Brown: West Like a 90 Year Old Painter

British PM Brown, interviewed in Davos by Christine Amanpour, likened western finance to the artist Titian at age 90. Evidently the Brits have no idea what to do, but are ready to learn at death's door. Not exactly Churchillian! Hopefully the Wests' neck isn't ready to be wrung just yet despite Mr. Brown's dotage.

Michael Phelps Out of the 420 Closet

Michael Phelps must have thought he was among friends at the Nov. 8 party he was photographed. With the results of the "straight" crowd in the halls of power maybe they should try a few stoners! After all, they'd have to be honest since they couldn't keep a straight face lying all the time! For my money, he's still a better role model than anyone in Washington or Wall Street.

Do As I Say, Not As I Do, Department

Health Secretary designate Tom Daschle became the latest Obama appointment to divulge cheating on his taxes. The former senator from South Dakota failed to report over $100,000 in services from an important supporter. Formerly, Timothy Geithner, Treasury Secretary, only paid $34,000 in taxes when his "innocent" mistake came to light through his White House vetting process.

King Ignatieff: Coalition ..... NOT?

The Conservative Harper government announced a$40 billion stimulus package in their budget of the 27th January. Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff, who had tentatively joined or not joined, a coalition with the socialist NDP and separatist Bloc Parties, appeared to support the budget as long as the Conservative Government report to parliament. PM Stephen Harper immediately agreed.

Beta Earth: The Planet Has a Bug and It Is Us

Even with reductions in CO2 emissions to pre-industrial levels the earth would take 1,000 years to heal from the current level of 385 ppm, according to new research from US and European climatologists. Our choices are between bad and worse as the higher CO2 levels become, the less habitable arid or low lying areas will be.

Blackberry Jam

Initial enthusiasm for Blackberry Storm, launched in response to Apple iPhone, has waned. Apparently the software used to perform the keyboard emulation and rotate screen view to correspond to viewer orientation is too slow to be practically effective. RIM claims the problems are temporary glitches and it is satisfied with sales of 500,000 units compared to iPhone sales of 2.4 million.

Hitler Youth Pope Re-Communicates Holocaust Denier

Pope Ratzinger announced the rehabilitation of infamous holocaust denier Bishop Williamson just ahead of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27. What's next? The German soldier was never truly defeated in the field! It was a "dolchstoss" from the dirty Jews and homosexuals!