consumption link archives: quicklinks home
Thursday April 24, 2008
Monday April 7, 2008
Wednesday April 2, 2008
Friday March 21, 2008
Wednesday March 19, 2008
A City That Sat on Its Treasures, but Didn’t See Them
Chandigarh throws out Corbusier's furniture as junk, finds out too late it was valuable junk. ¶
Thursday March 13, 2008
Wednesday February 27, 2008
Sunday February 24, 2008
Sunday January 27, 2008
Thursday January 24, 2008
Tuesday January 22, 2008
Solving a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside a cookie
Is the fortune cookie really Chinese... or is it Japanese? ¶
Tuesday December 18, 2007
Federal Reserve shrugged as US subprime crisis spread
Alan Greenspan was first warned about sub-prime mortgage mis-selling in 2001. ¶
Thursday November 22, 2007
Wednesday November 21, 2007
Monday November 19, 2007
Thursday November 15, 2007
Friday November 9, 2007
In a growing world, milk is the new oil
In parts of the United States, milk is more expensive than gasoline... ¶
Thursday November 8, 2007
Wednesday October 17, 2007
Sunday October 7, 2007
Saturday October 6, 2007
Thursday September 27, 2007
Sunday September 16, 2007
Wednesday September 12, 2007
Thursday August 23, 2007
Wednesday August 22, 2007
Saturday August 18, 2007
Tuesday August 7, 2007
Friday April 20, 2007
Friday April 13, 2007
Tuesday March 27, 2007
The Album, a Commodity in Disfavor
Record labels are struggling to adapt to music buyer's increasing preference for singles rather than albums ¶
Monday March 26, 2007
Tuesday February 20, 2007
Monday February 19, 2007
Scientists call for an end of deep sea "plunder"
The fuel subsidies that allow bottom trawling fishing fleets to "plunder" the deep seas should be scrapped. ¶
Friday February 9, 2007
Friday January 26, 2007
Air-freighted food may lose "organic" label
The UK's main organic certification body is concerned about the "food miles" involved in importing goods by air ¶
Tuesday January 16, 2007
Monday January 15, 2007
Large retail chains move out of Manhattan and onto the surrounding streets
And compete with local merchants and make some commentators antsy about the sameness that's potentially in store for the other New York boroughs ¶
On the mend
Three Guardian writers try to find someone - anyone - to put their broken gadgets back together again... ¶
Friday January 12, 2007
Pizza promotion met with death threats
Only in America, the land of the free and the utterly immature. ¶
Thursday January 11, 2007
"Shock" as UK rates rise to 5.25%
Only a muppet would be surprised by an interest rate rises when house price inflation is still rampant... ¶
Mr. Noodle
Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. Give him ramen noodles, and you don’t have to teach him anything. ¶
Tuesday January 9, 2007
Turbo-consumerism is the driving force behind crime
Failed consumers will lie, cheat and steal to gain the trappings of success so that they can be regarded as normal ¶
Friday January 5, 2007
Singles chart set to go retro
Chart will now include all single sales, not just those of "recent" releases. ¶
Thursday January 4, 2007
Sunday December 31, 2006
Britons 'not ready to drink less'
Britons are incapable of emulating the European drinking culture because they "enjoy getting drunk" ¶
Thursday December 14, 2006
Wednesday December 13, 2006
It is not just criminals who are profiting from identity theft: financial institutions are making money too
¶Tuesday December 12, 2006
Saturday December 2, 2006
Saturday November 25, 2006
Friday November 17, 2006
Give me back my GOOGLE
[via a.wholelottanothing.org]Google results without all the bloody affiliate links [no kelkoo, pixmania, dealtime etc.]. ¶
A one-way street to postcode madness
An up-to-date list of addresses is vital for local authorities - but they have to pay for the data they created themselves... ¶
Thursday November 16, 2006
Wednesday November 15, 2006
Tuesday November 14, 2006
Monday November 13, 2006
Sunday November 12, 2006
Piracy losses fabricated - Aussie study
A draft study commissioned by the Australian Attorney General's office finds that the music and software industries attributes sales losses to piracy without any evidence to back their claims. ¶
Thursday November 2, 2006
'Only 50 years left' for sea fish
More than a third of sea fisheries already in 'a state of collapse'... ¶
Monday October 30, 2006
Tuesday September 12, 2006
Saturday August 26, 2006
U.S. rice supply contaminated by GM rice
U.S. commercial supplies of long-grain rice have become "inadvertently" contaminated with a genetically engineered variety not approved for human consumption. Thank you Bayer CropScience. ¶
Saturday August 12, 2006
Marginal Revolution: Why is the UK so expensive?
