Dickie's Quickies

Fareed Zakaria is bemoaning The Decline and Fall of Europe over at Newsweek. He probably overstates his case, yet it's an interesting position to read:

What does all this add up to? Less European influence in the world. Europe's position in institutions like the World Bank and the IMF relates to its share of world GDP. Its dwindling defense spending weakens its ability to be a military partner of the U.S., or to project military power abroad even for peacekeeping purposes. Its cramped, increasingly protectionist outlook will further sap its vitality.

Taylor Marsh has been ripping into the Dick Cheney shooting revelations. In her latest report, Marsh's husband shoots a .28 gauge shotgun and comes to the conclusion that Cheney may have been closer than he reports.

Something just isn't right. I'll give you our best guess. Dick Cheney was not 30 yards away, but closer to 15 yards away from Whittington when he shot him.

Cult of the Dead Cow takes on Congress and companies who do business in China.

There is not now nor has there ever been any correlation between economic and political development in China. And quite frankly, you can't even make that argument here in the West. Look at historical Italy, Germany, and Spain. Three very fine countries with strong economies and large middle class ballast. Now insert the words Mussolini, Hitler, and Franco. Oops. So please, let's dispense with any talk of engagement. Totalitarian regimes negate all wooly ideas. And make no mistake. China is the mother of all totalitarian regimes.

Finally, got a spyware/malware problem or are just interested in learning about such things? Go to Malware Removal University. And quit calling me about it. (kidding).