From Salon.com today

Tuesday, Dec 20, 2011 9:00 AM Pacific Standard Time

I knew Christopher Hitchens better than you

Every writer who had a drink with Hitch has now told his story. But even Rushdie and Amis didn't know him like this

By Neal Pollack

And the beat goes on

Siemens Hires Former U.S. Afghanistan Commander McChrystal

By Richard Weiss - Dec 19, 2011 7:17 AM PT

Siemens AG, Europe’s largest engineering company, hired Stanley McChrystal, a former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, for a new unit seeking U.S. government contracts.

McChrystal, 57, will serve as chairman of Siemens Government Technologies, which spans security systems to engineering software for defense equipment, the Munich-based company said in a statement today. 

From NPR Monkey See

The 20 Unhappiest People You Meet In The Comments Sections Of Year-End Lists

Finally broke down and surfed me up some Charles Pierce. You should too:

The Republican Clown Car Needs to Drive Out of Iowa. Now.

December 8, 2011 at 2:54PM by Charles P. Pierce

Read more: http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/iowa-republicans-6613232#ixzz1g3amhxV0

In which Obama reaches a new level in the substitution of rhetoric for reality.

 "Obama also took aim at the big banks that took bailouts from American taxpayers, pointing to "a deficit of trust between Main Street and Wall Street." He said banks that were bailed out had an obligation to work to close that trust deficit and should be doing more to help remedy past mortgage abuses and assist middle-class taxpayers."

"Trust Deficit"?  Are you kidding me?  "Help remedy" ?  "Assist" ? Are you kidding me????

One of those news items to which my  immediate response is "I Thought He Died Years Ago."

Serial killer Juan V. Corona, convicted in the 1970s of murdering 25 farmworkers, is scheduled for a parole hearing Monday, officials said.

One of many moving testimonials on "Women for Herman Cain."

Yvonne Settlemire

phoenix, AZ

"I am a single mom of three children and two have autism. I like what Mr Cain has to say. He the only one that wants to talk about the REAL issues. Im tired of all the side tracking of unimportant accusations by people from years and years ago. Today is what Im interested in. And the tomorrow of our country is what I want to be talked about. Im voting for Hermain Cain. Respectfully, Yvonne Settlemire "