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Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

How much do you read SkyMall?

Here's a test. Of the six items pictured in the left rail of this week's New York Times story, how many do you know, and how well do you know them? For me, it's owned: 0. Used: 1 (Marshmallow Shooter). Created content about: 1 (Edge Baking Pan). Knew existed: 4 (previous two plus Keep Your Distance Bug Vacuum and Pet Observation Porthole).

I wasn't familiar with Zombie of Montclair Moors or a Bunion Regulator. (When I read SkyMall, I skip feet pages.) And, yes, this posting falls for The SkyMall Trend Story. But this blog has only mentioned SkyMall once before. It has mentioned Hammacher Schlemmer four times. And never mentioned, until now, the Hard to Find Tools catalog, which I love.

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Friday, May 1st, 2009

We are all Jolly Bankers

Thanks to a heads-up from @dagsalot, I've downloaded Wilco's new Guthrie song Jolly Banker, a perfect trip down Mermaid Avenue to the current financial crisis. Get the song here and donate to the Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archives, which, if you've ever sung This Land Is Your Land, listened to either of the Mermaid albums, sung anything around a campfire, or enjoyed Seeger, Dylan or Springsteen, is a good thing to do. You can download with three excellent donation options:

Thanks for the track. I'm happy to support the Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archives. (Suggested minimum donation: two bucks.)

Sorry, I'm unemployed / underemployed or otherwise broke. I'll download the track and I'll make it up to you later, I promise.

I am/was a banker/hedge fund manager/credit default swap trader. I know times are tough, but I'm just fine thank you. (Suggested minimum donation $100.00)

You can find the full lyrics here. Marketplace has links to streams of Wilco and Guthrie's versions as well as an interview with Tweedy.

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