Arimathea

Saint Nicholas

Atom
RSS

Page views: 17651
Total entries: 1094
Total comments: 187

Acknowledgments

Fonts

Tenebrae Exteriores

Commerce

Here are recommended businesses that are worth your consideration, if not your money.

Capitalism

It beats the other stuff

Wednesday, November 28, A.D. 2012

The Pseudoscience of SkyMall

The Advent fast begins today. May your white lent be fruitful. I wish you the best in keeping the faith in this land of mammon.

Related to the ridiculous consumerism of contemporary society, I present you a funny article on Slate by Rebecca Watson, “The Pseudoscience of SkyMall.” Watson reviews the curious SkyMall catalogue that you find on planes and suggests a game that I shall play on my next flight. She imagines that she wins a contest where she gets to pick one item from each of the catalogue’s spreads. Watson ends thus:

If you’re playing Imaginary SkyMall Sweepstakes, definitely go with the Lord Raffles Lion Throne Chair on Page 91, because nothing says “class” like an ornate replica Medieval throne from an in-flight catalog. Or maybe the Bigfoot, the Holiday Yeti Holiday Ornament, depending on your personal tastes. Totally your call.

We are indeed a tacky people.

Posted by Joseph

on Wednesday, November 28, Anno Domini 2012
Capitalism • Household Goods • Technology • Transportation • (0) Comments • Permalink

Tuesday, June 19, A.D. 2012

Money Flow

XKCD has a remarkable chart of the American and global economies: “Money.” You may click on the larger version, which allows for zooming and scrolling. It is impressive.

Posted by Joseph

on Tuesday, June 19, Anno Domini 2012
Capitalism • (0) Comments • Permalink

Monday, April 23, A.D. 2012

Unz Upbraids Vioxx

基督復活

Ron Unz published an interesting and disturbing article in The American Conservative last week about the American political and media establishments’ having given a free pass to the pharmaceutical company Merck after its drug Vioxx caused thousands of deaths: “Chinese Melamine and American Vioxx: A Comparison.” Unz contrasts the American media’s handling of the Chinese infant and pet food scandals with how they covered the Vioxx affair. Unz also compares the reactions of the respective governments. Unz notes that eventually the ChiComs executed some of the men who were responsible for the infant formula malefaction that resulted in six deaths and thousands of medical complication cases, whereas no one has really been held accountable for Vioxx, which may have caused the deaths of a half million Americans.

I discovered Unz’s article on Sailer’s site. Some of Sailer’s commentators think that Unz is being too hard on Merck, especially given the amount of people who took the drug and the benefits derived from it. Some even contend that aspirin would not pass F.D.A. approval today if it were a new drug. I do not know, but Unz’s article calls into question whatever journalistic integrity that remains in this country.

Update: Be sure to see Peter Schaeffer’s criticism of Unz’s arguments in the comments section.

Posted by Joseph

on Monday, April 23, Anno Domini 2012
Capitalism • (7) Comments • Permalink

Tuesday, March 20, A.D. 2012

Jobs: Steve vs. the Stimulus

A few months ago, I read an interesting article in Forbes by Bret Swanson: “Jobs: Steve vs. the Stimulus.” The backstory of the article is that in his response to Obama’s State of the Union address, Governor Daniels of Indiana stated that Steve Jobs had produced more jobs than the monstrous stimulus act. Paul Krugman, lefty economist for The New York Times, then attempted to school Daniels by comparing the numbers. Contra Krugman, Swanson’s article defends Daniel’s assertion with a fascinating exploration of the dynamism in a free economy.

Posted by Joseph

on Tuesday, March 20, Anno Domini 2012
Capitalism • Technology • (0) Comments • Permalink

Wednesday, November 16, A.D. 2011

YiaTube

Athenos is not my favorite brand of packaged hummus, but Kraft’s Greek label commercials are sweet like Melissos’ honey. Enjoy what Yiayia says.

