Did you know: America is NOT broke. I agree with the Rude Pundit (warning, lots of profanity), America's rich people should be thankful for what they've got, and ease up on the rest of us a little.
Atrios: "In the current rules of discourse, $250,000 makes you poor when it comes to taxation and 50,000 makes you absurdly rich with respect to everything else. No none of this makes any sense."
Out of the discussion of unionized government workers comes this thought-provoking piece on performance reviews and whether they really succeed in rewarding good employees, as they're traditionally done.
One of my least favorite things about northern Virginia is the preponderance of chain restaurants, and the lack of good local food. There's good ethnic food here in the burbs, if you know where to look and you're willing to be adventurous. But there sure aren't many NoVA places being profiled on Food Network. It's nice to know there are options elsewhere in the state, though, as this foodie Virginia road trip chronicle shows. (Yes, it actually starts in WV. Let it go.)
Should we be upset that you can wear retired numbers in a baseball video game? No. I like Calceterra's idea.
Lastly, here's your handy Muppet alignment chart.
1. Put some trail mix in a small bowl.
2. Pick out the M&M's and almonds, and eat them together to simulate chocolate-covered almonds. The preferred ratio is 2 M&Ms to one almond, but if you don't have enough M&Ms in your bowl you may have to go 1-to-1.
3. Pick out the cashews and eat them. Wish you were eating Planters roasted and salted cashews from a can, because holy cats those things are awesome. But these are good too.
4. At this point, you will have only peanuts and raisins. Eat these together in great handfuls.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 until you are downright appalled at how much trail mix you have eaten.
This whole "work" thing keeps getting in the way of my already-infrequent blogposts. Not cool.
One of the most annoying things about the budget and union issues in Wisconsin and elsewhere is the notion that unionized public workers are overpaid. They're kinda not. Also annoying, the idea that tax cuts for the wealthy and cuts to programs for middle-class and poor people are somehow a good combination. They want to cut poison control centers, for crying out loud, which is not only not cost-effective, it will probably result in dead children.
Although it comes from an unlikely source (a Las Vegas news blog), I enjoyed this takedown of George Will's opposition to high-speed rail. This is not the first time Mr. Will has taken a position seemingly just to oppose liberals, and then made outrageously stupid and selfish points to justify it.
Lastly, a useful item: this piece at Consumerist regarding state webistes to find unclaimed payments. I didn't find anything for myself, but found a few things belonging to friends and family. Worth a look.
Dr. Seuss books retitled.