Random Thoughts on Various Subjects

1. THE UNDERWEAR BOMBER

It is obvious that the Obama Adminstration fucked up royally on this one. When the guy's father actually calls the CIA to give them the warning and it goes unheeded, this speaks volumes. The reality is that bureaucracy is not the antidote to terrorism.

2. THE APPLE TABLET

Apple has a new toy coming out this month. Will it change the world? Or will it fail? I hesitate to make a prediction. Consumers are a fickle bunch. I just know that I feel no need to buy this new toy. Apple may be due to fail.

3. VODKA AND RUSSIA

The government is trying to raise the price of vodka in Russia to help combat the rampant alcoholism there. Needless to say, vodka consumption is a feature of Russian life. It is a holdover from the days of communism when the only hope you had was in a liquor bottle. While countries like India and China prosper, Russia languishes. Why is this? I will have to leave that one to the economists.

What I can safely say is that people are known by their drinks. For the French, it is wine. For the Germans, it is beer. For the English, it is tea. For Americans, it is coffee. Somewhere, I can make the case that a nation's productive output is tied directly to its consumption of caffeine and its eschewing of alcohol. All I know is that you can't get a lot done if you spend all day drunk off your ass.

4. GYM CLUB MEMBERSHIP

Gym clubs will do brisk business this month as people look to revolutionize their lives in an effort that will peter out by March. People don't keep their resolutions. Gym clubs know this which is why they will try to lock people into the longest term contracts that they can. That is the beauty of a gym. It is the one place where people buy something they are more than likely not going to use. My advice? Take up running. It will only cost you a pair of shoes.

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