I'm all newsy this morning. Probably because I'm avoiding my Yuletide fic...
1) From the Washington Post/AP: Banning fast-food TV ads could dent obesity--::tilts head:: My first question is, did banning cigarette ads make a dent in smoking rates? Interestingly, this article doesn't even mention that. Does anybody know? Avi thinks that it did have an effect, but that the effect wasn't large, but I don't know if he's remembering correctly. ::glares at AP reporter who failed to make the obvious connection::
2) Also, as I read various news articles about Obama's transition team and his picks for various cabinet positions, I wonder: Has any other new administration gotten this kind of scrutiny? I don't mean this in a bad way, like I think the media is picking on him. I just wonder if, say, Bush or Clinton, got this many news articles about their picks for Sec. of Health and Human Services. Is this normal? I doubt I was paying as much attention when Bush came into office, so maybe it is. Anyway, just curious.
3) I've also been reading a bit on the auto industry bailout and I've finally discovered that I'm tentatively for it, assuming the car companies aren't just given a blank check. What convinced me? Listening to Rep. Barney Frank on NPR. He made several excellent points, among them being that not doing this would say that we're only interested in bailing out white-collar workers, but not blue-collar workers. Also that he favored giving a certain amount of money, but then if the car companies couldn't provide a plan that led to solvency, they could forget about getting any more money. And he pointed out that this isn't like letting the airlines go bankrupt and reorganize. People might take a chance on a bankrupt airline's ticket, but they're much less likely to take a chance on a bankrupt car company, because it's a huge investment for most people.
Whoops, sproglet is awake and cranky, so must dash...
2) Also, as I read various news articles about Obama's transition team and his picks for various cabinet positions, I wonder: Has any other new administration gotten this kind of scrutiny? I don't mean this in a bad way, like I think the media is picking on him. I just wonder if, say, Bush or Clinton, got this many news articles about their picks for Sec. of Health and Human Services. Is this normal? I doubt I was paying as much attention when Bush came into office, so maybe it is. Anyway, just curious.
3) I've also been reading a bit on the auto industry bailout and I've finally discovered that I'm tentatively for it, assuming the car companies aren't just given a blank check. What convinced me? Listening to Rep. Barney Frank on NPR. He made several excellent points, among them being that not doing this would say that we're only interested in bailing out white-collar workers, but not blue-collar workers. Also that he favored giving a certain amount of money, but then if the car companies couldn't provide a plan that led to solvency, they could forget about getting any more money. And he pointed out that this isn't like letting the airlines go bankrupt and reorganize. People might take a chance on a bankrupt airline's ticket, but they're much less likely to take a chance on a bankrupt car company, because it's a huge investment for most people.
Whoops, sproglet is awake and cranky, so must dash...