Random Thursday
Category: Random Thursday...
Posted Thursday, July 06, 2006 at 08:56 AM [GMT-6]

This Thursday seems like a Tuesday, so we're even more random than usual. The upside is that Friday will come on Wednesday.

Warning: This post contains snarkiness.

• OK, I realize that the situation with North Korea and its whack-job dictator poses some kind of global security threat, but I can't help wondering if the right way to deal Long Gone Jong is the same way one often deals with a tantrum-throwing two-year old (no offense to two-year olds, of course): just ignore him. In my simple-minded view of the world, we've rarely been confronted with a case where Teddy Roosevelt's advice to "speak softly and carry a big stick" seem more relevant.


• Of course, we are fortunate in having the U.N. to cover our backs, and there's apparently some slight chance that that august body will actually issue a sternly worded "Resolution" rather than the more milquetoast "Statement," and that would teach North Korea a lesson it won't soon forget.


• Personally, though, the "statement" I'd like to see issued would come from the North Korean press and would read something like this:
  
  Government officials in Pyongyang reported today that the launch of the long-range missle was abruptly canceled due to "technical difficulties" that arose when it was discovered that a smoking crater had replaced the launch site. No official explanation has yet been issued due to the problems in locating sufficient body parts to assemble a military spokesman, but the source of the "problem" appears to have originated in the general vicinity of Alaska.


• Fox News's E.D. Hill is the mother of eight children and is 43 years old (according to her Wikipedia entry). She's a co-anchor on the self-proclaimed "most watched morning cable news show," Fox & Friends, and is a best-selling author (or, at least, a selling author). So I continue to be mystified why a successful conservative professional and mom continues to dress like she's showing up for a Maxim photo shoot. E.D., the operative term is "cover up, girl," not "covergirl."


• I noticed in yesterday's Wall Street Journal that drilling ships are leaving the Gulf of Mexico in droves, bound for international customers who are willing to pay more for their services. In some cases, these drilling rigs are commanding $500,000 a day, and that's for guaranteed contracts for up to two years. The report said that BP will pay TransOcean, Inc. $520,000 per day for three years to let it keep a drilling ship in the Gulf; that same rig cost $184,500 per day in 2004. Developments like this don't bode well for medium and long term natural gas prices, which have been relatively reasonable lately in comparison to crude oil prices.

In closing, please allow me to update you on the Gazette's Blogathon pledge status. As of today, and counting my personal pledge, the total number of pledges we've received is, according to my detailed computations -- let's see...carry the one...umm -- one.

Don't make me beg, because you know I will.