The Agenda

I’m shocked: The inflation hawks were hands-down wrong.

Remember when Republicans were for high-speed rail before President Obama said so too?

If you can pronounce this whole poem, you’re doing better than most English-speakers.

Perhaps 2012 will be the year of economic recovery.

Maybe transparency at the Fed could itself be economic stimulus.

Goddamn it, there’s actually a must-read piece about Ron Paul. Of course, it’s by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

In terms of previews for tonight’s Iowa caucuses, Nate Silver is as good as any.

“I don’t want to make black people’s lives better by giving them somebody else’s money.” – Rick Santorum

The Agenda

Pretty good economic news today sends stocks higher.

But, seriously, Europe: you’re getting annoying.

The story of one cut, chosen seemingly at random, from the UK budget.

I am very much against this new calendar idea, probably for the sole reason that it would mean that only 2/7 of us would have birthdays on weekends ever again.

“Every barrel of oil that comes out of those sands in Canada is a barrel of oil that we don’t have to buy from a foreign source.” — Gov. Rick Perry

Romney’s (unsurprisingly) still up big in New Hampshire. Romney’s also back on top nationally, but I still have no idea when the national primary is.

Funny, I just the other day told Ghost that I was surprised that Santorum hadn’t surged yet, and if there was enough time, he’d be next. Turns out I’m kind of right.

“You can have opacity and an industrial economy, or you can have transparency and herd goats”

The owners of Panda Express are looking to revolutionize dry cleaning.

Morning Constitutional – Monday, 19 December 2011

Holy crap we’re back (probably temporarily) and good morning, everybody. The issue of Playboy featuring Lindsay Lohan is breaking sales records according to Hugh Hefner. Now, your morning constitutional:

Party Center, Dear Leader, Father of the People, Guiding Sun Ray, Great Man Who Descended From Heaven, Leader of the Party and People, Bright Sun of the 21st Century, Sun of Socialism, Leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces Kim Jong-il has died of a heart attack. His 25-year-old and relatively unknown son, Kim Jong-un, is expected to take power.

Revolutionary playwright and former Czech President Vaclav Havel passed away this weekend at 75.

The last American troops left Iraq Sunday, as the war in Iraq finally comes to a close.

The House opposes a two-month payroll tax cut extension compromise that passed the Senate this weekend. House opposition is rooted in the short-term nature of the extension. Yet, the short-term extension was necessary because the House is demanding an unrelated provision that would force the administration to grant a permit for the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline, which the administration and Senate Democrats oppose. The payroll tax cut will end at the end of the year if no deal is reached, which could hurt the already slowly-recovering economy.

When Republicans aren’t blocking nominees for one economic regulatory agency, they’re blocking others: Indeed, while Senate Republicans successfully blocked Robert Cordray’s nomination to head up the new Consumer Protection Bureau, the stalemate also stopped the Senate from approving nominees to head the FDIC and the Office of the Comptroller. Oh, and they’re trying to make sure there isn’t enough money to efficiently implement Frank-Dodd banking reform.

Tensions between the Pakistani army and its civilian government has forced President Asif Ali Zardari to return home from Dubai early.

Syria has signed onto an Arab League plan that allows observers to monitor an effort to end Syria’s crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Four months later, how stupid was it for S&P to downgrade the U.S. credit rating?

Holy crap, Ron Paul is now the Iowa front-runner.

Even though Romney retired from Bain Capital 13 years ago, they’re still paying him millions of dollars each year.

ABC cut four minutes of the famously anti-commercial ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ to make room for more commercials. Here’s ten things you may not know about ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Finally, one of a pair of robbers in Madison accidentally butt-dialed 911, making their arrest super easy for police.

Morning Constitutional – Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Good morning, everyone. Amanda Knox won her appeal and is headed back to Seattle. Now, your morning constitutional:

Probably unsurprising, but the American Jobs Act is dead on arrival.

U.S. ability to wield smart power abroad through diplomacy and foreign aid would be hurt tremendously under new proposals to slash State Department spending.

A huge suicide attack has killed dozens near government buildings in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.

Afghan President Karzai in India on important visit, which is expected to boost India’s involvement in stabilizing the region.

Republican nominee and Texas Governor Rick Perry has lost about half his support in the past month.

Jury selection begins today in the trial of Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, the underwear bomber, who is representing himself.

President Obama has sent three trade deals, with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, to Congress.

Why overpaid bosses keep getting paid more.

The Occupy Wall Street protest is gaining labor support, which could bring with it monetary and organizational assistance.

