Elephant in the Room

Little articles seem to be cropping up regularly that point to the state of the economy. Articles that are not directly related to the recession in a dramatic way, but more in a serious tangental way. When seen as a totality the message is disturbing and distressing.

The Republicans seem to be taking the road of - see no evil, hear no evil. Recession? What recession? Say whatever it takes to get re-elected. Its utterly disgraceful. We know about the American comprehension disorder, but still millions have noticed that the ship is collecting water.

Did you happen to see Bush say the problem was too many houses, that's right, too many houses were built. That's why the economy has lost trillions of dollars of value.

How about this for a final act of civil disobedience with Bush. We all get together and ship truckloads of brush to the White House. Bush can cut brush and loves it. He would see it as a sentimental gesture.

AP: Bankruptcy Makes Gift Cards Worthless

You know that Sharper Image gift card you got for Christmas? Right now, it's worthless. And other gift cards in your wallet could lose their value, too.

As more retailers file for bankruptcy or go out of business, more than $75 million in gift cards are at risk of becoming worthless pieces of plastic this year.

"If I knew this was going to happen, I would have used them right away," said Jon Tapper, a public relations executive from Boston who received two Sharper Image cards as business gifts just a few weeks ago. Their total face value is $50.

I got a Barnes and Noble gift card for the holidays. I used it pronto. I believe they are still solvent, regardless.

AP: Buffett Says US Economy Essentially in a Recession, Expects Rough Ride for Insurers in 2008

Billionaire Warren Buffett said Monday that the U.S. economy is essentially in a recession even if it hasn't met the technical definition of one yet.

The technical definition of a recession most economists use is two consecutive quarters of negative growth in the nation's gross domestic product.

Pedophilia in Dubai

Gulf News: Ski Dubai sodomy suspect tells court he was drunk

A student has claimed that he was "very drunk" and could not recall any details of attempting to sodomize a 12-year-old boy in Ski Dubai last November...

"I had imbibed liquor and I don't recall any details of what happened," the 25-year-old Saudi suspect, S.B., told the Dubai Court of First Instance.