I'm tuning out the budget crisis for the remainder of the evening. On to Breaking Bad, Big Brother and the Next Food Network Challenge.

For those of you following other events in the world, and believe it or not, there are some, here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

"You gets no bread with your one meatball."

This song has been around at least since the depression. Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters and Josh White sang it during WWII. I really like the versions by Baby Jane Dexter and Ann Rabson, but I couldn't find videos of them. Here's the lyrics: [More...]

Boehner's bill is already dead in the Senate.

What else is going on in the world besides the economic picture? This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

More of the same with budget talks. Votes delayed.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn accuser's lawyer is still in desperation mode, holding press conferences, trying to save the case. I'm more convinced than ever the DA has already decided to drop the charges.... otherwise someone would have muzzled this accuser and her lawyer. It's the most inexcusable, unacceptable behavior by a lawyer and client (who is a prospective witness and not a party) in a pending criminal case I've seen yet. We can expect the filing of the accuser's civil lawsuit shortly. But of course, this was never about money.

More interesting: Roy Black on why those accused of rape need more legal protections, including not having their names dragged through the mud while the accuser retains anonymity.

New season of Project Runway starts tonight, and it's eviction night on Big Brother.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Bob Bradley Fired.

Geithner soon, I hope.

Boehner does not have the votes yet. If he is having problems now, how is he going to survive a compromise bill? Tea Party won't take yes for an answer. If nothing passes today, I think the markets take a big hit tomorrow.

Open Thread.

Once the country is saved from debt ceiling kabuki, what happens to the economy? New jobless claims are down this week:

First-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, dropping below the important 400,000 level for the first time since April, according to a government report on Thursday. Jobless claims dropped 24,000, to a seasonally adjusted 398,000, the Labor Department said. [. . .] The prior week’s figure was revised to 422,000 from 418,000.

But this is a stalled economy which has not been creating jobs in a meaningful way:

The government is expected to report on Friday that the economy grew at a 1.8 percent annual rate, according to a Reuters survey, after a tepid 1.9 percent pace in the first three months of the year. On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve said growth had slowed in much of the country in June and early July.

And there is no reason to expect improvement. After the President enjoys the debt ceiling fight's result - while he is not trusted on the debt ceiling, the GOP is even less trusted - will he realize that no one is going to give a crap about that next November?

Open Thread.

Busy day again for me. Here's an open thread for you, all topics welcome.

Ironic quote of the day from David Brooks:

[T]he president lost his cool. Obama never should have gone in front of the cameras just minutes after the talks faltered Friday evening. His appearance was suffused with that “I’m the only mature person in Washington” condescension that drives everybody else crazy.

Coming from Brooks, that's rich.

Open Thread.

Colorado gets its first IKEA store Wednesday, and people began lining up at 9 am this morning. They will camp outside to be one of the first 38 people in line to get a $399 sofa free. Why 38? It's the 38th IKEA store in the U.S. The next hundred get an armchair.

The 415,000 square foot Swedish home furnishing store is south of Denver, in Centennial. The public is told to expect traffic delays on I-25 near the store for days after opening. 40,000 people a day are expected to visit the store during opening weekend.

Is this an amusement park or a store? Apparently, both. The best bargain may be the 99 cent breakfast of bacon and eggs, served every day.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Open Thread.

Amy Winehouse Is dead. RIP.

Cadel Evans has won the Tour de France.

Open Thread.

Krugman:

There’s an old quotation, attributed to various people, that always comes to mind when I look at public policy: “You do not know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed.” Now that lack of wisdom is on full display, as policy elites on both sides of the Atlantic bungle the response to economic trauma, ignoring all the lessons of history. And the Lesser Depression goes on.

Ain't that the truth.

Open Thread.