One is offering change and hope to millions, defying the conventional way things are done. In response, the other makes a surprise attempt to attract the young and hip, but it comes off as just a lame imitation.

Yes, Mazda is working on an almost-electric car in a desperate move to steal some of the buzz from the Chevy Volt.

Megan McArdle on shared-space traffic control:

What are we trying to consume: actual safety, or the feeling of safety? This is a more important question than it looks like.

It's good. Read it.

In the morning, before I drive to work in my Mini Cooper, I listen to music on my iPod Mini while I milk my mini cow.

Using incentives to boost production and exploit immigrants:

The researchers responded by linking managers' pay to the daily harvest. The result was that managers started favoring the best workers rather than their own friends, and productivity rose by another 20 percent.

This is actually pretty interesting. I'd rather see it used for politicians than fruit pickers, though.

I like to say that I'm religious but not spiritual. So does Julie Burchill:

Say the word "atheist" 100 years ago and it conjured up a vision of sexy, freewheeling rebels celebrating life, love and creativity in their rejection of a higher power. Say it now and a vision of fun-hating killjoys, desperately scared that somewhere a Christian is having a good time by singing lustily in church on a Sunday morning, comes to mind.

Another botched no-knock police raid.