October 18, 2012

Stupid Gadget Buying is the Cornerstone of the American Economy

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Brian Lam in the New York Times today:

If a gadget breaks, gets lost or is stolen, it makes sense to replace it. But deciding whether to abandon an older, still-working device for a newer, shinier one can be a soul-sucking dilemma.

This is crazy talk. If I actually waited for my gadgets to stop working, I’d still be using a slide rule and the American economy would be in a permanent depression. Stupid gadget purchases are the lifeblood of the country. Don’t listen to this guy.

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Managing an independent, nonprofit newsroom is staggeringly hard. There’s no cushion in our budget—no backup revenue, no corporate safety net. We can’t afford to fall short, and we can’t rely on corporations or deep-pocketed interests to fund the fierce, investigative journalism Mother Jones exists to do.

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