Money | For Stocks, the Worst Decade Ever | WSJ.com

No surprise that the 'aughts were not a happy decade for stock portfolios. As decades go, it was really a flop as this article shows. Even the 1930's provided a slightly better performance ('tho still a loss) than the 'aughts. A key bottom line question is what should investors plan-for as return from stocks in the next decade? The past may not be much of a predictor. This article suggests 7% may be a better target.

Humor | Hollywood Squares |

FOR THOSE OF US WHO REMEMBER 

Hollywood Squares
These great questions and answers are from the days when ' Hollywood Squares' game show responses were spontaneous, not scripted, as they are now. Peter Marshall was the host asking the questions, of course..

Q.. Paul, what is a good reason for pounding meat?
A. Paul Lynde (About fifteen minutes later): Loneliness! And the audience laughed for another 10 to 15 minutes.

Q. Do female frogs croak?
A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.

Q. If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be?
A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.

Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years.
A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.

Q. You've been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman?
A. Don Knotts: That's what's been keeping me awake.

Q. According to Cosmopolitan, if you meet a stranger at a party and you think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he's married?
A.. Rose Marie: No wait until morning.

Q. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency..

Q. In Hawaiian, does it take more than three words to say 'I Love You'?
A. Vincent Price: No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty..

Q. What are 'Do It,' 'I Can Help,' and 'I Can't Get Enough'?
A. George Gobel: I don't know, but it's coming from the next apartment.

Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you'll never forget.

Q. Paul, why do Hell's Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.

Q. Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get any during the first year?
A. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.

Q. In bowling, what's a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.

Q. It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps. One is politics, what is the other?
A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures.

Q. During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet?
A. Rose Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I'm always safe in the bedroom.

Q. Can boys join the Camp Fire Girls?
A. Marty Allen: Only after lights out.

Q. When you pat a dog on its head he will wag his tail. What will a goose do?
A. Paul Lynde: Make him bark?

Q. If you were pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to?
A. Paul Lynde: Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark.

Q. According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people?
A. Charley Weaver: It got me out of the army.

Q. It is the most abused and neglected part of your body, what is it?
A. Paul Lynde: Mine may be abused, but it certainly isn't neglected.

Q. Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?
A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.

Q. Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your elephant?
A. Paul Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?

Q. When a couple have a baby, who is responsible for its sex?
A. Charley Weaver: I'll lend him the car, the rest is up to him

Q. Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they?
A. Charley Weaver: His feet.

Q. According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?
A Paul Lynde: Point and laugh

Business | Cost Cutting Innovation | WSJ

You gotta find this guy interesting. Loves recessions. Talks pay toilets and standing-room-only slots on his planes. The transition of airlines from luxury service to transportation commodity is now becoming complete.

Math | Simpson's Paradox | WSJ

Is unemployment now higher or lower than in the early recession of the 1980's. Yes! No! Both! Check this article for the implications of data aggregation in statistical analysis. So, if you're looking for a clever way to dispute a statistical analysis you dislike, you can declare "Simpson's Paradox" and walk away! Or just follow the path of the screaming talk show hosts ... if the facts get in the way of your beliefs, change the facts!

Tech | Cable Clutter Solved! | Silver Clipboard

Tying up your computer cable mess with a daisy chain from Wellington Grey on Vimeo.

Humor | Blogs | Wired

Full of turkey and dressing and need a diversion ... these will get you chuckling (or groaning).

Tech | Living with Data | TEDIndia

Tech | Living with Data | Ted India

There's some amazing new thinking about tech here ... like it's stepping out of the monitor and onto your hand, floor, wall, paper ... you name it!

Thanksgiving | Giving Thanks this Year | Noonan_WSJ

We all have something to be thankful for this year. Here is Peggy Noonan's veiwpoint.

Healthcare | The Henry Ford of Heart Surgery | WSJ

Politicians bicker. Bloggers rant. Talk radio pundits scream. Seniors protest. Uninsured agonize. While we all swirl but do little about getting the cost of healthcare down, here's an article about a success story. It will be a pity if we have to offshore healthcare in order to manage the costs. Everyone here loves their little piece of waste in the healthcare system ... be it insurers, lawyers, doctors, hospitals, pharma or patients.

Time | No Time to Read This? Read This | WSJ

Time management techniques reviewed here. I'm intrigued with David Allen's GTD but not sure I'm willing to invest the time (no pun intended). The Pomodoro Technique is intriguing ... may give that a try. For me, a written to-do list and careful management of e-mail makes a big difference. Also, just get it done, stop over-analyzing it.

Money | Dow Priced in Gold | Kedrosky

Money | Who's Filing for Bankruptcy | Fancystats

not who you might think ... check out this graphic

War | No More Trouble | YouTube

Games | Ball | Dogpaddler

This little challenge will drive you crazy.

Money | Return To The Giant Pool of Money | NPR

A year ago this last September was the big crunch ... no one is sure if we're out of the slump, if we're in a jobless recovery or if we're headed for doom. Whatever the future holds, the past is a heckuva lot clear. Here's a radio show that will help you understand part of how we drove the bus off the cliff.

Money | Smarts Schmartz | NYT

Smart guys ... the downfall of Wall Street? Read on. Hmm, seems to reinforce an earlier article I read in Wired. We gotta get those guys from MIT, Stanford and Caltech back into the labs where they can merely blow-up the world, not crater the markets.

Cities | Most Desirable | Harris Poll

most desirable cities ... would be interesting to understand better the basis on which those polled chose their preference ... i'd guess that cost of living was not high on the list (with nyc and sf being in the top five) and mild climate must not have been a must-have.

Money | Dow Nominal and Inflation Adjusted | www.crossingwallstreet.com

An interesting graphic on nominal and inflation-adjusted Dow trends ...

they're checking their list

Have you bought yours this year?

Telecom | Free 411 Service | Google

This is the best free 411 service I've tried. Avoid those nasty 411 charges from your phone company and use this service instead

Cars | Brand Game | CramerSweeney

Know your cars? Test yourself here.

Work | How's Your Cube | Lifehacker

Find your dream or nightmare workspace here. I'm leaning towards the multiple-monitor workspace with minimal paper clutter ... and appreciate the creative decor of some of the featured shops.

Work | Job Distribution Graphic | Job Voyager

Interesting graphic showing the transition of the workforce in the US

Money | Social Security Strategies | Various

It's your money, you might as well work to optimize it. Here are two discussions on maximizing your Social Security benefits. One from AARP and one from Scott Burns. The AARP article was particularly helpful, in my view.

Weather | Spin vs Zap | NWS

This picture has also been distributed as a photoshopped version adding an oil rig and a caption indicating that it was taken in Texas. Turns-out that the image was from Florida ... lightning capital ... and without the rig. Dramatic enough stuff, I'd say. Would definitely rethink my exit plan after seeing the funnel illuminated by the bolt.

Humor | Ingenuity | TIFI

Ingenious or incomprehensible? Some great use of duct tape and bailing wire here. Not for the code-compliant.

Vacation Planner

Not exactly a staycation brochure ... not sure which one freaks me out more ... the hike to the temple or the shelf bike ride.

Demographics | Boomer Migration | ERS

It's worked pretty well before ... as the boomers go, so goes the money. Interesting research paper on boomer migration to rural areas and small towns ... a potential change in the landscape?