This Just In: New on the Net

I guess I’ve just been asleep at the wheel—or not watching enough TV—but I had no idea one of my favorite songwriters is doing music for Volvo. Stephin Merritt is the uber-genius behind the Magnetic Fields, and he sings an interpretation of "Wheels on the Bus" in this ad for the XC. While there are plenty of idiots out there howling about how terrible this is, personally, I like it when musicians make money. Here’s the news:

• Due to mounting debts, the Pininfarina family could lose control of the design house which bears their name. Now, I acknowledge that even really rich people can go broke, but I still can’t say I understand it. Any way you cut it, this is sad. World Car Fans
• The credit crunch happening across the country is starting to have an effect on classic car prices. Of course, whether this is tragic or great depends on whether you want to buy or sell. Winding Road
• A fire at a Chrysler plant in Ontario has temporarily stopped production. Ok, first a fire at Porsche, and now this? Wow. It’s only a matter of time before the Ferrari and Lambo factories go off like Roman candles. Automotive News
• The American Family Association has ended its boycott of Ford. But don’t worry, I’m sure the group will find another way to promote its agenda of intolerance and bigotry. Detroit News