The Curmudgeon Speaks

Drawing on my heap of travel photos, The Curmudgeon presents the first in a series of photographic puzzles:



I admit to shamelessly borrowing both the concept and the title from two good friends at our club. Rick had the idea of a photographic travel quiz, and Ian introduced me to a bit of British humor, of which the punch line was "Wear the fox hat."

The questions: What is the name of the department store with this beautiful roof, and in what European capital is it located?

Here's a YouTube video of an amazing performance that has to be seen to be believed.

I've installed a couple of ways to make it easier for you to keep up with my blogs. And if you are reading, I wouldn't mind some feedback.

Looking for a pocketable camera this holiday season? Your timing is perfect, and I've got a great deal to recommend. (Updated March 19, 2010)

Margaret Thatcher said, "If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman."

Well, that's what she said. But when the Iron Lady wanted something done with the garbage, she bloody well asked Dennis.

As the "Friendly Skies" become increasingly unfriendly, frequent fliers need every break we can get.

Subprime dead? Banks not lending? Apparently that's all over.

If you use AA batteries, the smart move is toward rechargeables. Modern battery technology leaves little reason to use throwaway alkalines for most applications. I've known this for several years, and now the December issue of Consumer Reports has come to the same conclusion.

My recommendation is simple. Buy a La Crosse smart battery charger and a supply of Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries. I'll give shopping suggestions later on.

Being some five years behind the Internet times, I was a perfect pigeon for the email that sucked me in.

Ask me anything about my purchases, expenses, or finances over the past 20 years. I've got the answer. That's why I'm a big fan of Quicken.

Comcast's latest rate hike announcement makes this a good time to consider some ways to save money on your cable bill.

You might not even need cable TV at all.

Is your hard drive filling up and running out of free space? And you have no idea what's hogging all the room?

Here's the solution: A nifty utility called WinDirStat. Its graphic display of your hard drive lets you quickly identify the largest files and directories. And it's free.

Moderation in all things. You can't have too much moderation.

This has got to be the best deal ever for my homeowner friends in the neighborhood who want to save (a) the planet or (b) a few dollars in water bills. One of the neatest home automation gadgets I've ever seen has just come on the market. And we can get it for free.

It's an electronic sprinkler timer that has a Ph. D. (that's Pretty Hot Device) in horticulture.

For some time, I've been thinking about having a place to post my consumer hints and kinks - neat products, computer tips, and yes, the occasional consumer gripe. After all, why go through all that hassle if only one person takes advantage?

What finally tipped me over the edge was the discovery that I - and almost all my neighbors - could get one of the neatest add-on gadgets for a home that I've ever seen. For free.

So that'll be the first substantive entry in my new blog. See above.