Category Archives for Politics
I have opinions, too
Dear Martha Coakley: maybe now that you want my vote, you’ll respond to my letter about “accountability”
I’ve really had my fill. I’m up to here (picture my hand patting my chest just below my neck) with the claims Martha Coakley is making about bringing “real accountability back to Wall Street and Washington.” The Attorney General is talking, in … Continue reading
Bank of America marketing: how to lose customers on a grand scale
Well, growing a business ethically continues to defy Bank of America. First, it duped shareholders by concealing girnormous losses at Merrill-Lynch last year — then it agreed to paying ML’s brokers astronomical bonuses, all apparently in exchange for an extra … Continue reading
Dear Michael Steele and the Republican Party: Please leave me alone
Dear Chairman Steele, Last November, I made a $25 contribution to your party’s candidate. I also made a $25 contribution to the Obama campaign. Then, I wasn’t sure who would have been the better president. Now, after months and months … Continue reading
Choose one: New FTC blog post guidelines a) protect you b) kill free speech
Well, this is one of those times when the government acts and you get to chose your reaction. On the one hand, the emergence of the ‘net as the definitive source of reviews for everything from software to celery has … Continue reading
NY AG to pwn Charles Schwab; get me and thousands of other dupes our pound of flesh
The short version of a long story is that Charles Schwab sold me auction-rate securities, promising liquidity, then stonewalled me when the market disappeared for the ARSs. Meanwhile, every other firm on the planet — and I mean every one … Continue reading
Are you feeling like you’ve been screwed, but can’t quite figure out how?
Maybe it’s your health care insurer manipulating your out-of-network health care claim reimbursements to increase their profits. Remember last fall when you signed up for the significantly more expensive plan that lets you choose a doctor out-of-network? You thought you … Continue reading
A whale of a demagogue
I was channel surfing recently (no mean feat on a Verizon FIOS system), and paused briefly on Animal Planet’s Whale Wars. I was instantly riveted…but not because of what the show is ostensibly about. Briefly, it’s a cinema verité recounting … Continue reading
Politics is to beer as poverty is to Wi-Fi
I’ve been way too busy to blog. But today, while my kid was drilling analogies in preparation for the SSAT, the blog muse struck. It’s Sunday, and I’ve just reviewed my retirement account statements from September 30. That was bad enough. … Continue reading
Verizon FiOS: Tribbles Make for Troublesome TV
Remember the Star Trek episode entitled “The Trouble with Tribbles“? Remember how the furry creatures ingratiate themselves with the crew, then multiply so rapidly they nearly overtake the ship? FiOS TV is like a tribble. With apologies to Dr. McCoy, … Continue reading
reCAPTCHA isn’t Boston-ese for being repeatedly tagged for speeding on the Pike
Though I am not a native Bostonian, I have some experience with authentic Boston accents. My lovely wife can occasionally be unintelligible (“Alex, have you seen the sizzzahs?”). To wile away traffic-jam time, I sit in the car and mimic … Continue reading
