The Meck Deck

Dumbest ads ever?

Michael Lowrey — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:47:54 +0000

I realize that the target demographic isn’t exactly at the top of the social-economic ladder and the product is inherently absurd — bad odds at a no-skill activity — but does anyone spend more money to make and air dumber ads than state lotteries? And is the State of North Carolina really so desperate as to have to resort to stereotyping people from other parts of the country to push its lottery?

Charlotte cell phone ban while driving?

Michael Lowrey — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:55:12 +0000

It seems that Charlotte City Council may consider imposing some sort of ban or limit on using cell phones while driving. Three quick points:

1. As JLF president John Hood recently wrote on Chapel Hill’s ban on using a cell phone while driving, regulation makes sense only if the benefits exceed the cost, not whether regulation would provide some benefit

2. There really is little point in Charlotte proceeding until the legality of Chapel Hill’s ban is established.

3. And in any case, if you are going to have a regulation, a uniform statewide regulation makes more sense than each local jurisdiction having its own unique restrictions.

North Carolina a headache for Democrats

Michael Lowrey — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:53:53 +0000

I’m not one of those people who considers North Carolina a natural battleground state in 2012, so I’ve always thought the Democrats decision to hold their national convention here a bit of a headscratcher. Recent events make the decision look even more questionable. And the main-stream press is starting to notice. The Associated Press had a story out on Saturday titled “North Carolina a political headache for Democrats.” So now people all across the country could pick up their Sunday paper and read a story that begins:

Once a bright spot for President Barack Obama, North Carolina is now more like a political migraine less than four months before Democrats open the party’s national convention in Charlotte. The causes are plenty.

SAMs coming for the DNC?

Michael Lowrey — Sun, 13 May 2012 20:26:45 +0000

No, not people named Samuel or Samantha, of which there will certainly be a fair number here for the Democratic National Convention, but rather surface-to-air missiles. The British are considering deploying them in London to help protect the Olympics. They are know to be deployed in Washington, DC. So the idea that they might make an appearance on a rooftop in Uptown Charlotte in early September is anything but unprecedented.

Meanwhile, near Phoenix…

Michael Lowrey — Sat, 12 May 2012 02:21:53 +0000

An example of how badly things can go wrong for a city hosting a major sports franchise. The Wall Street Journal reports on how the city of Glendale, Arizona is subsidizing the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes to the tune of $12.9 million a year from now through 2033, in a deal so poor for the city that Moody’s has downgraded Glendale’s bond rating twice in the last 18 months. Pretty sobering I would say.

Justice Clarence Thomas and Chief Judge David Sentelle to speak in Charlotte

Michael Lowrey — Sat, 12 May 2012 02:01:54 +0000

The local branch of the Federalist Society will host Justice Clarence Thomas and Chief Judge David Sentelle of the DC Circiut Court of Appeals on June 8. The lunch event is described as “Reflections from the Bench: A Conversation with Justice Clarence Thomas and Judge David Sentelle.” More information is available here.

Remembering the crew of HMS Bedfordshire

Michael Lowrey — Sat, 12 May 2012 01:42:12 +0000

For those you aren’t aware of this, my major free-time activity is researching world War I at sea, especially U-boat operations. It involves a later war obviously that what I usually work on, but the Raleigh News & Observer had a very nice article earlier this week on the sinking of the armed trawler HMS Bedfordshire, which was torpedoed and sunk with all hands by the German submarine U 558 off the Outer Banks 70 years ago today. The bodies of four of the crew of the trawler washed up on shore and are buried at the British Cemetery on Ocracoke.

American Airlines will explore merger options

Michael Lowrey — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:55:57 +0000

So says Reuters. Now things may get real interesting.

Chiquita losses money

Michael Lowrey — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:15:17 +0000

A none brilliant economic development strategy: Agree to pay the relocation costs of a money-losing major corporation. Like, you know, Chiquita Brands. Because the results will always be less than what you (meaning the state and local governments that provided the incentives) had expected. Guaranteed. Though the odds of anyone that provided the incentives actually admitting that is about zero.

Wells Fargo eliminates free checking

Michael Lowrey — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:33:11 +0000

In the Carolinas come August. Not a surprise but still I suppose it’s time to start looking for a new bank.