We live in a fallen universe. We can at least be kind to one another and not jump on one another’s slightest errors or moods. In a desperate situation, pick your battles. — Jonathan Lethem Read more →
Author Archive: Paul Epps
Twitter: 2010-11-13
RT @AnnCoulter: My new invention: Men's underwear that makes your organ look huge in one of those new airport scanners. # Fun Fact: Spell check changes "eMetrics" to "emetics." # Read more →
The Rising Burden of Government Debt
Our analysis paints a sobering picture of worsening public debt dynamics and a sharply rising debt burden in advanced economies (AEs). But perhaps the worst is yet to come. First, AEs as a group are experiencing little population growth. Second, they are facing rapidly aging populations. Third, their economies are likely to register slow growth . . . Fourth, entitlement spending on health care and pensions is likely to explode due to unfavorable demographics. — The Rising Burden of Government Debt – Brookings Institution Read more →
EppsNet Restaurant Review: El Cholo (Irvine)
Last night El Cholo was offering a special entree: Santa Barbara Enchiladas — shrimp, chicken, mushrooms and jack cheese. ¡Muy bueno! Again, that’s not on the regular menu but for a recommendation this is, you cannot go wrong with my favorite dish, the Sonora Style Enchilada. And a margarita! ¡Olé! Read more →
Happy Veterans Day
My dad was a Naval Academy grad who served in World War II. My brother retired after 20+ years in the Air Force. Our family is not piggybacking on others when it comes to service to America. So why do I not get the day off? Read more →
Bad Dog
Hope and Change
I well remember the last time the Republicans rode into town to get our fiscal house in order and curb the growth of government. That was in 1994. Twelve years later, when our Republican heroes were themselves ridden out of town, they still hadn’t managed to eliminate the goddamned National Endowment for the Arts. — Steven Landsburg Landsburg offers a few bits of advice to the newcomers. Maybe things will be different this time . . . Read more →
The Final Belief
The final belief is to believe in a fiction, which you know to be a fiction, there being nothing else. The exquisite truth is to know that it is a fiction and that you believe in it willingly. — Wallace Stevens Read more →
Twitter: 2010-11-05
Sometimes homelessness is life's way of saying you need to lose some weight. # RT @pattonoswalt: Sit-ups! Make 'em a habit! #tweetyour16yearoldself # Read more →
Sparky Anderson, 1934-2010
I was a Reds fan as a kid when Sparky was the manager. He’s in the front row center in this photo, wearing a white t-shirt, as a USC batboy in 1948. R.I.P. Sparky. Read more →
Twitter: 2010-11-04
RT @fakerahmemanuel: Got a text from @speakerpelosi. She said she hasn't been fucked from this many angles since her freshman yr at Trinity. # Read more →
Election 2010 Summary
President Obama, I think the American people had a clear message: Get away from the car, you idiot. Now make yourself useful and fetch us some Slurpees. — Frank J. Fleming Read more →
A Chance, Not an Embrace
We make a great mistake if we believe that tonight these results are somehow an embrace of the Republican party. What they are is a second chance, a second chance for Republicans to be what they said they were going to be not so long ago. — Marco Rubio Read more →
Twitter: 2010-11-02
RT @OnSluts: Monday Affirmation: I made it through Halloween without losing my teeth or my self respect. Well, kind of. # Read more →
No Moss
The biggest lesson I’ve learned watching my kid play on sports teams over the years is that talent has a physical component and a mental component, and the mental component is far more important. Players who are physically talented can actually make a team worse if they don’t have their head in the game and they’re just doing their own thing out there. I thought of this as I was reading that the Vikings just cut Randy Moss . . . Read more →
Maurice Lucas, 1952-2010
PORTLAND, Ore. — Maurice Lucas, the fierce power forward known as “The Enforcer” who helped lead the Portland Trail Blazers to the 1977 NBA title, has died after a long fight with bladder cancer. He was 58. — ESPN I enjoyed watching this guy play. Did you know that former Blazer teammate Bill Walton named his son Luke after Lucas? Read more →
I’ll Be Leaving
At least half of your mind is always thinking, I’ll be leaving; this won’t last. It’s a good Buddhist attitude. It prepares you for life as a Buddhist. If I were a Buddhist, this would be a great help. As it is, I’m just sad. — Anne Carson Read more →
Penis.com
My wife got some promotional pens delivered to the house today from pens.com. Did you ever notice how pens.com looks a lot like penis.com? I wonder if anyone owns the penis.com domain name? Hang on a sec . . . OK, penis.com is taken — but penis.edu is still available! University of Penis! Read more →
Fixing the Automotive Analogy
You have a car stuck in a ditch, so you call the mechanic, but the only tool he brings with him is a sledgehammer. And then he smashes your car to pieces and charges you $100,000 for his service. Finally, he calls you racist for complaining. — Frank J. Fleming Read more →
Twitter: 2010-10-31
RT @theharryshearer: Is problem with modern politics not enough performance art–or too much? # Read more →