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Japan unveiled the world’s fastest supercomputer, 8.2 quadrillion calculations/second (8.2 Petaflops). Of course, with that much power, they’ll design reactors to withstand Tsunami’s instead of just building ’em on higher ground. Nikkei rallied 3.5%, hoping the new computer can solve the problems of 200% debt/GDP, deflation and swarms of ageing baby boomers soon to need diapers. The Reds suffer from Petaflop envy, th

Rarely does a brilliant inventor perfect his own idea. Greeks invented democracy, but of course we perfected it (just ask any American). Genghis Kahn invented Eurasian repression, Russians transformed into an industrial-sized work of art. Case in point, Khodorkovsky, once the richest oligarch, snuck a note from jail, warned Russia needs $200/barrel oil to make ends meet. Putin’s not the only corrupt dictator to need

A peaceful transfer of power is Govt’s most noble moment. The higher a nation sets the bar for incumbents, the better. And frequent political revolutions are way better than infrequent ones. Of course, both kinds are going on now, each a cause for celebration. Coelho just ousted Socrates in Portugal. This followed recent revolutions in the UK, Ireland, Greece, and Belgium (still leaderless). Sarkozy seems sure to fal

Who the hell drank the last Red Bull? Seriously. Just a few weeks ago the glass overfloweth, and in no time, the damn thing looks half full? Some growl it’s empty? But let’s be honest, that’s what makes this game so much fun. Moody’s put the US on watch for a downgrade, “Heightened polarization over the debt limit has increased the odds of a short-lived default.” Then they put Bank of America, Citigroup and Wells Far

It ain’t easy being on the run. The more power you got, the bigger your name, the harder it is. Medvedev dropped his favorite customer, Gaddafi, “Lost his legitimacy to govern.” And of course, the only thing Ruskies love more than selling weapons to old dictators, is selling weapons to new dic…well, let’s hope for somethin’ better. So with that parting bear hug, Muammar’s finished. The madman slithered from hospital

Oh what fascinating creatures we are. Glorious. Pathetic. Noble. Base. Good. Bad. And of course, we’re weak, small, and have precious little time to learn so many complex things. Is it any wonder we’re confused, forever questioning why we do the things we do? The Terminator, Man’s strongest man, fell to his knees – conquered by Man’s fiercest enemy: thyself. Naturally, some version of this inner battle raged in

What a miracle. The basket nearly empty, the multitude many. But when they counted the dough, there appeared aplenty. USDA forecast corn stockpiles to multiply from 730mm bushels to 900mm (exports drop to 9yr lows). Wheat and soybean inventories expanded too. Oil & gas in storage surged (US fuel use fell to Jun ’09 low). Coal appeared (South Africa shipments to Asia -17%). Iron too (Chinese imports -4.4% from Apr

Obama had a helluva wk, Osama too. World wasn’t big enough for 2 names like that. The bad fella burned some garbage, slipped into pajamas, and with no phone, no internet, no cable, he picked up a jihadist comic book to read himself to sleep – f4#k their cartoons are boring. The good guy played a round of golf, rushed to watch the reality show he’d produced. Brilliant subject, cast, and crew. Swept up real good

Mara woke me at 3am. Wanted to share an intimate moment. We snuck downstairs, flipped on CNN. Two lovely souls exchanged wedding vows. And we, along with 1,000,000,000 tiny creatures across our shrinking globe, shared in that wonderful human ritual. The dress, train, veil, limousine, palace, abbey, military uniform, medals – all intended to help us imagine our little lives are bigger, and connected. We submit to the

What busy bodies we are. Just can’t help ourselves. Oh well, we’re Human. The British sent advisors to Libya, guess yelling orders at Mach 2 got old. And while the rebels don’t speak great English, they surely picked up some slang while fighting us in Iraq. The EU Parliament (whoever they are) intervened, rejecting Sarkozy and Merkel’s attempt to dilute rules that impose fines on deficit-running nations. Of course, E