Bailing out Greece and other indebted European countries may not be popular among Germans, but may be more so than breaking up the euro.

We may be close to an addiction vaccine.

Huh, this is pretty sexist.

Finally, black bear wants some pizza, gets some pizza.

Morning Constituional – Monday, 26 September 2011

Good morning, friends. Britney Spears angers some in Stoke Newington, a borough of London, after shooting a robbery-themed music video. Now, your morning constitutional:

An outine for a rescue plan for the beleaguered Eurozone economy is  emerging, which will likely include a 50% write-down of Greece’s sovereign debt and potentially a 2 trillion euro bailout fund.

For the third time in six months, a partial government shutdown is possible if Congress does not agree to a short-term spending plan by Friday. Congress was expected to recess this week, but is staying in town.

Expectations that the congressional so-called “super-committee” could hammer out a major debt deal are dropping drastically.

Who said Obama is holding up domestic oil production? Two years ago, the U.S. imported two-thirds of its oil. Now, it imports less than half. By 2017, Goldman Sachs predicts the U.S. could pass Saudi Arabia and Russia as the world’s largest oil producer.

The Saudi King Abdullah announced that women will be allowed to vote and hold office in future municipal elections.

Just seven months before conservative president Nicholas Sarkozy will face reelection, France elected a left-wing majority in its Senate. The Senate doesn’t have the ability to derail Sarkozy’s legislative plans, but it is an ill omen because the Senate has been a conservative bastion for decades.

Republicans in the House passed a bill forcing the EPA to delay and block several air pollution rules. It will likely die in the Senate.

Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, the hikers who were arrested by Iranian authorities, accused of spying, and held for two years, have returned to the U.S. four days after being released.

Republican Candidate for President and Texas Governor Rick Perry is blocking reporters from his Twitter feed.

According to an international team of researchers, the cost of treating cancer in the developing world is spiraling and “headed towards a crisis.”

A visual history of literary references on The Simpsons.

Finally, Minneapolis women tries to send live puppy through the mail.

Morning Constitutional – Monday, 12 September 2011

Good morning, everybody. Reese Witherspoon is not pressing charges against an 84-year-old driver who struck her while she was jogging. Now, your morning constitutional:

Fears about Europe’s weakening financial situation has led to a sharp stock downturn.

More than 100 are dead in Nairobi, Kenya after a petroleum pipeline caught fire and exploded.

An explosion at a nuclear reprocessing site in France has left one dead, but there is no risk of radiation leaks.

President Obama is sending the American Jobs Act to Congress today. Even Republicans who like the bill want to sink to it avoid any legislative victories to the president.

Former Minnesota governor and presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty has endorsed Mitt Romney for president. He will join the Romney campaign as national co-chair.

A new CNN/ORC International Poll puts Rick Perry solidly ahead of Romney, even in electability.

There isn’t much evidence that low capital gains tax rates spur growth, but they do overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy.

A bill pushed by the National Rifle Association and co-sponsored by half the members of the House of Representatives would require all states and jurisdictions that issue concealed-weapons permits to honor permits granted anywhere else in the U.S. Only Illinois and the District of Columbia would be exempt, because they don’t allow carrying concealed weapons at all.

A breakthrough in chemotherapy could dramatically reduce the side-effects.

Finally, a drunk Swedish elk was found trapped in an apple tree.

Morning Constitutional – Tuesday, 6 September 2011

Good morning, everybody. A U.S. woman ate 183 chicken wings in 12 minutes. Now, substantially less impressively, here’s your morning constitutional:

An armed Libyan convoy has entered Niger, believed to be Tuareg fighters recruited by Muammar Gaddafi to fight for his regime.

European stocks tumbled yesterday amid fears about the financial sector and the ability of European governments to adequately respond. The European Union looks to possibly create a financial authority with major powers to integrate the union economically.

Congress is back. Things to look forward to: Transportation funding, trade bills, funding for Hurricane Irene response and recovery, the Postal Service, etc.

President Obama’s choice to lead the new Consumer Protection Agency, Richard Cordray, will face an uncertain confirmation hearing in the Senate today.

Could President Obama be planning on a massive middle-class tax cut that would even exceed Republican plans?

Bad poll out today for the president as his ratings sink to record lows.

Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa:

“We got to keep an eye on the battle that we face: The war on workers. And you see it everywhere, it is the Tea Party. And you know, there is only one way to beat and win that war. The one thing about working people is we like a good fight. And you know what? They’ve got a war, they got a war with us and there’s only going to be one winner. It’s going to be the workers of Michigan, and America. We’re going to win that war,” Hoffa told thousands of workers gathered for the annual Labor Day rally.