Because the UK doesn't believe in price competition. Then add inefficient land markets, the food price premium caused by the Common Agricultural Policy... ¶
Wednesday August 9, 2006
Tuesday August 8, 2006
Thursday July 27, 2006
Nikon D80 pics revealed
Looks like a cut down D-200... and why would anyone want a cut down D-200? Just buy the real thing. ¶
Tuesday July 25, 2006
Photodoto » Portable photo storage buyer’s guide
I have an Epson P-2000:
Light and portable, but slow [particularly with large CF cards - it feels like it takes more than twice as long to copy files from my 2 gig CF card as it does from my 1 gig one, and they're the same speed/manufacturer].
I do like it, although the battery life is absolutely terrible. ¶
No superstores 'means prosperity'
"Shops, employment and the countryside in England all flourish if plans for superstores are refused, a report says". Summers probably warmer too no doubt... er, hey... ¶
UK imports over 100,000 AK-47 rifles in just three months
Does make you realise just how big the arms trade really is... ¶
Wednesday July 5, 2006
If the customer is always right, but you have lots of different customers, then which customer is always right?
¶Thursday June 29, 2006
Tuesday June 27, 2006
Friday June 23, 2006
Monday June 5, 2006
Barbie dolls are superficial and bland and are unlikely to be confused with sizzling steaks
said Canada's Supreme Court last Friday. ¶
Sunday June 4, 2006
Apple nixes off-shore support in India
Great news if true - have had to deal with Apple 'support' in India three or four times and they were appalling each time -
"Your power supply is not working but we won't repair it as it might not be a hardware problem"
"You'll need to buy AppleCare if you want us to repair your Powerbook, would you like to buy AppleCare?" "No, I don't need AppleCare" "You need to buy AppleCare if you want Apple to fix your computer" "Do you mean that you're refusing to repair my machine even though it's under warranty?" "Oh."
They can't cope if you don't follow their script and frankly it's clear that they don't care if they can't/won't help with your problem. ¶Have you ever been to a retail store and seen this sign on the register: "Your purchase free if you don't get a receipt"?
The sign is a security device that's targeted at employee theft... ¶
Saturday June 3, 2006
New Yorker writer Bill Buford becomes a kitchen bitch for Mario Batali
, and survives to tell the tale in Heat [via megnut] ¶The Register's guide to buying HD TV in the UK
So let's look at the big questions. Do you need an HDTV? Well no, not really - not yet, anyway. ¶
Saturday May 27, 2006
Friday May 26, 2006
The BBC examines the rise of the UK's "Confrontation culture"
Ben Page, chairman of the Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute, says there is certainly a common perception that we're losing our manners. And he has a phrase to describe the shoppers having childish tantrums at the checkouts - these are "masters of the me-niverse", who expect the world to revolve around the axis of their own ego. ¶
Ben Page, chairman of the Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute, says there is certainly a common perception that we're losing our manners. And he has a phrase to describe the shoppers having childish tantrums at the checkouts - these are "masters of the me-niverse", who expect the world to revolve around the axis of their own ego. ¶
The Rise of Crowdsourcing
How the work of crowds of amateurs threaten to reshape professional markets. ¶
How the work of crowds of amateurs threaten to reshape professional markets. ¶
Sunday May 21, 2006
Shell UK stops accepting chip-and-pin payments after £1m fraud
Ah, the fallibility of technology... aka the best laid plans etc... ¶
Ah, the fallibility of technology... aka the best laid plans etc... ¶
Saturday May 20, 2006
Monday April 17, 2006
Saturday April 15, 2006
Companies In The Crossfire
Business Week discovers that "the politically passionate" are avoiding businesses they see as "repugnant". Shock, horror. ¶
Business Week discovers that "the politically passionate" are avoiding businesses they see as "repugnant". Shock, horror. ¶
Sunday April 9, 2006
Why women are changing their minds about men
