Monthly Archives: May 2014


Just as in business, you cannot cut your way to sustained success

Just as in business, you cannot cut your way to sustained success

A two-decade experiment in shrinking tax revenues and government has been an abject failure for Michigan. We have some of the worst infrastructure in the country, our schools are getting worse despite a huge movement toward charter schools, the only new businesses coming into the state are those attracted by the existing auto industry, not the lower taxes. 

The school situation is amongst the most dire. Despite conservatives touting charters which are frequently run by for profit companies like National Heritage Academies, the students of those schools are doing no better on the standardized tests those same conservatives love so much. 

Insanity is often defined as doing the same thing and expecting a different result. The conservative shrinking government plan has not worked here or anywhere else. It's time to move on to something else. ?

“The greatest crisis Michigan faces today is one of vision.” – Doug Drake, former head of revenue/tax analysis at the Michigan Treasury.


In October 2009, I visited Germany for the media launch of the 6th generation

In October 2009, I visited Germany for the media launch of the 6th generation +Volkswagen USA Golf

During the course of the drive program we had a stopover in Dresden where we visited the amazing "glass factory" where the Phaeton is built. We then had some time for a walking tour of the city center where we saw scars of the February1945 Allied firebombing of the city. Google+ has now assembled it into a story?


If you haven't already done so, get yourself

If you haven't already done so, get yourself +LastPass and start changing all your passwords?

Earlier today, eBay issued a press release letting users know that a cyberattack “compromised a database containing encrypted passwords and other non-financial data.” Users will be asked to change their passwords just in case, though they noted that eBay “has seen no indication of increased fraudulent account activity.” This is sadly just one of many attacks recently, and something…


Interesting premise here

Interesting premise here

Personally, I think a "Mustang" created today from a Fiesta or Focus would likely meet the same fate as so many other similar cars. It would sell pretty well for a few years before heading into a steady decline as customers moved on to the next bright shiny object. By the end of the second generation it would be gone. ?

When Ford debuted the Mustang back in ’64, the car was little more than a rebodied economy car with a ton of trim and performance options. Given that same formula, what would the Mustang look like if it was designed today?


Adweek spoke to

Adweek spoke to +Scott Monty this morning after he left +Ford Motor Company

I think this is the most important thing Scott said:

Where do you see social media heading after these last six years?
_I think it's at a critical juncture right now. With all the commentary that's been going on about Facebook and the loss of organic reach, obviously, how the paid component to social evolves is critical. Outside of Ford and looking at the industry overall, it saddens me how social has been co-opted by marketing to become just another mass advertising/marketing channel. _ ?


Over on

Over on +Jalopnik, +Matt Hardigree provides a great rebuttal to a ridiculous article on unsold cars

I saw this article yesterday and as soon as I saw the photos of 2008-era Dodge Durangos and Honda Accords I opted to dismiss it rather than draw attention to it. However, this is a regurgitation of something Matt wrote 5 years ago, it was fitting that he callout the author for writing something so idiotic.?

I usually enjoy reading Zero Hedge because the insights are often interesting and I think pessimism is an underrated virtue these days. However, this guest article on unsold cars is so demonstrably false I had to take a break from my Sunday morning to dispute it.