Ups to common sense. Federal Magistrate Patricia Hemann and Federal Judge Donald Nugent struck down North Olmsted’s restrictive sign code, which had been a hindrance to business owners. We’ll take that as a good sign of things to come.
Downs to the Internet. A new study revealed that 6 percent of World Wide Web users suffer from some form of addiction to the Net. We hear a possible antidote is a return to watching mindless TV sitcoms.
Ups to John “Big Dog” Thompson. After having his mug plastered all over the TV for years while he cheered on the Cleveland Browns from the Dawg Pound, Thompson’s finally cashing in on the notoriety with Big Dawg Crunch cereal. Next on tap: Dog bones?
Downs to the Fed. Another quarter percent interest rate hike to slow the economy seems more like alarmist activity than level-headed monetary policy. Meanwhile, the economy chugs along, the job market remain tight and the stock market continues to rise. The only effect this move will have is to hit business owners in the pocketbook as they go to borrow money.
Downs to credit card issuers. The proliferation of introductory low-interest-rate cards — and the massive debt racked up by consumers because of it — is finally being felt by the banks which issue them. Bank One’s earnings dip may be only the beginning.