“President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march… Everybody here’s got a vote…Let’s take these sons of bitches out and give America back to an America where we belong.”

Tea party calls on President Obama to rebuke Hoffa.

Reporter tries to interview people at a Texas high school football game, only to be encouraged to leave because his business card says Al Jazeera on it.

Finally, a 21-foot crocodile has been captured alive in the Philippines.

Morning Constitutional – Tuesday, 30 August 2011

Good morning, folks. Matthew Fox has been arrested for assaulting a bus driver. Now, your morning constitutional:

Libyan rebel leaders have given pro-Gaddafi forces until Saturday to surrender, as Gaddafi’s family arrives in Algeria.

Long recovery from Irene ahead for the East Coast.

In an unprecedented move, Republicans in congress are demanding budget cuts in return for funding for Irene relief.

Budget cutting could have a serious impact on how the government responds to natural disasters.

The Obama administration is planning to eliminate dozens of deadlines that would require states to replace traffic signs to comply with new Bush-initiated safety standards—instead allowing states to replace signs as they wear out.

Meanwhile, the administration is still working on the jobs plan it intends to announce next week.

U.S. Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn has temporarily blocked Alabama’s new tough immigration law, which, among other measures, requires schools to check the citizenship status of students.

The Affordable Care Act is already leading to lower premiums for consumers. Also, a provision going into effect Thursday will give the administration and states the authority to scrutinize any raise in rates over 10%.

Nineteen cities posted home price gains, but home prices fell nationwide 4.6% from June 2010 to June 2011, the largest one-year drop since November 2009.

Yeah, President Obama’s uncle was arrested for a DUI.

This woman is terrible.

Finally, Connecticut man reports own parking violation to police, gets tased.

Morning Constitutional – Monday, 29 August 2011

Good morning, everybody. Beyoncé revealed that she’s pregnant. Now, your morning constitutional:

At least 21 are dead, millions are without power, and much of New England is encountering major flooding after Irene made its way up the East Coast this weekend.

With less than $1 billion now available for disaster assistance, FEMA will have issues paying for Hurricane Irene among its other priorities, such as the tornadoes that destroyed Joplin, Mo.

As Tripoli fell into rebel control, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi still at-large. Rebels consider him still a threat. On the other hand, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber, has been found and is in a coma and near death.

Japan’s ruling Democratic Party chose Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda to be their next prime minister yesterday following the resignation of Naoto Kan. Kan was widely hoped to end the current revolving door of Japanese prime ministers (he was the fifth in seven years), but perhaps Japanese politics has been revealed to be too broken.

President Obama will nominate Princeton economics professor Alan Kruger to head his Council of Economic Advisers, succeeding Austan Goolsbee. Kruger recently returned to Princeton after serving as assistant Treasury secretary for the first two years of the Obama administration.

Consumer confidence is sapping the already weak economy: Most Americans do not believe they will make more money next year than this year.

Richard Thaler: “If we want to balance the budget over time we are going to have to elect adults to Congress who are prepared to invest now in our country’s future and then, when the economy picks up, take the necessary steps to get spending in line with revenue. The question is whether politicians who act like adults can win elections.”

You should read this: Does American Need Manufacturing?

Thanks to a provision in the Texas school financing bill, Rick Perry’s travel and security costs to the state of Texas will remain secret at least until the 2012 election.

Finally, 16-year-old tells story of fist-fight with polar bear.

Morning Constitutional – Wednesday, 24 August 2011

Good morning, folks. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are not separating. Now, your morning constitutional:

Fighting continues in Tripoli, as rebels seize Gaddafi’s compound, Gaddafi issues a defiant rant over the radio, and the National Transitional Council prepare to take over and appeal to world powers to help it begin the process of rebuilding the country. Meanwhile, the journalists stuck inside the Rixos hotel wait.

Yup, there was a minor earthquake yesterday.

North Korea has agreed to consider a moratorium on nuclear weapons testing and production and return to six-party talks.

Good economic news: Orders for U.S. durable goods rose 4% in July, way higher than expected. The number was buoyed by a 11.5% increase in orders for automobiles and parts, the highest since 2003.

Vice President Biden didn’t go to China to “explain a damn thing” about the economy, and notes that China’s economy is growing because the U.S. military presence in Asia.

