Wednesday
Miscellany
First, an appeal. This boy has cancer. He enjoys getting Christmas cards. I don't know why, but he does. Please send him one.
And no, I haven't fallen for a scam. I know the boy's family. I drank beer with his father when I wore a younger man's clothes. It's the Christmas season. Do a random act of kindness. Please.
Send cards to:
Joey Caretti
c/o 22671 Eddy Drive
Macomb, MI 48044
Always Room for the Social Agenda
Heck, why not. We have plenty of money: "The United States will begin using American foreign aid to promote gay rights abroad, Obama administration officials said on Tuesday." Link. And the Arabs hate us for our freedom, don't forget. It has nothing to do with our meddlesome selves.
Related: HIV-positive man accused of biting a man during 2009 fight released from probation. Link. But isn't that how they fight?
70-Year Anniversary
Happy Pearl Harbor Day, so to speak. It's the 70th year anniversary of the event that kicked off America's greatest moment. I greatly appreciate the efforts of folks like Pat Buchanan who have bravely pointed out that, all in all, WWII wasn't such a great success. We defeated the Germans and Japanese, yes, but we capitulated to the USSR and China, which resulted in (stilll-not-fully-known) levels of brutality that far exceeded the brutality of the Nazis and Japanese. But still, I don't buy into the idea that we provoked Japanese into bombing us. I agree with the revisionists that Pearl Harbor is not as cut-and-dried an act of unilateral aggression like high school textbooks want us to believe, but overall, I still side with the patriotic view that we were attacked and needed to respond rigorously.
Not Quite Peas in a Pod
Marc Faber and Jim Rogers agree on a lot. Heck, they both live in Asia at this point and think the U.S. is screwed. But Jim Rogers is still bullish on China, whereas Faber thinks China is going to collapse. Roger still likes commodities, whereas Rogers think they're headed for a major drop. But they both still like metals. Link.
The State Shoulda Done More!
Big hole in that safety net: Woman denied food stamps kills self, shoots children. Link. She must've really needed that Big Gulp Mountain Dew. (Alright, that may have been a little harsh.)
Funny Late Night
The Cain jokes were out in full force this week:
"Herman Cain has suspended his presidential campaign, but he has asked the Secret Service if they could continue to provide him protection, at least until his wife cools off." Letterman.
"Cain blames a conspiracy by powerful Democrats who are intent on destroying him for these various allegations. I don't think you can blame the Democrats. I'm pretty sure they were rooting for him in this particular case." Kimmel.
"Everybody's talking about the presidential election. And this is big: Two days after stepping down, there are rumors that Herman Cain is endorsing his former rival, Newt Gingrich. Not to be president, but to be his new wingman." Fallon.
"Even though Herman Cain is suspending his campaign, he's launching a new website called TheCainSolution.com. Yeah, it's the only political website that makes you click an 'I'm Over 18' button to enter." Fallon.
