Headlines

Climate change 'not as bad as we thought,' say scientists ...

Macron, addressing Congress, departs from Trump on vision for 21st century

Apple Cook in private meeting with president ...

Finland to terminate failed Universal Basic Income experiment

Chris Christie finds his way back to Trump's heart

ROSEANNE ratings fall to earth ...

Supreme Court appears ready to uphold Trump's travel ban

University of Nebraska professor arrested over NRA protest

Trump brings in the billionaires for his first state dinner

Russian scientist who invented nerve agent that poisoned spy in UK hit by car ...

NASDAQ open to becoming cryptocurrency exchange, CEO says

Poll shows Americans side with Trump over Mueller probe

Headlines

Giuliani unlikely to resolve Trump's Russian problems quickly

North Korea says it has suspended all nuclear and long-range missile tests

Sessions tells WH that Rosenstein firing could prompt his departure ...

Trump plans to countersue Democrats for DNC Server

Trump shuns Democrats and the media at first state dinner

Democrat party sues Russia, Trump campaign and Wikileaks for conspiring to disrupt 2016 election

HILLARY: 'They were never going to let me be president' ...

India criminalizes female genital mutilationl

'My Dearest Fidel': An ABC journalist's secret liaison with Castro

FINALLY! Broward County is about to kick Sheriff Israel out of office

DOJ probes Comey over classified info [leaks] ...

Trump admin. considering 'emergency' powers to block Chinese tech investment

Let Them Eat Cake

Many years ago a now-deceased friend attended an exhibit of French pre-revolution women's finery. His takeaway was that it was clear that the plutocrats in France had gone over the top with their female adornments -- jewel-bedecked, silk-creweled masterpieces that must have cost a king's ransom -- dresses that were obscene when contrasted with what was being worn by the then-French peasants.  Thus this clothing differential was a clear predictor of the bloodshed that was about to erupt ... costing the heads of many of the women who had previously worn these opulent gowns.

Why do I bring this up? Because, although we have not yer reached this level of dramatic clothing differential here in the United States, we seem well on our way. President Obummer's daughters, Sasha and Malia, each just wore almost $20,000 designer gowns to a recent state dinner at the White House in a dazzling display of conspicuous consumption ... see: Yahoo News Article. Such excesses must rankle many families in the declining middle class in this country ... whose discretionary annual income could not buy even one of  these two gowns. I wonder what Bernie Sanders thinks about such inequalities? Or perhaps he too secretly longs for this life ...

What's that quote about people who ignore history?

The $800 Billion Solution

The Chinese leader, Hu Jintao, is in this country for a state visit hosted by the Obamas.  Now the United States owes China around $800 billion as a result of our on-going trade deficit with them. This presents us thorny diplomatic and financial problems.  However, I think I have a solution,  President Hu is to attend a lavish state dinner at the White House on Wednesday night at which I think we will go all out to cater to Hu's every culinary desire (see state dinner). 

So here's what I think should happen at this repast.  Before each course, a liveried waiter should ask Hu something like, "Would you like the peacock tongues in aspic President Hu?"; "Can I pour you some Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1959, Sir?"; "Would you like the wagyu veal cheeks with white truffles, President Hu?"; "Can I offer you some Dom Perignon 1949 Mr. President?"; "Would you like the cloud berry triffle with whipped blue-whale cream, President Hu?";  "Would you enjoy a pre-Castro hecho a mano cigar, Mr. President?"; "Sir, can I offer you a snifter of Camus cognac 1892?"; "Another?"; etc.

Now, assuming he nods "yes" to all these queries (I don't know how he could say "no"), at the end of this extravagant and well-oiled feast, this waiter would hand President Hu an ornate vellum envelope with the White House seal and a short Barack Obama greeting urging him not to open it until he is ensconced in the Lincoln bedroom.  And when he finally does, he would find an itemized invoice for all these meal courses which, amazingly enough, would total $800 billion ... plus tax and gratuity.  And at the bottom it would say, "We don't accept credit cards."