Category: Consuming

For something started in a Watertown bedroom, StyleFeeder has come a long way. Today we’ve got our first serious celebrity endorsement: Mary Kate and Ashley use StyleFeeder for their wishlists.

Yes, the real Olsen twins.

Slate’s got an article up on Democratic trade policy which covers the stupidity of thinking that Republicans are “free traders.” They quote the Economist as asking “So is America headed for a bout of protectionist class warfare?”

That’s the stupidist question I’ve heard in months. What do you mean headed for? Have you been paying attention to European steel, Canadian lumber, or Brazilian sugar? Did you follow the collapse of the Doha round of talks? No. The US has been achingly protectionist for quite some time. And class warfare? Give me a fucking break. Social security, tax breaks for the ultra-rich, corporate welfare, etc. etc.

The Dems are not exactly free-trade advocates themselves, and most people– left and right– people confuse reasonable expansions in trade with giving corporations free reign to loot businesses at home and abroad. But anyone who thinks the Democratic majority is going to make it worse for trade is not just incorrect, but ignorant.

The NYT says rye is the next big thing. I told you so. I’ve been drinking it for ages.

Of course, now that it’s popular, what the hell will I drink? Grappa?

The new Bond flick is awesome. Thanksgiving is pretty OK too.

Not since Say Halo 2 My Little Friend has there been a video game headline as amusing as Wii is the Champion.

Bookdwarf pointed out to me that Danielle Steele has a new perfume, and that it probably smells like death.

P Diddy is now launching his own stank, and it’s called “Unforgivable.”

Yes, yes it is.

The Big Picture lists the nine things you need to know about personal finance. It’s pretty reasonable advice, but it’s also a lot like saying “eat right and exercise and you’ll lose weight and live longer.” Yeah, yeah, I know, but I still love my fried ice cream with bacon on it.

Way back in September 2005 I made some predictions about the 2007 motorcycle models. Well, the announcements for the ’07 model year came out last month and I forgot to blog about it.

My usual favorite, Honda, does nothing I care for. Plenty of updates and improvements for their class-leading race-replica sportbike, the ever-faster, ever-lighter CBR600 RR, and little or nothing for the cruisers, the cool scooters (Ruckus series), and the naked bikes (The 599 ‘Hornet’ and 919). Triumph, the other manufacturer I follow, has stuck with small improvements to its existing bikes too.

(You’ll note that while I love the Honda and Triumph brands, I ride a Suzuki. That’s because Suzuki makes a great bike at a great price. I don’t much like the direction that they’ve taken with the SV650 styling since ’02, but that’s neither here nor there: the SV series is still the best value on the market.)

Anyway, I’d hoped that Honda would come out with some screamingly cool stuff this year, and I was totally wrong about that. I was correct about the increasing sales for dual-sports and bumpy road bikes following in the wake of the Scrambler, though. Mostly it came in the form of bikes released later on into the 2006 model year: the BMW HP2, the Buell Ulysses, and I’ve heard Ducati’s coming up with a more-rugged Multistrada, too, but I can’t seem to find it right now. All of that, plus the usual stuff from KTM and the semi-street-legal Motocross bikes from all the Japanese manufacturers, seem to be popping up here and there, although nothing comes close to the popularity of the race replica sportbikes and Harley-imitators.

I’ve learned two things from these predictions. First, my tastes do not predict the markets. Second, because I am willing to admit failure, I can never be a technology analyst.

Spicy Food Hell Night at the East Coast Grill. Oh yeah.

Since we’re caught up to real-time on The Wire, Bookdwarf and I have been watching Rome, which we’ve rented from Netflix. Both shows are excellent– plenty of intrigue, good acting and strong production values.

On the other hand, I’m confused by the way that all of Rome seems to speak with a British accent, and you definitely don’t have the same feel of suspense wondering whether Marc Antony is trustworthy and what will become of young Octavian.