Mr. Michigan, Mitt Romney, has a really interesting op-ed in today's New York Times, saying that taxpayers should not offer a bailout package to the Detroit-based U.S. automakers.

"If General Motors, Ford and Chrysler get the bailout that their chief executives asked for yesterday, you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye. It won’t go overnight, but its demise will be virtually guaranteed.

"Without that bailout, Detroit will need to drastically restructure itself. With it, the automakers will stay the course — the suicidal course ...

"Detroit needs a turnaround, not a check."

Not only is Romney a former Michigan governor, who you might think beholden to automaker interests, but his father once ran American Motors.

His idea, shared by many others, is that bankruptcy could be good for the automakers -- a chance to overhaul and reemerge as companies retooled for the modern market.

The biggest risk I've heard explained, though, is that the label of "bankruptcy" may destroy the business. Consider whether consumers would buy any GM or Ford vehicles if they have concerns about whether the companies will be around in a couple years. Warranties could be voided, parts suppliers may no longer be around when repairs are needed.

Tough call. Here's another interesting take.

As I saw Barack Obama's first interview as president-elect tonight on 60 Minutes, I couldn't help thinking how neat it would have been if Ed Bradley were still around to do the interview. Steve Croft is good, but there would have been something really special about seeing Ed Bradley (the first black network White House correspondent) interview the nation's first black president.

I had the same thought about Tim Russert on election night. Tim wasn't black, of course, but he was such a central figure in chronicling American politics for decades and I would have liked to see him cover a story like this.

Click here for one of several Ed Bradley remembrances you can find by searching his name. The actual 60 Minutes piece that aired after his death was spectacular, but I can't find a version of it preserved online.

Science, the environment, human behavior and biology, design, technology and bold ideas -- if any of that interests you, you should check out something called TedTalks.

TedTalks (an acronym for Technology, Entertainment, Design) essentially are extraordinary people presenting extraordinary ideas. They come at an annual conference where these fascinating people gather to give brief presentations.

Fortunately for the rest of us, the most interesting ones are captured in audio and video and available at Ted.com or for download as podcasts. I highly recommend you check them out. There are more than 300 available, and many are sure to catch some of your interests.

Click here to go to the TedTalks video podcast page in iTunes.