Freakonomics  recently made a post in reference to The True Cost of Credit.  To use this site you need to type in the first 6 digits of your credit card number.  These 6 digits are referred to as the Issuer Identification Number and are the same on every card of the exact same type.

The following information will be available on the next page:

How your card stacks up against other cards with regards to merchant cost to accept

How much it costs a retailer to sell:

1. A pack of gum
2. Sub Sandwich
3. Pizza
4. Tank of gas
5. Online book purchase
6. Groceries
7. Electricity
8. Flight
9. Flat Screen TV

These are then broken down into a dollar amount as well as a percentage of purchase.

For example if I use my VISA Rewards to buy a $1.50 pack of gum the convenience store is charged 38 cents or 25% of purchase price.  It also tells you that the average convenience store was charge $52,000 in fees last year.  WOW

I like stores that actually pass the savings along by not accepting CCs.

My Favorites are MARCS and ALDI

Yet another amazing find by Freakonomics.

I have been using E*TRADE since I was a senior in high school.  They do have a very nice site but I am not 100% satisfied.  They always have great savings rates but the commission they charge for their brokerage services are WAY too high.  I do use E*TRADE for certain things but I am going to stick withScottrade for my trading.

Having said that, I LOVE the E*TRADE baby and his commercials.  

CHECK THIS OUT…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8Ev5HgGACg&eurl=http://www.google.com/reader/view/?tab=my

As many of you know I am not a huge fan of Austin Carr as a FSN announcer for the Cleveland CAVS.   He is extremely repetitive and gives everything a nick name.  Well today my friend Joe Woodward sent me a Facebook post about the Austin Carr drinking game on ESPN Cleveland.  Joe, single, 27, Akron, Hunter, Enginerd, INDIANS FAN, Steelers fan… can be seen below:

There is a little bit of controversy as to who came up with this drinking game but games like this can occur with anything repetitive, i.e. “Roxanne“.

Here are some examples of what comes out of Austin’s mouth:

• L-Train = horrible nickname for Lebron
• Throws the Hammer Down = Dunk
• In the Q = at Quicken Loans Arena, he insists on telling us this 40 times/game
• Get that weak stuff outta here = after a block
• 1 bird, 2 bird, 3 bird = a bird is when a defender jumps on a pump fake

I am sure there are many more that I am missing.  He does not like Arena names that are long.  Dallas plays at the American Airlines Arena.  This is too much for even Austin to repeat so he simply replaces it with the city name.

Most common phrase “L-Train, throws the hammma down, in the Q.”  Maybe he is starting to grow on me but I am glad that the game tonight versus Orlando is on TNT.

CAUTION:  Urban Dictionary is not for everyone. While it can be a great resource and form of entertainment, it can be offensive.

        I am sure that most of you know about a site called Urban Dictionary.  If not it is the ultimate slang dictionary and a great time waster.  It is a WIKI-type site, What I Know Is.  The definitions are user submitted and voted on to make it to the top.  It is fun to look up words that you thought you knew the definition to, as well as slang words you have heard or would like to use.  Try looking up the name of your university or the city you are from.

             I get a word sent to my Gmail account every day but have not checked it for over 4 months so I am going to get motivated to click through them and share my top few in no particular order…

1. BLIND TRANSFER - When someone calls your office phone and you transfer them to a random number from a department you choose because you either can’t find the correct number or you don’t feel like looking it up.
2. TRUSTICLES - Having the balls to trust someone in a difficult situation, when the failure of that trust would result in injury or financial loss.
3. PONZI CRAWL - A pub crawl that adds a new person to buy a round at each location. Each new person is promised that they will get free drinks at all the future bars if they buy this round. Obviously, whoever joins the ponzi crawl last gets screwed!
4. OVERCHICKED- When a not-so-good-looking guy lands a chick thats way more attractive than he is.                  
5. ACADEMIC BULEMIA- The process of learning or memorizing by rote, subsequently followed by the regurgitation of that knowledge onto an exam answer sheet. Just as with the serious eating disorder, this form of bulemia results in no real retention of substance. 

1. ECONNOISSEUR- One who insists on the highest quality at the lowest price.
2. GRAND BOSS- The boss of your boss.
3. TEXTROVERT -  One who feels an increased sense of bravery over texting, as opposed to in person.  OR  One who will often only say what they really feel over text messages.

       Like I said.  I wanted to keep this clean.  Enjoy