We didn't run any hard news this morning because there wasn't any, really. A hodge-podge of stories filled the hopper in a perfunctory, sullen kind of way, and looking them over I saw that they didn't make any sense, no matter how I tried to piece them into a coherent picture.

Large swaths of tapestry were woven from pieces of the shuttle, and the remaining threads all led to Iraq. War now seems all but inevitable: Bush declares 'game is over'.

Right now, Iraqi men, women and children are eating their breakfasts and starting their morning rituals. Within a short while, at almost any time and for no fault of their own, their skies are going to be filled with screaming missiles, their homes are going to be blasted into rubble, and hundreds, perhaps thousands of families will collect the injured, bleeding, crying survivors and the burned and blasted corpses of their dead. When that happens, they won't be thinking of Colin Powell holding up a vial of simulated Anthrax, they'll be thinking about how much they'd like to see you and me suffer the same fate. Then a new game will begin.

Not Very Impressive

You don't have to look too hard to see that our domestic picture isn't "turning around" despite all the pep talk from the Fed. The Dow closed today at just under 7,900, the Nasdaq under 1,300, which means that an important level of psychological resistance in both indicators has given way to despair. The employment numbers tell a grim story, too.

The number of companies cutting jobs has spiked since November, with AOL Time Warner, Boeing, Dow Jones, Eastman Kodak, Goodyear, J.C. Penney, McDonald's, Merrill Lynch, Sara Lee and Verizon all announcing new layoffs. Barring a sustained rise in oil prices, however, the cuts appear likely to taper off in the coming months as the economy continues its slow recovery, most forecasters say.

The bigger problem seems to be companies' unwillingness to hire new workers.

Now consider the following related story about the Case for Immigration:

Labor scarcity tends to push up labor prices over the long run. That in turn reduces demand for workers and worsens unemployment among young people. It constricts the tax base for government-sponsored pensions and raises the tax burdens on individuals and businesses.

10:39:43 PM       

There are so many choices you have to make when you're an adult, like what to wear, when to get up, and what to spend your money on. Wasn't it simpler when you were a kid living with your parents? They made all those decisions for you. Well, now you're on your own, but you can simplify life's infinite variety of challenges by picking a lifestyle. Let's look over the standard possibilities, your stock options, as it were.

Workaholic: The bottom line of societal angst is your exposure to the world. Reduce your profile by staying behind a desk. Make the occasional pit-stop home to fuel up, and grab a couple hours' sleep on holidays. Moral code: Whatever makes a profit is good, and it's OK to steal as long as you don't get caught. Pros: The money's steady. Cons: No holidays, screaming boss, exploding heart in chest.

Starving Artist: A career in professional poetry will get you focused in a hurry, because surviving on $22.50 a year keeps food and shelter front and center. Plan on using public restrooms and taking washbasin sponge baths. Moral code: Good people like your work, better ones pay you for it. Pros: You get to write sentences like "Susie Asado which is a told tray sure." Cons: See pros and "Chemist."

Cannon Fodder: Only one choice to make here, and that's Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines. They'll take it from there. The benefit package is second to none, and you'll learn important skills like potato peeling, jumping jacks, and shoe shining. Moral code: The enemy is bad. Pros: They'll clothe you, feed you, and remind you when it's time to rise 'n' shine. Cons: The enemy.

Chemist: Lot's of people go this route. The basic idea is to compress the large number of life's little hassles into one, big, easy-to-grasp problem called "getting more smack." Moral code: Friends who will share a fix with you are good. Pros: Ever seen a fat junkie? Cons: Chronic shortage of good friends.

Athlete: A career in the sexual underground may be what you're looking for. Available jobs are "top" and "bottom." You get a nifty uniform, and most groups have a monthly newsletter. Moral code: Topping from the bottom is bad. Pros: Automatic membership in a wide selection of exclusive clubs. Cons: Complicated hankie system.

Fundamentalist: Not unlike the cannon fodder deal, this option also provides someone who will tell you what to do—in minute detail. Comes with a clubhouse, rule book, and lots of supervision. Moral code: The good is spelled out in the rule book. Pros: Free rule book. Cons: Thick rule book.

Quibble Cola

Since we're talking about options, consider the Cola Warrior lifestyle. Remember Zam-Zam and Mecca Cola? Now there's a new player on the block called Qibla Cola. This is another soft drink targeted at European Muslims who like vending-machine activism. Each purchase counts as a vote against American imperialism, and 10% of Qibla's profits go toward Muslim "charities."

According to this report, Qibla is being marketed in England under the slogan "Liberate Your Taste." Here's Qibla founder Zahida Parveen"

"The Qibla brand offers a real alternative for people concerned by the practices of some major western multinationals who support causes that oppress Muslims."

"By choosing to boycott major brands, consumers are sending a powerful signal—that the exploitation of Muslims cannot continue unchecked. Qibla Cola represents the conscious choice for people who reject injustice and exploitation."

3:20:44 PM