Comments on: Early Morning Swim

By: Teddy Partridge

Teddy Partridge — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:45:15 +0000

Wonderful Wolfson news!

I hope this means that whore won’t be anywhere near the Clinton State Department next year!

By: ironranger

ironranger — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:19:51 +0000

Saw a bit of Morning Joe earlier. Brian Williams & that other guy, Brokaw, sharing their very valuable insights & pieces of wisdom from their years in the wonderful world of boob tube journalism made me have a fit of snorts & giggles. I must be too tired from Christmas preparations to appreciate their awesome sageness.
Happy & safe holidays to all.

By: RieszFischer

RieszFischer — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:19:39 +0000

That’s a good article, Toby, thanks.

But you do understand that the automakers couldn’t have sold all those SUVs unless there was a market for them, right? Yes the automakers used the power of marketing to push people to buy them but ultimately the people have to decide for themselves what cars they buy. Just think, you and I never seriously considered buying an SUV, right?

It is true that SUVs are more profitable, if you can sell them, and that’s why the automakers pushed them. But the responsibility is ultimately with the consumers, I believe.

By: Christy Hardin Smith

Christy Hardin Smith — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:19:08 +0000

Bit of fresh snark, if folks want some…

By: SouthernDragon

SouthernDragon — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:16:29 +0000

At my age I don’t know how many moments I’ve got left so I can’t be passing any up. My friends know I’ll pull the truck over just to watch a mama duck and her ducklings paddling around in a pond or other critters doing whatever. Drives ‘em crazy. My response is a pretty standard “What, life not going by fast enough for ya? Settle down and enjoy what yer eyes see.”

By: Millineryman

Millineryman — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:14:51 +0000

I studied the fine arts, and it was a great education. It was once I got out of the confines of the studios and darkrooms that reality set in.

Perhaps one day things will change. I wouldn’t trade my education for anything though. I do encourage those are studying art to take business courses. Hopefully it sinks in.

By: acquarius74

acquarius74 — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:13:55 +0000

Thanks, BlueTexan. I opened the DIGG and commented there.

Say, pups, how about re-visiting DIGG and adding a one-liner comment there? It doubles your DIGG.

I wish you each and all a joyful season, and may our poor country have a more peaceful and prosperous New Year!

pup34

By: TobyWollin

TobyWollin — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:11:47 +0000

From Wiki on the history of the SUV - be aware of the snarky comment about high wage union workers about two/thirds down:
“..The increase in SUV sales was assisted by a legislative loophole. Created in the 1970s, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards were established as minimums for passenger vehicles. Exceptions were granted business and farm vehicles. Car manufacturers utilized this loophole by selling SUVs as work vehicles.[6] In the last 25 years, and even more in the last decade, the popularity of SUVs has increased among urban drivers. Consequently, more modern SUVs often come with luxury features and some crossover SUVs have adopted lower ride heights and use unibody construction to better accommodate on-road driving.
Author Keith Bradsher, has linked the rise of the SUV directly to American Motors’ (AMC) lobbying the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a waiver to the Clean Air Act: as a result, the EPA designated AMC’s compact Cherokee a “light truck”, which enabled the company to market it to everyday drivers.[7] This in turn led to the SUV boom when other automakers marketed their own imitators in response to the Cherokee taking sales from their regular cars.[8]
…US automakers could enjoy profit margins of $10,000 per SUV, while losing a few hundred dollars on a compact car. [9] For instance, the Ford Excursion could net the company $18,000, while they could not break even with the Ford Focus unless the buyer chose options.[10][11] This led to Detroit’s big three automakers focusing resources and design on SUVs over small cars (small cars were sold mainly to attract young buyers with inexpensive options and to increase their fleet average fuel economies to meet federal standards). The high wages of unionized workers in the United States and Canada (members of the UAW and CAW, respectively), compared to non-union workers such as that of Toyota, meant that it was unprofitable to have them build small cars.[12] The General Motors Arlington, Texas factory where rear-wheel drive cars were built, such as the Chevrolet Caprice, Buick Roadmaster, and Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham was converted to truck and SUV production, putting an end to full-size family station wagon and overall terminating production of rear-wheel drive full-size cars. As a result of the shift in the Big Three’s strategy, many long-running cars like the Ford Taurus, Buick Century, and Pontiac Grand Prix eventually fell behind their Japanese competition in features and image (relying more upon fleet sales instead of retail and/or heavy incentive discounts), some being discontinued. [13] [14] [15] [16]
Vehicle buyers were drawn to their large cabins, higher ride height, and perceived safety.

By: RieszFischer

RieszFischer — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:10:51 +0000

Wow! Thanks, bluebutterfly! I hadn’t seen that one. It involves Robert Rubin, one of Obams’s economic advisers, so we better “let bygones be bygones”!

Here’s a column on Obama advisers Robert Rubin and Larry Summers from the guardian.

By: SouthernDragon

SouthernDragon — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:10:30 +0000

I thought I’d be slick and give my squirrels a treat of chopped Macadamia nuts. They didn’t like them, sniffed and walked away. The blue jays didn’t have a problem with them though.