Personal Finance

"Consumers looking for a flat-screen TV deal these days should head straight to one place: the plasma-TV aisle. Since January, two television makers—Pioneer Corp. and Vizio Inc.—have announced they will discontinue manufacturing flat-screen plasma television sets. The shift comes as consumers have flocked to liquid-crystal-display television sets, which use a newer technology. For consumers, that means plenty of plasma-TV bargains. Those in the market for 50-inch televisions can now find plasma TVs for $200 to $300 less than comparable LCD TVs, according to DisplaySearch, a research firm in Austin, Texas. On average, a 50-inch plasma TV now costs about $1,200, compared with an average $1,500 for a 50-inch LCD TV. That’s a big price comedown for plasma TVs, which as recently as five years ago cost on average 30% more than LCD TVs." - LANjackal via Bookmarklet

For movies and sports, LCD is to video as mp3 is to audio. It gets the job done... but it's tough for me to enjoy. I've had plasmas as my main tv, since 2000 when I got a Marantz 60". I now have a Pioneer Kuro 60". I sure hope that it lasts long enough for OLED to come in large sizes. So sad. - CJ Guest

"So what prompts this change of heart about the landline, which for years was an inseparable part of the carrier's bundle? Reality for one thing, and cable VoIP for another. Cable VoIP growth is explosive (Comcast's the third largest phone company), and it makes sense that the carrier advertises their strength (wireless) in the cable fight to keep defecting customers in house." - LANjackal via Bookmarklet

"you should still contribute to your retirement accounts. The tax breaks are just too good to pass up. Money you contribute to a traditional 401(k) or 403(b) reduces your taxable income, so it’s essentially a tax deduction. Plus, you don’t pay taxes on any interest, dividends, or gains until you withdraw the money in retirement. That’s known as tax-deferred growth, and ends up providing more money in retirement." - LANjackal via Bookmarklet

"# Choose Lunch Over Dinner: Skip past dinner plans and instead meet your friends for lunch. The meals are almost always cheaper, and you can usually find worthwhile deals. # Hunt For Specials: Look for local places with lunch or brunch specials, or two-for-one entrees. # Free Bread = Leftovers!: Our father used to warn us that we were going to ruin our appetite gorging on bread, and he was right—though we didn't care, and he certainly didn't mean it as a saving tip. Load up on whatever freebies you can get—bread, chips, salad—and bring part of your meal home as leftovers. # Skip Appetizers And Dessert: Both are usually overpriced and unnecessary, considering the size of most entree portions. Skip them and save." - LANjackal via Bookmarklet

"Find the best price you can on quality items that actually do their job well. Over the long haul, the convenience of items that actually work all the time will add up to enough to make the difference between the prices, even if you don’t see that factor directly in play." - LANjackal via Bookmarklet

"Historic swindler Bernard Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison Monday for a fraud so extensive that the judge said he needed to send a symbolic message to potential imitators and to victims who demanded harsh punishment." - Justice is served :) - LANjackal via Bookmarklet

if you fail first time, doesn't mean you can't succeed - Nilesh