Problems

Q: If, after leaving a browser window open all night on a page you built, Firfox is taking up 1.3GB of memory and your machine is nearly unusable, is that the browser's fault, or your webapp's fault?

A: It doesn't matter whose fault it is. It's your problem.

Christmas Tree Bellwethers

I heard some bad math on NPR this morning. A news station did a brief piece on how Christmas tree sales predict consumer spending during the holidays. When Americans buy more and taller trees, consumer confidence is higher and holiday sales receipts beat expectations. At first blush this seems at least mildly interesting. With some more thought, however, I think you'll agree that it is thoroughly boring.

If consumer spending and confidence is up, then it stands to reason that nearly any consumer good would reflect that trend. I'd wager that Air Jordan, dishwasher, and steak knife sales are all equally good economic indicators. As the Kennedys would say, a rising tide lifts all boats.

What is interesting are the goods exhibit the opposite trend. Do sales of mayonnaise spike when Americans stop spending? Do shoe-lace plants shut down when economies rebound? The counterexamples would be far more interesting. But that may be asking a bit much of drive-time radio.