Cuba

It appears that Cuba is on the Bush administration's short list of countries that are just crying out for invasion. Condoleezza Rice said in her confirmation testimony yesterday, "To be sure, in our world there remain outposts of tyranny, and America stands with oppressed people on every continent, ... in Cuba, and Burma (Myanmar), and North Korea, and Iran, and Belarus, and Zimbabwe."
I'm pretty sure Cubans would rather be oppressed by Castro then "liberated" by Bush, who they universally despise. It's not that all Cubans support Castro and don't chafe under the system, but that they are fiercely independent and nationalistic (as well as more educated about American politics than most Americans). I find Cuba's prominence in this list a little chilling in light of the story I read last week about oil. Someone I know and admire feels that Bush's heightening of the economic embargo this summer was a tactic designed to provoke Castro into doing something that would give the U.S. an excuse to invade Cuba. She thinks Cuba has oil reserves off the coast that Bush and Co. have their greedy little eyes on. To be honest, I didn't give that theory much credence, despite the fact that a) this person is stunningly brilliant and b) she knows a lot more about the situation than I do. The problem is that Cuba's current oil reserves are of a low grade and do not meet the island's needs. However, Fidel Castro announced last week that a vast reserve of high quality oil had been discovered in Cuban water. It's unclear just how big that reserve is, but foreign countries are jumping to invest in Cuban oil. I think this may be a story to watch closely.

Enjoyable Stupidity

The Boston Globe featured a wide variety of fun stupidity today. They ran a blurb about a Survivor million-dollar winner who, in a regrettable oversight, forgot to mention his prize to the IRS. Oh, and over 300,000 bucks he got from a radio station. Obviously, he was going to mention it - after all, who would be stupid enough to think the IRS wouldn't check a million dollar prize - but it slipped his mind. And in the stupid and greedy category the Globe described how Roger Clemens is seeking a record $22 million in arbitration, never mind that no pitcher has ever earned more than $17.5 million, and that Roger is 157 years old. The writer doesn't come right out and say that Roger is one greedy asshole, but does offer this paragraph for our elucidation:

The $8.5 million spread between his figure and the Astros' was exactly double the previous high in salary arbitration -- the Yankees filed at $14.25 million with Jeter in 2001. The midpoint of $17.75 million is just above the highest listed salary for a pitcher this season -- Randy Johnson's salary with the New York Yankees is calculated at $16.5 million, including a prorated share of the $1 million personal-services contract he agreed to with the Arizona Diamondbacks before he was traded.

Another story explained that sales of androstenedione have skyrocketed because the body building supplement is about to be pulled from the market. Researchers say the drug, which the body converts to testorone, can cause a host of problems including liver damage and increased risk of kidney and heart failure. This reminds me of my old roommate who got a year's supply of Phen-Fen when she found out it could kill her. This gorgeous girl went on to marry an asshole who wouldn't let her get a small shake while he gorged himself on a Rallyburger meal, but that is a different story. The article goes on to say, "Online sales have been equally brisk, fueled in part by warnings from the supplement's retailers. HouseofMuscle.com, founded by Minnesota weight-lifter Joel Sward, urges customers to "buy 12 or 24 bottles" of andro, representing a one- to two-year supply. Otherwise, Sward writes, "you will be forced to break the law and buy them on the black market" when the ban takes effect Thursday." The best quote is at the end when a "nutrition" store owner claims he has found a replacement in the drug Testrol, but worries the FDA will ban it. He says, "Anything that works these days, they seem to keep jamming." Well, duh, I think we have figured out that messing with hormones and causing oneself to grow artificially is a really bad idea. Does it really matter how we go about it? You really do have to wonder which comes first: steroid-induced stupidity or a mindset that makes one think bodybuilding is a worthwhile pursuit.

Mondays

The world really is going to hell in a handbasket. The social agenda of America is progressing...backward. Our politicians are more corrupt and powerful than ever. The wealth inequality gap is getting bigger and people are getting more ignorant. The Yankees got Randy Johnson. Rudolph just got sexually assaulted by a male dog at the levee. Twice. The only work I can find in New Orleans could be better performed by an easel. Is there any good in the world?

Car Talk

The good news is that the The Boston Globe ran a fluffy feature on NPR's Car Talk this week. Here's a link for the other Car Talk junkies. One interesting tidbit that I learned is that both brothers graduated from MIT. The bad news is that there is going to be a cartoon based on the show, with Tom and Ray lending their voices and creative input. It would be strange if they started taking themselves seriously after all this time.

Internet Search Terms that Lead to Broccoli: Walmart Strippers

I pity the poor sod searching desperately through Lisadare Broccoli for "Walmart strippers." Does Walmart offer strippers now? Maybe only at their Canadian outlets. The only other people who find my blog accidentally are looking for a towel-less Nicolette Sheridan. I didn't realize I was running a porn site.

P.S. I feel sorrier still for the people that come to my blog on purpose. They're an even bigger set of goofballs.

P.P.S. Do you think I should oblige the searcher and post a picture of some Walmart strippers? Where might I locate such a thing? Where's a good discount stripper store when you need one? (Besides Chartres St.).

P.P.P.S. Walmart is still evil.

Another reason to eat at Arby's

I'm enjoying the link Atrios published about percentages of money businesses give to Repblicans and Democrats. Arby's gives 100% to the Dems and they have that delicious Jamocha shake. And don't forget the horseradish sauce for the sandwiches. Heaven. Ooh, and expensive makeup (Estee Lauder, Clinique, MAC, etc.) is a lot bluer than the cheap shit (Covergirl). Does this mean I'm justified in buying $15 lipstick?

Surprisingly to me, gay-friendly (or exploitive, depending on how you see it) network Bravo donates 2/3 of their money to the bad guys. And, Jeff, your Saints are 100% red. (But don't feel so bad. When I figure out how much Home Depot has contributed to Republicans, and figure out how much I have personally contributed to their bottom line, I figure that I personally financed $94.23 of some punk-wh0-is-about-to-vote-against-ethics-monitoring-in-the-House's reelection campaign. But my new blue bedroom looks beautiful).