Monday, January 02, 2012

Random Discussion Topic

Band Aid, Northern Lights, or USA For Africa?

Happy Hour Thread

So get happy.

I Am A Bad Blogger

I suppose I should be providing you with ALL THE LATEST IOWA POLLS because this is the most important thing ever, unless it isn't.

But I really don't care. I'll see if I can bring myself to cover the show tomorrow evening.

Afternoon Thread

Back to work tomorrow, for those of you with normalish 9-5 jobs.

The Worst Person In The World

Rick Santorum.

I've Got A Plan To Set Up A Program To Provide Incentives To Bend The Cost Curve

You know, we really could use some people campaigning on doing stuff for people.

Mad World

Specifics aren't spelled out, but the belief that people are entitled to the public parking spot in front of their house is pretty widespread...

Testa's neighbor and his neighbor's brother-in-law Santo Mancuso, 52, were brawling with Testa's nephew James, 43, - bad blood that began a decade ago over parking spaces and that boiled into mutual contempt.

Mancuso, who had served time for murder, pulled a knife. Testa, 77, a retired hospital security guard - and a well-liked man, his neighbors said - stepped between the men.

But he quickly stumbled back inside and collapsed to the floor.

Green Shoots

Thinking back over the last few years, I'm reminded of the first several years of the Iraq war. It was, for awhile, a bit like farting in church to suggest that Our Great And Glorious Adventure in Iraq was maybe not going so swimmingly, even as the daily carnage continued. The light at the end of the tunnel was always just around the corner, and only someone who hated America would suggest otherwise.

With the economy, too, we were supposed to be on board with the idea that the home team was the comeback kid because, well, just because. America, fuck yeah! I suppose. A couple good months of jobs numbers and the "bears" were discredited as the America haters we all knew them to be.

Now, however, we seem to have settled into the "yes things suck but there's nothing to be done" mode. Can't win, don't try. I'm not sure it's better.

2012

I'm not optimistic that the debate in much of the world will shift from anything other than two sides arguing about just how fast they should be destroying their economies.

Strange times.

Overnight

Sunday, January 01, 2012

A New Thread

Is not out of the question.

Evening Thread

Enjoy

Afternoon Thread

enjoy

"The Amount Is So Small"

So, uh, I could use a few guaranteed $50K profit insider trading episodes. Send me the information, I'll profit, and I'll tell the authorities that I only made 50 grand so no big whoop.

Who Can Be Most Counted On To Stick It To The Moochers

It's the Mail, but apparently Labour is going down the well-trodden path that our dear Democrats created. If you make the case that the moochers and scroungers are the problem, you're making the case for the party that can be counted on to kick them out of their homes and demand mandatory kidney extractions from them. The Tories.

Unfathomable

In my specific time and place of growing up, people got their driver's licenses approximately one second after they were eligible to do so. In college I don't think I knew anyone who didn't have a license.

I know there are multiple reasons for this changing, but I'm curious about just what are the dominant reasons.

Sunday Bobbleheads

Oh I'm not even going to bother. Take the week off, let the atrocities go unnoticed.


Iowa this week. If Mittens wins it matters a lot, if Mittens doesn't win it doesn't matter at all. No I don't know why, but that's the story and they're sticking with it. The truth is, of course, these things matter or don't matter mostly depending on how much the bobbleheads try to claim they matter. But they're just savvy neutral observers.

And Who Is Sacrificing?

Not the rich.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe was experiencing its "most severe test in decades" but that Europe was growing closer in the debt crisis.

France's President Sarkozy said the crisis was not finished, while Italy's president called for more sacrifices.

Growth in Europe has stalled as the debt crisis has forced governments to slash spending.

which will cause revenues to fall, which will cause more debt problems, which will require more 'sacrifice' and more spending cuts, which will...

Happy 2012.

Morning Thread

Happy New Year.

Happy New Year!

May it be better than the last one.