If you can endure the “bruised”, “hunkered down” reporting of the Associated Press’s Jeannine Aversa for a few graphs, you’ll get to the meat of the thing: US economy grows 0.6%.

“The economy is weak but not collapsing,” said Lynn Reaser, chief economist at Bank of America’s Investment Strategies Group. “A recession can’t be ruled out, although the stars are not lined up at this point to definitively say one way or the other.”
On Wall Street, investors found comfort that the GDP figure was a bit better than expected. The Dow Jones industrials were up more than 100 points in morning trading.

They’ll be kicking wastebaskets around in Democratic campaign offices this morning. Oh well, give the media a few more weeks to work their magic…

With clients’ comments.

Snowboarding gnome?

(image enhanced)
I’m told this is the Travelocity Gnome. Looks like we beat local media to this story.
Nice catch by richfisher.

Many thanks to Mark Steyn;

Until midnight Eastern tonight, for every copy of America Alone sold at the Steyn store, we’ll give 50 per cent of the cover price – ie, our entire profit – to the legal defense funds for the five beleaguered bloggers fighting for free speech in Canada. That’s 50 per cent of the cover price of the paperback, hardback, audio book (in CD, tape or MP3 format) and our America Alone Anniversary Special. And we’ll also put 50 per cent of every other book, T-shirt, mug or anything else we sell today to the Freedom Five. Whatever you buy between now and midnight, half the cost of the item goes to the battle to restore freedom of speech to a land that sorely needs it. And don’t forget every book can be personally autographed to you or your loved one.

Click here for the order page and lots more!
The Shire News Network also has a podcast up of their interview with Kathy and me.
And remember – when the Communists show up to protest the Nazis, you’re supposed to pray for an asteroid, not pick a favourite!

(h/t reader NoGuff)

Invented by Swiss chemists – tested by American animators.

For reasons I can’t quite put my finger on, this is not suitable for children.

Thanks to reader Vitruvius;

“Tonight, […] we have, here in the studio, prepared for you a special selection, off of the original vinyl, from the inimitable Mr. Nestor Pistor’s famous Metro on Broadway album, which would have been performed, unless we’re very much mistaken, in the early ’70s.

This track is 12 minutes long, 9 megabytes big, and is probably not safe for work, unless like me you are fortunate enough to work only amongst a small group of friends, otherwise you should probably listen to this in a closet at home with the lights turned off, and play something safe at work, like rap. Oh, and also, this is guy beer-drinkin’ humour, so even though it’s pretty good guy beer-drinkin’ humour, if you don’t grok that shtick: skip it.”

Correction – Les Pavelick graces us with a visit in the comments;

Hi,,,,Just F.Y.I.
I started doing ”Metro ” About 5 years before Nestor came around.We are not the same person, I am the original. I did the cotton pickers live from the hat tv show, with host JJ cennon in the early 70’s and am still doing the odd gig. you can check out Metros web site at www.metroscomedy.com/
I am the same metro who did the 11 days from xmas. not Nestor ….I do reside in Sk.
Diboja metro

SDA – Saskatchewan’s Leading Celebrity Site!

(People would think a lot more highly of seals if they could do stuff like this.)

A few time wasters. Or you could always visit the peed-off progressivesphere. Heh.

Captain Capitalism’s 2008 Annual Chart Contest!
Last year the chart I submitted illustrated the direct (dare I say causitive?) relationship between Muslim population density and statistical risk of death due to seismic activity. For reasons that were never explained to my complete satisfaction, I was not rewarded with a prize.

Just a big stuffed toy wiith baby breath.

Glenn Reynolds says – “EVEN HARD DRIVES ARE going green.”
Simon sez – “Oh right, NancyBoy boxes.”

h/t

Open thread.
Update: Liberal Party reaction here
Plus – Post-budget analysis I could have written myself.

A problem I’ve been grappling with:

How large is this seemingly bottomless pit of non-renewable “innocence” we keep losing?
Is there such a thing as “peak” innocence?
How does the city of Toronto manage to lose its so often. (Is it growing back?)
Is lost innocence surrounded by mountains of unmatched socks?
Responses that provide equations preferred.
(As you may have noticed, I’m in a philosophical mood today.)
Update – Looks like we have our answer.

But this is still the comment of the week;

I’m probably going to burn for this but when I saw all those LAWYERS protesting in their suits. And then the cops started beating those protesting LAWYERS and I realized thats not right but then again they were LAWYERS but oh the humanity but they were LAWYERS so in the end I was rooting for the cops and screaming get that one and that one. Then the wife was yelling GET OFF THE COUCH AND PUT THE CLICKER DOWN.

Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting.
Does anyone else find it troubling that doctors feel the need for a special interest organization to address this?

Heh.

Three seasons on a deserted island, You’d think the fat guy would lose a few pounds.