Projected Federal Budget Deficits

Check out this graphic from the Washington Post that depicts the projected US budget deficit over the next ten years.

What is your first reaction to this graph? Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear your thoughts. I will post my reaction as well as some further research on the topic in the next few days.

Conflict on the Korean Peninsula

On the Korean Peninsula, the drama continues to unfold. For the second time in the last year, the North appears to be provoking military action from the South Koreans. On Tuesday, two civilians and two military members died when the North launched artillery shells at a South Korean Island. This is the first time that an attack of this kind has been carried out since the early 1950s. Earlier this year in March, the North caused greater casualties when it sank a South Korean vessel with a torpedo, killing 46 sailors. North Korea has vehemently denied responsibility in public statements, claiming that the South Korean "traitors" fabricated the whole thing.

Assuming the North Koreans are in fact responsible all of the recent devastation, the South Korean government is in a tough spot. Do they retaliate and risk the potential for all out war, or do they sit back and wait for the next North Korean act of aggression? The route they take will likely be somewhere in the middle with a lot of non-verbal retaliation (public statements, sanctions, etc), 

Given that the North and South Korean neighbors are struggling to coexist peacefully at this point, strategic allies such as China (ally to North Korea) and the US (ally to South Korea) are going to start playing major roles. This is alarming because the US already is sending an aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington to the Yellow Sea. The last thing we need right now is another foreign war. The wars in the middle east have already cost our country over 1 trillion dollars. Does anyone else think it is a poor idea for the US Government to jump in the middle of the Korean conflict? As with any political decision, their are costs and benefits. Calll me crazy, but I am fairly confident that the risk of war with North Korea and the risk of damaging our economic relationship with China more than outweigh the benefits of flexing our muscles in the Yellow Sea.

Is Randy Moss Rubbing Off on Vince Young?

Despite some of his questionable behavior on and off the field, Vince Young is the Titans' best QB. There is a very compelling story over at the Sports Economist that compares the performance of Vince Young and Kerry Collins. The primary conclusion: Vince Young is much more likely to win than Kerry Collins. In the two seasons (2006 and 2009) that they each started a share of the games, Kerry Collins went 0 for 9, while Vince Young went 16 and 7. Unfortunately for Vince and the Titans, Sunday's injury and temper tantrum could prevent them from making the playoffs. Vince Young's passer rating of 98.6 this season is the best of his career. The Titans have a relatively easy stretch of games coming up, and this was Vince Young's chance to prove himself as a premier quarterback. Now his future with the Titans is uncertain according to the media.

Given that I live in Nashville, I would like to see the Titans do well despite the fact that I don't consider myself a "Titans Fan." I have always perceived Jeff Fisher as a top notch guy. He is obviously not pleased with his quarterback's antics nor his apology via text message. However, I am watching this story very closely to see what Jeff Fisher decides to do. Although I think Vince Young has some serious growing up to do and acted like a prima donna on Sunday, I will find it ironic if the organization decides to get rid of Vince Young for his actions, as they just picked one of the leagues biggest drama queens in Randy Moss.