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A couple of recurring searches that bring us traffic pretty often: carlos mencia fraud and jim cramer sucks

California Supreme Court allows gay marriage

I'm not going to try to argue the constitutionality, but this is a good political outcome.

California Court Affirms Right to Gay Marriage:

The California Supreme Court, striking down two state laws that had limited marriages to unions between a man and a woman, ruled on Thursday that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.

I've ranted about this before. Please allow myself to quote myself:

...the answer is to separate the religious institution of marriage from the state-sanctioned secular arrangement. Gays deserve equal rights under law, and churches should be free to maintain their own definitions of marriage according to their traditions and beliefs. Call it a civil union, or call it a marriage. The only difference is that the latter will agitate middle America a lot more.

That's still the answer. Equal rights under the law, and if churches don't agree with it, they don't have to sanction it. So it's not holy matrimony. It's unholy buggery. Give them equal rights under the law.

Greenspan's Body Count

The mainstream media is catching on, if not catching up.

Weeks ago, we told you about the tragic tale of Raymond and Deanna Donaca, victims of Alan Greenspan. Today, the very attractively colored USA Today reports the story:

"It is believed that the Donacas committed suicide after attempts to save their home following a foreclosure notice left them believing they had few options," the Crook County Sheriff's Office said in a report.

The point of the story is what we've known for years: that financial trouble caused by the mortgage mess can be devastating to people, and drive them to despair and even suicide:

Their suicides were a tragic extreme, but the Donacas' case symbolizes how the housing crisis is wrenching the emotional lives of legions of homeowners. The escalating pace of foreclosures and rising fears among some homeowners about keeping up with their mortgages are creating a range of emotional problems, mental-health specialists say. Those include anxiety disorders, depression and addictive behaviors such as alcoholism and gambling. And, in a few cases, suicide.

Crisis hotlines are reporting a surge in calls from frantic homeowners. The American Psychological Association (APA) and other mental-health groups are publishing tips on how to handle the emotional stress triggered by the real estate meltdown. Psychologists say they're seeing more drinking, domestic violence and marital problems linked to mortgage concerns — as well as children trying to cope with extreme anxiety when their families are forced to move.

"They're depressed, anxious. It's affected marriages, relationships," says Richard Chaifetz, CEO of ComPsych, a Chicago-based employee-assistance firm that is counseling homeowners over mortgage fears. "People tend to catastrophize, and that leads to depression. Suicide rates go up. We see an increase in drinking, outbursts at work, violence toward kids. Before, their houses were like ATMs," as they rose in value. "Now, they feel trapped like a rat in a corner."

Welcome to Greenspan's Body Count, USA Today. It took you long enough.

Greenspan's Body Count remains at thirty.

Very pretty, and pretty spineless

John Edwards announced his endorsement for Obama today, just in time for it to not matter at all. In related news, Edwards says that while he "respects" John Kerry, he likes the chances of the Bush/Cheney ticket in '04.

Schwarzenegger terminates fiscal responsibility

Schwarzenegger: I'm going to keep on spending like a maniac, and I'm going to put the state deeper in debt to do it. And if the voters reject my plan, I'm going to raise their taxes.

A Great Man Passes

In 1986 I was kicked out of Loyola Academy in suburban Chicago. I didn't quite fit in with the Jesuits and pretty much spent every afternoon in JUG (Judgment Under God) which was an hour of not speaking and sitting in a classroom doing nothing. You know, god's way.

So while my siblings all attended public school after that, I was sent to a school that at the time I didn't appreciate but realized later every school should emulate. I am a very lucky individual to have been able to attend the Kiski School.

Yesterday the long time headmaster passed away. He influenced so many and taught not only academics but pride, honor and self reliance. His obituary tells a small part of his story. Jack Pidgeon was a great man. OBIT: POST-GAZETTE

~Negocios Loucos

Kool aid anyone?

The National Bloomberg, inquiring minds want to know, today stated that prices rose less then forecast. To which some bobble head stated:

"``It does look like you're starting to get some real improvement here,'' said Michael Feroli, an economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in New York. ``It's good news for the Fed.''"

First off apparently other parts of the country must be experiencing spiraling price deflation because here in CA, my corner gas station just hit 4 dol..sorry $3.99 9/10ths.

Secondly, lets put this in terms of a professional football analogy - say The University of Florida football team is winning 58-0 starting the fourth quarter against lowly Central Southwest Florida State Everglades campus. If CSFSE scores a field goal in the dying seconds of the 4th, does that mean 'you're starting to get some real improvement here?'