One of These Things is Not Like the Others

When Dilbert is making jokes about real estate, I take that as a sign that the housing market is way out of control. With housing starts up to an annualized rate of 2 million units per year you’ve got to wonder. That’s one new house per 146 Americans. Who is buying them? Who will live in them? What are we tearing down to build them?

Another comic with a serious note today is Get Fuzzy, with the aim of reminding us that real people — normal people like you and me — get hurt in wars. Ever thought about letting the military pay for college? Ever thought about serving your country, maybe even picking up some extra cash in the reserves? Then Rob Wilco’s injured cousin could be you. This is to say nothing about the brave men and women who have died in Iraq.

And from corporate America, Coca Cola has announced their intention to launch a “Low Carb” soda. Foolishly, most people who want such a product are already drinking Diet Coke. Indeed, people who are on true low-carb diets do not consume refined sugars at all, particularly during the early stages of the diet. Atkins even says no caffeine, especially during the first two weeks. The only people buying this product will be people who are under the delusion that they can substitute a few “diet” products and lose weight. Yeah, good luck there. In their defense, it is only fair to point out that Coke is merely following Pepsi’s lead.

Two comics being serious. One industry being clueless.