Yiayia on stay at home fathers:

Yiayia on fashion:

Yiayia on cohabitation:

Evidently, the ad campaign began in late winter earlier this year, but I only recently discovered the videos. I want more Yiayia commentary; grandmothers know better.

Posted by Joseph

on Wednesday, November 16, Anno Domini 2011
Capitalism • Food • (0) Comments • Permalink

Wednesday, September 28, A.D. 2011

Holy Smoke

Leave it to Americans to find a way to combine tastlessness and consumerism in even the most hallowed aspects of life . . . and death. I present Holy Smoke, a company that turns cremated remains into ammunition so that one can go out in a bang. From the company’s site:

Planning a loved ones final arrangements can be a challenging responsibility, one you want to do with care and consideration. Allow Holy Smoke to help you create a tribute to your outdoorsperson like no other.

We provide compassionate personal service, exceptional quality, and a truly unique memorial. Our unparalleled service and overall value are why our loyal customers won’t go anywhere else. We look forward to serving you!

The name you can trust! . . .

Now you can have the peace of mind that you can continue to protect your home and family even after you are gone.

The company is based in Alabama. I shall refrain from additional comment.

Posted by Joseph

on Wednesday, September 28, Anno Domini 2011
Capitalism • (0) Comments • Permalink

Tuesday, July 19, A.D. 2011

The Mall

I am not a devotee of Malcolm Gladwell, but I did find his article on the mall in The New Yorker quite interesting: “The Terrazzo Jungle.” Gladwell recounts the vision of the mall’s creator, Victor Gruen, as well as his disappointment in what became of his idea. Gruen wanted the mall to be a commercial centerpiece to an extensive, planned development that would create an orderly and beautiful community in suburbia. Such did not occur, though attempts at integrated commercial and residential space continue as the new urbanism refuses to submit before the American cult of the ugly and haphazard. Gladwell also explains how tax policy resulted in ghastly commercial developments largely disconnected from a community’s shopping needs, which thereby facilitated the American wasteland of suburban sprawl. Also of interest is mall designer Alfred Taubman’s commentary on the mall’s commercial strategies. The article is delightful pop anthropological candy. Enjoy.

Posted by Joseph

on Tuesday, July 19, Anno Domini 2011
Capitalism • (0) Comments • Permalink

Wednesday, July 13, A.D. 2011

The Ty Ty Zone

I maintain an extensive garden list of the species that I have in my yard. It is obviously incomplete, but I work on it when I have free time. I often use Google’s image search to help identify plants, and the pictures often take me to helpful and interesting sites. The quest for cultivars has also introduced me to some weird horticultural zones. This week, I came across one of the oddest—Ty Ty Nursery in Georgia. It is so outlandish that I doubted that it was a real store. However, it seems that the Ty Ty folks really do sell plants, though the web is full of complaints from disappointed customers. I want to ask these disgruntled buyers what possessed them to order plants from a nursery that advertises its stock in such a perverse manner. Ty Ty’s site has the aesthetic of sleazy television commercials that run in the middle of the night. You have to visit the site to grasp just how bizarre it is. Do not forget the videos.

Posted by Joseph

on Wednesday, July 13, Anno Domini 2011
Capitalism • (0) Comments • Permalink

Wednesday, February 9, A.D. 2011

Canned Unicorn Meat

Happy birthday to my father! Many more years to him!

I doubt that Dad would appreciate the following, but when I was looking at ThinkGeek’s Tauntaun sleeping bag, I decided to browse the other products. That is when I found Canned Unicorn Meat; it is an “Excellent Source of Sparkles.” As a vegetarian, it might be odd that I am an enthusiastic supporter of unicorn consumption, but the fantastic animals are fattened “on a diet comprised entirely of candy corn,” and I love candy corn! So, really, it would be like eating processed candy corn, right?

