Today's news

Bank of America ousted John Thain (see our story T(h)ainted) after it became apparent how bad the situation at Merrill Lynch really was. The brokerage announced a $15.4 billion loss for its most recent quarter. So much for financial stewardship! It appears BofA finally saw the light that wasn't there.

Microsoft meanwhile missed its numbers. A feat that is only aggravated by the fact that rival Google beat expectations. In any case, Microsoft and its valet, Intel are not happy campers. For years the duo managed to get America to burn through new computers every other year by quickly making existing machines obsolete. So where is your carbon footprint Wintel?

All this was done under the guise of innovation. But seriously, ask yourself, is the new Office really better than the 1995 version? My answer is no, no and no.  It is worse. Bloated and worse, like an aging corpse. An undead zombie.

Now, while Mr. Gates - who fancies himself a white knight in shining armor-  rides into Africa to cure disease and help the poor, the company that made him all those billions is going to lay off American workers and cause hardship at home. How many homes are in foreclosure in Redmond, WA and environs? Maybe Mr. Gates should give back some of the money that we paid for his "high tech" cardboard boxes, containing 2 cent CD's with buggy software?

Not to be outdone, all five remaining Bush supporters have been busy writing glorifying political obituaries for their man in the Wall Street Journal. For several days now we have been reading how W saved the free world, kept the nation safe, eradicated the terrorists, banished dictators, and led our nation to a new prosperity. Oops, that last one was a typo I guess.

The other Wall Street Journal ideologues have been equally busy touting their universal recipe for recovery, prosperity, freedom, and the American Way. Tax breaks. Tax breaks for ever! The new cure for the economy, cancer, and the common cold. Just cut taxes. Wait a minute? Did not George W. cut our taxes? That must be why the economy is doing so well today?

Meanwhile the new Obama administration is still trying to find a way to kick-start that economy. How do you kick-start a seized engine? The answer is you don't. It can't be done. You need to get a new engine instead. How long will it take before the star-studded economic team gets the picture, that there is nothing left to kick-start?