Links of the Day

Shuffle Costs $21.77 To Build, $80 to Buy - A new price estimate indicates that Apple continues its ability to make fantastic profits on the sell of each of its items. Where most companies run with single digit profits on most of their products, Apple continues to enjoy the freedom of an Apple logo surcharge for its design. This excused was fine when the tech was still very new and usually costs a lot for that reason but at this point it’s pretty clear that Apple is keeping the prices high simply because they can. My advice is to no longer treat Apple as a special case. They want to play with the big boys, that means they should price to compete. If they don't want to, that’s fine, I just will not buy their products.

Travel Restrictions Eased to Cuba - Obama has changed the travel rules to the "hated" country. Now you can visit the country to see relatives and send money to them. This is the first time in about 50 years that policy has changed to the country rules by dictatorship. The relaxation isn't much but a step. I personally never understood why we bother. China, North Korea and other equally as bad countries don't experience the same restrictions but then we need their import/export funds. If Cuba could provide us with need product I am betting the embargo rules would have ended decades ago. As it is, presidents can pretend to be tough on dictatorships while not having any impact on the economy.

Lego Jesus - As part its Easter morning mass, a Swedish church unveiled a life-size Jesus figure made out of 30000 Lego bricks. The project began a year and half ago and the church, Oensta Gryta Church in Vaesteras, plans on keeping it in place for the foreseeable future. In America, I imagine many would freak at the notion of trying such a thing.

Passenger Lands Plane - In a movie scenario, a passenger had to be walked through landing a Super King two-engine turboprop with four passengers by Air Traffic Controllers after the pilot died. The incident occurred near Miami, Florida.