More facts about the Radiant Farms product:

Imported from a small independent cannery in County Meath, Ireland

Crunchy horn bits in every bite - an excellent source of Calcium

Tastes like rotisserie chicken but with a hint of marshmallow sweetness

Sparkly meat lends the unmistakable air of class and sophistication to your parties

Not yet approved by the USDA or FDA, but the nuns have eaten it for centuries and they’re healthy as horses

Pretty soon, Michelle Obama will be lecturing the nation’s schools to offer unicorn meat as an integral part of nutritional reform.

I also found in the Seattle Weekly that the National Pork Board had threatened legal action against ThinkGeek because ThinkGeek used the expression, “Unicorn—the new white meat,” in an April Fool’s joke from which they developed the above product (like the Tauntaun sleeping bag). It is deplorable that an obviously parodic use of the catch phrase would be found to violate copyright protection. Hey lawyers, when are you going to stop letting the scumbags among you defame your profession?

Anyway, I suspect that ThinkGeek’s My First Bacon talking plush toy is more of my father’s slice of meat . . .

Posted by Joseph

on Wednesday, February 9, Anno Domini 2011
Capitalism • (0) Comments • Permalink

Monday, February 7, A.D. 2011

Big Game Commercials

Two years ago, I offered my thoughts on the Super Bowl advertisements of A.D. 2009, which included the magnificently crafted “Heist.”

I noted that Coca-Cola usually makes the best commercial of the Super Bowl. I think that Coke offers the best ad this year, as well. Here is “Border.”

While I find most of the game’s commercials base and stupid, Coke charms and embetters the audience. Nicely done. Two years ago, the company offered its gift to geeks with “Avatar.” This year, Coke bestows “Seige” upon the world’s nerds. Not bad.

The other commercial that I really like is a bit cheesy, but I’m a sucker for such things. Here is Bridgestone’s “Carma”:

Of course, I appreciate Volkswagen’s “The Force.” What American man from my generation would not like this ad? It is our destiny.

As a child, I played Luke, though. Still, Vader gets a fun song.

Motorola’s “Xoom” entertains with its ironic mockery of Apple. Those conforming non-conformists . . . Moreover, the girl has a pretty face and lovely eyes.

It’s the Super Bowl; one must acknowledge some silly ads. CarMax’s “Kid in a Candy Store” delights with visual gags (and hippies are funny), Snickers’ “Logging” features Richard Lewis and Roseanne Barr after a long absence with their trademark whines (and Jews are funny), and Doritos’ “Pug Attack” satisfies my low brow appetite perfectly without being overly gross or crass (and pugs are funny . . . and the woman looks a lot like Kristen Wiig—she’s funny, too).

Lastly, I have to give credit to Chrysler and Marshall Mathers (a.k.a. Eminem) for the “Imported from Detroit” commercial. I love Michiganders, and I appreciate their undying civic pride. Detroit is an American tragedy, but I don’t mind the fantasy of romanticizing its state.

Posted by Joseph

on Monday, February 7, Anno Domini 2011
Capitalism • (0) Comments • Permalink

Page 1 of 2 pages 1 2 >

The Economist

Liberalism in Print

Activist investors: Let’s do it my way

EVEN those in charge of listed corporations have bosses, however much they dislike thinking of their shareholders that way. So most chief executives hope to avoid the attention of “activist” investors—mostly hedge funds that specialise in shaking up listed companies in the hope of a share-price jolt. Sadly for those who dwell in corner offices, activists are getting brasher. Not only do they have growing cash piles to deploy, they are now comfortable taking on even the biggest companies.Today’s activists are the descendants of the corporate raiders and asset-strippers who helped enliven the 1980s. Like their forebears, they target companies with sleepy managers, too much idle cash or ill-fitting divisions that might be lucratively spun off. The stakes they take in their targets tend to be small: typically 5% and in larger companies often much less. But funds often enlist the support of other shareholders to badger management for reforms. If that fails, a messy fight can ensue. Nasty words are traded in leaked letters or, better still, on cable television.Sony is the latest famous name on the hit list. On May 14th Daniel Loeb, the boss of Third Point Management, disclosed that he owned 6.5% of the Japanese conglomerate, a stake worth $1.1 billion, and suggested it break itself up. This would lift the share price by 60%, he hopes, though the company is sceptical. Last month...
JPMorgan Chase: Unbreakable Dimon

