Life in the fast lane. Last week I was complaining about Americian business and corporate ethics. Companies ripping off stockholders and retirees. Companies filing for bankruptcy and letting the government deal with all the health care and pensions. Then after they dump all their depts they come out of bankruptcy smelling like a rose and back to making the big money. All the while the company executives cashing obscene pay checks and not worrying about their guaranteed retirement and health care.

 

I heard from plenty of people who are not happy with how American businesses are doing business. One person e-mailed said Exxon made more money then ever last quarter and their stock went down?

 

Harry Rodman who plays drums in the Bluescasters band by night and works in the plastic bag industry by day, says he sees it everyday, price increases after price increase with no one wanting to pay the bill. He believes the American economy is in for a shock.

 

Harry also brought up the price of gas topic and not just that it is to high, but how or why does it fluctuate 20 to 30 cents from station to station depending on what side of town your on. Driving down Orchard Lake gas was $2.67, on 9 mile and John R in Hazel Park $2.39 and at Plymouth and Telegraph $2.17 that is 50 cents difference same brand gas on the same day?

 

Even with the price of gas down a bit from its all time highs I hate to guess how many miles I put on the Benny and the Jets mini van today. I started my Wednesday out by dragging myself out of bed and racing to the radio show I co-host with DR Roman Franklin, 5 till 7pm every Wednesday on WPON.COM and 1460 on the AM dial. This week we did the show live from Bogart's Restaurant, formerly E.G. Nicks, on West Maple just west of Orchard Lake Road.

 

Bogart's is a great place, nice menu, great staff and really good place to do the radio show from. After the show I raced off to the Palace of Auburn Hills in time to see them raise the Eastern Conference Championship banner. I got to say hi to Bob Seger, David Hall from Rock Fanatical, Rob Parker form 97.1 and Coach Steve who runs the Pistons team clinics and youth basketball camps. The Pistons went on the beat the 76ers and as big as a Piston fan as I have been, this years team really looks like a well oiled machine.

 

After the game I raced downtown Detroit to a place called the Corktown Tavern right next to the old Tiger Stadium on Michigan Avenue. My old friends Question Mark and the Mysterians were performing. Turns out Jimmy and some guys I knew from Bentley High School are running this very SOHO feeling club. 

 

After the concert I race home, type the column and now its time to drive the kid to school. When I get home I'll try to get a couple hours sleep and start all over again.