Notes on a napkin... quick takes on the world this week...

Last week Javon Belcher of the Kansas City Chiefs shot his girl friend and then himself... Sportscaster Bob Costas stated a fact on air, when he said that without a gun, Belcher could not have done this... he was immediately pilloried by people that did not hear what he said... here's a great article on the controversy... Vin Scully, longtime, in fact almost eternal, voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, turned 85 last week.  Guess what, he loves the television show Homeland, as evidenced by his new Twitter obsession... President Obama called for 1.6 trillion in new tax revenue and Speaker Boehnor called for 800 billion in new tax revenue in their negotiations to avoid the "fiscal cliff."  As a Vegas guy, I think they will settle somewhere around 1.2 trillion, the number predicted before all the posturing began... I find it odd that Democrats love states rights when they agree with them... think gay marriage, but less so when they disagree, think abortion.  And yes, this can easily go the other way too.  The GOP hates a strong federal government when they agree with it... think DOMA, but less so when they disagree, think Obamacare... interesting isn't it? Jon Stewart nailed it when he took on the annual "War on Christmas."  As Christmas sales seemingly have extended into summer and Black Friday now begins on Thursday, aren't we really in a war on Thanksgiving and Halloween? Finally, here's a great stat I came across preparing for a class I was teaching... as we cram down thousands of extra, useless, obesity inducing calories, consider this... there is enough food produced in the world today for every man woman and child to receive a daily portion of 2500 calories...