Tuesday

Random

Finally, even the AP admits that Ron Paul is no longer a fringe candidate: "Ron Paul, once seen as a fringe candidate and a nuisance to the establishment, is shaping the 2012 Republican primary by giving voice to the party's libertarian wing and reflecting frustration with the United States' international entanglements. The Texas congressman placed second in a key early test vote Saturday in Ames, coming within 152 votes of winning the first significant balloting of the Republican nominating contest." Link. Let's hope Ron Paul wins the Republican nomination. If any other Republican wins it, I'll probably stay home in November 2012 and drink heavily. * * * * * * * Chuckle: "We had reversed the recession, avoided a depression, gotten the economy moving again. But over the last six months we've had a run of bad luck." That's Obama. Link. I'm optimistic that the average American hears stuff like that and laughs at the President, but maybe I'm just projecting my feelings. It's really hard to say. * * * * * * * Perhaps the most novel, yet highly Catholic, economic and political sentiment I've seen all summer: Protect the Poor, not Poverty Programs. Link. * * * * * * * Funny Fallon: The federal government has a new plan that will let people send texts to 911. Yeah, it's a little frustrating when you try to text “Burglar! Please hurry!,” and it auto-corrects to “Burger, please. Hungry.”

Drinking Corner

Chesterton pointed out that a person should never drink for the health of it. That way is the road to besotted damnation. But hey, if you're going to drink anyway, it's nice to know there are health benefits. We hear a lot about the benefits of red wine, but a doctor points out that beer has a lot going for it, too: antioxidants, vitamins, energy, heart healthy. And: "Hops contain polyphenols, which help lower cholesterol, fight cancer and kill viruses."

If you want the healthiest beers, go for the dark and micro-brewed. Link.