Dan Bowman sent over this ongoing series at Forbes. I’d seen the first couple of parts of it, but didn’t realize it was still ongoing. In light of new Amazon tablet rumors, it takes on new relevance. It’s a thought-provoking look at the state of U.S. manufacturing today, and the state of management. I don’t [...]
All posts tagged USA
Why Amazon can’t make a Kindle in the USA
Posted by Dave Farquhar on September 6, 2011
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2011/09/why-amazon-cant-make-a-kindle-in-the-usa/
Just because you can afford it now…
Today, the sermon at church was based mostly on Nehemiah 5. Nehemiah 5 talks about the ruinous financial situation of the children of Israel at the time the book was written. Check out Nehemiah 5:4-5. “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. Although we are of [...]
Posted by Dave Farquhar on November 7, 2010
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2010/11/just-because-you-can-afford-it-now/
Coming soon: Affordable LED lighting
Affordable is relative, of course. LED lights are a long way from costing less than CFLs, and of course, the old-fashioned incandescents are still cheaper. But the Ecosmart LED bulb that Home Depot is about to start selling for $20 costs half as much as competing offerings from GE and Philips.
They use 8-9 watts to provide equivalent light to a 40w incandescent, work in dimmers, are made in the USA, and have an estimated life expectancy of 17 years. So I think I could be persuaded to buy a couple.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on May 16, 2010
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2010/05/comign-soon-affordable-led-lighting/
Misguided security
I once worked someplace whose management laid an egg when they found out that it was possible to sniff network traffic over hubs. So they replaced all the hubs in their network, at considerable expense, with switches for an extra layer of security.
That’s fine. Except…
Posted by Dave Farquhar on March 10, 2010
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2010/03/misguided-security/
Saving money on wooden trains
My son likes wooden trains. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, since I like the bigger metal (and sometimes plastic) trains that run on O gauge track. The downside to Brio and Learning Curve (Thomas) trains is that sometimes they seem to cost nearly as much as Lionel, even though they’re essentially carved blocks of wood.
There are several ways to save money on them, however.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on February 13, 2010
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2010/02/saving-money-on-wooden-trains/
Wouldn’t you agree, more income is the answer?
So a friend of a friend came over the other night, pitching a pyramid scheme. He just told me he’d started a business. I figured (and kind of hoped) he wanted to sell me handyman services. Actually he wanted to get me out of debt.
"But I have no debt," I said. He told me I needed to keep an open mind.
I remember the last time someone told me that. It was two Mormon missionaries. To be nice, my wife and I let him keep talking.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on January 30, 2010
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2010/01/wouldnt-you-agree-more-income-is-the-answer/
Why I quit my job
Today, some 10 years and 11 months since the last time I did it, I left a job on my own terms. I called my boss, asked to see him, and walked to his office with a single-page letter in hand.
It’s not something I’m especially good at, and, being a fixer by nature, it’s not something I’m usually inclined to do. And while there are several things about this job that I won’t miss at all, my main reason for leaving is health care.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on September 21, 2009
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2009/09/why-i-quit-my-job/
The "good enough" PC
PC World has a treatise on “good enough” computing. This isn’t actually a new trend but it’s never stood still for as long as it has now.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on April 22, 2009
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2009/04/the-good-enough-pc/
Letting go
I took a monitor to Best Buy today. They offer free recycling of most consumer electronics, with a $10 charge for things like monitors and TVs. In exchange, they give you a $10 gift card. So in essence, they’ll take a monitor or TV for free if you buy something.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on March 29, 2009
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2009/03/letting-go/
R.I.P.? The American Dream
Nearly 20 years ago, as I sat in a high school English class, the teacher told us all about the American Dream. And then she said there was one generation that wasn’t going to experience that dream, and she pointed at us.
As grim as things look right now, I can look around myself and see people proving Mrs. Susan Collins wrong, and that makes me happy.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on October 20, 2008
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2008/10/rip-the-american-dream/