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There has been a lot of discussion lately about the economy—more than in the past few weeks. It seems as though we have reached some sort of economic tipping point, where things have gotten better, but won’t fully turn around or will get much worse unless the Obama administration takes some further serious steps to correct things. Rising unemployment, gains in foreclosures, as well as a constant lack in lending (which in my opinion will always be a practice that sees problems). A recent NYTimes article explained it well:
It is true that more time is needed to show results for policies that are currently in place, including stimulus spending, foreclosure relief and the bank rescue. But it is also clear that joblessness and defaults are worse now than was assumed when those policies were formed. So the need for more federal help is all but inevitable, as are political fights over renewed aid. President Obama may want to avoid those battles until health reform passes, but he still should lay the groundwork in three main areas.
If Obama doesn’t step it up, things will indeed go further south than before. Paul Krugman, the Nobel-winning economist, explained the stimulus trap so well that I encourage anyone to read it. He also had some pretty sound advice:
What Mr. Obama needs to do is level with the American people. He needs to admit that he may not have done enough on the first try. He needs to remind the country that he’s trying to steer the country through a severe economic storm, and that some course adjustments — including, quite possibly, another round of stimulus — may be necessary.
Obama seems to have totally moved on from this subject, and he did until it came up again in June after the job loss reports came in. It was a serious wake up call to the administration—one that Joe Biden jumped on too quickly. But whether the administration misread the economy or simply didn’t do enough, is a moot point. In concurrence with Paul Krugman, Bill Maher, and many other voices, I hope Obama has the guts to do what needs to be done, because he has not done enough.
I have recently received some criticism that the majority of stories are too one sided on this site. This post was somewhat in response to the comments. It will not be the last of its kind.
Worst Products Ever
AromaTrim— It changes the taste of your favorite foods. It makes them taste so bad that you no longer want to eat the most delicious things on the planet. One user exclaims, “I’m shaking because I’m excited.”
My thoughts? She’s shaking because she’s been poisoined by a product that probably destroys your sense of smell or brain cells. Better yet, can anyone think of another substance you put up your nose that reduces hunger? Try cocaine.
#3 Álvaro Uribe
Unconditional support in the drug war. The Colombian president was a staunch pro-U.S. voice in a region where Bush had few friends. The affection was mutual. Bush authorized millions in military aid for Colombia’s war against drug cartels and leftist rebels and awarded Uribe the Presidential Medal of Freedom, citing his “immense personal courage and strength of character.”
These days, things aren’t quite so friendly. Obama campaigned on his opposition to a free-trade agreement with Colombia, citing human rights issues. There is also growing concern in the administration over Colombia’s methods in the war on drugs. An anonymous source told the Washington Post that at their meeting last week, Obama planned to question Uribe on a recent United Nations report that characterized extrajudicial killings by Colombian security forces as “cold-blooded, premeditated murder.”
Uribe has also lost the unique status he enjoyed under Bush, as Obama has made an active effort to improve relations with other Latin American leaders, including leftists. Both presidents say that progress continues to be made on the free-trade agreement and other issues, but the days when Colombia was the one reliable U.S. partner in South America are over.

The Tobias
A grilled beef sandwich topped with fried pepperoni, salami, provolone cheese, fried onions, tomato and special sauce.
(submitted by Tim)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Outgoing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is facing yet another ethics complaint – the 18th against her and the very thing that helped to prompt her resignation.
Sarah Palin has to be one of the most interesting female politicians of all time. For better or for worse, she commands the media with stories of all different types. This particular complaint will only add to the recent fire sparked by her resignation.
The complaint alleges she abused her office by accepting a salary and using state staff while campaigning outside Alaska for the vice presidency. It doesn’t sound all that serious, considering it’s her 18th complaint. The real problem is that it’s the third complaint filed against her since she announced July 3 that she was stepping down.
There have been some different stories flying around the internet related to why she decided to resign (a few reasons here). Then there was Levi Johnston claiming she resigned because of money. Honestly, I’d agree with a handful of speculators that the real reason has yet to be discovered. I’m hoping for some sort of film trilogy out of Hollywood that stars Sarah Palin—Defender of the Western Seaboard! Screenplay to come.

TEHRAN, Iran — An Iranian passenger plane carrying 168 people crashed a quarter-hour after takeoff Wednesday, smashing into a field northwest of the capital and shattering to pieces. State television said all on board were killed.
