How restaurants get you to spend more

An intriguing survey by the Culinary Institute of America sheds light on factors that make us spend more at a restaurant. Researchers tested how much visitors to the Culinary Institute of America’s St. Andrew’s Cafe in Hyde Park, N.Y., spent when menus listed prices in numerals with dollar signs, numerals without dollar signs and wheN… Continue reading How restaurants get you to spend more

More economic sense from Karl Denninger

I’ve had occasion before to quote Karl Denninger and his financial news Web site, ‘The Market Ticker‘. The more I read him, the more he strikes me as one of the few analysts who are actively and openly warning us of the financial and economic reality we face today. Too many others are ‘sugar-coating the… Continue reading More economic sense from Karl Denninger

US government interference in commerce, and its consequences

The investment adviser Mr. Peter Schiff (one of the few who predicted the mortgage crisis and stock market meltdown of last year) has released a new video report. It’s sobering stuff, and well worth watching. From about 3m. 30sec., Mr. Schiff speaks of the General Motors bankruptcy and its implications for the future. He points… Continue reading US government interference in commerce, and its consequences

What to do about Chrysler and General Motors?

A number of readers have e-mailed me, asking what I thought about the bankruptcy of Chrysler and General Motors, and the way in which the Administration is apparently trying to ride roughshod over the legal rights of bond-holders and other creditors in order to ensure that its political supporters (notably the United Auto Workers trade… Continue reading What to do about Chrysler and General Motors?

Interesting thoughts on telemarketers

A recent entry on the blog Popehat (hat-tip to Miss D. for introducing me to this blog) contains some very interesting facts about, and suggestions on how to deal with, telemarketing charity appeals. Here’s a couple of extracts: Let’s make this very clear: unless you are very lucky in which charities are calling you, and… Continue reading Interesting thoughts on telemarketers

The world’s most expensive curry

A restaurant in Britain now offers this dish for wealthy gourmands. The world’s most expensive curry has been launched despite the credit crunch – and costs £2,000 [US $3,289] a portion. The Samundari Khazana curry, meaning Seafood Treasure, is a mix of caviar, sea snails, a whole lobster and even edible gold. The posh nosh… Continue reading The world’s most expensive curry