Dark and Stormy

There's quite the storm going on outside, and it provides quite the fitting background for this post. I have a few not so pleasant news items to highlight:

First of all, China's finally gone and floated their currency. That means that their currency is now making significant gains against the dollar (up to 0.3% per day, so far). Oil instantly got 2.1% cheaper for the Chinese, since oil is priced on a dollar standard and Chinese currency was previously undervalued. The effect on our economy isn't as instantaneous, but it will be fairly significant.

In a move that is, of course, entirely unrelated, Japan has raised tariffs on the US in an effort to get us to repeal a controversial anti-dumping law.

The king of Saudi Arabia is dead (long live the king). Fortunately, it looks like any explosive situations have been avoided for now. Personally, I don't think it's a question of whether Saudi Arabia will blow up so much as how much and when. And with rumors of Al Qaeda attacks in Saudi Arabia... well, Bin Laden poses more of an immediate threat to the Saudi royalists than he does to the US, and he's stated that one of his objectives is to drive the price of oil up to $100 a barrel. You connect the dots...

And Bush has appointed John "there is no UN" Bolton as ambassador to the UN, using a recess appointment to bypass the need for Senate approval. To quote Bolton, "There is no such thing as the United Nations. There is an international community that occasionally can be led by the only real power left in the world and that is the United States when it suits our interest and we can get others to go along." Another quote: "If the U.N. secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference." Now, the UN is in pretty sorry shape, but a hostile takeover or annihilation is not going to improve the situation. Even for the Shrub this is uncharacteristically undiplomatic, and that's saying something. (Seriously, what's he going to do for his next act? Revive Hitler and appoint him ambassador to Israel?)

But, of course, not all is bad in the world, and things are pretty good on the home front. That's all for now, but I'll have a post with some happier news tomorrow.

Edit: One more link, this one about the upcoming elections in '06 and '08. *worries*

Now With 50% Less Doom

Life is good. The weather has been pleasant (very sunny, for the most part, with the exception of last night's storm). I had the chance to meet Maya (blackmoonlight), Patti's friend, in person yesterday. Work has been quite interesting lately. My Linux-fu continues to gradually improve.

Now to share some bits of the news that aren't so depressing:

First, the IRA has ordered a ceasefire, hopefully putting an end to decades of pointless terrorism.

Second, some of the provisions of the Patriot Act have been found unconstitutional by a federal judge.

Third, the second district special election in Ohio. This district is usually solidly (~70%) Republican, but the GOP candidate seems to have barely squeaked by with only 52% of the vote. It's still a loss, but perhaps this is a good sign for 2006.

Also, some non-news links:

First, I want to go to this store.

Second, another good reason to take the stairs. :-P