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Third-world shopping in the US

It wasn’t that long ago that Americans travelled to third world countries to shop for cheap handicrafts and other products. Now, the New York Times reports that a flood of Mexicans are crossing the border, but now north to the US to pick up cheap products.

Are we becoming the new third-world for rich foreigners? More than 70 percent of the visitors crossing from Mexico into Arizona report that shopping is the primary reason for their visit, despite long lines at the crossing.

The Mexican tourists spend almost $1 billion in Arizona alone, three times as much as Arizona residents spend during visits to Mexico. This has become so important to the Arizona economy that even hotels are getting into the holiday spirit, providing large trash bags to guests so they can discard the product packaging to avoid paying high duties on new products when they go back home to Mexico.

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Bye Bye Bush!

Matt Wuerker
© Matt Wuerker

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Late Night Political Humor

“Bernie Madoff has been charged with swindling people out of $50 billion. I don’t want to say he’s unpopular, but today as he was walking in New York, he passed a manger scene and Joseph threw a sandal at him.” -Jay Leno

“You folks around the country probably know this, but here in New York City it’s freezing cold. It’s so cold today that that Bernie Madoff is actually looking forward to burning in hell.” -David Letterman

“It’s so cold today President Bush was ducking ski boots.” -David Letterman

“In a recent interview, President Bush says that he’s already begun thinking about his farewell speech. Yeah, which means he’s only two years behind most Americans.” -Conan O’Brien

“Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he will not fill Barack Obama’s seat any time soon. He says he’s going to wait until next summer when prices improve.” -Jay Leno

“According to the Wall Street Journal, this is interesting, many of the people Barack Obama has appointed to his cabinet are excellent basketball players. Except for Hillary Clinton, who prefers lacrosse or field hockey.” -Conan O’Brien

“In a new interview, Barack Obama says he plans on having a lot of jazz and classical music at the White House. After hearing this, President Bush said, ‘I’d better go break the bad news to the Wiggles.'” -Conan O’Brien

“Today is the second day of Hanukkah. John McCain made an appearance with Joe the Rabbi.” -David Letterman

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The modern story of Christmas

Matt Bors
© Matt Bors

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Who will thank Bush?

Ruben Bolling
© Ruben Bolling

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A Christmas Crisis Carol

T’was the Time of the Big Crash
by Tim Stewart

T’was the time of the Big Crash, when all through The Street,
Merry traders flogged worthless paper, growing their bonus heap.
Derivatives were shunted ‘round the world without care,
Knowing St. Greenspan soon would proclaim, “No bubble there!”

Over-leveraged homeowners were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of ever-inflating values danced in their heads.
And my trophy-wife in her designer lingerie, and I in my official logo cap,
Had just flipped on the 100-inch plasma and settled into the Jacuzzi, unable to nap.

When out in the free markets there arose such a clatter,
Paulson had to pull his head out of the Wall Street Journal to see what was the matter.
Away to Goldman Sachs he flew like a flash,
Tore open the jewel-embossed shutters and quickly hid the stash.

The rose-coloured lenses, once discarded they flew,
Then stocks began tanking, as the pyramid schemes blew.
When, what to our wondering eyes should appear,
But a 700 billion dollar bailout, and eighty fat-cat bankers hands outstretched so dear.

With an old boy as the driver, so two-faced and slick,
I knew in a moment it must be a trick.
More rapid than eagles the free traders they came,
And Paulson whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Goldman! Now, Merrill! Now, AIG and Bear Stearns!
Sorry, Lehman. On, Citicorp! On Morgan and Stanley!
To the top of the Federal Reserve Bank! To the top of the Street’s Wall!
Take the taxpayer’s money and dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

After impelling so many to amass debts sky high,
When they meet with an obstacle, they are ‘too big’ to die.
So back to the Congress the noble free-market men they flew,
With private jets full of toys, some for each member too.

Amid all the back scratching, Congressmen heard on the helipad roof,
The soft leather pawing of each well-heeled hoof.
As one jotted on a napkin the formula for ole trickle down,
Up the nation’s chimneys all wealth was sucked, with hardly a sound.

Investment bankers strutted dressed all in fur, from their head to their foot,
No clothes not custom-made on their skin could be put.
Bundled sub-prime mortgages they flung ‘round with Triple A matter-of-fact,
And they sounded like gamblers, just playing a game of black jack.

The Decider’s eyes—how they twinkled! His smirk how scary!
His ideals were like deadweight, his mind muddled and airy!
His fake Texas drawl sputtered out rather slow,
And the colour of his face turned as white as the snow.

