Low Ballin' Leftover Chinese

Carmax is a place where one can conveniently buy or sell a car without the hard sell from the dealer...I think. They take negotiation out of the equation in favor of a return policy. I was curious as to how they made their money so I had the awkward sales associate explain it to me a few times while the appraisers examined my car. Basically, they sell at wholesale and buy at trade-in. That means they charge more and pay less. Not a bad business model if you're non-confrontational. Then we had thirty minutes to look for other things to talk about until the price quote "arrived." The business offered me 39% of the Blue Book Value based on their internal metrics. HA!

Back to the market for me, I guess.

. . [~] . 0 (Grumble) Grumbles .

Leftover Chinese the Fall


Suburban adventure to Ruby Tuesday. I had ribs.


The Carving party. We did the ends.

. . [~] . 0 (Grumble) Grumbles .

Leftover Chinese's After Work Song



Lately I've been defaulting to "Abacab" as I step out the door. Not sure why...

. . [~] . 1 (Grumble) Grumbles .

Leftover Chinese's Credit Advice

Anybody who carries a balance on their credit cards and has the attention span to watch an hourlong look at the credit card industry should watch the linked Frontline episode about the 'secret history of the credit card.' It touches on how the banks make their money through fees with a strategy that utilizes good marketing, shady practices, and confusing contract language. By preying on those who are credit dependent they pretty much run a one-way street.

The episode reinforced my fear of accumulating debt; yet I'm a little curious as to how I can in on the action.

This might have been the punchline of the entire show:

Frontline: Your critics say that you block every attempt to pass industry reform or consumer protection legislation. You've already talked about minimum monthly payments and why you're against that, so you block minimum monthly payment legislation, interest cap rates and a ban on marketing to college students.

Future President of American Bankers Association: We've done our best to block bad bills. Those are bad bills, and we'll continue to do our best to block them.

F: Bad for?

FP of ABA: Bad for consumers...


That's not the answer I was looking for. Well, the more you know, folks.

. . [~] . 0 (Grumble) Grumbles .

Leftover Chinese's Mid Month Report

The Rockies are meeting my expectations and "rolling" through the playoffs. I wouldn't be surprised if they win it all...in fact, I'm rooting for it.

My money league Fantasy Football Team has Brady, Tomlinson, A. Peterson, and Ronnie Brown. I like my chances this year.

The other blog has taken a life of its own. There's a small community of readers who post comments daily that either further dissect the minutiae of each strip; or talk about their own serious (I mean serious) issues. In some way, I feel like I've done good in creating an anonymous support group. On the other hand, I created the web blog as a way to dispense flattering mockery of the strip itself so people should take it as serious as I do.

I'm trying to sell my car. One person offered to pay me in installments (not a chance, buddy) and another asked about my car from the window of his 2nd floor apartment while I sat at a red light. His eye roll at the year and mileage might mean I won't find a sucker at the price I'm trying to get. Might have to lower expectations on that one.

More updates forthcoming...

. . [~] . 0 (Grumble) Grumbles .

Leftover Chinese's Playoff Pick 'em

LDS:
Angels over Red Sox in Five
Yankees over Indians in Three
Rockies over Phillies in Four
Diamonbacks over Cubs in Five

LCS:
Angels over Yankees in Six
Rockies over Diamondbacks in Seven

WS:
Angels over Rockies in Five no thanks to Lt. Frank Drebin

. . [~] . 0 (Grumble) Grumbles .

Leftover Chinese Sends you a Youtube

Yes. I'm mailing in another edition of Leftover Chinese to send you a link to a YouTube user account that heavily features commercials (and TV bumpers) from my Milwaukee 1980's youth. I have to say that these brought me back so close to my childhood, I didn't feel comfortable. I'm talking chills down my spine. It was like staring down a tunnel right into your past.

To wit (and most Milwaukee natives will agree with me) the following commercials or bumpers were synonymous with watching TV alone in your basement.


The Bucks! The Bucks! The Bucks!


Presidents Day Sales.


The dreaded news brief.
(note that the 'brighter side' of the brief is still sad)

...and my favorite....


TV LENNY SCREAMING IN YOUR FACE!

. . [~] . 0 (Grumble) Grumbles .