Yeah, that’s not a typo. LeMons. As in the “24 Hours of LeMons.”

Think you know anybody who loves cars but is crazy enough to do that? Maybe you do.

Iran says it now runs more than 5,000 centrifuges.  With 5,000 centrifuges, Iran could have enough HEU in a matter of months. Who knows if they really have 5,000 rolling right now.  And who knows how many are of the older design and the newer, but still…

Even if you assume that the machines only do about 2 SWU (separative work units)/year and that the cascade produces tails assays that are on the high side, you are looking at less than a year to come up with the 25kg of HEU that you need to make a bomb.  With 3 SWU machines its more like 3-4 months.  If you beleive what they say, they are basically there from an HEU standpoint.

So why did the administration put out the estimate that minimizes the Iran threat last year?  Have we written off the situation as unmanagable?  Why did Iran make this announcement now?  How will Obama engage Iran?  Can he keep the leash on Israel?

What does the world look like with Iran holding nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missiles?  Start getting used to the idea.  See also: National Missile Defense

Took a quickie trip out west to watch some of the final table of the WSOP and do a little poker playing. Got a killer rate at the MGM ($59/night) and had a free flight on Southwest thanks to frequent flyer miles. So the trip was cheap to start off with. Flew out there on Sunday the 9th and back on Wed the 12th. Here’s a brief trip report after the jump:

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Our Hero is Bung at the Argosy.  I’ve wrapped up a monster session at 1/3 NL and want to sit at his table for a few orbits before going home.  There is no room yet, so I’ve been standing behind him, stealing his Budweisers as the cocktail girl brings them, and peeking his cards.  This is your standard live 3/6 limit game filled with drunks, social security cashin crusty old dudes, and some backjack players just testing the waters where it’s not so smokey and you don’t have to pay to get dealt a hand most times!  It’s loose.  Please allow me to recreate the action as best I can:

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So why would the FBI be more suspicious of Chinese-born naturalized US citizens when looking for those who sold secrets to China? Racial profiling, that’s why. Because the FBI is a bunch of racists. That’s why everybody they catch is either ethnic Chinese (or engaging in carnal relations with someone who is ethnic Chinese). There are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of ethnic Irish-Catholics here in this country who are selling secrets to the Chinese, but nobody’s looking for their freckled asses. Perfect disguise, actually.

Here’s the full federal complaint. Interesting? You decide. (2MB .pdf, fyi)

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

Not a caption contest.  As our notsobeloved president winds down his time in office, I thought we might commemorate this special lame duck period with two, perhaps three contests.

$5 on PokerStars to the dumbest/funniest thing the president said in his eight years.

$10 on Stars to the funniest picture (no ’shopping plz k thx)

And if everyone wants to have some more imaginative fun we’ll do the MS Paints contest, too.

Enter as many times as you like.  I’ll continue to make up arbitrary and capricious rules as we go along.  Contest ends next Friday the 21st.

Game on!  To the internets you gogogogo!

Grownups are talking.  You should listen.

Bragging rights only, no wagering (esp. across state lines) will be permitted.

Email your date when the USA first gets downgraded from AAA rating, closest to the date (over or under) takes all.

Pool will run for one year.  You may pick “no downgrade” if you think there will be no such event through 12 November 2009.

Email your dates to me (stevo@…).  I’ll post them soon.  I have emailed my date to cipher.