Bush Derangement Syndrome claims another victim.

On the up side, this twit leaving will help to make Ohio just that teensy bit more red. Thanks!

Posted by: Harry Callahan at 06:56 AM | Comments (55)
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Vote for Ace or the little furry ones die.

Thanks to Slublog for the 'shop. more...

Posted by: Ace at 11:25 PM | Comments (97)
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All those billions? HIStory.

The singer has missed repayments on a £156million loan and has been told to pay back the full sum by December 20.

If he doesnÂ’t come up with the cash he faces losing his Neverland ranch and his lucrative Sony Beatles catalogue.

Those close to the star fear he could commit suicide. One said: “Jacko is in meltdown.["]

I can relate. With very little crazy blog-money coming in, my creditors are threatening to foreclose on my prized Foghat concert-poster collection.

Posted by: Ace at 10:35 PM | Comments (18)
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The GOP's gloves come off as ads featuring white flags and Democratic politicians go up.

Howard Dean shouldn't count on NY AG and gubernatorial hopeful Elliott Spitzer (D) defending his aggressive defeatism, either.

"He's flat out dead wrong," Spitzer said. "Of course we can win that war."

Posted by: Ace at 10:16 PM | Comments (52)
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But what's this? Listen closely for the dog that doesn't bark:

MUCH OF THAT STRENGTH, surprisingly enough, will be concentrated in the consumer sector, which has weathered the shocks of 2005. The GDP revisions show real consumer spending increased at an annual rate of 4.2% in the third quarter. That's better than the 3.9% pace previously estimated, and it occurred during a quarter when gasoline prices hit more than $3 per gallon.

...

One reason consumers may be willing to spend is because they are feeling more optimistic about the economy. The Conference Board's index of consumer confidence jumped to 98.9 in November from 85.2 in October. The nearly 14-point gain was the biggest increase in 2 1/2 years. The indexes covering current economic conditions and consumers' assessment for the next six months both rose sharply.

The board attributed the upbeat sentiments to a more than 40 cents drop in the price of a gallon of gas and better job growth. Fewer households rated jobs as "hard to get" in November. By the end of the month, regular gasoline had dropped to an average of $2.15 nationally, and it had dipped below $2 in some parts of the country.

BESIDES THE GAIN IN INCOME resulting from better job growth, households are also benefiting from the recent rally in the bond market....

Notice anything missing? Well, let's continue. You'll see it.

...

CONSUMERS AREN'T CARRYING this economy alone, though. Businesses are also contributing more to growth than they did in previous years. According to the new GDP data, inventories fell by the biggest amount since the 2001 recession. Rebuilding stockpiles will require more gains in production in coming months. And business investment in plant and equipment remains strong.

In particular, equipment outlays grew at a 10.8% rate in the third quarter, up from the original estimate of 8.9%. The pace could be even faster this quarter, based on the October rebound in capital-goods orders and shipments, after being depressed in September by the hurricanes and the strike at Boeing Co. (BA) Even excluding aircraft, equipment orders continue their steady uptrend.

Easy access to money, whether from good profits growth, abundant cash flow, or cheap borrowing costs, has enabled companies to boost their capital spending budgets....

So: Consumers and businesses are both spending more money.

Why should that be, I wonder? The article does mention several factors, each of which doubtless contributes to "extra bonus magic-dollars" floating around in the economy.

But it seems to miss one factor. It names each and every conceivable factor except this one.

Anyone? Anyone?

Anyone?

Anyone seen this before? The Laffer Curve. Anyone know what this says? It says that at this point on the revenue curve, you will get exactly the same amount of revenue as at this point. This is very controversial. Does anyone know what Vice President Bush called this in 1980? Anyone? Something-d-o-o economics. "Voodoo" economics.

Anyone?

Voodoo economics?

Buehler?

Posted by: Ace at 09:47 PM | Comments (27)
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Neat:

The X Prize Foundation has completed a study on how the Federal Government—NASA—can establish cash prizes to spur human-carrying orbital spacecraft.

A Human Orbital Vehicle (HOV) challenge would build upon NASAÂ’s Centennial Challenges program. Presently, however, that effort is limited in the size of prizes offered by the space agency, now no greater than $250,000.

...

The HOV Challenge, as identified in the X Prize Foundation study, would best be served if $100 million to $500 million could be offered by NASA.

Such a ramping up of NASA prize money might not be too far off the mark, according to an X Prize Foundation statement released today. It points out that the NASA Authorization Act of 2005—now making its way through Congress—will allow the civilian space agency to award much larger prizes.

Crazy space-money?

Houston, We Have A Propulsion System: Diet Coke and Mentos, the next generation rocket fuel?

Turn your speakers down (all the way down); the clip plays a very annoying soundbite that has nothing to do with the video. Also, don't bother watching past the point at which he puts the Mentos in the Diet Coke.

For that last one, h/t to Craig, or as I call him, "Creigh."

Posted by: Ace at 09:19 PM | Comments (3)
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...for posting 10,000 word screeds in the comments.

Unfortunately, this could mean that other Verizon subscribers will now also be banned. If you're on Verizon and you have a problem, please let me know.

Hopefully the Unabomber dude lurking in the comments will have moved on to some other site by the time I unban it.

Posted by: Ace at 09:10 PM | Comments (12)
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Playing on various PBS stations through early to mid-December. Look to the bottom of the left-hand column to find "Click here," where the air dates are listed.

I think I missed it myself. But you might have better luck.

I can't believe they just stopped showing it. What is the confusion on these cut-offs?

Posted by: Ace at 08:54 PM | Comments (5)
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"Proud Liberal Vet," who claims to be a veteran but cannot manage to provide the simplest details of his service -- except to say he was based in Vietnam (of course) and then "the Arctic" (?) and then "Antarctica" (?!?!?) -- is providing much merriment for the usual gang of chuckleheads about halfway down the comments of this thread.

Dave in Texas is re-imagining Apocalypse Now as set on the Ross Ice Shelf.

Posted by: Ace at 07:23 PM | Comments (79)
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Lame gag about "Voice of God" heard by Bush just turning out to be Cheney on an intercom.

The Skinnersphere questions the timing.

Me too. And if you're going to do a Cheney/God joke, you can do it in less than 700 words. Like this:

"God is dead." -- Nietzsche

"Nietzsche is dead." -- God

"If the two of you don't stop bickering, I'm turning this car around right fuckin' now." -- Dick Cheney

Posted by: Ace at 06:58 PM | Comments (10)
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