I can't believe it's not a democracy!

The end of Dubailand? God willing:

Towering follies: the Dubai architecture you couldn't make up. Proof that money doesn't buy you class or taste.

God bless Bernie Sanders:

Senator Moves to Hold Up Bernanke Confirmation. The New York Times reports: Senator Bernard Sanders of Vermont said on Wednesday that he would try to block the Senate from confirming Ben S. Bernanke to a second term as chairman of the Federal Reserve.

As the article points out, Sander's move is unlikely to defeat the reappointment, but is "could slow the confirmation process and give the Fed’s critics additional opportunity to press their case." This is the kind of thing that needs to be done to drive home the point that the people are pissed at the state of the economy. That said, I have no doubt that Harry Reid is trying to figure out a way to defeat Sander's hold. I also have no doubt that Bernie Sanders will do what he can to muck up the works. He is the best senator we have. I wish we had 99 more of him.

Man, what some people will do to get out of jury duty:

Jesus Christ (Dorothy Lola Killingworth) Dumped From Jury Pool For Disruption. A Birmingham woman who changed her name to Jesus Christ was excused from jury duty "because she was disruptive and kept asking questions instead of answering them." The post headline aside, apparently Ms. Christ "didn't try to get out of jury duty and was "perfectly happy to serve." Q: If she was picked for a jury and the panel was sent to deliberation, what are the odds that someone would ask "what would Jesus do?"

Thanks to Mr. Slice for the link.

Well, I guess they aren't completely clueless:

Goldman Sachs Bankers Ready to Open Fire on Mob. Gothamist reports: Senior bankers at Goldman Sachs are arming themselves with handguns to fend off any forthcoming populist uprising against the bank. A friend of one of the bankers tells a Bloomberg News columnist, "I just wrote my first reference for a gun permit," swearing to the good character of a Goldman Sachs Group Inc. banker. This unidentified banker says he's not the only one stocking up on guns, and the NYPD confirms that some of the Goldman Sachs bankers do have pistol permits. Well, this ought to fix their public image problem!

Hmmmm, some have pistol permits? In New York City? Because I had a friend who was a Manhattan D.A. and she told me that it was almost impossible for even a D.A. to get a carry permit in NYC. Unless, that is, they were threatened by a drug cartel or something like that. Still, I can see Bloomberg being very worried about the riff-raff posing a threat to these masters of the universe. Can't wait until I hear about the first greedy fuck who shots himself by accident while showing off his piece. God I hate them.

There isn't enough money for a real health care bill (or so we are told), but there's plenty of cash for this?

For the Holidays, White House Uses Barneys Decorator. Even if Simon Doonan works for free for the "honor," you know that he isn't going to stop at the local Wal*Mart for ornaments. That said, I know it is foolish to dream, but it would be nice if decided to go with the theme "edgy Xmas" in the vein of his display of Margaret Thatcher "as a dowdy dominatrix."

I know what I'm getting as a shower gift:

Chelsea Clinton engaged to marry boyfriend. So, what will I get the happy couple? A gross of condoms. Because we don't need any more Clintons (or Bushes, Palins, Cheneys, etc).

Click the link for an interesting factoid about the groom's father (hint: he served time in the joint). Perhaps the groom's cake can have a file in it?

I'm taking a late train tomorrow night for

the Thanksgiving holiday.  Turns out most of the earlier trains were sold out.  Oh well.  In any event, posting will be light through the weekend. 

I hope that everyone has a lovely, restful holiday. 

The kids are alright:

Atheist student groups flower on college campuses. And I bet their parties are way more fun than those thrown by Campus Crusade for Christ.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha:

Lou Dobbs mulls run for White House, Senate. Then again, Sarah Palin thinks she has a shot, so maybe the joke's on us? Honestly, this country is fucked up. The republicans are just corrupt, and the democrats are mostly complicit (with elements of corruption and the occasional honest man/woman). We need a new WPA, real jobs that stay here and vigorous regulation of the financial industry, our food system, etc. That said, and despite 8 years of W, I think Americans are tired of stupid and mean-spirited. The majority, I mean. I hope that we made it through a mini-dark ages and can move on. But if either Dobbs or Palin show some real momentum....time to consider other options. Have I mentioned that my father was Canadian? Yeah, those kind of options.

Helen (of Margaret and Helen) posts her

Thanksgiving Letter to the Family 2009. It's a letter many people wish they could write (and send). And she starts on a lovely note, stating that for which she is thankful: This year I am thankful to have you as my family rather than a normal American family. I say that because Sarah Palin is fond of talking about her family being a normal American family.

Last time I checked everyone in my family knows where Africa is on a globe. Everyone goes to college after high school. We’ve had no teen pregnancies as of yet and no one has appeared in Playgirl. If the Palins are a normal, American family, I guess my bunch of anti-American socialists are fine by me.

There is more, of course. Click the link to see the whole thing.

Thanks to Reamus for the link.