy who is chewing on his tongue in the back of class. Except, I love the Far Side. Note to friends (and the readers who worship my blogging style) - I would like a Far Side Desk Calendar for xmas.

ABC News launches a Presidential Match-o-matic

Have you budgeted about 45 seconds of real hard thought to deciding who you will vote for for president? Have I got the online survey tool for you! Match-o-matic atcually tells you who to vote for based on a series of slanted questions. Take the survey and let someone else half-decide for you.

Who is Mike Huckabee?

He's the former governor of Arkansas and he dominated the Republican debate last night. The Note will catch you up on how everybody did in the "debate."

Watch this Chuck Norris/Huckabee video!
Huckabee: "My plan for securing the border, two words: Chuck Norris."
Things you might not know already:
- He lost 100 lbs as guvnah and lead an anti-obesity campaign. His book, "Stop Digging Your Grave With a Knife and Fork," sold fewer copies than anticipated.
- He's a self-described "paradoxical Republican." He's in a "rockband," is an evangelical Christian, is very pro-life, very pro tax cuts, and very pro-social programs. Basically Steve Forbes + Chuck Norris + Jimmy carter + the lead singer of Creed (I don't remember his name and you probably don't either)
This dude is doing to spice things up.

BeaconGate leaves Facebook Users Annoyed and Nervous about Recent Online Purchases.

How would you like it if all your friends on Facebook were notified that you ordered a yoga kit and slippers on Overstock.com? I bet you would feel violated wouldn't you? Well, it's already happening. Facebook is posting your activity on 3rd party websites in your newsfeed - right now - at this very moment! Operation Beacon is in full effect. Actually, it's probably just in Beta targeting a few poor bastards who have stopped online shopping or thinking...However,
"Many users considered it more of an unholy alliance. One member complained of a spoiled Christmas after Facebook broadcast the person's purchases on Overstock.com (OSTK), a partner site. Other users said they were creeped out after friends learned of actions they never realized were forwarded to their Facebook lists."
Read more on BusinessWeek.com

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Buy 10 of these on your way home.

You won't be sorry. These little babies (3 bucks each) get rid of stains...magically. If you have a problem with constantly getting penmarks, coffee-stains, beer-wine-vodka&mixer stains, on your clothes - then this is a wise and frugal investment. Keep one in your desk, purse and boot. (I do.)

Steal Music and Avoid the Slammer.

TechCrunch has a sweet article today talking about how music search engines offer the benefit of Napster or Limewire and non of the liability.
"[Content] is distributed on servers unaffiliated with the search engine itself, making it effectively impossible for the RIAA and its international equivalents to do much about it other than try to force the largest infringers to remove the content."
Suckas! Check out the article. It also lists the best sites to nick music from.

Have any friends with imaginary relationships involving celebrities or emotionally unavailable boyfriends? See below.

The Onion

Woman Mentally Breaks Up With Colin Farrell

MERCER, PA-Heather Lentz's 11-month imaginary romance with bad-boy heartthrob Colin Farrell has ended, the 25-year-old paralegal announced Monday.

Slappy? Swanny? Swanson?...

Samsonite! ...I was way off.
It's travel time and this is a sweet deal on real Samsonite goods (durable - not fancy - like the Hilary Swank of luggage. No need to embarass yourself and fellow travelers with your troubled little carryon roller. This delicious cherry red set retails at $220 but you can get it delivered to your apt for $104 with all this discounts. Check it out!
$20 off $120 + Free Shipping coupon code ENTBK0625 it drops to $129.99 (and spares you $14 shipping). Then, if you pay via Paypal you will get 20% cash back on your purchase (deposited automatically into your Paypal account before 1/31/08). You also get a free $25 certificate valid on a future $75 order.
Check out Brads Deals

Happy Holidays, Now Stop Sharing

I had a post recently about sharing music – and it was brought to my attention by our readers (they do exist) that this is quite illegal. They are obviously, painfully, it’s-been-all-over-the-news-for-the-last-five-years correct. Obviously, as I mentioned, I’m stuck in the days of mix-tape sharing (also illegal!). Yes, I do buy albums, actually probably more than most people. BUT, I also like learning about new bands that my friends are into through, um, can I use this word?, sharing. I think most bands would be pleased to know that what they’ve created, their art, is being absorbed, talked about, and passed along – that they have started a discussion and made enough of an impact on the thick-sculled, rule-following kids out there that they actually got up off their lazy asses and shared something they enjoyed. I might not pay the $.99 it would cost to buy a Hold Steady song from iTunes, but my friend loaned me the album from his computer, made into a fan, and now I’ll buy their next album, and attend a concert. Don’t worry, I’ll do my part in making sure our musicians don’t go hungry. Which makes me ask the mp3 police out there, what have you done lately?

PS - And, yes, I altered my previous headline

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Johnny has to look just right.

This Thanksgiving, the youtube hit of the weekend was John Edwards styling his hair. Check it out.

On top of this viral embarrasment, John Edwards made mazillions of dollars as a personal injury attorney in North Carolina. I can't even imagine the publicist mastermind who could get this knucklehead back in the ring. Rovey? Dick Morris? He'll need the A-Team and he can afford them.
Seriously, Guy? I'll look the other way when you pay $600 for a haircut, but there is no way you are getting anywhere near the Whitehouse [even as VP or special style advisor] with this footage on the loose. How did he not see the camera? Is it just me or is Pumping Iron somehow less damning?

This is a good gift for a clever 20 something.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - Seasons 1 & 2 (2005)
$39.99 on Amazon.com
Clips for Fans and non-believers.
Pirate "Well look, are we going to talk about pirates all day or are we going to find out who lives in there?"
Day Man "Day Man, you are the master of karate, Day Man."
Beatbox

Your sidekick flies free on VA (or just get 25% off)

Virgin America coupon: Second passenger flies free with round-trip purchase
At Virgin America, buy a select round-trip flight in the main cabin and get a second ticket (also in main cabin) on the same flight for free via coupon code "DIGGNATION". It's the best such offer we've seen from Virgin America, although we've seen a 25% off coupon (still active). Flights must be booked by December 7 for travel between November 26, 2007 and March 19, 2008.
OR!!!
Virgin America coupon: 25% off select flights
Virgin America takes 25% off select flights in the main cabin via coupon code "ELEVATE25". That's the best percent-off discount we've seen from this airline. Flights must be booked by December 7 for travel between December 7th and March 19.

Monday, November 26, 2007

No Shame in Being a New York Tourist

If you're like most New Yorkers you've probably never gone to the top of the Empire State Building, visited the Statue of Liberty, or ridden one of those double decker buses. Consider a whirl-wind tour of your home-city with the New York Pass, and save money doing activities you always promise yourself you'll do - but put off until Grandma comes to town. The prices start at $67 for one day (extreme tourists out there can book up to a 7 day pass with prices up to $160). The price may seem steep - but your pass gets you in free to dozens of attractions that are pretty expensive.

I added up a few places on the New York Pass list (about what you would cover with the $67 one day pass) to see how much they would cost on their own:

  • American Museum of Natural History: $15
  • Bodies: The Exhibition: $27.50
  • Bronx Zoo: $14
  • Carnegie Hall Tour: $10
  • Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises: $25
  • Empire State Building: $17
  • MOMA: $20
That is $128.50! So sack up and take a day to get to know your city.