Thursday, December 23, 2010

Another year in the books...

And I'm really hoping for a better 2011. Don't get me wrong, life has been treating me pretty well. Health is fine, family is good, still gainfully employed. In that respect, I have much to be thankful for and I am thankful.

I would really appreciate it though if the atmosphere of uncertainty would lift already. There is just too much fear and doubt going around for anyone, myself included, to really feel good. That is what I'd like to see improve.

Sent from my iPhone

Friday, December 17, 2010

Why do website registration systems suck so much

Ever notice what a pain it is to register on a website. Enter your name, username, password, age and some barely readable code. Invariably, at least half the time the registration bombs out for some not readily apparent reason. I particularly despise sites that won't let me pick my own password, instead insisting on some other or longer choice. I try to pick passwords I can remember. If I can't remember how to log in, the site becomes useless. Is it just me or does this whole system really stink?

Sent from my iPhone

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The Fed is crazy. And so is Sears.

I'm finding it hard to believe that the government is really trying to get people to spend more with these efforts to bail out the banks. The premise goes like this, the Federal Reserve buys its own debt back from banks. Banks thus have money to lend. People borrow money, spend it and stimulate the economy. Here's the problem, the low rates that banks enjoy are not being passed on to consumers in a meaningful way. Case in point, credit cards. I just paid off a Sears card whose rate had been raised to 25.4%. And that's apparently not all that unusual these days. Who the hell is going to use credit at rates like that. This card is being locked away in my home safe from now on. Is the Federal Reserve really stupid enough to believe that people will willing take on debt at such usurious interest rates. Nuts!

And Sears, by the way, you have lost me as a customer. I will take my business to Home Depot or PC Richard or Walmart from now on. Screwing your customers is no way to do business.

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