Saturday, February 27, 2010

Interesting Product: Pogoplug

I ran across an interesting Tech product called "Pogoplug" which allows you to access any USB storage device (solid or hard drive) via the internet through an internet browser.  The interesting thing about their business model is that you, the consumer pay for the device up front with no additional annual fees.  Compare this with other access companies which require you pay a yearly charge.

It currently is going for $129 on Amazon at the following link:  Pogoplug Multimedia Sharing Device.

It amazingly allows you the plug up to 4 USB devices or even more if you use a USB hub. What isn't clear is whether you can allow access to certain drives or partitions to family or friends via another ID/password. There is a "Usecase" for file sharing, but there isn't specific information on how to actually get it set up.

Nature: Invasion of the Pythons

I am watching a very interesting Nature program on PBS called Invasion of the Pythons.    I guess it caught my eye because earlier today on KNX 1070, a local news radio station, they mentioned that open season starts in March in Florida.  You can view a Naples newspaper article by clicking here.

Comments:

  • By 2 years of age, they are big enough to start eating pigs.
  • They can eat whole crocodiles and digestion is complete within 6 days (skull, skin, bones, etc)
  • They nest and are reproducing in the wild
  • They have 4 rows of teeth on the top and 2 rows of teeth on the bottom
  • 2 pits to sense heat
  • Florida keys have a Burmese Python surveillance program with traps set up to protect a wood rat
  • Farmers are not surprised to plow into a Python
  • Drivers are used to needing to steer around these snakes
View the program at the above link.  Even though it was very interesting, I do not plan on moving to Florida anytime soon.

For Amazon.com's products about Pythons, click here: Search Amazon.com for pythons

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Sunset Magazine's Western Home Awards 2009-2010

Among the other magazines I get for free (most I throw away), I was flipping through the latest "Sunset" and found the Western Home Awards 2009-2010.  There are some interesting designs.  I like the clean lines and the simplicity.  What I probably don't like is the lack of privacy with clear glass.

Click here for a 1-year subscription to the Sunset Magazine on Amazon.com: Sunset (1-year).

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Erratic couple of weeks behind us: Markets short-term overbought

It has been a couple of crazy weeks, but short-term the major indices are overbought.  I would expect the markets to trade sideways to down for the next several weeks.

Based on current patterns, it could bounce around 102 (based on DIA) and stronger support around 99 (based on DIA).

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Toyota saved $100 million from not having a complete recall?

This article on Yahoo! Finance references an internal Toyota document where they saved a bunch of money by negotiating to not have a complete recall.

Just doesn't seem right.  We had a 1998 Camry.  Not sure we would buy Toyota for a while.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

CNNMoney article about credit card traps

My wife came across this www.CNNMoney.com article written by one of their staff writers, David Ellis, about things to look out for with the new "CARD Act."

Click here to read the article.

Recent earthquakes in the Redlands area since February 13, 2010

A friend of mine posted this link that showed the recent earthquakes on Google Maps.  Click the following link:  Representation of recent earthquakes since February 13, 2010 in the Redlands area on Google Maps

Monday, February 15, 2010

60 minutes: World Economic Forum

The 60 minutes news program last night on CBS had a segment on the World Economic Forum which was really interesting.  In case you missed it, you can view the clip on the CBS website by clicking here.

Some of the leading heads of state and corporate CEOs meet for several days in a small town where there only a single road for entry and exit.  It reports that a lot of "business" gets done there because nowhere else can attendees meet so many influential people in such a short time.  A couple of programs or companies that have benefited from attending include Google and the UN getting a donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

More people are switching from "big" banks to local credit unions

The question is whether you or I have already done this or should seriously considering doing so.  My wife brought this up last week.

Now here's an article on CNNMoney about how others are doing it as well.  Sometimes it is about saving money on fees/charges and/or receiving a higher return on interest-bearing accounts.  Sometimes it is just a matter of principles.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Slow City?

I just finished watching a documentary on "Slow Cities". There are 125 "Slow Cities" in the world. In order for a city to receive the status of "Slow City", there are several guidelines that need to be followed.

I started to think about how in this fast paced technology world that we live in, do we really live? Are we living life by the "seat of our pants"? Are we so busy with so much work, that we really do not slow down to enjoy our life?

I worked for 12 years as an oncology nurse. I took care of many patients with different types of cancers. Some patients did well, others did not. I will never forget the advice I received from one of the patients: He said to me, "honey, enjoy your life everyday. Don't work so hard and tell yourself that you will enjoy good things when you retire. Look at me, I have worked so hard, did not take many vacations because I was saving it all for my retirement... now that I have just retired, I have been handed a not-good-prognosis cancer".

So we think: Quality of Life vs. Quantity of Life? Do we also apply this to money? Quantity of Money vs. Quality of Money?

Who grows rice in Alaska?

I was just perusing the headlines this morning and found this headline on Yahoo! Finance:

"Jury: Bayer must pay $1.5M to AK, MS rice farmers"

The question is:  "Who grows rice in Alaska?"  When you read the article, it is actually supposed to be Arkansas which is abbreviated with AR.  It is not unique to Yahoo! Finance since I found it on the ABC News website as well.

Click here for the article on Yahoo! Finance.

Click here for the article on ABC News.com.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

CNNMoney.com article on the biggest rip-offs

In this CNNMoney.com article, it lists nine of the biggest rip-offs as far as markup from the cost.

The top one is sending a text message.  This is based on the cost of sending a message is only $0.003. Click on the link above to see the rest.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Apple iPad: What else can it do?

Not sure the new Apple iPad is worth it yet. I don't even have an iPod touch or an iPhone.  This PCWorld article is about Citrix Xenapp that will run Windows 7 on the iPad.

I wonder what other Operating Systems it can run?