SAR #12289

'When' is ever so much harder than 'what'.

Tick, Tock, Tick-tock: Adding to the propaganda noise urging war, we are now being told that Iran has “a secret plan” to create a vast oil spill in the Strait of Hormuz. Perhaps by sinking a supertanker? Perhaps as payback for the war on Iran's people being waged by the US and its dependencies. Perhaps its not true – we've been lied to before.

Meningitis: Tell me again about the dangers of government regulation and the benefits of the free market in health care.

Next Up: In case war the with Iran can't be quickly undertaken, the UN – what, is that the US's thumb on the scales? - passed a Security Council resolution, giving “regional leaders” 45 days to come up with a plan to “intervene militarily” to eradicate al-Qaeda-linked (tremble, tremble) rebels in northern Mali.

Prevailing Conditions: Someone asked if electronic voting machines owned by Romney's buddies would give him the election. Yes, if that's what it takes. And that's what it'll take.

Romneymath: The Joint Committee on Taxation reports that only 4% of Romney's 20% across the board tax cut can be paid for by eliminating deductions, credits and exemptions. No wonder Ryan has trouble explaining the math and Mitt just waves his hands and leaves the details up to some future congress. The takeaway: “Broadening the base as Republicans propose would not only fail to cut the deficit, it also fails to reduce rates much.”

No Means Shut Up and Go Away: Germany, in the persons of Chancellor Merkel and Finance Minister Schaeuble, have again made it very clear that there will not be a second writedown (haircut) of Greek debt. Merkel also maintains Greece should stay in the euro union. She should ask Romney for help with the math.

Fixing Medicare: According the the Kaiser Family Foundation, under Paul Ryan's proposal to turn Medicare into a privatized “premium support” voucher program, 60% of current Medicare recipients will pay at least $200 a month more just to maintain their current level of service. Because he cares.

Adventures In Marketing: The electric car Smart ED is possibly the best value yet among cars that displace their emissions to power plants so the owners can feel good zero emission cars.

Hunger Games:Greece is now letting merchants sell food products beyond their 'best by' dates. Some stuff gets another week, some a month. The rules say the stuff sold beyond the expiration date must be discounted. No, this is not part of the IMF/EU plan to cut pension costs.

Believe It Or Don't: Realtors in Florida claim that the increase in foreclosures is good for the housing market because it will make more houses available for sale. Not to the people who just lost their homes, of course, but a sale's a sale, a commission's a commission.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Defense Secretary Panetta wants you to talk with your family and make plans on what you will do when a “cyber Pearl Harbor” occurs, which is certain if we do not let the military undertake”preemptive attacks” with “overwhelming force” and surrender whatever bits of our privacy we have left.

If Only: Lithuanian voters, by a large margin, voted the right-wing austerity loving government out and elected a left-leaning slate, demonstrating why the EU keeps installing leaders rather than letting people elect their own.

Point of Order: America's 10 richest people made enough money last year to feed every hungry person on earth for a year.

Correction: In an article reporting how while Romney was bashing China, part of his “$450,000 a week” form Bain comes from dealing with China. This is not true. It should read “part of his $840,000 a week...”

Porn O'Graph: Then along came Reaganomics.

The Parting Shot:

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Down by the old mill stream.