Finance Articles / Videos



My fears about buying a home

Many people in my life have made the jump to home ownership in the past 6 months: one of my best friends and business associate purchased a great home for his wife and himself, a family member upgraded to a larger... 

College tuitions up 6.5%, but is it a surprise?

College is becoming increasingly unaffordable for many students just entering their higher education years, with the average tuition jumping to $7,020 per year for a 4 year college, says the College Board annual... 


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Crime Articles



Judges Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. and Michael T. Conahan should be legally put to death

The cases of Pennsylvania judges Mark A. Ciavarella, Jr. and Michael T. Conahan are an example of one of the only situations... 

Chicago Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Al Sanchez: mow my lawn for a job!

I love Chicago, my birthplace and about a 3 minute walk from my current home.  It’s endless news on the crime front:... 

A sad day for freedom: the Joey “the Clown” Lombardo sentencing

It’s always a sad day when “criminal” masterminds finally go away after being caught by the Feds.  Today,... 

Jimmie Akins fired from Judge Jeanine Pirro show over tow truck scandal

Last week we talked about  Michael Ciancio, a Chicago ex-cop who pled guilty to Federal extortion charges from the FBI investigation... 

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Politics Articles




Amazon versus Macmillan, Hachette, Publishers, Authors, etc.

When Amazon decided to try to fight publishers by telling them they were going to sell e-books at a fixed price ($9.99), Apple came in with their iPad and another e-book store to give publishers the option to sell books at a range... 

I voted today

I voted today. Not in a voting booth, and not with a ballot. I voted today when I woke up.  My internal alarm clock told me I had to get up early, so at just before 6am, I arose.  I turned on the lamp near my bed, my first vote of... 

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Technology Articles



Check out a friend if you need 3D design work

A little plug here for a friend and contractor that I use, Mr. Brad Ahrens, a young and driven Chicago 3D designer who is now taking freelance jobs. If you need... 

FCC to pry open cable box monopolies

I haven’t had cable in years — as an advocate of providing my expendable income towards only competitive markets where I have a choice, I’ve fallen... 

RFID-stealing WarCloning comes to eBay from the heroic Chris Paget

Today’s passports in the U.S. contain a chip called an RFID tag.  These tags have been used for years for inventory control in warehouses, and for other purposes.... 

Ma.gnolia Crashes: fall go boom

I think I’m bad luck to Web 2.0 companies.  The moment I start using them, things break. Today, Ma.gnolia, the social bookmarking competitor to del.icio.us,... 

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Popular Articles



News we missed and open chat, 12/12/07 1 comment(s) | 446 view(s) per day
RIP Charles "Charlie" Cooper (Telefon Tel Aviv) 53 comment(s) | 324 view(s) per day
Harry Markopolous / Markopolos Letter to the SEC 2005, against Madoff 3 comment(s) | 311 view(s) per day
Vincent Richardson, a 14 year old boy hero impersonates a police officer 5 comment(s) | 196 view(s) per day
Who is Harry Markopoulos; why was he ignored re: Madoff? 1 comment(s) | 180 view(s) per day
Harry Markopolos / Markopoulos smells a stink from Madoff 2 comment(s) | 180 view(s) per day
In response to Day without a Gay comment 0 comment(s) | 126 view(s) per day
HP uses third party to sell printers in Iran 0 comment(s) | 107 view(s) per day

Lifestyle Articles




$20 a gallon, will life change? (Christopher Steiner)

Local Evanston journalist Christopher Steiner has a book ranking in the top few thousand at Amazon titled “$20 Per Gallon: How the Inevitable Rise in the Price of Gasoline Will Change Our Lives for the Better” that delves into the thought of what might... 

Make money online with online reviews at your own site

I was a big fan of Amazon.com and Yelp.com — sites where users of products, services and businesses would be able to leave reviews and ratings of their experiences.  In 2008, I realized that my reviews were not just useless, but they were making other businesses... 

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Arts Articles

Get rid of Ticketmaster and Ticket Brokers

I’ve never understood the need for Ticketmaster or ticket brokers in general: when bands have tickets to sell, why... 

Update on the Charlie Cooper situation

In my article titled RIP Charles “Charlie” Cooper (Telefon Tel Aviv), some facts I had gathered from newspapers,... 

RIP Charles “Charlie” Cooper (Telefon Tel Aviv)

BIG UPDATE: After reading this article, please read my follow up on the Charlie Cooper situation: Update on the Charlie... 

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Entertainment Articles

Where are the real 3D avatar movies?

It’s been a sidenote in science fiction books for decades, especially in Jack McDevitt’s “Hutch”... 

The sexiest woman on TV, ever (not the PETA Superbowl ad)

I don’t own a TV.  There are days I consider buying one, but I don’t see the purpose of spending $1200 a year... 

G.U.N. announces latest website: the CasinoWiki

As an avid entertainment seeker and math geek, I’ve always loved the atmosphere of the hotel-casinos and resorts around... 

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Travel Articles

Soaring Chicago parking meter rates: it’s a good thing!

Early next month, the City of Chicago’s parking meters will be privatized — a word that is endearing to this... 

Student Brian Goding kicked out of Vic Theatre over bomb threat

According to the STNG News Wires, a drunk student was tossed from Chicago’s Vic Theatre on Monday, January 20, 2009... 

Selling a diamond to raise money, pay down debts

I’ve been helping quite a few people work out ways to get rid of the burden of debt.  One of my first recommended... 

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