He was stumped by events so gritted his teeth,
While the smoke from the Big Crash encircled his head like a wreath.
He had more lines on his face, and dreaded the sound of the closing bell,
But shrugged and laughed it all off, ‘truly sorry’ for this hell.

He was chummy with plump billionaires, around them a right jolly old elf,
The people cringed when they saw him, and resented his stealth!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave us to know we had much more to dread.

He spoke not a word, about all of his dirty work,
When people threw shoes and stockings, he ducked and he jerked.
And shooting the finger at the press conference close,
Into history he tumbled, smelling more like Herbert Hoover than a rose.

He sprang from the White House, to his team gave several loud whistles,
And away to the Crawford ranch they all flew to play golf and clear thistles.
But we heard him exclaim, as he flew out of sight,
“Happy Big Crash to all, and to Obama good luck, yer sure gonna need a might!”

(With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore. Tim Stewart is an associate professor at the Kyoto University Institute for the Promotion of Excellence in Higher Education.)

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Seeing the light

Tony Auth
© Tony Auth

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Late Night Political Humor

“I tell you, the economy’s rough. People are standing behind President Bush just to get the free shoes.” -Jay Leno

“And the big financial story, Bernard Madoff, the man they call the most hated man in New York, as you know, has been arrested after confessing to running this Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors out of $50 billion. That’s almost hard to believe. But the good news, today he was named A.I.G.’s man of the year.” -Jay Leno

“It was so cold in Chicago, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was trying to sell Senate seat warmers.” -Jay Leno

“And it snowed in Malibu. That is unbelievable, isn’t it? Yeah. Five inches of snow in Malibu, where people aren’t used to snow. They were trying to snort it. They didn’t understand. The roads were closed in Malibu. In fact, there was so much snow, a lot of celebrities couldn’t get to the global warming conference.” -Jay Leno

“This week President Bush hosted the annual White House Hanukkah party. Yeah, there was an awkward moment when Bush made a wish and blew out all eight candles.” -Conan O’Brien

“President Bush is hosting a lunch next month with President-elect Obama and all the former presidents. Isn’t that cool? Yeah. Bush said, ‘I invited all 43 guys, but only four responded.’ He doesn’t know what happened.” -Conan O’Brien

“Now here’s something historical. In January, all five living presidents are scheduled to have lunch together. Clinton suggested the VIP room at Hooters.” -David Letterman

“Gay leaders are furious at Barack Obama because he picked an anti-gay minister to deliver a prayer during the inauguration ceremony. Yeah. Gay leaders are also furious at Obama because the tie he’s planning to wear is all wrong.” -Conan O’Brien

Time magazine has selected their person of the year. Guess what, it’s President-elect Barack Obama. Yeah, ironically, Ebony magazine announced their person of the year, and it’s Ed Begley Jr.” -Conan O’Brien

“According to a new survey that just came out, the most admired profession is doctor. Doctor is the most admired profession. Yeah. The least admired profession? Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s barber.” -Conan O’Brien

“The nice thing about the holidays is the holiday spirit. Let me give you an example of how the holiday spirit affects people. You know that guy that threw the shoes at President Bush? Well, today, he was throwing fruit cakes.” -David Letterman

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How would you like $2.6 Million for being a failure?

An in-depth study of government records by the Associated Press shows that the banks that are receiving government bailouts paid their top executives nearly $1.6 billion in salaries, bonuses, and other benefits last year. The average amount paid to each of the banks’ top executives was $2.6 million — not bad for someone whose business was so bad they had to beg for government money — but some were even worse. Lloyd Blankfein (CEO of Goldman Sachs) took home nearly $54 million last year.

Who needs welfare — all you need to do is get a job as a bank CEO.

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Gambling v. Voting

How to Steal an Election

If this is any indication, we care more about our vices than our rights.

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In Your Face(book)

Jon FavreauJon Favreau, Obama’s chief speechwriter during the campaign, has gotten himself into trouble because of some photos that appeared on his Facebook page, showing him at a recent party playing with a life-sized cardboard cutout of Hillary Clinton (he’s the guy on the left in the photo, feeling up the statue). Another photo showed him dancing with the cutout.

An apology was offered to Clinton, and the offending photos were removed, but the best part is the response from Clinton aide Philippe Reines:

Sen. Clinton is pleased to learn of Jon’s obvious interest in the State Department, and is currently reviewing his application.

Touché!

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Locking the barn door

Tom Toles
© Tom Toles

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Will you miss him?

