Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio. Subsistence increases only in an arithmetical ratio. — Thomas Malthus, 1798

How many of us are there? How many of THEM? The results of the 2024 census will be released today but the census doesn’t do a very good job of counting hedge fund managers, housing bubble billionaires, or people who own impressionist paintings that are worth more than most of us make in a lifetime. Those are the people who can be expected to hide behind the closed door of their shabby inner city tenement and quietly wait for the census taker to depart. The down side of their reluctance to respond to the census is that they will be terribly under-represented in the House of Representatives. The census numbers drive reapportionment, and the quietly oppressed billionaires among us, afraid to show themselves lest they be deported to the Caymans, will again be under-counted.

The first numbers released today will be the important Fox News Market Penetration data. These numbers have already been rushed to the News Corp Oyster Bay enclave on Long Island. The News Corp marketeers will spend the next few months analyzing the data before selling houses and hotels and moving their most important media properties to Boardwalk and Park Place. News Corp, dedicated to getting their message to the wall mounted plasma screens of the super-rich, will have two years to coax “the shy majority” to the polls. If the fair and balanced journalists prevail, perhaps we will see the promise of democracy fulfilled before the next decennial headcount.

I’ll catch the content of Stewart and Colbert’s performance on the tube. Meanwhile, I found it odd that so many people brought their dogs but none brought their kitties. Geraldo Rivera suggests that this represents a lack of diversity in the sanity movement.

Rivera’s contention is absurd. There was enormous canine diversity, inclusive of even this little fellow, dressed seasonally in his shark suit.

Diversity? Heck, there were even Ninja Turtles representing…

… and a certain black, tri-colored Aussie. Molly, does your mom know where you are tonight?

It had kind of a Woodstock vibe… except the music, well the music was good, but… well, okay. It didn’t have that kind of Woodstock vibe. But it was meaningful as all get out.

It’s gonna be an interesting day in Washington, and if it gets too cold or something there’s always the Elvis exhibit at the Newseum.
* * *
Seeking meaning today? Read this column by Saul Friedman on the Health Insurance industry sparring with the states’ insurance commissioners vis a vis the Affordable Care Act.

A better metaphor for group dynamics, a less contentious, more inclusive, and yes, sexier model is evoked by the phrase “into the pudding.” You see, we can all be in the pudding together, and if you should choose not to join us in the pudding, well then, that’s your trip. Rumors abound that the reflecting pool on the National Mall will be filled with chocolate pudding for the Rally to Restore Sanity. It’s likely that Olivia Munn herself will be on-hand to take the first leap into the pudding. I’ll be there, reporting live!

(A hat tip to Colin Pringle for his deep background research on being either in the pudding or on the bus.)

In the last 7 days Origami Bank has folded.

Sumo Bank has gone belly up.

Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches.

Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song, while, today, shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived.

Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks.

Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black.

Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal. . .

vid via OneGoodMove

And for a refreshing change of pace… Bracha L. Ettinger, Israeli-French psychoanalyst, painter, artist and feminist theorist, discussing her paintings, notebooks and work on the matrixial borderspace, trans-subjectivity, co-poiesis and trauma.

[tags]phoebe legere, bracha ettinger, sarah palin, cindy mccain, orpheus and eurydice[/tags]

quote by: John McCain
tombstone created with: http://www.tombstonebuilder.com
poster created with: http://diy.despair.com/motivator.html
mashup by: RageBoy

British Reportage…
From “The Daily Mash”

DEMOCRATIC candidate Barak Obama last night claimed he was quoted out of context after describing Governor Sarah Palin as a ‘creationist psycho bitch’.

He dismissed the ‘phoney outrage’ of the Republican camp, insisting the remark was not intended to do anything other than draw attention to Governor Palin’s insane beliefs and ugly, bitch-like qualities.

Senator Obama said: “I was simply implying what a stupid, horrible, terrifying freak she is. I can’t help it if people decide to take that literally.

“I was using a metaphor to make the important point that if you want another four years of psychotic, blood thirsty creationists who love sucking the oil industry’s big fat cock, then vote for my opponents.”

He added: “I did then go on to say that if Jesus came down from heaven and told me I would have to fuck either Sarah Palin or a pig, you’d have to drag me off the pig.

“Now that doesn’t mean I’m comparing Governor Palin to a pig. What I am saying is that if it’s a straight choice between Governor Palin and a pig, I’m fucking the pig.

“If I then went on to say that I’d rather fuck a dead pig than Governor Palin, that should not be construed in any way as a personal attack.”

Senator Obama refused to apologise to the Governor, insisting it would take too long to translate the words into her ‘retarded hillbilly language’.

And, finally…. Sarah Palin’s daughter shares make-up tips.