Underwhelming Christmas sales

Used to be that retailers would place their orders months and months in advance. Manufacturers would attempt to anticipate demand and build up inventories against predicted sales later in the year. If there was an abrupt downturn in the economy, retailers would be sitting on inventory that they would have to get rid of, which meant great sales (I assume).

These days, with globally integrated supply chains, sophisticated software, and just-in-time manufacturing, companies can react a lot faster, and be a lot less likely to have excess inventory. That means that retailers will be less desperate to dump inventory this Christmas. They'll be desperate for sales, but not the sort of desperation that makes them sell below cost. That's better for them, and probably better for the economy, but not very satisfying for a skinflint for me.

On the other hand, I expect a bumper crop of discounted gift cards starting December 26th.

Barack Obama's VP

The Economist describes the numerous ways in which an Obama/Clinton "dream team" is less than meets the eye. As a loyal reader, I agree with everything. Furthermore, in the person of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sibelius is a much more appealing VP candidate with many of Clinton's advantages and few of her disadvantages. I thought Bill Richardson before, but after seeing Clinton (somehow) sustain her appeal for so long, perhaps Obama would be better off with someone more like her. I don't see any Intrade contracts for her, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time.

Kitties forever

Someone, somewhere, sometime in the next 20 years, is going to genetically engineer a cat that never grows up. Kittens are more fun than cats, after all.