Caspian Airlines is a Russian-Iranian joint venture founded in 1993. Iran has frequent plane crashes often because of bad maintenance of its aging aircraft. Tehran blames the problem in part on U.S. sanctions that prevent Iran from getting spare parts for some planes. Caspian Airlines, however, uses Russian-made Tupolevs whose maintenance would be less impaired by American sanctions.
First of all, let me say that yes, of course this is a tragedy and I mourn for the families. Now, to focus on the government of Iran—please stop blaming every damn thing that goes wrong in your country on the United States. First it was the mosque bomb (which really wasn’t first at all), then it was the post-election riots, and now this. Not only is it getting old, but a majority of the time, the claims are utterly factless.
This particurlar allegation, that the U.S. is responsible due to sanctions, is mostly if not completely irrelevant. While it may be true that they cannot receive spare parts for their aircraft, the plane that crashed was a jet from the Russian-Iranian joint venture. Shouldn’t they be receiving their parts from Russia—if not manufacturing the parts themselves? “Down with the U.S., because we can’t solve our own problems and are losing control of our educated and resourceful citizens who yearn for the freedoms of said country!”
A 28-year-old woman, Summer Nelson, has been arrested for having sex with a 14-year-old boy who she was babysitting. Nelson claimed to be in love with the teen, and told his siblings that she was “in love” with their brother. She even went so far as to ask the boy’s mother for her blessing so they could be “together as a couple.”Is anyone keeping count? Imagine how many of these instances which haven’t even been reported or found it. Well, congratulations to all boys aged 12-17.
As you know, I typically don’t post good things here, but when they’re happening because of something so full of failure, it’s a must.
By Jeremy Scahill
Earlier this week, I wrote an article based on interviews I conducted with two of the leading anti-torture attorneys working to hold the Bush administration accountable for its crimes: Michael Ratner of the Center for Constitutional Rights and Jameel Jaffer of the American Civil Liberties Union. That article was called Top Anti-Torture Lawyers Criticize AG Holder’s Torture Probe, Saying It May Let ‘Higher-Ups’ Off. Another lawyer, who has worked tirelessly on this issue has weighed in with a different perspective that I think is worth reading.
At Harper’s, the well-respected constitutional and military law expert Scott Horton makes the case that any Special Prosecutor appointed to investigate torture will, by nature of their investigation, end up investigating senior Bush administration officials:
As soon as the special prosecutor gets into the facts relating to the use of the Bush-approved techniques, he will deal with the claims of interrogators and deeply implicated contractors like James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen that they were acting under instructions from higher up the chain and in accordance with guidance delivered by senior CIA officials and political appointees, both oral and written. The special prosecutor will have to examine the bona fides of these claims and investigate the guidance that was given and whether it comported with law. In other words, the conduct of Bush Administration officials may well not be implicated in the specific tasking document issued by Holder, but it would be raised by way of affirmative defense by the interrogators and contractors. The special prosecutor will not be able ultimately to avoid looking at these questions if he or she pursues the job credibly. And if Holder were to direct that certain individuals are immune from review by the special prosecutor, he would make the entire exercise into a travesty. The inference that higher-ups won’t be caught up in the investigation is, in my view, unwarranted.
JULY 14, 2009 — U.S. Army Maj. Stefan Frederick Cook, set to deploy to Afghanistan, says he shouldn’t have to go. His reason? Barack Obama was never eligible to be president because he wasn’t born in the United States.
Back in the day (June 2008), this argument rumor caused quite a stir for the soon to be president. Fortunately for him and the rest of the country, the record was set straight—multiple times. After a few ignorant citizens ignored the facts and took the issue to the courts, the record was set straight—again. In fact, the Supreme Court even decided flat out not to hear that case (Ironically, if one remembers, that particular case claimed both Obama and McCain were ineligible for the presidency). Now it looks as though we will be re-examinig the entire issue.
Supporters of a case that disputes the legitimacy of Barack Obama’s presidency claimed a small victory today when U.S. District Judge David O. Carter told them to fix their paperwork and that he would listen to “the merits” of their case.
Why? I don’t know. However, I am hopeful that the judge involved is merely doing the plaintiff a solid, and hearing them out. Although, I don’t see how the judge could possibly examine the case based on how many courts have already heard the issue. As you’ve already seen here, this wouldn’t be the first time the courts have wasted their time in looking for the facts on Obama’s citizenship. Another round, anyone?
