The National Hustle » Resources

Resource: MLB Transaction Tracker

Matt Andrus — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:15:07 +0000

Some folks love baseball. Some folks love the sports business. For those who love both, today MLB Trade Rumors (MLBTR) launched a massive, searchable database of Major League Baseball player contracts and transactions, labeled the MLBTR Transaction Tracker. MLBTR describes it as follows:

This is a robust database unlike anything else on the web – it sorts and filters transactions by player, date, team, transaction type, GM, agency and more.

Want to see all the trades Billy Beane made with Kenny Williams? The recent deals the Red Sox made with Scott Boras? All Rockies extensions worth at least $2 million? Which Brian Cashman signings cost a draft pick? The possibilities are endless. Click here to access the free database, and here to read the user guide.

Enjoy.

- Matt

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Something to Thuuz About

Matt Andrus — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 19:50:14 +0000

Ever regret having watched every inning of that mid-season Royals v. Pirates game? Or even that Seahawks v. 49ers match-up you expected to be the NFL match-up of the week? Well, those regrets have created a market for the latest sport-centric media tool, Thuuz.

According to Sports Illustrated, Thuuz is “a free online service that provides an objective measure of a game’s excitement on a 100-point scale using play-by-play data and advanced algorithms.” Put simply, it tells you which current or recent games are worth watching.

It remains to be seen if networks and sports properties will want to partner with Thuuz or if advertisers will view this service as something akin to DVR. In either case, check it out this weekend and let me know what you think!

- Matt

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The Left Lane is for Passing Only!

The Camo — Thu, 27 May 2010 05:58:48 +0000

After recently completing a 7-day 4,000+ mile road-trip to Killeen, TX (way-points included such tourist hotspots as Lordsburg, NM, Grants, NM and Kayneta, AZ) I have the following unalienable observation I would like to share:

Driver’s Education in the state of California is not effective: This is not new news to me. I routinely traverse Los Angeles-area freeways (I have invented many colorful and profane colloquialisms that unfortunately cannot be published here to describe local driving habits) but even rolling deep through other states the odds were high that whenever I saw some unbelievable act of stupidity on the highway, said vehicle wore a CA plate. As a result, I am going to impose some new rules for all of us…

Barreling down the road at 75+ mph is not the time to apply eyeliner, guyliner, or any other type of liner. Seriously, you are piloting a 3500 lb weapon and we don’t want to get into an accident because you are late for work. Okay? Please forego the Revlon until you make it to your office!
A sign that indicates that the “Left Lane Closed Ahead,” is not the opportunity for you to practice your hostile merging skills (we all know how well that worked on your last date). The helpful directional sign is there to let you know that you should merge to the right as quickly as possible so as not to impede the flow of traffic. Why is there traffic? Because you are causing it by waiting to the last minute to try to merge into the right lane, and all of the drivers who have already moved to the right lane are not going to let you in. So begins the epic duel of slow-motion macho posturing!
Seriously, do I have to even say this? Stop twittering, emailing, texting, sexting or even talking on your cell phone while driving. Get a hands free device and check the score when you arrive to where you are traveling. By the way, on this rule, do as I say, not as I do. :)

Ladies and Gentlemen, we can do this. Remember that golden rule? It even works behind the wheel.

National Hustle Redux

Matt Andrus — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 02:30:32 +0000

A little over a year ago, Cameron and I launched The National Hustle with the simple goal of providing timely information and resources to those within our sphere of influence. Much of that information was political in nature, with an occasional post focused on national news or personal improvement. Unfortunately, this format has proven unsustainable.

On that note, we are expanding our range of topics to offer us, and our readers, more flexibility. Put simply, we will write about what we want…when we want…with as much color and candor as possible. Whether it’s discussing my interest in Bay Area bridge architecture or Camo’s fascination with the splendor of Death Valley, we’ll be sure to share what’s important to us.

With that, read on, share your thoughts, and by all means, if you find it interesting, pass it on.

Thanks y’all,

- Matt

P.S. To those of you who followed us before, our sincerest apologies and we’ll do our best to represent The National Hustle admirably and consistently this time around.
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Resource: More Last-Minute Tax Tips

Matt Andrus — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:00:24 +0000

As you sit down sometime this weekend (the last one prior to April 15th) to get started on your tax return (tsk, tsk), make sure you review our last-minute tax tips, but these additional resources might also make your personal tax preparation a little less painful:

IRS – Free File — The free file program is a fast, easy way to prepare and file your federal tax return online. This program is available to you if your adjusted gross income is less than $56k.
IRS – Last-minute reminders — These are reminders to those who have not yet filed a tax return, paid what they owe or requested an extension of time to file as the tax filing and payment deadline approaches.
eSmart Tax – Tax preparation and filing – There are several online tax preparation options out there, but I have had a positive experience with eSmart. Without any tax experience, certain functionalities can appear complex, but eSmart walks you through preparing your own return (for free) and the most cost-effective version allows you to file individual federal returns free of charge (filing state returns costs roughly $17). They also have accumulated links to the tax collection agencies of each state. Very cool.
Jackson Hewitt - Last-minute filing tips — Jackson Hewitt recently put out a press release offering a few good tips, including a little top of the list brow-beating with “Stop procrastinating.” Easier said than done, I’m sure.
FoxBusiness – Last-minute payment options — For those of you who may owe taxes, this article explains a few good options for getting those returns filed and taxes paid.
SmartBiz – Tax tips for small business — Although it doesn’t offer a lot of meat, this brief article on tax tips for small businesses is worth a quick readthrough.