Despite what Speaker Boehner says, business economists do favor some tax hikes.

Ezra Klein: “When the financial markets collapsed, household debt was nearly 100 percent of GDP. It’s now down to 90 percent. In 1982, which was the last time we had a big recession, the household-debt-to-GDP ratio was about 45 percent.”

Sixteen of France’s mega-rich have signed a petition calling on the government to raise their taxes.

Megatrends that weren’t.

Finally, man robs bank, returns money because girlfriend yelled at him.

Morning Constitutional – 18 August 2011

Abercrombie and Fitch’s offer to pay MTV Jersey Shore’s “The Situation” not to wear their clothes has not been successful.  Now, your Morning Constitutional.

A Staff Sergeant in the Air Force who refuses to accept President Obama’s American citizenship and believes he has “ties to Muslims” has been discharged.

Residents of Joplin, MO return to schools.

The Justice Department is investigating whether Standard and Poor’s improperly rated mortgage backed securities in the lead up to the housing meltdown.  The real question is whether the government could do anything after confirming the answer is yes.

As conservative media outlets and Republicans continue to take pleasure in mocking the new Presidential bus, especially its $1.1 million price tag, the Secret Service ensure the Republican presidential candidate will ride in one as well.

China’s limitations on a free press began early into Vice Presdient Joe Biden’s trip - before he finished his opening statement.

Corruption in Afghanistan has led to an estimated $360 million in United States equipment and materials from being possessed by the Taliban and other criminals in Afghanistan.

President Obama and State Department officials might ask President Asad of Syria to step down.

And, IBM wants to create a machine with the capacity of the human brain.

Morning Constitutional – Monday, 15 August 2011

Good morning, everybody. Bert and Ernie are puppets. Now, your morning constitutional:

First, today’s must-read: New York Times op-ed by Warren Buffett: “Stop Coddling the Rich.”

In case you missed the campaign news over the weekend, Michele Bachmann won the Iowa Ames Straw Poll, Tim Pawlenty left the race, and Texas Governor Rick Perry made his debut on the trail.

European markets today have risen in anticipation of a Tuesday meeting between French President Sarkozy and German Chancellor Merkel.

The trial of Egypt’s former leader Mubarak has been adjourned until September, at which point his trial and that of his former interior minister will be joined.

Libya’s interior minister has surfaced in Egypt, and there is high-level speculation that he is defecting.

Syrian tanks continue to shell a residential district in Latakia for a third day.

U.S. officials suspect that Pakistan may have shown China the helicopter that crashed in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

Both Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner are left with few tools to avert a possible crisis, or even prod the slowly recovering economy.

A much, much better explanation of how World War II stimulated the U.S. economy: not the war itself, but investment and loose monetary policy.

Google has announced that it will be acquiring Motorola Mobility for $12.5B.

Finally, an Ohio woman woke up to find a blimp in her back yard.

Morning Constitutional – Tuesday, 9 August 2011

Good morning, everybody, and happy Victory Day (officially celebrated in Rhode Island only). Kanye thinks people look like him like he’s Hitler. Now, your morning constitutional:

Britain’s parliament is being recalled to respond to riots that continue in London. Additionally, Prime Minister David Cameron is deploying an additional 10,000 police to the area.

Inflation in China in July was higher than expected as consumer prices rose 6.5% over the same month last year.

A day after markets dropped worldwide, the Federal Reserve is signalling they may strengthen their monetary stimulus program.

While Asian stocks continued to slide, European markets were more mixed, and U.S. stocks are expected to rise today.

One welcome side effect of the market slide: Mortgage rates are ultra-low.

Forcing austerity on Italy and Spain may not work.

Some Democrats are breaking with the Obama administration over Medicaid, explaining to the Supreme Court in an amicus brief that the administration’s interpretation of the Medicaid statute is misguided and makes it more difficult for low-income people to get care.

Turkey’s foreign minister is going to Syria to demand an end to the violent crackdown by the Syrian government.

The Onion has started a pay-wall for non-U.S. readers who read more than five articles a month.

Because you’ve always wondered where you’d end up if you drilled through the earth right beneath you.

Finally, a 9-year-old boy who left his wallet containing hundreds of dollars (!) at a Virginia convenience store got it back after he posted a handwritten letter.

Morning Constitutional – Monday, 8 August 2011

Good morning, friends. Jason Bateman called his new movie “The Change-Up” “garbage.” It probably is. Now, your morning constitutional:

Some big economic news today:

The Group of Seven (G7) is looking to calm investors after a massive worldwide stock sell-off. European stocks are giving up early gains which were due to the ECB announcing it would be purchasing government debts.

