SAR #12279

The inevitable outcome of consumption is excretion. That explains climate change, if not Wall Street.

Suspicions: “I suspect that on Social Security, we’ve got a somewhat similar position.” Obama, to Romney. You've been warned.

Reality Check: Iraq, which had unrealistically claimed that it would be producting 12 million barrels of oil a day by 2017, now unrealistically claims that it will produce 9.5 mbd by 2020.

Proofreading: No One Trusts China's America's Unemployment Rate.

Devil/Details: California lets third parties buy and sell debts, which has led to the National Bank of Canada buying up old credit card debts and then foreclosing on people's homes – even if the property was never offered as security for the credit debt.

Inspection: Greece admits it has no money and cannot survive through November without some sort of relief, while Frau Merkel prepares to tour the plantation.

Sins of the Fathers: A British high court has ruled that Kenyan survivors of British torture during the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s can sue for damages. Perhaps some in the US should take note.

All You Need To Know: Co-chair Alan Simpson explains the Cat-Food Commission's bias against Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other social safety programs: “I get so damn sick and tired of listening to the little guy, the vulnerable, the veteran...”

Pass it on: A recent study showed that free birth control results in fewer abortions. Tell a Republican.

Just Keeps On Keeping On: Now Todd “Legitimate Rape” & “Fake Abortions” Akin (R-Mars) has confessed he made an “unintentional oversight” in not reporting $130,00 in state pension income over the past ten years. I'd like to have $130,000 I could unintentionally forget to pay taxes on.

Asked & Answered: "Are electric cars bad for the environment?" Yes, in so many ways, starting with the idea that any sustainable future will include something resembling an automobile.

Today's Numb 'er: Unemployment dropped to 7.8% in September, just in time to help Obama get re-elected. Most of the improvement(?) was due to nearly 600,000 people taking part time jobs. The total number of unemployed and underemployed grew 400,000 to 26.2 million. Party on.

On Common Ground: According to nuclear experts, the technology to clean up the mess at Fukushima does not exist. Plan accordingly.

Silver Lining? French private-equity fund managers, faced with tax increases on their profits and a 75% tax on 'carried interest' (a way of hiding income) say they'll run away and loot French companies from afar. From London, which doesn't tax their money. Yet.

The Gist: Romney says “If not for all the people who have simply dropped out of the labor force, the real unemployment rate would be closer to 11%.” Okay, but just being right on this isn't enough to make you vote for him.

Wrong Emphasis: Some think that a lawmaker who won't pray in public should not use money with “In God We Trust” plastered all over it. I agree. Our money shouldn't say “In God We Trust” in the first place.

While You Were Out At The Food Bank: US income inequality reached another new high in 2011. "Since 2007, 10.4 million Americans have joined "the poor" as their incomes fell below the federal poverty mark. Over one in four Americans live in or very near the poverty level. USA, USA...

Confidence:A fossil identified over 100 years ago as Arrhinolemur scalabrinii – a type of lemur without a nose – has been found to be a fish. Mistakes happen.

Being Prepared: A young man was denied his Eagle Scout badge because he had disobeyed his “duty to God” by being gay. Who says scouting doesn't prepare you for living in the real world - of bigots and idiots?

The Parting Shot:

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Boardinghouse reach.