Pssst. Wanna hear about a strange endorsment by a foreign country of an American presidential candidate? No, not an Islamic country and Obama:
We hope McCain wins," says the 62-year-old Vietnamese. "He remembers us and will do good things for Vietnam."
In another push to deal with soaring gas prices, President Bush on Monday will lift an executive ban on offshore drilling that his stood since his father was president. But the move, by itself, will do nothing unless Congress acts as well.
How to get out of a big mistake -- like the push for corn-based ethanol -- without admitting to the mistake: Why, that was just Phase One, and now we're moving on to Phase Two.
And they're also not talking about replacement so much as supplementing: using switchgrass or wood waste products, for example, along with corn.
Ah, remember the "family farm," which politicians regularly praise the virtues of when they're taking billions from us to give to corporate agriculture? Add another to the list of myths and illusions we're paying to maintain: the one about the "family of four" that takes a day off to enjoy a leisurely day at the ballpark. From 1991 to 2006, the NFL's average ticket price jumped 147 percent. It was up 110 percent in the NBA and a whopping 151 percent for major league baseball.
Phil Gramm is sent into political exile, some say, for stumbling into the truth by saying we have a "mental recession" and America has become a nation of whiners:
Campaign Econ says the American economy is a certain way because Americans think it is. Campaign Econ competes with real economics and often wins -- with damage that extends way beyond, say, the political career of either Phil Gramm or John McCain.
[. . .]
Bill Clinton says we are becoming increasingly polarized:
He cited statistics compiled by Bishop that found that in the 1976 presidential election, only 20 percent of the nation's counties voted for Jimmy Carter or President Ford by more than a 20 percent margin.
A 1 percent food and beverage tax is being proposed in Richmond, and restaurant owners are not happy about it:
"My concern is there will not be enough business," said Galo Molina, who owns The Olde Richmond Inn, Galo's Italian Grill, and 5th Street Coffee & Bagels in Richmond.
Indianapolis Star columnist Matthew Tully takes a ride up north and asks a good question: What's all the fuss about the Toll Road?
This column probably would be more interesting if I'd found anything to complain about: A traffic jam. A pothole to rival those that marked Indy's streets this spring. An obvious sign of mismanagement.
Anything.
At least the administration is ending on a high note:
The Bush administration on Friday rejected regulating greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, saying it would damage the U.S. economy and cause too many job losses.
Dogs haven't quite become man's best friend in China, but at least man will stop being dogs' worst enemy for a time:
Canine cuisine is being sent to the doghouse during next month's Beijing Olympic Games.
Dog meat has been struck from the menus of officially designated Olympic restaurants, and Beijing tourism officials are telling other outlets to discourage consumers from ordering dishes made from dogs, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Friday.
