State of the Union (Almost)

We catch the President's first speech to the joint chambers of Congress on the CNN + Facebook mashup. It's amazing how far the technology has come - people microblogging while watching live video. Someone observes that we've just seen participative democracy taken to the next level.

Barack is outstanding: on message about the challenges we face and the priorities he intends to focus on - Healthcare, Education and Energy. The Bloggers call his delivery Reagan-esque. Having never heard the Gipper speak, I can't comment but judging from the insta-polls the speech struck a chord: 67% of viewers have a favorable impression post-speech.

Apparently Bobby Jindal didn't get the memo - he blasts the President for his 'negativity' - after what was dubbed 'Morning in America II.' He might be better served by making some just-in-time edits. And that tone - Midnight informercial anyone? Pretty much everyone pans him as an unmitigated disaster - and a poster boy for the anti-intellectualism that characterizes much of the G.O.P today.

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That Sinking Feeling

Beware of geeks bearing equations. This article in Wired points out how our financial system was scuttled by an over-reliance on shiny new math - and needless to say, good ol' fashioned human greed and hubris, egged on right-wing politicians praying at the altar of infallible markets.

This would be an academic discussion if not for the real human cost that lies in the wake of the hurricane. Should we now tar-and-feather its high-priests?

The Abyss

This is how close we came to the end of our economic system last September. A sobering reminder that we must act now, triaging to keep the patient alive even in the face of uncertainty. I've heard Michael Steele and the other Republicans sing the tune of fiscal responsibility and lowered taxes - and stonewalling against Barack to score political points. That's all the ideas they have - regurgitating Ronald Reagan. Intellectually bankrupt. And on the wrong side of history.

Pu'Er Tea Mania

In the long, illustrious (not) line of bubbles stretching from Tulip-Mania, Dot-Bombs, here's some nice soothing tea.

How bad does it get?

This bad. Michael Lewis reprises his take on Wall Street in "Liar's Poker," this time turning his eye to the great crash of 2008.

GPS

Fareed Zakaria opines on the Obama victory. I think he may be right about the parallels between the circumstances that FDR and Barack find themselves in. The lazy, conventional wisdom of the post-Reagan era may not suffice if we are to pull back from the brink of economic calamity.