The U.S. market is expected to decline today after Friday’s announcement that S&P would be downgrading is assessment of U.S. debt. The downgrade may prod the debt-cutting congressional panel set up in the recent deal to make cuts beyond what it was mandated.

FiveThirtyEight: Why S&P’s ratings are substandard and porous.

Meanwhile, the U.K.’s ability to maintain its AAA credit rating may depend on the Conservative government’s ability to stick it is deficit reduction plans in the midst of a struggling economy.

If the U.S. economy falters again, the second recession could be worse than the first.

No surprise, but the S.E.C. is not given the resources it needs to police the economy, and, while it has been charged with implementing the massive Frank-Dodd financial reform law, the increase in funding it asked for (and needs) was not delivered.

In Syria, the government is shelling the eastern town of Deir al-Zour for a second day; at least 50 civilians were killed in attacks yesterday. Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has condemned the violence, saying there is “no justification for this bloodshed.”

A fatal police shooting sparked protests in London that have turned violent. More than 100 people have been arrested and 35  officers have been injured in the northern London area of Tottenham.

As more states rebel against the No Child Left Behind law, and congress continues to fail to enact reforms to the system, the Obama administration plans to grant waivers to free states from its requirements.

Finally, the mayor of Sunland Park, New Mexico, says he was drunk when he signed a deal with a California company that is now suing the city.

Morning Constitutional – Wednesday, August 3 2011

Republican presidential candidate, Newt Gingrich, has made up empty twitter accounts to bump up the “number” of his followers, now your Morning Constitutional:

Moody’s and Fitch did not downgrade our rating after Washington narrowly defaulted on the nation’s $14.3 trillion in debt (but our outlook is “negative” so they probably will).  The Chinese on the other-hand has downgraded us. Still waiting on Standard & Poor’s analysis.

Possible overreaction  to salmonella could hurt the ground turkey industry shortly.

The racial wealth gap in America is the widest it has been since the tracking began in 1984.  Blacks and hispanics have been more negatively impacted by the recession and foreclosure crisis than whites.

McAfee reported it discovered the largest hacking job ever known to them, suspecting a nation state (read China), hacked the United States and other countries, over the last five years and stealing economic, military and diplomatic information.

Good time to remind people, the U.S. government especially Department of Defense, is always looking for talented cyber-security personal, aka hackers to counter the hackers.

Former Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, pleads not guilty to the murdering of his countryman during the riots which eventually led to him being ousted.

“It’s the first time in Norway that the popularity rating of an elected politician is higher than that of the King,” – quote from Bloomberg news article

President Bashar al-Assad and the government of Syria continue the destruction and attack on civilians, the United States and rest of the world weigh sanctions.

Morning Constitutional – Monday, 11 July 2011

Good morning, folks. For some reason, they’re going to remake “Dallas.” Whatever. Here’s your morning constitutional:

First things first: Did you see The Goal? Abby Wambach for the U.S. puts in a miraculous header in the closing moments of the World Cup match against Brazil, leading the way for the U.S. to win in penalty kicks.

Today marks Neptune’s first complete revolution around the sun since its discovery in 1846.

Pakistan says that the $800M drop in military aid from the U.S. will not affect its operations against al-Qaeda.

Here we go again: Another day of debt ceiling talks. This weekend, Speaker Boehner walked away from the “big deal,” which was set to save $4T.  A little history: Here’s what happened in 1979 when the U.S. accidentally partially defaulted.

A good as any rationale for why nobody cares about the unemployed.

Unemployment among veterans is already terribly high, and bound to get worse as more come home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

European stocks fall on worries about Italy’s debt and Chinese inflation. The E.U., meanwhile, is shifting its stance on Greece’s debt, considering that a partial default may be beneficial.

Mitt Romney’s job-creation record is pretty shaky.

Connecticut has become the first state in the U.S. to mandate paid sick leave for workers.

Finally, recent goat attacks has led Olympia National Park in Washington to urge hikers not not pee near trails.

Morning Constitutional – Tuesday, 5 July 2011

Good morning, everybody. Hope your Fourth was a great success. Without further ado, here is your morning constitutional:

Christine Lagarde is set to take over at the International Monetary Fund today. She will be the first woman to head the institution.

Congress is in session this week trying to work out a deal over the debt ceiling. Speaker Boehner claims that a plan that raises taxes can’t pass the House; looks like a plan that doesn’t raise revenues can’t either.

