Marketplace/PRI reports that Exxon made historical and record profits for any US company in a quarter, $10B, and that US people are spending more and saving even less, -0.5% overall for 2005 - the lowest level and first below-zero rate since the Great Depression (1933).  Good job, countrymen, a negative savings rate.  ING Direct (4%), Emigrant Direct (4.25%), or HSBC Bank (4.25%) people, use it.

A bit late to the game, but I think it's about time I put money into an oil index as well as my gas tank.  (FYI, not that one, I'm not a Buffet or Soros.)

Here's my random prediction about our collective American psyche: there's going to be a run on late Roman empire philosophies, journals and culture.  We are, as a coworker reminded me, not only an empire, but also one in decline.  Getting people to look beyond their tv screens and the incessent babble of naysayers is really, really tough.  Better dust off my Latin books.

Two movie names I blanked on in a conversation with another coworker: Galaxy Quest and Minority Report.

Google's got a social bookmark feature now, a la del.icio.us and y! web 2.0.  Choice paralysis or aggregation opportunity?

I find that, at this place called "work," I'm more clear on what I want to focus on when I'm not here.  I'm making lists for the weekend, here.

I'll leave you with this commentary from one our archnesmitists, Zawahiri, uncaught, unharmed by a Predator attack, and apparently quite loquacious, just so you didn't read this post in vain:
"US airplanes ... launched a raid on a village in near Peshawar after Eid al-Adha in which 18 Muslim men, women and children were killed in what they call the war against terror"

"They said this was intended to kill myself and four brothers but now the whole world has discovered their lies ..."

"Butcher of Washington, you are not only defeated and a liar, but also a failure. You are a curse on your own nation"

"Bush, do you know where I am? I am among the Muslim masses."

"My second message is to the American people, who are drowning in illusions. I tell you that Bush and his gang are shedding your blood and wasting your money in frustrated adventures"

"The lion of Islam, Sheik Osama bin Laden, may God protect him, offered you a decent exit from your dilemma. But your leaders, who are keen to accumulate wealth, insist on throwing you in battles and killing your souls in Iraq and Afghanistan and – God willing – on your own land."

"The American planes raided in compliance with Musharraf the traitor and his security apparatus, the slave of the Crusaders and the Jews."

"In seeking to kill my humble self and four of my brothers, the whole world has discovered the extent of America's lies and failures and the extent of its savagery in fighting Islam and Muslims,

"Your leaders responded to the initiative of sheik Osama, may God protect him, by saying they don't negotiate with terrorists and that they are winning the war on terror. I tell them: You liars, greedy war mongers, who is pulling out from Iraq and Afghanistan? Us or you? Whose soldiers are committing suicide because of despair? Us or you?"

"You, American mother, if the Pentagon calls to tell you that your son is coming home in a coffin, then remember George Bush. And you, British wife, if the Defence Department calls you to say that your husband is returning crippled and burnt, remember Tony Blair."
That's from Aljazeera. So're these little nuggets:
Elsewhere in the tape - reported but not aired by Aljazeera - al-Zawahiri called on Bush to convert to Islam, telling him that if he does so he will "become a brother in the faith and God will forgive you your sins". He warned Musharraf against cooperation with the Americans, threatening, "Your day of judgement is approaching".