12/16   CalPERS borrowed heavily to get into real estate deals at the peak
        of the housing bubble (guess that shouldn't come as a surprise)
        http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122947172015212225.html
        \_ It is funny, I warned the chair of the CalSTRS board about the
           housing bubble back in 2005, I wonder if that had anything to
           do with them not investing as heavily as CalPERS. -GS

12/17   http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aznONFlyupOI
        "Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which got $10 billion and debt guarantees
        from the U.S. government in October, expects to pay $14 million in
        taxes worldwide for 2008 compared with $6 billion in 2007.
        \_ Goldman Sachs cuts average pay 45 percent!!  ... down to $364K.
           lowest compensation since 2004.  oh the humanity!

12/17   Obama, chillin'
        http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2008/obama_youth/obama_youth_04.jpg
           \_ but that pic rocks.
        \- shut up paolo
           \_ but that pic rocks.
        \_ VIVA EL PRESIDENTE!

12/17   Smashbox Rapture girl is really really hot:
        http://www.smashbox.com/Smashbox-Collections/Rapture-Holiday-2008_2
        \_ Any Hymen Rupture girl anywhere?

12/17   wtf is happening to the dollar?
        http://quotes.ino.com/chart/?s=NYBOT_dx
        \_ People are finally taking Bernanke seriously when he says he
           is going to print as many dollars as he has to, to reinflate
           the dollar.
           is going to print as many dollars as he has to, to kill deflation.
           \_ doesn't this make our imported goods more expensive, and more
              foreign co.'s go b00m, and people doubt whether their Treasury
              notes were a good investment after all?
              oh yay, japan is threatening to print yen. w00t?
              \_ Yep.  Say hello to Weimar Republic here in the USA
                 \_ Thanks Republicans!
                 \_ Thanks Paul Gramm!
                    \_ Paul Graham? Phil Gramm?
                       \_ I blame Lisp.
              \_ And exports cheaper, which puts more Americans to work.
                 Who cares what foreign companies do?
                 \_ ob USA USA USA!

12/17   I want to buy a police baton (one of those side handle batons).
        Is it illegal to buy/own one if I'm not a police officer?
        Thanks.
        \_ pretty sure buying a cane is legal.
        \_ also known as a tonfa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonfa
                \_ oh yeah, thanks. so are those illegal? -op