ON THE face of it, the question seemed a simple one of corporate governance: should JPMorgan Chase, America’s biggest bank, split the roles of chief executive and chairman? But the stakes were much higher, which explains why, after weeks of noisy debate, two-thirds of shareholders rejected a motion to that effect at their annual meeting on May 21st.It was not the first time the question had been posed. Last year a similar motion was considered—and received 40% of the vote. But this year’s poll was much more contentious. A multi-billion-dollar loss as a result of outsized trades by an employee known as the “London Whale” had made Jamie Dimon, holder of both titles (pictured), vulnerable to attack.Although advocates of the motion to split Mr Dimon’s roles insisted that they were not out to get him, he was clearly the main focus of the debate. A strong and decisive manager, Mr Dimon has shaped JPMorgan’s strategy and thus its remarkable success. But his willingness to criticise the chaotic regulatory structure imposed on banks after the financial crisis has exposed him to political retribution. And the sheer size of JPMorgan makes people cautious about risks...
Chasing debtors: Cash-strapped Khashoggi?

Belt tightening
REMEMBER Adnan Khashoggi, who amassed a fortune in the 1970s and 1980s brokering arms sales to his fellow Saudis? He was never quite the world’s richest man but he may have been its biggest spender, splashing out $250,000 a day to maintain his lifestyle. At one point his many residences included 16 flats knocked into one in New York. One of his parties lasted five days and was described by an awestruck reporter as “the most extravagant event in European history”. He counted national leaders among his friends.Mr Khashoggi’s fortunes declined in the late 1980s, thanks to overspending on festivities, ill-advised investments and his entwinement in scandals including the collapse of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, the fall of Ferdinand Marcos and the Iran-Contra affair—though he was never convicted of criminal wrongdoing. He now claims to be broke. That hasn’t stopped a tenacious creditor and its lawyers hounding him for an 11-year-old debt of $21m to a securities-clearing firm. In a move that would break new legal ground if successful, they are trying to get the American judgment against Mr Khashoggi enforced in...
Greek banks redux: System reboot

FOR the past three years, foreign money has been flooding out of Greece. But the tide may be turning. This week senior managers from Alpha, the country’s third-largest bank, were in London and New York to raise private capital for a rights issue. Their roadshow is part of a much grander enterprise: the recapitalisation of an entire banking system.That became necessary once European rescuers decided in late 2011 that a second bail-out of Greece would require a big write-down of its public debt. The write-down brought the Greek banks low, because they held much of the debt. The bail-out package included €50 billion ($65 billion) for the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (HFSF) in order to rebuild the banking system. Of this, €17 billion is covering losses in defunct banks. Another €5 billion is a reserve, in case more holes open up. Most of it, €27.5 billion, has been earmarked to recapitalise Greece’s four biggest banks—Alpha, National Bank of Greece (NBG), Piraeus and Eurobank.If all that money were used, the four banks would end up being wholly owned by the Greek state, an undesirable outcome. But if a bank can independently raise at least 10% of its capital requirement, it can remain under private control. The four have until June 14th to come up with the money, which means that prospectuses must be approved and issued by the end of May. Eurobank has already fallen by the...
Buttonwood: Apocalypse, not yet

