Tag: money

The logic behind the coin shortage produced by the pandemic

The nicest explanation I've seen yet for not only why there's a coin shortage but who gets hurt by it. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/08/national-coin-shortage-everything-to-know.html Everything You Need to Know About the National Coin Shortage By Molly Olmstead Aug 07, 20201:29 PM A nurse visits a laundromat in Florida on Thursday. Tony Giberson via Imagn Content Services LLC If … Continue reading The logic behind the coin shortage produced by the pandemic →

New elevator protocol compulsory if tall office buildings are to survive

I've already heard anecdotal stories about businesses eager to get employees back under their eyes but finding elevators a major roadblock. In buildings as tall as in Manhattan, it could take hours to get everyone upstairs. And then you need to begin getting them down. https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-remakes-elevator-etiquette-11595077202?mod=hp_lista_pos4 Covid-19 Remakes Elevator Etiquette Office buildings limit passengers and … Continue reading New elevator protocol compulsory if tall office buildings are to survive →

Hamilton’s Broadway original cast shares in profits

https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-hamilton-broadway-profit/ How Hamilton’s Cast Got Broadway’s Best Deal Of all the prizes bestowed on Hamilton, the greatest might be the one its cast won for itself.By Richard Morgan | September 28, 2016 Photograph by Sara Krulwich/The New York Times via Redux Offstage last year, the cast of Hamilton was proofreading a different kind of script—one they’d written themselves, hoping … Continue reading Hamilton’s Broadway original cast shares in profits →

If a car loan is part of your life, be careful

A $45,000 Loan for a $27,000 Ride: More Borrowers Are Going Underwater on Car Loans As cars become more expensive, buyers are getting hampered by burdensome loans ByAnnaMaria Andriotis and Ben EisenNov. 9, 2019 5:30 am ET John Schricker took out a loan to buy a car in 2017. Then he took out another. And then another. … Continue reading If a car loan is part of your life, be careful →

Lengthy but nugget-filled list of how travel will change because of COVID-19

This is quite a lengthy article so you'll need to click thru to see a fascinating analysis of the pluses and minuses of COVID-19. They range from the likelihood end of almost all small restaurants, bars, and large gatherings to the temperature checks as normal, less crowded but more expensive travel, and much travel (particularly … Continue reading Lengthy but nugget-filled list of how travel will change because of COVID-19 →

The rich can’t splurge right now on their usual pleasures — and that’s hurting the economy

There's a NYT article after this explaining the consequences to those who depend on spending by the rich to survive, but I'm focusing on just one point -- what is it that the rich have stopped buying? Turns out that it's quite simple: meals out, entertainment such going out to a Broadway play, traveling to … Continue reading The rich can’t splurge right now on their usual pleasures — and that’s hurting the economy →

Get rid of your Stuff (in the U.S.)

It's just possible that you've thinned some of your Stuff while you've been home but feel uncomfortable about throwing whatever into the trash. If you think it's something someone will love, you don't need to match the owner to the item. Just find an empty box, fill it, and use this link:http://www.givebackbox.com/usps You can then … Continue reading Get rid of your Stuff (in the U.S.) →

Amtrak drastically reducing service

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2020/06/16/amtrak-is-ending-daily-service-hundreds-stations-blame-coronavirus-pandemic-railroad-says/ Amtrak is ending daily service to hundreds of stations. Blame the coronavirus pandemic, the railroad says. Reduced schedules begin Oct. 1, affecting stations across the country An Amtrak long-distance train is seen at Union Station in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 13, 2019. (Evelyn Hockstein for The Washington Post) By Luz Lazo June 16, 2020 at 5:33 … Continue reading Amtrak drastically reducing service →

Do you still need to know what you learned in elementary school?

This is a fascinating list of skills and tasks that I personally spent many hours learning early in school. Many have become obsolete -- no doubt. But cursive handwriting is always going to be needed (unless we print). My particular pet peeve -- and I know this is a bit off the topic -- is … Continue reading Do you still need to know what you learned in elementary school? →

Another way in which benefits are difficult to access, this time for the unemployed

You can't tell me the State of New York doesn't have the clout to find a bank with more ATMs (and no fees) to handle the distribution of unemployment benefits. This situation is horrendous. Just one more example of how the people who are poor, even if only temporarily, are treated poorly as well. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/05/nyregion/keybank-nyc-coronavirus.html … Continue reading Another way in which benefits are difficult to access, this time for the unemployed →

Dynamics of employing household help during COVID-19 quarantine

I've attached two separate articles about the very first-world questions about the relationship between employer and housekeeper who doesn't live in during the COVID-19 isolation. First, I found this op/ed an excellent reminder to look at decisions from all sides, not just from the perspective of personal convenience, or even need. In my case, I … Continue reading Dynamics of employing household help during COVID-19 quarantine →