I have this odd quirk. I like to do my lunchtime news chum in groups of three. Today, I present three groupatwos:

• Education. Ducerus, the folks who are helping us with college planning, posted a link to a very interesting study: The Economic Value of College Majors. Here you can find out your projected annual value based on your major. Major ( Read more... )

Today’s lunchtime news chum seems to all be connected to marketing and advertising. I have no idea why.

• From the “Creative Financing” Department: Tired of the mundane school fundraiser? Have enough greeting cards? Don’t need another magazine subscription? An instructor in Rancho Bernardo (near San Diego) has a novel idea: Sell advertising space on ( Read more... )

A few items noted over the weekend:

• From the “It keeps going, and going, and going... Someone just blow the damn thing up!” Department: It is the 20th anniversary of the Engergizer Bunny. Introduced in 1989, it has become iconic, representing the ability to hang in there and keep going. The ad agency DDB Needham Worldwide Inc. came up with the ( Read more... )

Some selected news items for “Black Friday”, for those that didn’t go shopping. Us? No shopping (mostly napping), but we plan to do our part for the local economy this evening, when we renew our season tickets for the Rep East Playhouse.

• From the “Now That’s Real Estate” Department: Looking for that perfect flat in London? How about one mile of ( Read more... )

Here’s some escape day news, while I try to find my focus and eat lunch. Last time I looked, it was in my top desk drawer -- my focus that is. I have no idea where I left my lunch. Or did I get that backwards?

• From the “But I Didn’t Order The Beer” Department: Slashdot is reporting that IBM has been granted a patent for splitting a restaurant bill. ( Read more... )

• Observation the First. There’s a new Austin Lounge Lizard’s Video/Song, done for Consumer’s Union: The Balance Transfer Switcheroo
  
  
• Observation the Second: Well, we’re now in a relationship with a failed bank. Our mortgage is with Downey Savings, or should I now say U.S. Bank. Still, it might provide us an opportunity. We’ve been wanting to ( Read more... )

It's been a busy day -- teaching a class, reviewing documents with a short deadline, and fighting a migraine -- so the opportunity to look at the news didn't arise until I got home. But here are some observations, to feed the sharks in the water:

• From the "Making Government Efficient" Department: Those who remember back to the Clinton ( Read more... )

It’s Monday, the election is over (but for the electoral college)... this must mean it is time for a mostly non-political news chum:

• From the “Gift that Keeps On Giving” Department: A reminder for those giving gift cards this year: Be careful about the retailers you use, because if the retailer goes belly-up, the gift card may be worthless. This ( Read more... )

• From the “Watch What You Say” Department: Back in 2000, George W. Bush said that he wanted to be a uniter, not a divider. After 8 years of his administration, I think we can now say that goal was achieved. He united a majority of the country... behind President-Elect Barack Obama.
  
  
• From the “Remember the 14th” Department: Alas it looks like ( Read more... )

Well, I was going to do a News ChumTM today. I was going to talk about how the announcement about Circuit City closing 155 stores seemed oddly juxtaposed against the article about the VCR going the way of the dodo. I was going to write about the 100-calorie Twinkie. I was going to write about the death of Yma SumacBut then I realized, tomorrow is ( Read more... )