The Baddest Cake Mixer You've Ever Seen [Video]

Some people get a nice photo frame as a store-warming gift, others a calculator or something. The guys at Charm City Cakes West in LA got the Dough Rider—a chromed out, Lakers' purple-and-gold, ground-effect LED-lighted cake mixer.

Hobart set up the famed Baltimore bakery's new west coast outpost with a mixer that's rigged up like a classic LA lowrider. It's got a 1/4" steel hood ornament, a glittery Lakers' color paint job, and a gold chain for a handle. I'm one to poke some fun at all the bakeries that pop up around New York, but I'm pretty sure this thing could kick my ass. [Mixed Up Jake]

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Aol: You've Got Conflicts [AOL]

In what seems like an obvious conflict of interest, Fortune reports that Mike Arrington, founder of Aol's TechCrunch, is launching a venture capital fund to invest in start-up companies. Aol's TechCrunch specializes in reporting on start ups.

Arrington is notorious for trading access for coverage and has previously been criticized for investing in the industry. It's no surprise that he doesn't view this as a problem. He plays by his own rules, and makes no bones about that. Good for Mike.

But this isn't just about Mike. Quite frankly, I'm surprised by Aol's involvement. Reports are that Aol is to be a cornerstone investor in Arrington's $20 million "CrunchFund." That's pretty shocking. It means that not only will Aol's TechCrunch be reporting on the companies it invests in (and their competitors) but that other Aol properties like the Huffington Post will have a financial incentive to give the fund's investments positive coverage.

I wonder how Mike's boss Arianna feels about all of this.

(Update: Aol's apparently looking to replace Mike Arrington. He'll still write for TechCrunch, but he "will no longer have editorial control or decision making.")

[Photo by Randy Stewart / blog.stewtopia.com]

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You've Got Less than 24 Hours to Pick Your New Netflix Plan [Psa]

In light of Netflix's crazy pricing plan shift last month, many of you probably already picked a new plan on your Netflix account. Unless you already left. Well, it goes into effect tomorrow. So if you stream AND get DVDs, switch already!

Seriously. You don't want to wind up paying $16 for next month because you forgot to check the date. [Huffington Post]

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