*What makes Clints day. Theres a new coffee-table book out on Clint Eastwoods film career, from the 1959 western Rawhide to his most recent directorial duties on Invictus. The book includes 325 photographs and movie stills and some wonderful quotes, such as this one from the time he had the romantic lead in The Bridges of Madison County. Said Clint, This romantic stuff is really tough. I cant wait to get back to shooting and killing.
*Stock tips from a bankrupt ball player? Former Phillies baseball great Lenny Dykstra has hit a tough patch, financially speaking. He declared bankruptcy last year, lost his multi-million-dollar home to foreclosure and even auctioned off his World Series ring. So whats he doing to stage a comeback? Selling investment advice. For $999, you get three weekly forecasts, a monthly conference call and a signed baseball. No thanks. I can think of lots of better ways to spend my money.
*An intellectually dishonest economist. New York Times columnist and former Enron advisor Paul Krugman penned yet another article last week in which he lambasted Republican opposition to government giveaways. He quotes Senator Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) as saying that unemployment relief doesnt create new jobs. In fact, if anything, continuing to pay people unemployment compensation is a disincentive for them to seek new work. Krugman scoffs that To me, thats a bizarre point of viewbut then, I dont live in Mr. Kyls universe. Ah, but he used to. In a textbook he wrote called Macroeconomics, Krugman said, In other countries, particularly in Europe, [unemployment] benefits are more generous and last longer. The drawback to this generosity is that it reduces a workers incentive to quickly find a new job. Seems Krugman isnt an economist anymore; hes an apologist for Big Government.
Chip Wood