Steve Kelley
© Steve Kelley

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Homophobes are just Jealous

Homophobes Just Jealous of “Fabulous” Gay Weddings

It is obvious that many people who oppose same sex marriage are simply afraid they won’t be invited to any of the fabulous weddings that will transpire. Just admit it; everyone knows that once same sex marriage becomes legal, no one will be want to be bothered with attending heterosexual weddings ever again, and can you blame them?

Just think of it, no more simpleton bland boxes to check on Wall Mart-designed invitations for choices of only chicken or fish eaten at a hotel or church, with only wine or champagne, man and wife, or only Rabbi or Priest, while drunkenly dancing the Macarena to George Michael and Wham.

Writer Fran Lebowitz once said, “If you removed all of the homosexuals and homosexual influence from what is generally regarded as American culture, you would pretty much be left with “Let’s Make a Deal.”

With a new mainstream civil-minded culture of gay weddings, there will be an untold fortitude of taste and class including fashionable hip attire, even for bridesmaids, grooms-maid’s, brides-men, brides-brides and grooms-groom’s. I apologize if I left anyone out. Have your people call my people.

There will also be a moratorium of no more ugly pyramids of people stuffed into tight clothing with bouffant hairdos posing for pictures, except for the rare drag queen who will finally be allowed to attend the ball for the first time in his/her life.

Instead there will be glamorous black and white photos harkening back to 1930’s film stills, Fred Astaire stylish top hats and tails and brides who may look a tad traditionally different, but with hairstyles no one will suffer from PTSD a decade from now.

There will also be a sudden recession and consequent depression when wedding planners, caterers, wedding dress designers and florists will suddenly become unavailable as they will be planning long awaited weddings for their friends, leaving the “straight” couples to fend for themselves.

But that’s okay folks, because we know from reading best sellers like the Bible and from pamphlets from the Mormons who come to our doors on Saturday mid-mornings that same-sex marriage is a sin anyway; therefore; if one were to think un-hypocritically and intelligently, losing out on sinful wedding assistants won’t be a sin in anyone’s great book after all.

On the ugliness of people who fear gay rights and blatant homophobia, John Stewart aptly observed, “Why can’t they have gay people in the army? Personally, I think they are just afraid of a thousand guys with M16’s going, “Who’d you call a faggot?”

The f- word is ugly, and the gay haters are even uglier and probably jealous too that they don’t have great taste, make less money overall than the non-straight’s, and simply not as creative or stylish.

Just think of the floral centerpieces alone that will come into vogue. No more blah angels-breath baby bouquets with three roses in only three colors and a monogrammed ribbon to fight over.

No more hideous matching brightly-colored polyester-stuffed bridesmaid dresses blinding our eyeballs just to make the bride look thinner in comparison because she is wearing white.

No more aging D.J.’s to get all of the aunts and grandparents from Miami and New York and The Los Angeles Valley to dance to the Village People’s YMCA, because the Village people will finally be allowed to get married, and in high style at that.

Let’s face it, once gay weddings become mainstream; the dinner courses and the decorations alone will be more than any straight person could dream of. Just stop the lying already. I can’t take it, someone bring me my smelling salts, or at least some happy juice, as the old ladies used to call Merlot in my old neighborhood.

I know those who say they are against same sex marriage claim religious and moral high grounds but why not instead look at the issue from a different self-righteous point of view that may serve their own selfish needs even better in the long run?

Hey . . . I just had a genius, light-bulb momentous evangelical-like awesome idea! Hail Jesus! And Mary too! And Pat Robertson while I’m at it!

If you begin to turn your anger, hatred and ignorance into become a more understanding, inclusive, and less bigoted person beginning right now; perhaps some members of the homosexual community may still have it in their big hearts, talent and wallets to forgive you, and help in your children’s and grandchildren’s weddings after all.

You know it’s just a matter of time until “those people” will be able to legally wed anyway at some point this decade under Obama’s influence, so why not get on their good side now so that you can have some tasteful wedding-album-ready wedding receptions, and also be invited to some of the best parties known to man, and thrown by men.

This reminds me of a classic Woody Allen quote about human sexuality when he said, “Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.”

Not such a bad thought after all, Woody. And don’t forget about the parties. God knows, we can all use more of those.

Submitted by Francesca Biller-Safran. Also published in Huffington Post.

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The Christmas Poop

Catalonia, Spain has a centuries old tradition of hiding a “caganer” (pooper) — a small clay figure of a person squatting with their pants down and taking a dump — in their popular Christmas nativity scenes. We won’t try to guess the meaning of this tradition, but this year Der Spiegel reports that one of the most popular figures to be depicted this way is Bush:

Bush Caganer

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a warm poop!

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