IS THERE a bond bubble and is it going to burst soon? The Spectator, a British political weekly, ran a cover story citing the existence of a bubble back in September 2011. Yields are even lower now than they were then.Calling the top of an asset bubble is extremely hard, as sceptics of the dotcom boom in the late 1990s will recall. History suggests that buying government bonds at yields of 2% or less is a losing proposition in real terms; those who bought American Treasury bonds on a yield of 2% in 1945, for example, did not see a gain in their purchasing power until 1989.But there is one important exception to the rule. Japanese ten-year bond yields fell below 2% in 1998 and have stayed below that level almost ever since. Thanks to deflation, investors have still managed to earn positive real returns. Betting against the Japanese bond market has been a losing game.In a sluggish economy, it is quite plausible that rates will stay low. Paul Krugman, an American economist, points out that bond yields are essentially a forecast of future short-term rates. Since a return of these rates to pre-crisis levels (4-5%) looks highly unlikely in the near future, there can hardly be a bond bubble.
...

Forbes

The Capitalist Tool

The World's Most Powerful Women 2013
Our annual snapshot of the 100 women with the most impact are top politicians and CEOs, activist billionaires and celebrities who matter. In roughly equal measure you'll find next gen entrepreneurs and media mavens, technologists and leaders in philanthropy — all ranked by dollars, media momentum and impact (see full methodology here).
Economically, Could Obama Be America's Best President?
With the stock market hitting new highs, some people have already forgotten about the Great Recession.
Meg Whitman Jolts HP As Its Reluctant Savior
To understand Meg Whitman, the former eBay chief executive who now runs Hewlett-Packard, it's essential to revisit something she did 26 years ago. She had just become a junior partner at Bain Consulting, working for the brilliant but domineering Tom Tierney. One morning Whitman walked into his office, impromptu. The 31-year-old asked her feared boss if he wanted staff feedback about his leadership style; he nodded. With that Whitman grabbed a felt-tip marker and sketched a giant steamroller on a nearby flip board. "This is you, Tom," she explained. "You're too pushy--you're not letting us build consensus leadership."
Bon Jovi Blew It Passing On Atlanta Falcons
Jon Bon Jovi blew it.
Why Your Team Matters More Than You
Contrary to popular belief, the success of a business isn’t ensured by an amazing CEO or even the work of a few all-star employees -- it’s all about the team. Even without your key players, your business should function without change. In light of the recent news regarding the health of Google CEO Larry Page, companies everywhere should be considering how their business would function if their CEO stepped out of the picture. Would you “keep calm and carry on” as usual, or would your company take an irreversible stumble? One thing’s for certain: a strong team will keep you afloat in a variety of both foreseen and unforeseen situations. The future of your company shouldn’t depend on you--whether you’re the manager, CEO, or unanimous company superstar. It depends on a well-rounded, unwavering team. But working for your team, rather than having them work for you, isn’t so simple in the heavily structured, management-focused settings companies have come to thrive in today. Kick your bad habits and put your team first. Here are seven ways to ensure every employee is able to step up to the plate without a second thought: 1. Build a strong foundation. Set the teamwork bar high from the beginning. If your company culture and mission don’t encompass the power of team-focused efforts, there’s no way to ensure your company’s strength will lie in the team. Your employees need to know that you work for them, and not the other way around. 2. Empower your employees. Every one of your employees has something they can bring to the table. Since you work for your team, it’s your job to find out where your employees excel individually. Highlight their strengths and challenge them to set an example for others. This will not only increase their interest in staying on top of their game, but also motivate them to live up to their reputation. Even when you’re not in the office, they’re still going to want to retain their image. 