Times Square suspect Faisal Shahzad judged for crappy planning

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Experts say it wasn’t a well-put-together bomb. Among other things, they say the device used alarm clocks from the ’60s rather than modern remote detonation devices, and relied on the clocks to set off fireworks that would cause a much larger blast. Essentially, they’re noting that the device seemed like it was ACME-quality. Ouch. Poor Faisal. He was just suspected of blowing up Times Square. source

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09 Feb 2010 09:20

I think we should see this Toyota problem from a broader viewpoint. If customers start to harbor doubts about [quality and safety], that would be problem for the whole industry.
Honda CFO Yoichi Hojo • Regarding the danger the Toyota recalls pose for the auto industry as a whole. He notes that, for this reason, his company isn’t offering incentives to Toyota customers who trade in their cars, like GM and Ford are. He sees that policy as just a little foolish. Wonder why. source

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You cannot fool all the people all the time, President Lincoln said. And when it comes to student learning, the public seems beyond deceit.
Wall Street Journal columnist Paul Peterson • Discussing the declining quality of public schools in the wake of Obama’s speech today. He says it’s beyond terrible – graduation rates are lower than they were in 1970, when Kevin Arnold from “The Wonder Years” started at McKinley High. Not only are parents unhappy with education, but they don’t want to spend any more money on schools. 46% don’t support spending more. To give you an idea about how anemic that number is, in 1990 (when Zack Morris was a sophomore at Bayside High), the number was 70%, and last year (when the cast of High School Musical was filled with seniors) that number was 61%. Depressing. • source

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It would be a shame to wipe out the rootstock of all the great cars that followed, to see a utopian symbol like the Jeep Grand Wagoneer or a car with the rich personality of an Alfa Romeo 164 get clobbered.
Car and Driver editor in chief Eddie Alterman • Discussing some of the cars that could head off the road thanks to Cash for Clunkers, which just got another financial boost from the government. While cars of the era that are getting taken off the streets – vehicles made after 1984 – were made in a period where vehicle quality was in decline (hence the name of the program), some cars were definitely keepers that would stand the test of time. • source

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