As a woman's financially independence increases, so does her preference for physical attractiveness in potential partners, says a new survey: the New Scientist recommends that "men who aren't already there get down to the gym, and moisturise". ¶
As a woman's financially independence increases, so does her preference for physical attractiveness in potential partners, says a new survey: the New Scientist recommends that "men who aren't already there get down to the gym, and moisturise". ¶
Saturday April 8, 2006
Friday April 7, 2006
The groom bought stamps
"You bought stamps and almost killed a clerk. I've been scheduling a church, a reception site, a caterer, a florist, a photographer, a hair stylist, a makeup person, a dress, fittings, bridesmaids, church music, the band, our rings, limos, hotels, save the date cards, invitations, directions, photography permits, our registry, our wedding website, who sits where and who says what, and during that time I've probably almost committed roughly a hundred homicides," she said. "But you bought stamps. Attaboy." ¶
"You bought stamps and almost killed a clerk. I've been scheduling a church, a reception site, a caterer, a florist, a photographer, a hair stylist, a makeup person, a dress, fittings, bridesmaids, church music, the band, our rings, limos, hotels, save the date cards, invitations, directions, photography permits, our registry, our wedding website, who sits where and who says what, and during that time I've probably almost committed roughly a hundred homicides," she said. "But you bought stamps. Attaboy." ¶
Monday April 3, 2006
Grups - The Ascendant Breed of Grown-Ups Who Are Redefining Adulthood
And apparently killing off the generation gap while they're at it... ¶
And apparently killing off the generation gap while they're at it... ¶
Wednesday March 22, 2006
Tuesday March 21, 2006
Scenes from the world today: in England, the Archbishop of Canterbury says stop teaching creationism in schools, while several thousand miles away the Saudi Labour Ministry says men must stop selling women's lingerie. ¶
Monday March 20, 2006
Sunday March 19, 2006
Coke 'drinks India dry'
Critics claim beverage giant's bottling plants are interfering with irrigation in drought-ridden regions ¶
Critics claim beverage giant's bottling plants are interfering with irrigation in drought-ridden regions ¶
The culture of dissatisfaction
How much of what we do is a reaction against things we're dissatisfied with? ¶
How much of what we do is a reaction against things we're dissatisfied with? ¶
Saturday March 18, 2006
Wednesday March 15, 2006
Monday March 13, 2006
Sunday March 5, 2006
You're nicked ... now please follow me through ladies' lingerie
London's Metropolitan Police to build police cells in Selfridge's Department Store. ¶
London's Metropolitan Police to build police cells in Selfridge's Department Store. ¶
Saturday March 4, 2006
No Work and No Play [via apartmenttherapy]
James Surowiecki on the non-appearance of the leisure economy of the future: "In the American model, then, you work more hours and use the money you make to pay for the things you can’t do because you’re working" ¶
James Surowiecki on the non-appearance of the leisure economy of the future: "In the American model, then, you work more hours and use the money you make to pay for the things you can’t do because you’re working" ¶
Friday March 3, 2006
The Middle Class on the Precipice [via 3quarksdaily]
How the American Middle Class's safety net is being whittled away. ¶
How the American Middle Class's safety net is being whittled away. ¶
Monday February 27, 2006
Saturday February 25, 2006
Thursday January 26, 2006
Wednesday January 25, 2006
Saturday January 21, 2006
A trail of diamonds
A photo essay following diamonds from the ground to the ring, via churches, Antwerp and India... ¶
A photo essay following diamonds from the ground to the ring, via churches, Antwerp and India... ¶
Monday January 16, 2006
Saturday January 14, 2006
Friday January 13, 2006
Thursday January 12, 2006
Friday January 6, 2006
Luxury and inconspicuous consumption
Where (the culture of consumption) intersects (more money than brains). ¶
Where (the culture of consumption) intersects (more money than brains). ¶
Saturday December 24, 2005
Friday December 23, 2005
Saturday December 17, 2005
Saturday December 10, 2005
Online hotel rating sites driving anxiety into the hearts of many hotel managers
