Trouble choosing a Christmas gift?

Then check out Dave Barry's holiday gift guide. Good (bizarre) stuff.

Say it isn't so!

ESPN has Washington coach Steve Sarkisian going to USC.

Grumble, grumble, grumble.

Hat tip on the evil news: Ken Troske

Joy of slavery

WaPo columnist Dana Milbank pines for the days of involuntary servitude to the state and indirectly illustrates the problem with simplistic before-after comparisons as estimators of causal effects.

Are we really sure that nothing else has changed since the draft was ended in the early 1970s that might have brought about the changes he complains about?

Assorted links

1. Things that surprise people about the United States.

2. I am astounded that Blue Cross, Blue Shield would mock the administration, even this gently.

3. Suggests from the NYT on what to do with your sex toys when you get old.

4. The Dalai Lama on flatulence, among other things.

5. Chicago Maroon interview with columnist David Brooks.

Ohio State 42, Michigan 41

Michigan did much, much better than most anyone imagined they would do, and lost only due to a failed two-point conversion at the end of the game.

Well done, putting aside the player who got ejected, along with two Ohio players, for participating in an on-field skirmish around the end of the first quarter. One hopes that the would-be boxer from Ohio who flipped off the crowd (with both hands!) on his way out of the stadium after being ejected receives some additional sanctions from the university and/or the league and/or the NCAA. 

Washington 27, Washington State 17

Washington wins the Apple Cup and reaches its first eight-win season in more than a decade.

Excellent!

P.J. O'Rourke on baby boomers

Pretty good stuff. This was my favorite line:

There's much tut-tutting about bellicose national political deadlock. But it's an improvement on bellicose national political purpose.

There is, surprise, surprise, a new book on the same theme out next month. Buy why release a book right after the start of the new year?