Topics in the news...and on my mind

I. Financial markets and China. Yesterday, the world's financial markets were rocked by an unexpected downturn. There is much that could be said, including much speculation(ha), but I want to focus on the emerging banking market in China...and its global effects. Having lived, and banked, in China, I am acutely aware of the innate and pragmatic deficiencies found in the Chinese banking industry. In short, there is little to no regulation of loans... and as China slowly enters the global economic market, many of these faulty/speculated loans could have an extremely negative effect for all other markets. Meaning, existing investment in China's infrastructure could collapse...and no one really knows, if this were to happen, what the actual damage would be. In fact, that is one of the biggest issues...no one knows much, with regards to specifics, about the insular Chinese financial markets. For more on this important subject, check out this good little article. Hat tip: Instapundit.

II. Catch an Illegal. Apparently, the College Republicans are hosting catch the illegal races on campuses nationwide. Naturally, the Dems and others are apoplectic about these, by all accounts, very provocative stunts...and are calling for the RNC to force them to halt the exercises...as they are perceived to be racist and insensitive. I have a couple of thoughts here:
a. Racist and Insensitive. This really burns me up. First, these 'races' are not racist...as they are not catch the Mexican or catch the Filipino races, or such. The focus is on illegal immigration...with the first word in the phrase as the literary magnifier. Second...and this really makes me angry...every time someone throws out the racism charge for ridiculous political reasons it depreciates the actual and real calls of racism. Make no mistake, there is still a palpable problem of race in this country. Everyday, there are people that have actual cause to point out that they are being judged and restricted because of the physical reflection of their birth and heritage. We, as Americans, carry the weight of past decisions, and need to address our historically unique problem of race courageously and honestly. The folks that use the 'race card' as a political and rhetorical tool do neither...and add to the problem of racial confusion and disunity in this country.
b. The RNC. What is the purpose of calling on the RNC to halt these things? As they absolutely have no authority over the College Republicans, what could it be? My guess is that it is a stunt by Dems to associate national Republicans with racism. I now refer you back to point a.

III. Give an Illegal a credit card. Bank of America has begun a program that gives credit cards to people in the United States without social security cards. Meaning, if I applied for this card(let's say it has a better interest rate than the ones I currently have), I would be ineligible...because I am a legal resident and have all of my documents. I also have a sneaking suspicion that if an illegal Polish or Somali immigrant applied, he or she would be declined.

IV. Bonnie and...the other Bonnie? Two sixteen year old girls...well, assumed to be around this age...robbed a Bank of America in ATL. last night. Where are the parents....and what the heck is going on this country?

V. HPV and me. That would be the Human Papillomavirus...an STD that causes, among other things, genital warts and cervical cancer....and, no, I don't have it. According to this study, 1/4 of girls/women in the U.S. between the ages of 14-59 have HPV. Let me say that again...1 out of every 4. I have a number of thoughts...most not acceptable for public consumption...but:
a. Oh....my god.
b. Maybe this is why those girls had to rob the bank....they needed discreet money for their HPV meds.

VI. Language as a tool. Just think...Orwell wrote 1984...in 1948, or so. As prescient as ever.

VII. Al Gore and his energetic energy policy. Gore won an Oscar for his global warming film. He pleads with the world to reduce energy consumption...in order to avoid cataclysmic disaster...and his utility bill is more than most people, on average, make in a month. I'm amazed...yet, not surprised. Really, I'm just at a loss for words.

VIII. Prince Harry and Iraq. There is a concerned debate in Britain right now as to whether Prince Harry should be sent to Iraq with his Battalion...and possibly see military engagement. Most say no, while he says there is no way he would let his group go without him. Here is his quote, "There's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country," he said in an interview to mark his 21st birthday. "That may sound very patriotic, but it's true." I really admire someone willing to excuse privilege in favor of duty and honor. Historically, there is a precedent for this, as he isn't first-in-line for the crown, and is probably looking for personal legitimacy as a Prince. Yet, it says something about Britain that he has to excuse anything that might 'sound' patriotic. If a Prince can't be patriotic, who can?

IX. Turkish Elections. In short, the sick man of Europe is set to have elections, and it is the first time that Parliament and the Presidency will be decided in the same year. This is the ten year anniversary of the secular movement in Turkey, and some suspect that she is set to go the way of an Islamist regime. Not good news.

X. Cheney assassination attempt. Naturally, this is news anyway...but there has been much discussion on the web about the liberal reaction to it on websites. In general, many on the left expressed disappointment that the attempt failed. Then, when the bloggers on the right pointed this out, some on the left claimed that this kind of vitriol isn't representative of liberals and their agenda. Read more here.

XI. Most Ridiculous Headline of the Day:
GEFFEN EFFECT? Blacks Shift To Obama, Poll Finds...


It may be true that African-Americans are moving to Obama...but is it really an effect of that squabble between Geffen and the Clintons? In a word...no. My guess is that a majority of Black Americans don't even know who Geffen is...much less care about what he thinks. In fact, most Americans don't know who he is...and don't think anything about what he thinks. Ridiculous.