3. Establish goals. You can’t have a team without a vision. Throw out the idea of your employees acting as task-doers and let them collectively achieve goals within teams. Establish your company’s teams and give each one a goal to accomplish in a short timeframe. This will allow your employees to focus on the big picture, rather than accomplishing smaller tasks. Working toward team goals will benefit your employees sense of ownership and responsibility -- positively impacting your company from the inside out. 4. Learn to delegate. Place your trust in your employees. If you’re a micromanaging perfectionist, you can kiss your team-focused culture and project ownership goodbye. Set your teams on the right path by delivering the big picture message and the measurable outcomes -- the rest is up to them. Your delegation efforts will allow them to work creatively to get things accomplished, and they may even surprise you in the process. 5. Let them figure it out. If you swoop in every time there’s a problem, how can your employees ever solve things on their own? Giving orders to your employees may seem easy, but it leaves them out of the decision-making process. Stop telling your employees what to do and start asking them how they would do it themselves! You will immediately increase team autonomy, responsibility, motivation, and create a powerful change in the way your employees make decisions. 6. Recognize their efforts. Praise is the key ingredient for boosting motivation and engagement. Want a more inspired team of employees? Tell them what they’re doing right and encourage them to continue onward. Too many employees think of their manager or CEO as the most critical member of the company. Remove this stereotype and be the person to give the necessary pat on the back. This also makes the occasional call for improvement easier to swallow. 7. Remove hierarchy. Your teams don’t need manager, I promise. “All for one, one for all” should be your employees’ new motto. By removing the project manager or supervisor, your staff will feel empowered to work together as a team and the structure will form naturally. Your employees will want to go the extra mile for the good of the entire team and the accomplishment of a goal. Why? Because there’s nothing worse than letting down your entire team. If you let the power of your business lie in the hands of one or two people, you’ll be certain to fail in their absence. Build a team-focused business to keep you afloat under any circumstance. What do you think? Does your company place enough value on a team mentality?
IRS Scandal Is The Latest Evidence That We Need A Fair Tax
On the surface, conservatives and progressives seem to be in agreement about what should be done about the IRS scandal: Larry Kudlow: “…must find out exactly what happened and who was involved, and then come up with a fix so it never happens again.”
Deconstructing Google's Strategy: Will Google Eat Your Business Next?
After Google’s I/O announcements, I flashed back to a dozen or so conversations with executives and entrepreneurs about what Google is doing. Reading between the lines, some imagined buying yachts after a Google acquisition. Others feared having to sell theirs if Google entered their space. The best way to think about what Google might do is to understand why it does things. Here’s my deconstruction of the strategy that makes one of the world's most innovative companies tick.
Really, Chrysler? Don't Pick A Fight With Tesla Over Taxpayer Loans. You Will Lose.
Chrysler Group, which is enjoying a nice rebound in the U.S. market, would be wise to stay focused on the road ahead rather than revisiting the circumstances of its 2009 government bailout.
Study: 78% Of Salespeople Using Social Media Outsell Their Peers
When Jim Keenan, the social sales specialist, describes his work today, he’ll tell you that he’s “ushering salespeople from the old world into the social world” - the cold calling world to the Twitter world, the salespeople who call prospects incessantly to the salespeople who educate their prospects with relevant content. Keenan’s argument in the The Rise of Social Salespeople is that using social media to sell - increases profits.
Is Japan The New Apple?
Many big hedge fund investors have in recent years had a very hard time keeping up with the U.S. stock market and other financial benchmarks against which they are judged. The big market drop in Japan will probably make things even harder for some of them.

Commerce

Capitalism

It beats the other stuff

Wednesday, November 28, A.D. 2012

The Pseudoscience of SkyMall

Tuesday, June 19, A.D. 2012

Money Flow

Monday, April 23, A.D. 2012

Unz Upbraids Vioxx

Tuesday, March 20, A.D. 2012

Jobs: Steve vs. the Stimulus

Wednesday, November 16, A.D. 2011

YiaTube

Wednesday, September 28, A.D. 2011

Holy Smoke

Tuesday, July 19, A.D. 2011

The Mall

Wednesday, July 13, A.D. 2011

The Ty Ty Zone

Wednesday, February 9, A.D. 2011

Canned Unicorn Meat

Monday, February 7, A.D. 2011

Big Game Commercials

Realm Categories

Realm's Recent Entries

Archives

Recent Comments

The Economist

Liberalism in Print

Forbes

The Capitalist Tool