Hopefully these resources help this weekend (and next week) go a little smoother! Good luck and feel free to share any tips of your own!

- Matt

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Resource: WhoRunsGov

Matt Andrus — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:30:48 +0000

With 100 senators, 435 house representatives, and literally thousands of congressional and Executive branch staffers running around Washington, it’s nearly impossible to keep straight who’s who and who they “pal around with” (thank you, Mrs. Palin).

Fortunately, the folks at WhoRunsGov.com have removed the guess-work from this process and introduced a valuable resource that “offers a unique look at the world of Washington through its key players and personalities. It’s your window into how deals get made and policy is shaped in the new Obama administration that is remaking the nation’s capital.”

WhoRunsGov breaks each political figure down in a user-friendly format, which includes Why He (or She) Matters, their Path to Power, and my favorite part, their Key Associates. Literally within four clicks, I found out that both Tim Geithner (’83) and Henry Paulson (’68) graduated from Dartmouth, Ben Bernanke won the South Carolina state spelling bee in 1965, and what exactly Christina Romer and the White House Council of Economic Advisors actually do!

If you care about what’s going on in Washington or just want to know more about your elected officials, this site is an invaluable tool. And with it’s moderated user-edit functionality, this resource should continue to grow in both breadth and depth for years to come.

Let us know what you think!

- Matt
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Milestone: One month down…

Matt Andrus — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:50:23 +0000

After one month in existence, here are few key stats for The National Hustle:

25 published posts
37 comments from visitors, Matt & The Camo
293 absolute unique visitors
236 return visitors
1,912 page views

And, a few more thoughts for the next month:

We will be launching the Daily WYNK soon…certainly the suspense is killing you!
We will be offering opportunities for users to help drive the site content
We hope to welcome a new guest poster with another unique perspective
Keep track of Twitter updates on the sidebar or follow me with your own account
Finally, if you like a post or know someone who might appreciate it, please use the “Tweet This” and “Share/Save” buttons below to pass it along.

Thank you for your patronage!

- Matt

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Resource: Tax Return Preparation

Matt Andrus — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:30:25 +0000

April 15th is approaching quickly and if you’re like most Americans, you (1) Hate preparing your taxes, and (2) Wait until the one-month warning before you start getting things together.

I will be posting on common income tax misunderstandings later this week, but in the meantime, take a look at our resource links for tax preparation. They include cost-effective options for “simple” tax returns (no additional schedules), self-preparation, and even a regional CPA firm I have a bit of history with.

If you need more guidance or have any tax-related questions, leave them in the comments and I’ll do my best to help you out.

- Matt

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Early Milestone and Thank You!

Matt Andrus — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:00:23 +0000

The National Hustle has now reached the end of its first two weeks in existence and so far, there has been some great feedback! In addition to reader comments, the site traffic numbers have been very encouraging.

With 200 unique visitors (most of which have visited multiple times!), we here at The National Hustle are pleased to have been able to help so many readers this early in our site’s existence!

Over the past two weeks, Camo and I have been working hard to bring you the most important current events, valuable resources, and hopefully, insightful commentary. As you continue to familiarize yourself with the site (blog, resources, and soon…Daily WYNK), please enjoy our contributions and if you find them valuable, consider making a donation to keep this project moving forward and as ad-free as possible. Please don’t feel obligated, but any show of support (comments, donations, etc.) is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for visiting The National Hustle and if you know someone who might benefit from our offerings, please tell them about the site, follow my updates on Twitter, or feel free to share our posts through the Share/Save button below.

Thanks again for your support!

- Matt

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Resource: New America Foundation

Matt Andrus — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:30:16 +0000

New America Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan (some suggest post-partisan is a more accurate term) thinktank based in Washington D.C. with a satelite campus in Sacramento, CA. The organization invests in new thinkers and new approaches to solving today’s most pressing issues.

I first came across New America due to my facination with this organization’s President and CEO, Steve Coll, after reading his epic detailing of the CIA’s Afghan operations in Ghost Wars. I will almost certainly discuss this book in future posts, but in the meantime, I highly recommend visiting New America’s web site, which includes their Big Ideas discussing national policies for the common good, issue-specific programs, and their event schedule of speakers from all over the political landscape.

Many organizations are committed to helping America make marked improvements in its domestic and international policies, but New America Foundation is one group that you will want to check in with on a regular basis.

I have included a video of Ron Suskind (author of The Price of Loyalty, The One Percent Doctrine, and most recently, The Way of the World) giving an impressive talk at a recent New America event. All of these events are typically available online in both audio and video formats.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJRZvhWI2EA

- Matt

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