I haven’t explicitly made this pledge before, so let me make it now: When I report silly things in this space, I promise that they will only be things that I have actually observed. Sure, there will be lots of marginally informed opinion. I specialize in that. But I promise that when I say I … Continue reading Dumbing Down
Vice Squad!
Interesting story on the radio this morning - it seems that theft of car stereos, which was rampant in the 1980s and 1990s, pretty much doesn't happen anymore. Why? Because most cars now come with excellent built-in sound systems. These cars don't need an upgrade, and the stereos in them, if stolen, won't fit anywhere … Continue reading Vice Squad!
AIG: Who Knew? (Not the People Who Should)
If you haven’t been following the Daily Show vs. CNBC feud, it’s great entertainment. If we could just find a way to add back to the Dow all the points Jon Stewart has been racking up, the recession would be over. A year or so ago, Tom Friedman of the New York Times pointed out … Continue reading AIG: Who Knew? (Not the People Who Should)
More on Education
Last week, I said that I'm not sure the standardized tests our kids take today help very much, and suggested that maybe we should go on strike - simply not send our kids to school to take them. Well, today, my daughter started taking hers (no, I didn’t keep her home). I was surprised to … Continue reading More on Education
Name That Dog!
There's a rumor floating around that the Obamas are going to adopt a 3-legged dog. See: http://latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/02/will-a-portague.html I wonder if they'll name it "Economy."
Education: Just Say No?
I got an email from our school district the other day. It was a rundown of all the standardized tests that are coming up in the next few weeks. ISATs, COGATs, ITBSs, and NAEPs. Three things about this email jumped out at me, and they got me to thinking. First, these tests are being “administered,” … Continue reading Education: Just Say No?
Tribune Bankruptcy – Early Warning Sign
The Tribune Company filed for bankruptcy early this week. I wasn't surprised because I saw an early warning sign that they were in trouble. If you're in Chicago, you may have noticed that the Tribune underwent a major format change a few weeks ago. Essentially, they turned it into the Redeye. This is another way … Continue reading Tribune Bankruptcy – Early Warning Sign
All I Want For Christmas. . .
. . .is a governor who's not a felon.
Bailout 2.0 – What Am I Missing?
OK, let’s try this again. Since I last commented on the bailout, the Treasury Department has dumped $25 billion into Citi and promised about $300 billion more. I remember when $300 billion was real money. Treasury has now spent more than half of the TARP funds. Who knows how much worse off we’d be if … Continue reading Bailout 2.0 – What Am I Missing?
Bailing out the Bailout
Congress has approved $700 million of bailout money. Henry Paulson keeps changing his mind about what he wants to do with it. He has focused almost entirely on institutional fixes. Maybe I’m missing something, but it seems to me that the financial system currently is leaking below the waterline. What we need to do is … Continue reading Bailing out the Bailout
Carp Diem 