Here's a link to a great game via Normblog.

"U.S. oil inventories last week slid to their lowest levels since 1975" Where is all the oil we're supposedly stealing from Iraq?

One of the economic issues that the Democrats are using against Bush is the ballooning of the deficit to about $400bn. I'll be the first to admit that I'm all for a balanced budget, but given that we are at war and we needed to get ourselves out of a recession, the amount is not outrageous as a percentage of GDP (3.7%). Here's some detail on current and projected budget numbers from the Congressional Budget Office.

Recent history shows that from 1982-1994 the deficit was at our above this percentage yet there has been no discernible long-term negative effect on our economic position in the world as far as I can see.

Well, you might say, what is important is how much debt is outstanding as we keep adding it on year after year. Good point. If you refer to the charts linked to above, debt outstanding is about 37% of current GDP. This number is still below the historical average for the last 20 years when the percentage ranged from 33% to as high as 49.5%. Also, as the economy bounces back these numbers will get better over time.

Yes, the dollar amounts sound scary - biggest deficit in history! $400bn! - largest debt ever! $4 TRILLION! The fact of the matter is that if I am in debt for $50,000 and someone with half my assets is in debt for $25,000 it's basically the same thing. In fact, one could argue that I was more solvent since my additional assets makes it easier to pay off debt before cutting into the meat of what I really need to live on. Therefore the percentages do matter, it's not just playing with numbers. Our GDP has doubled since 1989, so our capacity for debt has likewise doubled. $4 TRILLION to us now is the same as $2 TRILLION was to us then.

Also we have low interest rates, low inflation and historically low unemployment which is heading downward.

Comments welcome. Maybe there's something I'm missing.

At times it is indelicately said that an animal must be "destroyed" to avoid further pain and suffering. That word came to mind when I thought of what needs to be done to these people:

Couple sues Wal-Mart over broken grocery bag

Once again, the Bush administration has managed to piss off another country. This time it's Argentina. Or at least that's the gist of this article.

We don't take orders from U.S., Kirchner says

Not withstanding the fact that this is most likely much to do about nothing and is pure Argentine populism at work, why can't we have an opinion that countries that support Cuba and don't pay their debts are wrong? I'd feel a lot better about the anti-American crowd if I had any belief that what they are doing is right. If we are heavy-handed about some things that may make us clumsy, but not necessarily wrong.

Ultimately, what happens when other country's politicians act this way is that foreigners begin to resent America (and believe me this is getting major play in the Argentine media) and the American people remain clueless because nobody cares about Argentina/Bolivia/Brazil, etc...

This is the famous leader I am most like. Who are you? (See link below).

What Famous Leader Are You?

Just found a quote I like (attributed to Dennis Miller) about the radical anti-war left:

Everybody in the world (to them) is Hitler. Bush is Hitler, Ashcroft is Hitler, Rumsfeld is Hitler. The only guy who isn't Hitler is the foreign guy with a mustache dropping people who disagree with him into the wood chipper. He's not Hitler.

See it all here.

Negotiations are underway to erect a memorial to Argentine soldiers in the Falkland Islands. I've always read about the war primarily from an Argentine perspective and thought it was encouraging that Argentina has been trying to have greater ties to the Islands (without taking them over again, I assume). Little did I realize how much anti-Argentine feelings still remain in the Falklands themselves until I read this article:

Argentine War Memorial on the Falklands advances a stage further

I am relieved to know that I will not have to shell out $100 to see Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane in "The Producers". A $6 matinee at the local multiplex works fine for me and leaves me money for about 15 more movies.

When You've Got It, Flaunt It: Film Deal for 'The Producers'

The Magen David has made it to Mars! Thanks to Josh Harvey.

Reflecting Pools Picked for 9-11 Memorial

Speaking of sports, is there anything more New York Jewish than being hand-wringingly concerned about the fate of our local teams? I figure it's time to add a little more sports content both to my life and to the blog.

I was walking through the mall a few days ago and as I passed by the various athletic-wear stores, I thought I might want to by an "authentic" jersey - any sport would do. Then I got to thinking, which athlete's name and number could I proudly wear on my back? I couldn't really think of one - so I didn't buy anything. If I do eventually get something it will probably be generic or I'll put my own name on it.

News of the week that matters to me is that the Knicks have gone out and gotten Stephon Marbury and Anfernee Hardaway in a huge trade with Phoenix. There has been little joy in Knickland for several years and I'm pretty excited about the possibilities. Unfortunately, the 10-23 Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Knicks tonight, or as the Times so aptly puts it - New Look, Old Story

Every thirty- and fortysomething Met fan is in mourning tonight for Tug McGraw.

His trademark catchphrase "Ya Gotta Believe!" was the "Carpe Diem" of our youth.

Mark Steyn hits it right on the head about the deabte about trying Saddam in an international court - President Bush understands that the transnational establishment's interest in this case is not to pass judgment on Saddam but, by reasserting its authority, to pass judgment on America

Response to the post below as found on the Op-Ed page of the Wall Street Journal. (By the way there was a second Bush=Hitler video.

Outrage.org by Jack Rosen of the American Jewish Congress.

More Bush = Hitler fun from anti-Bush supporters like Michael Moore and Jeanine Garofalo at moveon.org

If you think I am defaming these individuals in any way, guess who's judging the contest that resulted in the posting of this video to their site? From the moveon website:

The top 15 finalists are also being sent out to our panel of celebrity judges which includes Michael Moore, Donna Brazile, Jack Black, Janeane Garofalo, Margaret Cho and Gus Van Sant. These judges will determine which ad wins the contest overall.

This is just plain wrong. I will assume it's true even if it does come from a San Francisco publication. It is however ridiculous to assume that the goal is to protect the president from knowing that people oppose his policies. He just has to pick up a newspaper or turn on the news to see that.

Quarantining dissent
How the Secret Service protects Bush from free speech

I think that this note has gotten very little attention considering the Orange Alert we're under and the canceled flights to Washington. I originally found it in the UK's Sun newspaper as a final note to an article about the flight cancellations.

Dulles' TSA Chief Charged With DUI

Hitler fled to Argentina after war, says writer

There's one thing I gotta say about that Hitler, if he did pull this off, he lived in the most beautiful place on Earth. I've been to Bariloche and it is spectacular.

Now aren't you glad we caught Saddam Hussein so we don't have to read similar stories about him in 2062 A.D.?

I know I would be pretty upset if this happened to my synagogue - Threat closes New Jersey synagogue.

This reminds me of a story - when I was living in Buenos Aires, I would go to a local conservative synagogue on Friday nights with my girlfriend/fiancee/now wife, and one evening we were confronted with more than the usual security - armed guards, police cars, etc. At first we thought that there was a threat, but we decided to go in anyway - we didn't feel that anyone should prevent us from praying on Shabbat. As it turns out, the Israeli ambassador to Argentina was visiting that night, but I did get the brief feeling of what it might be like to not feel safe during a services.