The Economist doesn't like Romney much

Just finished this week's Economist.  They have a couple of full page articles on Romney where they explain how he has flip flopped on issues, failed to express himself clearly, and is having trouble collecting the conservative Republicans.  Then they do an electoral vote projection with a map.   Their projections are based on polls, or the Real Clear Politics average of polls.  And they call states for Obama or for Romney with a lead in the polls of only a couple of percent.  To me, a couple of percent in August polls really means "too close to call".   And, I think the Gallup and Rasmussen polls by them selves are better than the Real Clear Politics average of all the polls. 
  At least they call New Hampshire "dead even", whereas other pundits think we are "strongly Obama".

Why does the FBI have its own Air Force?

Republicans are bashing Attorney General Holder over taking joy rides in FBI aircraft.  Which is a a legitimate zinger, but more interesting is the fact that the FBI has its own aircraft.  Why?  Why cannot FBI agents fly commercial, stand in security lines and get groped by TSA just like the rest of us?   Aircraft are ultra expensive to own and operate.  Corporations are thinning out their aircraft under stock holder pressure.  As far as stockholders are concerned, corporate aircraft just suck up money that could otherwise go to dividends.  As far as this tax payer is concerned, FBI aircraft just suck up money, they don't stop crime.   Yet another place to do a little sequestration. 

What's good for General Motors?

According to a Wall St Journal op-ed, retreating from the car market and specializing in SUV's and pickup trucks is the way to go.  Going head to head with Toyota, Honda, and Ford with the Chevy Malibu is a bad idea.  Or so says Holman W. Jenkins Jr in a Wednesday op-ed.
  I disagree.  GM is a huge company; it once commanded better than 50% of the entire US car market.  To remain a big company, you have to make a mass market product, selling in the millions, to stay in business.  Right now the high volume car product is a smallish four door sedan.  GM cannot survive on niche products like Corvette.  There simply are not enough guys with Corvette money to keep the lights on at a behemoth like GM.  There are more enough people who just need a plain old car to get to work, bring home the groceries and take the kids to school.  Like a Malibu, or (the competition) a Camry, an Accord, or a Fusion. 
   GM needs to make a Malibu that is just plain better than the competition.  They can do it.  They did it in the good old days.  In the '50s and '60s GM owned 50% of the market because their cars were better looking, better handling, and more dependable than Ford, Chrysler, or American Motors.
   They could start with better styling.  The 2012 Malibu is bland, with bulbous front and rear ends.  Then they could find a car salesman to redo the marketing on the web site.  To attract customers GM lists desirable features of the Malibu.  These turn out to be 33 mpg (fair), fancy sound  system (do I care when I have an Ipod?) , a computerized backseat driver with "Turn by turn" voice navigation, and Bluetooth.  None of which I care about either.
  What about engine power, trunk room, interior size (how many kids can I fit into the back seat?) brakes, cornering, roof racks for skis and bikes, transmission options, miles between oil changes, front or rear wheel drive, you know, those car things.  GM is trying to sell the car on MPG and vehicle electronics alone.  They don't seem to care about making a decent car, which can take the curse off a day long drive with kids on board.

Apple Computer is biggest company in history

As measured by market capitalization, the number of shares outstanding times the price per share.  Apple is worth $623.52 billion on Monday.  That's way ahead of Microsoft, Exxon Mobil, IBM, GE, and all others.  It's  a long way from Wozniak and Jobs making the Apple I (just a mother board, no casework) in a garage.  A lot of that growth comes from Mackintoshes, Ipods, and Ipads, new products created by Steve Jobs.
   With a few more guys like Steve Jobs doing new product development, and we could grow our way out of Great Depression 2.0.

You know Detroit is dead

When your college age offspring cannot tell the difference between a Mercury and a Mercedes.

Where have all the giblets gone?

Beats me.  But the last two whole chickens I bought didn't have giblets.  Remember them?  The liver, the neck the gizzard and the heart, all packed in a little paper bag inside the bird?  The liver, sauted, did good things for the stuffing.  The rest of it made the gravy.  Boil them all for as long as the chicken needs to oven roast with some Bell's Poultry seasoning added to the water.  Pick the neck meat, chop the others, and add 'em to the gravy.  Use the broth in the gravy too.
   Cannot understand what's happened here.  Packing the giblets with the bird allows the store to sell offal at chicken prices.  I cannot imagine anyone else who would pay $1.29 a pound for chicken necks and gizzards.

Social Security stocks up on Ammo

According to CBS news, the Social Security Administration placed an order for 174,000 rounds of .357 pistol ammunition.  Damn, that's a lot.
The article goes on to say that Social Security employs 295 special agents who have arrest powers and work armed.
   Social Security should not have armed agents.  If they need to have someone arrested, they can call the cops, just like everyone (nearly everyone) else does. 
   Looks like another good place for a little sequestration to happen.