Move To Wordpress

Just to let anyone know who stumbles upon this blog, I have moved over to Wordpress. I felt this move is symbolic of my commitment to start posting on Welcome Back Friedman again.

Thanks,

JJ

welcomebackfriedman.wordpress.com

Pro Income Tax Propaganda From WWII

From WWII, here is a great, but scary, propaganda stating how it is Patriotic to pay your taxes.



Most ridiculous quote: "Every dollar you spend for something you don't need is a dollar spent to help the Axis!"

This Metro Brought To You By Pepsi

The Wall Street Journal had a really cool article today about the new subway line in Dubai opening up corporate naming rights for its metro stops:

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority is offering naming rights for 23 of the planned 47 metro stops, as well as for the two metro lines themselves. A rider on the new Dubai system might someday be getting off at, say, the Citibank stop on the Nike line.

In addition to appearing on identification signs inside and outside stations, names of the winning corporate bidders will appear on subway-system maps. Moreover, winning companies will have the right of first refusal on traditional advertising displayed at their stations. If Coca-Cola were to win a station's name, for example, it could block Pepsi ads from appearing at that station.

I think this is a pretty solid idea. With all the delay in finding funding for the Metro line to Dulles, why couldn't some corporation pony up the dough for naming rights of the line? As the article states, we already don't really care that our stadiums are corporatized nor major metropolitan buildings, I see nothing wrong with taking the "Nike line" to Dulles Airport.

Also, what if every Metro stop in the city started getting sponsored? I would welcome a "Foggy Bottom/GWU brought to you by Miller Lite" stop with open arms.

10 Most Expensive Streets In The World

The Wall Street Journal has the list.

Zimbabwe Plans To "Cut Zeros" From Currency

(Washington Post) - Zimbabwe's bank chief plans new steps to address currency problems --removing "more zeros" from the plummeting Zimbabwe dollar and raising the limit on cash withdrawals -- to tackle the country's runaway inflation and cash shortages, state media reported Sunday. To improve liquidity on the market, Gono planned to remove "more zeros," the paper reported.

"This time, we will make sure that those zeros that would come knocking on the governor's window will not return. They are going for good," Gono was quoted as saying.

In 2006, the central bank slashed three zeros from the currency when inflation stood at a few hundred percent, already the highest rate in the world.

Computers, electronic calculators and automated teller machines at banks have not been able to handle basic transactions in billions -- nine zeros -- or trillions -- 12 zeros -- or even quadrillions, with 15 zeros.

A new laptop computer was advertised Sunday at 1.2 quadrillion Zimbabwe dollars. That's the equivalent of about $25,000 at the official exchange rate, $8,500 at the black-market cash exchange rate, or $2,000 at a third exchange rate used in electronic money transfers through bank accounts that do not involve the physical issue of Zimbabwe dollar bank notes.

Zimbabwe Needs To Play Catch Up

A Z$100 billion note may be impressive, but Mugabe has a way to go before getting that #1 spot:

Zimbabwe Picture of the Day

Sad thing is, this kid is probably buying a Snickers.