Dow 10,000 nostalgia
Today’s brief foray above 10,000 for the Dow Jones Industrial Average will receive a lot of media play. We love round numbers, anniversaries and lists.
Just remember that 10,000 means we’re back where we were a year ago — and where we were a decade ago. Here’s the front page from The Wall Street Journal of March 30, 1999.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Tiger roars past $1 billion
Tiger demonstrates is pitching skills in this Buick ad.
Forbes.com’s SportsMoney blog by Mike Ozanian estimates that Tiger Wood’s $10 million payday last weekend pushed his career earnings — on and off the course — past the $1 billion mark. That would make him the world’s first billion-dollar athlete, Ozanian said.
Ozanian writes:
The scary part is that Woods is only 33-years-old and might have 15 years of competitive golf left in him and 30+ years of designing golf courses. This is only the first $1 billion for Woods.
Comments on the blog claim that Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher already have eclipsed the billion-dollar mark. But Woods’ financial accomplishments at such a tender age are impressive.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Mad Money’s Jim Cramer coming to OU
Jim Cramer, money maven of the rolled-up shirt sleeves and sound effects, will visit the University of Oklahoma next month. Cramer, host of CNBC’s “Mad Money,” will tape an episode of the show before a live audience of OU students on Oct. 30. He also will be the keynote speaker at a dinner for OU business students and alumni on Oct. 29.
OU President David L. Boren said Michael Price, the former Wall Street money manager who the OU business college is named for, arranged Cramer’s visit.
“Jim Cramer’s visit will give OU students an excellent opportunity to hear one of the most prominent personalities on Wall Street,” Boren said.
Anyone have any questions they would like to ask Mr. Cramer? Submit them in the comments.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
They don’t build ‘em like they used to — thank goodness
To note the 50th anniversary of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, best known for its vehicle crash tests, the organization brought together some 50-year-old Detroit steel with its modern-day counterpart. In other words, they slammed together a 1959 Chevy Bel Air and a 2009 Chevy Impala at 40 mph. As the following video shows, it was no contest when it came to passenger protection.
“It was night and day, the difference in occupant protection,” Institute president Adrian Lund said. “What this test shows is that automakers don’t build cars like they used to. They build them better.”
The fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror of the ‘59 Bel Air appeared to survive unscathed.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Oh, you beautiful (homeless) doll!
American Girl’s latest creation is unlike any they have ever issued. Gwen is homeless, but you can give her a home for $95. The New York Post reports:
Gwen’s father walked out on the family. Her mother lost her job. As the little kiddies learn to read about this doll as if she’s a human being, one learns that, as fall turned into winter, Gwen’s mom lost her grip. Mother and daughter started bedding down in a car.
Don Mecoy
Business News
Table for Mr. Jackson
Is a well-greased palm the key to a life of priviledge? Tom Chiarella, writing in Esquire, heads out in New York with a stack of $20 bills to find out. The short answer? It works, unless you’re asking someone to something that might cost them their job.
I always grease Bobby H., the bellman at my hotel, and on my first night, within minutes of the pass, he suggested that I might request a room upgrade. He even gave me a room number to ask for. Another twenty at the desk and I was out of two queens, snug in my one king. The next day, we ran the same drill, and wham, I was in the minisuite. The twenty after that, I was in a full suite with a view of Times Square. We used a different desk guy each day. When you’re passing twenties, Bobby H. told me, you have to spread the wealth. “It’s a one-time trick,” he said. “You don’t want anyone to catch on.” Somehow he managed to take a twenty each time, having caught on fully some time ago.
However, Chiarella is a bit less successful in buying favors during a trip west. (via kottke)
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Put down the phone
The Insurance Information Institute answers a question I was wondering about — where is it illegal to use a cell phone where driving and where is it illegal to text while behind the wheel. Neither is illegal in Oklahoma. Some Democratic members of Congress have urged states to pass bans on texting while driving or face loss of federal highway funds.
Six states–California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Utah, and Washington–plus the District of Columbia, ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.
The dangerous practice of texting while driving is banned in 14 states–Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Utah, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington, plus the District of Columbia.
A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that texting while driving increased the risk of accidents by more than 23 times.
Disney-Marvel team-up spawns new rivalries
The folks over at Woot (and a few thousand others online) are already mapping out the possibilities of Disney’s $4 billion purchase of Marvel. My favorite: Colossus vs. Pinnochio.
Mary Poppins vs. Dr. Strange: The Cloak of the Vishanti vs. A Spoonful of Sugar! The Faltine dimension vs. the racetrack full of penguins! “Abracadabra” vs. “Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious”!
Spider-Man vs. Jiminy Cricket: Seized by arachnid instinct, the way-out web-slinger craves cricket meat! Will an enchanted umbrella be enough to shock him back to his spider-senses?
Hercules vs Hercules: The battle the public domain laws demanded! Not a dream! Not a hoax! Not covered under the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act!
Colossus vs. Pinocchio: The building materials who walk like men! Who will triumph: Italian wood… or Russian steel? There’s no flesh in this supersaga – but plenty of blood!
Wolverine vs. Tramp: One is a scruffy loner with heroic instincts and a heart of gold! The other has giant adamantium claws! Who will win the good girl’s heart?
Bambi’s Mother vs Uncle Ben: “With great power comes great responsibility” – or, “If you’d just been a better kid, I’d still be alive.” The neuroses of tomorrow begin here!
More here.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Vendors and clients
“District 9″ director started with commercials
“District 9″ is getting rave reviews, including this solid thumbs up from our own George Lang. Director Neill Blomkamp displayed his creativity and ability to work with special effects in several television commercials, including this classic.
For more examples, go here.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
