When the Internet was first getting started, it was common to read the occasional quirky, often tongue-and-cheek humor piece that eventually came to symbolize the Internet revolution. Some time around the great dot-com fallout, this sense of humor seemed to fade away, or at least move on to more serious matters. These days it's rare to see such articles, so it's little wonder that I immediately took a trip down memory lane when I read the "Gamers' Manifesto".

You company is bankrupt, for a second time. Your aging infrastructure is weighing you down. You've staked your comeback of the theory of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em". What's left to do? How about a merger!

That's exactly what the folks at US Airways and America West are thinking. In a bid to become air travel darling Southwest Airline's largest rival, the two companies have unveiled tentative plans to merge. But hold on, US Airways is still in the midst of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and any plans would need the OK of both the court and financial backers.

So is the merger a good idea? Many are probably happy that US Airways actually has a plan to try and fulfill its goal of becoming a low cost carrier. But with an outdated spoke-hub system, can it really reinvent its self as the uber competitor of Southwest? In my opinion, not likely. US Airways has a lot of existing problems, including labor and equipment liabilities which aren't going to be shed by a merger. At best US Airways could eat up any excess capital America West is holding on to, but a merger isn't going to change the harsh reality of the great air travel shakeup.

The inevitable has finally happened, Standard and Poor's have downgraded American auto manufacturers Ford and GM's bond rating to "JUNK". But what does that mean to the car buying public? Little if anything. The change in America's car buying habits have been a long time coming, and this latest blow to domestic autos shouldn't surprise anyone.

Patriotism may only get you so far. 10 years ago "Made in America" was the battle cry, but in a world of low, low prices and super sized value that statement quickly became hollow. A lot of folks I know sit around and crack on imports, especially Asian ones, saying they are too small, uncomfortable and have no power. The argument is nothing new, folks have been saying that since their initial invasion in the early 70s. What has changed is the penetration that Asian imports are benefiting from. Early on they mostly competed with small, compact, economy cars. Now automakers such as Toyota and Nissan have made serious headway into the light truck and SUV market, the last bastion of their American counterparts.