Update: In case anyone was wondering, I did a little research on the number of the cases that have been filed regarding this issue. I have found twenty-one (21) separate cases, thirteen (13) of which were either denied or dismissed, and the rest (8) which concluded with no outcome (except one case where the judge threatened to assess all case costs against the plaintiff). More cases exist that I have not specifically read. My advice? Move on, disgruntled voters.
Worst Products Ever
Say hello to the Rejuvenique Electric Facial Mask. They claim positive results, but why listen to claims when I can give you a guarantee—instead of doing something healthy, you’re electrocuting yourself all day while dressed up as Jason’s long lost brother. Looking good, crazy serial killer!
#1 Benjamin Netanyahu
The benefit of the doubt. Netanyahu took power (for the second time) just two months after Obama, but the two have never been in sync. Obama has been far more outspoken than his predecessors on the issue of settlement construction in the West Bank, including the so-called “natural growth” of existing communities, which Netanyahu is determined to keep on the table. “What the hell do they want from me?” he reportedly told an associate after a particularly contentious White House meeting.
The Israeli government claims that a tacit agreement was reached with the Bush administration that would have allowed natural growth to continue. The Obama team counters that no such agreement exists, though Bush’s former deputy national security advisor, Elliot Abrams, says that it did.
Despite the disagreement, Netanyahu’s team stresses that “there is no crisis” between the administrations and progress is being made on the settlements issue. However the current impasse is resolved, it’s clear the United States was far more cautious about issuing ultimatums to Israel in the Bush years.

Mork’s Dork From Ork
A half pound duck and pork patty, cheddar cheese, seven pieces of maple bacon, sauteed onions and zillion island sauce on a kaiser roll.
(via flickr)
#1 Silvio Berlusconi
His old buddy. In 2008, Time’s Jeff Israely called the Italian president Bush’s “Last Best Friend on Earth.” A bit of an exaggeration perhaps, but it’s true that Berlusconi stuck with Bush when nearly every other European leader (and Italian politician) was scoring cheap political points by attacking him as a reckless cowboy.
Berlusconi provided political cover for his American friend by supporting the war in Iraq while most of Western Europe opposed it, but the close relationship between the two leaders seemed to go beyond politics. The conservative Christian from Texas and the lecherous billionaire might seem an odd pair, but Berlusconi was a frequent guest at Bush’s ranch in Crawford, and Bush called the Italian leader a “man of sincerity and principle.”
Berlusconi committed an early gaffe with Obama, calling the African-American president “young, handsome, and also tanned.” There are also reports that U.S.-Italian relations have cooled somewhat and that the Obama administration is irritated by Berlusconi’s close relations with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi. The United States also supports expanding the Group of Eight or consolidating its European members, a move that is likely to irritate Italy, which depends on G-8 membership for international legitimacy.
EL PASO — Two gay men kissed at a Chico’s Tacos restaurant, prompting guards to eject them and a police officer to endorse their ouster.
In all, five men were ordered to leave the restaurant. They say they were forced out by homophobic guards. “It was a simple kiss on the lips,” said Carlos Diaz de Leon, a gay man who was part of the group.
Rationale has left the building. This story prompted me do some web searching on the subject, and of course Wikipedia had an item high in the results. The definition of homophobia, according to Wikipedia:
“irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals”
Irrational. Exactly what I said. I don’t care if the guards or the restaurant was homophobic or just plain stupid, but there’s a huge difference between keeping a suitable environment for all customers and being downright rude.

Meat of the Future?
Overfishing has reduced populations of large, predatory fish, allowing jellyfish to bloom. In some formerly biologically diverse areas of ocean, jellyfish biomass now exceeds that of fish. This shift is likely to continue: Climate change and pollution are changing the ocean chemistry, creating conditions favorable to jellyfish.
What’s more, jellyfish eat fish eggs, so once they become dominant in a marine ecosystem, they tend to be there on a permanent basis. “Jellyfish will be the seafood of the future not because that’s what we want to eat, but because that’s the only option,” says Jennifer Jacquet, a doctoral student at the University of BC’s Fisheries Center.
The Japanese have learned to make the flavorless, nutritionally sparse creatures more palatable; consumers can find jellyfish ice cream, jellyfish biscuits, rum-soaked jellyfish, and even wasabi-flavored jellyfish sold in vending machines.