"On these sites, disgruntled guests are free to use their own words to describe the horror of their stay; totally free to alter the facts without comment, explanation, or remedy from the hotel" ¶
"On these sites, disgruntled guests are free to use their own words to describe the horror of their stay; totally free to alter the facts without comment, explanation, or remedy from the hotel" ¶
Friday December 9, 2005
Wednesday December 7, 2005
Monday December 5, 2005
Friday December 2, 2005
Wednesday November 30, 2005
What's hurting the middle class - the myth of over-consumption
Over a generation, average mortgage expenses have increased by 69 percent in the US, and house prices are directly linked with the quality of local schools. ¶
Over a generation, average mortgage expenses have increased by 69 percent in the US, and house prices are directly linked with the quality of local schools. ¶
Friday November 25, 2005
Tuesday November 22, 2005
Wednesday November 16, 2005
UK firms accused of 'ramping up online prices'
Online retailers charged higher prices for electronic goods than store-front retailers, allegedly. ¶
Online retailers charged higher prices for electronic goods than store-front retailers, allegedly. ¶
Wednesday November 9, 2005
Nikon D100, D70, D50 batteries recalled
Could possibly ignite and melt. Yaay. A list of the serial numbers affected is here. ¶
Could possibly ignite and melt. Yaay. A list of the serial numbers affected is here. ¶
Sunday November 6, 2005
5th generation iPod reviewed
Better battery life, better audio quality. No more Firewire support. Ah well... ¶
Better battery life, better audio quality. No more Firewire support. Ah well... ¶
Saturday November 5, 2005
Monday October 31, 2005
Sunday October 30, 2005
Cheaper homes [i.e. trailers] hit harder by hurricane Wilma
Apparently Americans have just figured this out. In other news, water still wet. ¶
Apparently Americans have just figured this out. In other news, water still wet. ¶
Monday October 24, 2005
Friday October 21, 2005
Scotland's murderous heart
A new report claims Scotland has a higher murder rate than America. The UN says it's the 'most violent place in the developed world'. How did it come to this? Irvine Welsh on the dark heart of his beloved homeland... ¶
A new report claims Scotland has a higher murder rate than America. The UN says it's the 'most violent place in the developed world'. How did it come to this? Irvine Welsh on the dark heart of his beloved homeland... ¶
Friday October 14, 2005
Saturday October 8, 2005
Why Do-It-Yourself Photo Printing Doesn't Add Up
I would have thought it was because life's too short, but apparently there are economic reasons too. ¶
I would have thought it was because life's too short, but apparently there are economic reasons too. ¶
Wednesday April 20, 2005
Nikon encrypting white balance metadata in RAW files
This only affects people who have a super high-end digital camera, but apparently Nikon has decided to start encrypting white balance metadata in the RAW files for their D2X and D2Hs Professional digital SLRs. This means you can't adjust the white balance in Photoshop anymore. [Via DPReview] ¶
This only affects people who have a super high-end digital camera, but apparently Nikon has decided to start encrypting white balance metadata in the RAW files for their D2X and D2Hs Professional digital SLRs. This means you can't adjust the white balance in Photoshop anymore. [Via DPReview] ¶
Friday April 8, 2005
Card companies offering credit to homeless young people
A study by the homelessness charity Centrepoint found almost a quarter of young homeless people surveyed had been offered credit via unsolicited promotional literature from credit card companies and other lenders sent directly to their hostels. ¶
A study by the homelessness charity Centrepoint found almost a quarter of young homeless people surveyed had been offered credit via unsolicited promotional literature from credit card companies and other lenders sent directly to their hostels. ¶
Friday April 1, 2005
Tuesday March 29, 2005
The Most Expensive [Rock] Album Never Made
The NYT on Guns N'Roses' long [and still...] awaited "Chinese Democracy". ¶
The NYT on Guns N'Roses' long [and still...] awaited "Chinese Democracy". ¶
Tuesday March 8, 2005
Warren Buffett describes Americans as 'rich spending junkies' who could turn into a nation of 'sharecroppers' ¶
