Ogre-oids, 29 November

Escalation between North and South Korea: The latest sign that America's military build up and constant war-mongering over the last three decades is the most effective way to bring about long-term peace and good relations among the nations of the world.  North Korea, which has nuclear capability, and South Korea, supported by America, are on the brink of war, with the North already striking fatally an island near the border. America's dependence on Chinese intervention demonstrates its weakening power in an era of unrelenting belligerence.

Taliban Imposter: American military and NATO (a difference?) officials admittedly paid a six-figure salary for years to someone they thought was high in the Taliban command who turned out to be someone else, e.g. an imposter.  Just goes to show you that you don't need to have a high literacy rate to fool an enemy who does.

The Miami Heat: One month into the NBA season, the posers of dominance are 9-8, having lost four out of their last five.  Over-rated LeBron James and the overpaid Heat have the 14th best record in the NBA.  It's still early, but by now dominant teams are clearly separating themselves from the rest of the league, a la the Celtics in 2008.  From a cultural standpoint, the Heat are the latest example of an inverse ratio between hype and performance characteristic of post-Sept. 11 America.  Eight teams in the Western Conference have a better record than the Heat, and five teams in the East have a better  record.  That'd make the Heat a No. 6 seed in the playoffs.  Here's another way to think about it: one month into the season and the Heat have one loss less than the 72-9 1998 Chicago Bulls, a team with a player people recognized as great because he won, not because how great everybody said he was.

Louisville Orchestra on Verge of Bankruptcy:  Another example of how a bailout economy rigs the arts to fail.  What did the Louisville Orchestra do wrong?  Be an orchestra, that's what.  They didn't put together the Abacus investment package, the didn't pawn the euro on Europe, and their string section does not foreclose on families, the poor, or the handicapped.  They get punished for being good at music, while the banks get rewarded for sucking at finance.  What does the American mob say?  Encore!