Odds and Ends

I missed a lot of news. Here's a rundown of what I consider to be the most interesting...

It was made official today... the U.S. has been in a recession (oMg!) for about a year now. This news was not greeted with cheer by the ever-grumpy markets.

Luckily (??!), an extension of unemployment benefits was approved last month.

Have a lot of free time and love to read about economics? Then you'll wanna bookmark this piece in the New Yorker: 'Anatomy of a Meltdown-- Ben Bernanke and the financial crisis'.

President-elect Obama, of course, unveiled his economic team last week, hoping to reassure Americans that help is on the way. Congressional leaders insist they plan to have a stimulus bill on his desk by the time he is sworn in.

Reminder: Obama's transition YouTube channel is collecting all his addresses.

A good summary of what happened in Mumbai... here.

I read today that "Delegates from nearly every nation began discussions in Poznan, Poland Monday in an effort to create a new global climate change pact to replace the Kyoto Treaty, which expires in 2012." I'm sure we all remember that Kyoto "has been crippled by the Bush administration's refusal to have the U.S. ratify the agreement, saying it would harm the economy."

Good news for U.S. energy policy? The fact that Rep. Waxman (D-CA) won his fight to take the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee from Rep. Dingell (D-MI), who is a tool of the auto industry. Sen. Boxer heads the related committee in the Senate.

If you need further proof that Bill Kristol is a complete moron (and after this campaign season, do you really need more?), consider his new column insisting that not only should Bush those guilty of ordering torture or warrantless wiretapping, he should also give them the Medal of Freedom. I'm sure he'll have a good chuckle about this on his next 'Daily Show' interview.

Finally, sad news for America... Hannity and Colmes have filed for divorce.