Air America is facing financial problems, again, and might ask for donations. But National Public Radio totally has a patent on charging liberals for free stuff!

"Factor in inflation, and '09 spending likely will come in well below the level of 2001...That would be the first three-year decline since the Great Depression." [Ad Age] (Photo)

Between the bobbing and the "under-the-table propositions," this looked like possibly the most intriguing Times Thursgay Styles story ever. But it turns out to be a fairly pedestrian, non-sexual piece about outlaw stylists secretly snipping at discount "hair parties." It does feature an "interesting" hairdresser who is still charging $1,900 for a housecall. At that price he better throw in a blow dry. Multiple blow dries. The best goddamn blow dries you've ever experienced.

Reports tonight surfaced that the federal government is offering to buy tens of billions of Citigroup's worst holdings. A bailout is impossible, because Citigroup is just too big, with $3 trillion in inflated "assets" on the "books." Maybe we could nationalize Citigroup, but what about, uh, the nation of Switzerland? Its two largest banks hold about 10 times the nation's total GDP on their balance sheets, which means writedowns could require an Iceland-style bailout by other counties. Once that happens, it may only be a matter of time before the kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland declares bankruptcy.