eat and shop.....

Is there anything more annoying then trying to do some quick shopping in Costco (or BJs, or Sam's, etc.) and have the aisles clogged with shoppers who have also decided to eat a free 3000 calorie, 200 grams of fat lunch by snacking all the "samples"? All I wanted was my breakfast bards and a couple of cases of water, and it seemed I had to move my cart like I was going through a mine field. If it wasn't the 70 year old shuffling along while eating, it was dodging what was falling out of their mouths, because it seems the "law" that you also have to slow down and try to talk in the middle of the aisle, while you are stuffing your face all before arriving at the next course of the meal at the aisle end-cap. Ugh!

I bow down to Chris for being on top of this before I got completely on board concerning the bailouts. We now have Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Paulson kind of "winging it" and changing the rules as they go concerning where and how much of the bailout money will be distributed. Funny thing is, that all the "doom and gloom" was supposed to happen right away if we did nothing. Well, it's eight weeks since then, and we have really done nothing of substance with the bailout, and the earth did not implode like we were told it would.

On top of that, now we have cities (Detroit & Philadelphia to name tow) asking for a "bailout", and the granddaddy of them all, the three US automakers (Chrysler, Ford and GM) asking for $25 billion to help them out.

First, the cities. NO! Cut services, trim staff, and do what you have to do. Cut trash collection, go to a four day work week. Whatever is necessary.

As for the automakers. Even a bigger NO! Want to know the "Big 3's" biggest expense is these days? Legacy contracts with the United Automakers Workers (UAW). Chapter 11 bankruptcy would allow the automakers to "rework" themselves, renegotiate the contracts, and come out the other end leaner and more streamlined. It worked for the airlines, it can work for the autos.

I know the Democrats and Detroit are screaming about 3 million jobs being lost. Does anyone really believe that if all three closed their doors, that the factories would just sit there empty? Of course not. It would only be a matter of days before someone with money bought up the factories and supplies, hired the engineering brains of each company and then hired workers with reasonable contracts. Next thing you know, there would be efficient, innovative cars being made, and at competitive prices.

The only losers? The unions and union leaders because they can't see the forest through the trees, and are willing to dig their heels in and not help out the situation.

How come nobody is bothering to mention that Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Honda and Nissan are all able to build cars here in the US, and are not in the same kind of trouble? Because it would mean admitting that they are working with non-union employees, and don't have 15% of their costs going to ridiculously negotiated contracts from long ago.

- How nice of Goldman Sachs to not give out bonuses this year.
- 007 takes in 70 (million dollars).
- Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson for NASCAR title #3.

Until the next time.....