Viacom Reports First Quarter 2008 Results
Two words: Rock band. That's why Viacom's Philippe Dauman is so loved by his chairman, compared to his counterpart at CBS. But how long can you have a multinational media glom based on one monster title? Not sure.
Microsoft Leans Toward a Hostile Bid (WSJ)
We still ain't seen nothing yet. No raise, no walk, no announcement or nothing. But the latest smoke signals out of Redmond is that they're ready to go hostile. Full-on war. Nominate a slate and see what happens. We hope so, as it would be great fun. Of course, that could change by the minute. And something was supposed to have hapenned pre-market, which continues to tick away.
As Gas Costs Soar, Buyers Are Flocking to Small Cars (NYT)
This article could be summarized in two words: economics works! Apparently, one-in-five cars is some sort of fuel efficient sub-compact or compact or something, up from one-in-eight a decade ago, when SUV love was still in full throttle. Still actually doesn't seem like that much, but you gotta start somewhere.
Labor Department reports U.S. nonfarm payrolls decreased by 20,000 in April. (WSJ)
No offense, but seeing as farmers are making so much more money than the rest of us these days, shouldn't they be picking up the slack. Like, fine nonfarm payrolls are down. Maybe that's not good, but really, who would work in the non-farm sector, when there might be some corn you can pick. Seriously.
Celebrity foreclosure: Jose Canseco loses Encino home (LA Times)
Apparently sales of books about steroid use aren't enough for Jose Conseco, who had his house foreclosed upon. So will he be forced to live in that tent city outside of LA. Not that they really need the attention. They probably get more media coverage than him
Posted by guest , May 02, 2008 8:50AM
If you are still around in 30 plus years.....do you suppose there will be a best seller book called "Me...and Todd" Unlikely. Changing names to protect the innocent, what do these people have in common?.....Think...Barbara, Maria, Merthala, Paula......Oh, come on, not your next door neighbor, too. It really has become commonplace....not surprising.....after all, how many of us got it right (marriage)...if not, you may get caught foolin around a little. One thing in common with the above (unknown names) they all were or are, broadcasters in TV........
Posted by guest , May 02, 2008 9:07AM
My first car had a "Rolls Knardley" engine in it. "Rolls" down hills and "knardley" get up the other side.
Posted by guest , May 02, 2008 9:24AM
I'm not sure if its high gas prices or high fashion. Studies have shown people far prefer buying the Toyota Prius to comparable hybrids from Honda because they wish to receive the social recognition from driving a Hybrid from their friends. Al Gore and Lory David have made "Green the new red white and blue" as that hack Tom Friedman likes to say. I think this change in social signaling has a lot to with these things. When I was a young pup if you drove a compact car it was because you were a loser and one could assume poor. Now you can simply claim to "care about the environment"
Posted by guest , May 02, 2008 9:53AM
The second best thing about a Toyota Yaris (the first being how little it costs to fill the tank) is that driving one is like playing MarioKart in real life, especially on winter roads!
Posted by guest , May 02, 2008 12:48PM
Having been allowed to drive a wide variety of imported (and unreliable)European sportscars by my eccentric father, and then settling down to dull low-end American sedans I could afford, I was amazed when I first drove my Mazda. Its steering is responsive, making the damn car nimble on the road, and when parking, turns on a dime. Driving it actually inspired envy in my much better off sibling, who religiously reads Consumer Reports and always drives a big luxury car. Oh yeah, and the Mazda is fuel efficient.
Posted by guest , May 02, 2008 3:06PM
The Mazdas have Zoom Zoom all the way across the board.