(walks away giggling)

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

Finally Russia is losing the war against Georgia!!! Investors are rushing out of the country!!! There might be a financial crisis in Russia!!! The power of the 'global markets' are fighting Russia!!! This will provide 'an important check on Kremlin decision-making'!!!

So is the Financial Times telling its readers today. Under the headline Investors quit Russia after Georgia war it asserts:

Investors pulled their money out of Russia in the wake of the Georgia conflict at the fastest rate since the 1998 rouble crisis, new figures showed on Thursday.

Russian debt and equity markets have also suffered sharp falls since the conflict began on August 8, with yields on domestic rouble bonds increasing by up to 150 basis points in the last month.

Money is fleeing the country, the rouble crisis, sharp falls in the stock market, increasing yields ... terrible indeed.

Now may we check the numbers please?

Anyone else think it would be wildly hilarious if Obama sent the phone/text message announcement of his running mate at 3:00 AM?

Mnmvores?

As corn prices are going up, large scale factory farm operations are looking for cheaper foods to feed cattle. Among new cost cutting measures, mixing reject M&Ms and potato chips with corn feed is no longer uncommon. Of course compared to the dangerous but routine practice of feeding slaughterhouse waste, blood, and manure to feedlot animals, M&Ms and potato chips don't sound that bad. In the meantime, cattle ranchers raising grass-fed beef are struggling to stay in business, as more people are buying the cheap stuff.

Stocks jump on prospect of Lehman buyout
From the Associated Press, From the Associated Press
7:49 AM PDT, August 22, 2008
NEW YORK -- Stocks rose sharply today as oil retreated from this week's rally and as speculation grew that Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. could be sold. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 180 points.

-Skip-

Investors appeared cheered by an inflation forecast from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke who said at the Kansas City Fed's annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyo., that inflation pressures should moderate this year amid tepid economic growth. But he also added that the inflation forecast remains "highly uncertain."

However, having a look at Obama's upcoming schedule, it seems to have a very rural, small-town, almost populist feel, ending in Montana on the day the veep is announced.  Could it be Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana?

It'd certainly be an interesting, outside-the-box pick.  And it'd make some sense.  Like Obama, very good organizer.  A lot of emphasis on building the party, which, as Ezra Klein noted in one of his recent articles, seems to be an area in which Obama has been spectacular.  Schweitzer really has done a ton to turn Montana into a "New-New Democrat" stronghold.  I'm assuming that, like Jon Tester, Schweitzer is very much of the western, "Libertarian Democrat" (to use the Great Orange Satan's silly label) persuasion on social issues and populist-ish on economics.

I have little knowledge of him beyond that.  Schweitzer did Bill Maher's show last year, and I came away with a positive impression of him.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

millman: I'm flying to New Zealand on Nov. 3, and I won't be back for a year.

boss: [sarcastic grin] that's awesome. I suppose I'm not going to talk you out of it, am I.

millman: heh, no.

boss: can't say I blame you. Sounds like fun. Give us a call when you get back.

millman: will do.

That went as well as it possibly could have. Of course [anti-American] he moved here from Italy in his early 20's, so he understands work/life balance...

you are the media you consume.

WSJ: What Does Parole Denial Say About Russia's Push to Clean Up Courts?

Judge Igor Falileyev, holding court in the Siberian city of Chita, rejected Khodorkovsky's request for an early release from an eight-year sentence for tax evasion and fraud, according to an AP report. The judge said he was ineligible for parole because he had refused to undertake professional training at his prison, which specializes in sewing, and because of an incident in which he flouted prison rules.

Khodorkovsky's lawyer, Vadim Klyuvgant, said the decision was handed down "by a court that is not free and is heavily influenced by those who are simply scared of freeing Mikhail Khodorkovsky." He called the decision politically motivated and said he would appeal. Khodorkovsky (pictured) is eligible to file another parole request in six months.

"The judicial system won't be reformed any time soon," said Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest person, as he was hustled out of the court by guards.

A suborbital rocket carrying two experiments conducted by NASA was destroyed Friday morning by range safety officials shortly after launch on Wallops Island.

NASA officials said in a Friday news conference that the rocket had strayed outside of set boundaries and the decision was made to destroy it.

The rocket launched at 5:10 a.m. NASA said no property damage or injuries have occured, but there were conflicting reports as to whether debris had been sighted on land. NASA said it believes that most of the debris landed in the Atlantic Ocean.

NASA said the debris potentially could be hazardous. People who spot debris are being asked to call Wallops Emergency Operations Center at 757-824-1300.

Omg, they've just cut down all the trees outside our offices!  Everyone's freaking out.  People have posted protest messages in the windows, One says, "How can you live with yourselves?"  One guy is saying "Killers!  Scum!"  

Poor trees.  It's kinda funny, though.  

"This is nothing compared to how Putin rigged Eurovision."

TBG, I'm leaving the commentary to you on this one.  I'm speechless.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

Xcel ditching 2 coal plants, going to solar

PUC approves plan to help meet 2020 goal

State regulators gave the go-ahead to Xcel Energy's plans for a green makeover: shutting down two coal-fired power plants in the state and building one of the world's largest utility-scale solar power plants.

After days of deliberations, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission approved Xcel's voluntary decision to shutter electricity generating stations in Denver and Grand Junction - making it the first utility in the nation to do so in order to reduce pollution emissions.

The commission also approved the utility's request for a 200-megawatt solar plant using concentrated solar technology that not only helps generate electricity from the sun, but also allows energy to be stored for later use.

The commission approved, too, Xcel's request to add 850 megawatts of wind energy to its system.