Can anyone seriously believe this will fix the economy? Well, it will benefit the ruling class, er, politicians and government workers. And their corrupt fellow travelers. The economy - well not so much. Come on, this doesn't even pass the grin test. Propping up state budgets that just need to be cut. Picking favorites and winners in technology. Funding yet another laundry list of pork barrel projects. Gutting welfare reform and encouraging dependence. And kicking the can on the costs by passing the debt and inflation on to the young and productive. How can anyone seriously believe that this farrago of statism is going to inspire confidence and return reality to the economy? Maybe they don't. It is a certainty that it will increase the numbers of tax eaters and those beholden to the state - not the market - for their livelihood. And maybe that's the point. Meanwhile, in the real world, we're heading right down the statist stagnation path after Japan. Rope.
No, not politicians. This time. We're talking a blog by hyena researchers in Kenya. I learned about this one at an alumni dinner. Some interesting stories of the collision of wildlife, conservationist, and local interests. And you wouldn't think of putting hyenas on your 'cute' list, but some of them are.
Always with the consumer in mind. That's what the DTV delay is all about, right, a little more time to distribute those converter boxes? Well, maybe not. Ars Technica lays out the pattern of influence peddling behind the delay, seeking to weaken competition to AT&T's 4G offerings.
Coming to a mall near you. Microsoft says they'll open storefronts to compete with Apple's. It's hard to see how the economics are going to work. Apple's stores move volumes of relatively high priced hardware and well as software and accessories. Microsoft's high ticket items are in enterprise software, which doesn't quite fit the retail channel. There's always XBox, and I'm sure the existing channel will appreciate the competition. Or they can try to pick winners in the laptop market and compete with Best Buys. Yes, this should be amusing to watch. Meanwhile, here's a preview of MSFT's attempts to copy Apple.