Today's Economic Outlook

Today's outlook is: not good? I was getting my car washed at the dealership today. It was so quiet. I was the only one in the waiting room, enjoying my complimentary fancy coffee and bagel. Usually at least a couple other people are there. For comparison, back in 2003-2004, it'd be packed on a Saturday morning and you could wait a couple hours.

Out in the showroom it wasn't any more busy. There were a couple people milling about -- all salesmen. Heck, out in the front parking lot, there was a big empty section. I would think you'd arrange the empty spots to be out back somewhere and always keep the front area near the street full of shiny new cars. At least, that's how it usually is. I guess that just means their inventory is low and I'm not sure what that means, economically speaking.

In non-car dealer news, I saw this in a Chicago Tribune story this morning. The numbers make for a staggering comparison. (On the other hand, the world can change a lot in 45 years.)

In 1960, 77 percent of women and 65 percent of men had acquired certain traditional markers of maturity by age 30: leaving home, completing school, full-time employment, marriage and family. In 2005, the figure had plummeted to 27 and 39 percent, respectively, according to the MacArthur Research Network.

And that's today's economic outlook!

"Lost" Fatalities

"Lost" is almost over. Have you noticed a lot of people die on that show?  Or, I should say "die", since who knows how it will turn out with two more shows to go.  Charlie's death still gets me weepy no matter that I've seen the episode multiple times.  Here's a collection, set to that beloved old Jim Carroll chestnut.