Too many interesting odds and ends to dedicate a column to onetopic this week. Here's a rapid fire look at some things I findworthy of comment:

o The Don't Start Device. A company is marketing a device thatstops a car from functioning if the owner is late on their payments(see story page 8). The late period can be set by the lender.Obviously there are some benefits to this type of device, but Iwon't even list them because the negatives far outweigh them!

What have credit unions become if they have to rely on a BigBrother-like tool to shut off someone's car? I'd much rather seecredit unions utilize well thought out risk-based lending thanthis. Credit unions tout their ability to get to know a member'sunique financial situation. Relying on this device means a creditunion didn't like what they learned about the member. Then don'tmake the loan. Think of the PR implications of a member tellingeveryone their car was shut off by the credit union, whether it wasjust or not. I know there are safeguards, but I worry aboutemergency situations of a car not starting. Credit unions don'tneed that potential legal or PR headache. And to those CUs thatdon't believe in risk-based lending, remember you can reward themember with a better rate if they meet payment milestones.