We need austerity. We can’t afford our Oligarchs any more.

Hawaiian slack-key guitarist Makana didn’t exactly put his life on the line when he sang his protest song, “We are the Many,” to President Obama and other leaders at the Asian-Pacific Economic Conference dinner. But he did pull off a gutsy, well-meaning public relations coup on behalf of the global Occupy movement.

There is a lot of discussion these days about ‘buying local’. There is even a national organization with chapters which promotes it (along with a lot of other local initiatives) Local Economies . American Express just sponsored, for the second year, a national event called “Small Business Saturday” to encourage people to buy with small businesses (not only local; and as an incentive, they offered a credit off the customer’s bill for buying at a small business).

But, when it comes time for us, as consumers, to actually find local businesses, it might not be so easy.

I have been following my local occupy for several weeks now and I attended my first GA last night. I don’t agree with every idea I’ve heard but I have heard some good ones. I have come to respect those that are constantly in attendance and admire their perseverance. Given time, some of the ideas expressed could become ongoing worthwhile actions.

Hope you enjoy Dee’s Legendary Chocolate Biscuit Cake. Wanted to get you started on your holiday baking – for the greater good.

Donald Duck and Chip ‘n’ Dale — Toy Tinkers. This Oscar-nominated Walt Disney cartoon was released on December 16, 1949.

I guess my first question is “When did Jesus speak Latin?” But it really goes far beyond that. It goes to the heart of the various interpretations and various bibles that are extant in the world today. It is the very problem I have with folks who look to any bible as the literal word of God (and Jesus). I am asked to believe that people writing hundreds and thousands of years after the fact or are using translations of translations (ancient Hebrew to Aramaic to Greek to Latin) can accurately convey the meanings of words said or written over two thousand years ago.

Occupy LA has received their official, “Time To Go” notice from the city for midnight Monday morning, and many people, including the cops, the mayor, and the majority of Occupiers hope that whatever goes down doesn’t involve nasty gas, truncheons and/or rubber bullets.

Shorter Megan McArdle.

Actually Matt Miller was ostensibly writing in the Washington Post about the “decadence of the Western governing class,” but he was inadvertently telling readers much more about the failure of people who pass for intellectuals in public debate.