Health care industry groups are nervous that the debt ceiling negotiations may end some of the deals they made with the administration that helped pass the Affordable Care Act.

David Brooks eviscerates the Republican Party, even wondering aloud if their aversion to compromise means they are no longer a “normal party.”

The 111th Congress is doing even less than the infamous “no-n0thing” Congress of 1948.

Even in the weak recovery, profits are soaring.

The National Education Association, the nation’s largest educators’ union, has already endorsed President Obama’s reelection.

General Motors supplying too many trucks; repeating the same bad decisions of 2008?

Is it possible that China’s increasing use of coal is actually slowing global climate change?

Some great data and charts on crime rates and time of day—turns out criminal enterprise never sleeps.

ABC News thought Americans wouldn’t know what “perspicacious” meant. (I bet they’re right.)

Finally, police say a man who wears a red clown nose while walking through New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, poses no threat to the public.

Morning Constitutional – Thursday, 30 June 2011

Former bachelor Brad Womack from the show, “The Bachelor” is a bachelor once again after the March 2011 engagement has been called off. Now, your Morning Constitutional.

Morning Constitutional – Wednesday, 29 June 2011

Arlene, the first storm of the 2011 hurricane season, is slated to hit Mexico’s shoreline late tonight. Now, your Morning Constitutional:

The Yemen Air Force accidentally bombed a bus, killing four innocent people and wounding twelve.

Omar al-Bashir, the President of Sudan who is wanted for genocide by many Western nations, was welcomed with open arms in China.

Greece passed legislation to pull them out of debt which includes large tax hikes and deep spending cuts.  Plenty of public unrest.

Palestine has a soccer team, and they beat Afghanistan 2-0 in the first round of World Cup qualifiers.

Bank of America agreed to set aside $14 Billion to pay investors whose portfolios tanked do to bad mortgages (No, this pot of cash is in response to the push to help stop foreclosures and assist the borrowers who got screwed).

After Michele Bachman used Tom Petty’s “American Girl” at her official presidential candidacy announcement, the all American rocker  requested she cease-and-desist from using the song any further. (Also, the lady has a way with facts, not sure Petty knows what he is in for)

NY Times/CBS Poll puts Obama’s approval ratings at 47 approve, 44 disapprove.  Also, republican voters are unhappy with lack of good candidates in their presidential primary.

The Supreme Court will hear a case to determine whether law enforcement can use GPS tracking devices without a warrant.

Medicare’s bill for hospice care rose to more than $12 billion in 2009 from $2.9 billion in 2000, one of many signs that health care costs will continue to rise.

And, monarch butterflies have a magnetic sense of orientation, so maybe you do too.

Morning Constitutional – Thursday, 23 June 2011

Good morning… if it is a good morning, which I doubt.  I’m feeling a bit Eeyore-ish today, not enough sleep and a bit fuzzy in the head.  But speaking of Eeyore, the new Winnie the Pooh movie coming out this summer looks pretty cute, and John Cleese is in it, too.  What?  You’re not five and therefore don’t care?  Fine.  Here’s some news:

President Obama outlined his plan for Afghanistan, which would involve bringing home 33,000 ‘surge’ troops.

France plans to follow the US timetable for withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan.

Alleged Boston mobster James “Whitey” Bulger was taken into custody by the FBI after 16 years of evading capture.

The unlikely duo of Barney Frank and Ron Paul band together to introduce a bill that would legalize marijuana and allow states to set up their own rules for governing its use.

Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has been released after three months in jail on charges of tax evasion–though many believe he was detained due to his vocal criticism of the Communist Party.

The Winklevi twins have dropped their appeal of a settlement with Mark Zuckerberg.

Self-help author James Ray was found guilty of negligent homicide in the case of three people who died while participating in a sweat lodge ceremony he operated.

J.K. Rowling will sell the Harry Potter series in e-book form for the first time, through a new website, Pottermore.

Opponents of San Francisco’s proposed ban on male infant circumcision have sued to get the measure off the ballot.

While not running for president, Donald Trump did achieve another dubious distinction: he’s now the highest paid reality show star ever.

Should the lady tennis players at Wimbledon stop their unseemly grunting?

From the Desk of Duh-Inducing Research, a new study from Harvard tells us that eating French fries and potato chips can cause weight gain.

Finally, US Airways’ confusing dress code for men: baggy pants revealing underwear are not all right (and warrant removal from plane if not pulled up), but wearing just women’s underwear with no pants on top is a-okay.