Have you driven a Homer lately?

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This file photo supplied by Fox Broadcasting shows Homer Simpson. Belittling your product probably isn't a great corporate marketing strategy, but two top Ford Motor Co. executives recently have taken to criticizing the looks of the new Taurus sedan, with one comparing its basic design to the doofus cartoon character.

Jon Bauer, Herald Staff

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 | 12:01 am

Alan Mulally, marketing genius: At first glance, it would seem a bad idea to dis one of your company's cars and compare it to a doofus cartoon character. That's what Mulally, Ford's chief executive, and another Ford official did in saying the Taurus resembled the yellow-toned Homer Simpson.

Just wait until kids hear the comparison and beg Dad to buy a 2008 Homer. And imagine the additional hundreds of Dreamlifters that Boeing could have sold if Mulally, the former Boeing chief, had compared the bulbous modified 747 to a Far Side snake that had swallowed a cow.

Granny wants a little stimulus, too: Your $600 economic stimulus check could shrink to $500 if some in the Senate get their way and extend the distribution of cash to 20 million Americans on Social Security.

What this means for the economy is fewer sales of flat-screen TVs and increased sales of the DVD box set, all 263 episodes, of "Murder, She Wrote."

Chili Bowl XLII: Check out our food pages for suggestions on what to serve on Super Bowl Sunday.

Just remember to make it something that's easy to clean from between couch cushions.