Thursday, April 08, 2010

Thursday Night Thread

A lot of people out tonight. The urban hellhole is made of... people!

Evening Thread

Spent much of the day installing a new hard drive, as my computer had a freezing problem which I diagnosed (guessed) might be related to it. Seems to have done the trick (knock on wood). Bit annoying to have to do the whole reinstall again, but bought this laptop right before disk sizes exploded, and the 80 or so gigs it had wasn't really enough anyway.

Happy Hour Thread

enjoy

Getting So Much Better All The Time

It's quite possible the optimists are right, but with unemployment at 9.7% and long term unemployment being a big part of that, it's easy to see why people are glum.

Anti-Stimulus

As I wrote before, I don't think I disagree with the DOT ruling on the merits, but the fact remains that there are a lot of shovel ready projects that now have no financing since the state is not allowed to toll I-80.

There Are Many Internets

It's always a bit funny to realize that.

Ensign

To state the obvious, it's bizarre how little attention the Ensign saga has gotten. You'd think it be perfect fodder for cable news. If he actually gets indicted will there be any attention, or if he resigns will they just continue to ignore.

Justice

Occasionally, though not often enough, major white collar criminals actually do serious time.


SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- A Minnesota man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for masterminding a $3.7 billion Ponzi scheme, the longest term of imprisonment for financial fraud in that state's history, the Department of Justice said Thursday.

Shorter Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission

There's really nothing we can do about the great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity.

So Stupid

As I've said a few times, the CNN-hiring-Erick-Erickson thing is less about him being a conservative asshole who says inflammatory things, and more about the fact that he's a complete imbecile.

Thursday Is New Jobless Day

460K new luck duckies.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 18,000 to a seasonally adjusted 460,000, the Labor Department said.

Analysts polled by Reuters expected claims to edge down to 435,000 from a previously reported 439,000 the prior week.


The number increased "unexpectedly."

And the lesson is?

David Broder today without irony:

When I was a young reporter in the 1960s, this city was full of people who did their jobs not only with skill and energy but also with unquestioned integrity.


...and after fifty years, when you are referred to as "the Dean" of the Village, it seems to lack them. The city is full of Hiatts, Wills, Gersons, Quinns, Kornbluts and Milbanks.

Nice legacy there Matlock, some might say, "Mission Accomplished".

Overnight Thread

Make it last

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Unpossible

They're all fine patriots.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Gregory Giusti's 83-year-old mother had not heard that her son had been arrested, but she told ABC7 he has a history of mental problems. She does not think he would be capable of carrying out the threat; he has never owned a gun, and she blames Fox News for getting her son worked up.

Deep Thought

I'm glad I'm a blogger who rarely has to dress like an adult as we have this strange custom of wearing dark suits in 90+ degree humid weather.

Evening Thread

Still a travel day...

Big Train

I dream of the day when Big Train is a powerful political and lobbying force.

The Chinese government has signed cooperation agreements with the state of California and General Electric to help build such lines. The agreements, both of which are preliminary, show China’s desire to become a big exporter and licenser of bullet trains traveling 350 kilometers, or about 215 miles, an hour, an environmentally friendly technology in which China has raced past the United States in the past few years.

Rudy 911

Our discourse is so stupid.

It's Hot Out There

88°

Probably a new record.

Al Gore is fat.

Minor Corruption, But Still Important

There really shouldn't be any seat set-asides for government offices and officials for sporting events or concerts.