PRODUCTIVITY: Book price war

Friday, October 16, 2009

http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/10/16/price-war-breaks-out-between-amazon-and-wal-mart-over-10-new-books/

Price War Breaks Out Between Amazon and Wal-Mart over 10 New Books

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In this time of eBook, eBooks and more eBooks we think it’s worth noting that a price war has broken out over 10 pre-order hard cover titles. We wonder if it more books will be added to the list, the price keeps getting reduced, and if other online book providers will join in.

It began yesterday when Wal-Mart announced that they were reducing the price of ten titles to $10 for books purchased on Walmart.com. Then, Amazon.com came back by lowering the price for those same titles to $9. This morning (Friday), Wal-Mart returned the volley and is now selling the books for $9.

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Ain’t capitalism wonderful!

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Posted by reinkefj

RANT: Can’t be a player and umpire at the same time

Friday, October 16, 2009

http://jasonalba.com/2009/10/13/health-insurance-tracks-cost-of-medical-care-bs/comment-page-1/#comment-46036

Affordable Outplacement
Health Insurance Tracks Cost Of Medical Care. BS.
Jason Alba

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That was what I thought the lie was. Based on my summer, with a birth and a surgery, I could not believe the overhead and price inflation caused by insurance companies. You can read about it on my JibberJobber blog, but understand that the hospital bills for the birth of my kid were about 60% discounted because we were self-pay, and we paid up front.

In other words, because we bypassed the health insurance system we were able to avoid 60% of the cost. Unbelievable.

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My observation on the upcoming “Obama-care” where the gooferment will become — in quick order — my “insurance company”. (Yeah, I know what they say. But, I think it’s going to be “Medicare for everyone”. To paraphrase Judge Judy, “I wouldn’t believe you …” (i.e. a congress critter; any politician) “… if your tongue came notarized!”

If my insurance company screws me, I can go to the gooferment for relief. If the gooferment aka my insurance company screws me, to whom do I go to for relief? To the gooferment’s courts?

Just take my screwing and shut up!

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Posted by reinkefj

INTERESTING: Political quiz

Friday, October 16, 2009

http://pewresearch.org/politicalquiz/quiz/index.php

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I’m not surprised. I’m a wonk! It wasn’t very hard.

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Posted by reinkefj

TECHNOLOGY: “Smart readers”; too smart?

Friday, October 16, 2009

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/6292809/Smart-meters-could-be-spy-in-the-home.html

Smart meters could be ‘spy in the home’

Smart meters could become a ‘spy in the home’ by allowing social workers and health authorities to monitor households, adding to conce rn at Britain’s surveillance society.

By Alastair Jamieson

Published: 10:30AM BST 11 Oct 2009

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The DECC document adds households could even have their power to some appliances turned off remotely to help the national grid if there is too much demand. It says: “In terms of potentially intrusive non-physical behaviour unrelated to data, smart metering potentially offers scope for remote intervention such as dynamic demand management, which is designed to assist management of the network and thus security of supply. This could involve direct supplier or distribution company interface with equipment, such as refrigerators, within a property, overriding the control of the householder.”

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I always think of what can go wrong.

Turn off the refrig to “save the grid” and the food goes bad.

Turn off the heat to “save the grid” and people die.

Turn off power to politically “wrong” people?

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Posted by reinkefj