Two things happened Monday that added to my constant amazement at how quickly the world has changed...and how much smaller it is than it used to be.

73-thousand members of the United Auto Workers went on strike against General Motors. The first UAW strike against G.M. in 37 years. And it was the THIRD story on NBC Nightly News.

My how times have changed since Charles Wilson uttered the immortal words, "What's good for the country is good for General Motors, and vice versa."
Wilson was President of G.M. at the time, and went on to become Secretary of Defense.

It seems like yesterday that you drove a car from the "Big 3" (G.M., Ford or Chrysler), or you took the bus. Everyone knew who UAW president Walter Reuther was, and he cracked a big whip.
Anyone know who the UAW president is now? Ron Gettelfinger. That's who.

Another sign of the changing times: they're not on strike over wages and benefits. All they want is job security, and G.M. can't promise that.

Volkswagen cracked the import market open, but Toyota drove through it with the Corona (in '66, I believe), and the Big 3 and the UAW haven't been the same since.
And mostly, it's their fault.

And on the subject of cars, earlier Monday I got a phone call from a man interested in buying my wife's car.
We were chatting, and in the course of conversation, he mentioned that he was in Malaysia.

"You're calling from Malaysia?"
"Yes, I'm here on business."
"You're calling from Malaysia?"
"Well, this is the first chance I've had to call."
"You're calling from Malaysia?"

This gentleman is interested in purchasing a car from us, and all I can say is, "You're calling from Malaysia?"
It sounded as if he were calling from around the corner.
Did I mention he was calling from Malaysia?
Someone called ME from Malaysia!

I think he may buy it, too, despite the fact he probably thought he was talking to a complete idiot.