linklings “no cameras” football edition

For some reason this week there seemed to be even more good stuff than usual.  Maybe everyone is finally focusing on work now that summer is semi-over.  Maybe football season has re-energized everyone.  Maybe it’s just coincidence.  Maybe everyone has been dragging videocameras around to tape their fellow bloggers and analyze their writing…

If You Think Your Job Is Tough, Think Again from The Digerati Life by Silicon Valley Blogger.  You know, I did feel sorry for people working in third world countries in horrible subhuman conditions – and then I went to a meeting late Friday afternoon that convinced me no-one has it worse.  The combination of boredom, banality and irrelevance is a heady brew, my friends.

The fine line between frugality and obsession from I’ve Paid For This Twice Already… by paidtwice.  I’ve been there, too – getting upset about wasting pennies.  Then I go buy an iPhone with chrome detailing.  Seriously, read this and stop and think about whether this is a good way to live.  I’m not saying it’s not, it very well may be – I just want you to ask yourself whether frugality SHOULD be an obsession.  Maybe it should… or maybe not?  And paidtwice dings my Moleskine obsession with her Another Drone in the 75 cent Notebook Army, too.  My army has smooth, attractive leather uniforms with creamy smooth interiors!  Moleskine victor!

Drama in Real Life: “You’re Fired!” from Get Rich Slowly by J.D.  I have had to fire a couple of people, and it sucks.  No gentler or more clever way to put it.  This is a very interesting post about how people put themselves in bad situations and then have to reap what they’ve sowed.

The guy in seat 12A from The Bing Blog.  If you have ever been a business traveler this story will send a chill up (down?) your spine.  I know this guy.  He lives on an astral plane only reachable through the ether – mobile phones, internet or the foul Blackberry.  Seriously, a fine piece of cautionary writing and a blog that is always entertaining (if sometimes a little bit too grim if you’re a corporate worker).

Have You Ever Bought a Car When You Could Rent One Instead? from Cash Money Life.  Er, no.  But read the article because it’s a great example of applying real critical thought to financial problems.  I would never think of buying a car for a few weeks, but in this example it makes perfect sense.  I hate the phrase "thinking outside the box" (shudder) but this is definitely thinking exterior to the container.

Does Cooking At Home Really Beat The McDonalds $1 Double Cheeseburger? from The Simple Dollar.  One of the real strengths of TSD is Trent’s ability to really boil things down to a molecular level.  He breaks down the costs perfectly and really analyzes this question seriously.  It seems like he forgot one big item, though – the time it takes to prepare the burger yourself versus waddling into Mickey D’s and having a high school student prepare it for you.  My time is stretched enough that the convenience factor must cost something.

On a much sadder note, I just wanted to highlight a few 9-11 posts at I’ve Paid For This Twice Already, the Brazen Careerist and Freelance Writing Jobs.  I know the anniversary came and went already, but it’s worth a few more minutes of reflection.