The Sharks (Economic, Political, Fish-Variety) are Circling....

Happy Thanksgiving to all BlogPulse visitors. May your turkey be plump, may your gravy be lump-less and may the relatives who voted/leaned differently from you in the Presidential election be, shall we say, tactful?

First, to the news of the swim-in-the-ocean sharks, or the Jaws vs. Flipper match-up. Seems a great white shark was drooling over a group of New Zealand swimmers back in October. Out of nowhere, a group of dolphins surrounded the swimmers and protected them for up to 40 minutes, until they could swim to shore. The judges award points to Flipper.

On the economic front, it's more of a Bulls vs. Bears vs. Doomsayers confrontation, judging by Wednesday's top link. The Boston Herald is reporting that Morgan Stanley chief economist Stephen Roach, in a private meeting to which the press was not invited, is predicting an economic "Armageddon" soon because of America's tailspinning dollar, growing trade deficit and increasing household debt. And maybe pending bankruptcies. Happy 2005?

Numerous bloggers are taking credit for the downfall of CBS veteran newsman Dan Rather, who announced this week he's giving up the anchor's chair at the network but will remain an investigative reporter.

For today's grins, Colin Purrington at Swarthmore College has taken on the Christian/religious community and its continued assault on the nation's science textbooks and curricula. This page of textbook disclaimer stickers offers a variety of alternative stickers for parents/idealogues interested in protecting their children from disinformation of any kind. (Only the first sticker in the bunch is an actual sticker now pasted on actual textbooks). Which explains this as well.

Remember when U.S. troops were rolling into Bagdhad during the early days of the U.S. invasion of Iraq? How every street, every building, every public park had huge photos, images, paintings and statues of Saddam Hussein? Does this Florida billboard strike anyone as oddly reminiscent? Even a little bit creepy? It's sponsored by Clear Channel Communications, a worldwide organization that owns 700,000 billboards and 1,356 radio stations. (Do you suppose any of them broadcast Air America?)

Other quick finds: voters who still aren't happy with November's election results are plotting a Turn Your Back on Bush happening during inauguration festivities in D.C. And that grilled cheese sandwich with the supposed image of the Virgin Mary? That solitary sandwich sold for $28,000 on eBay. Honest. One sandwich. $28,000. (Hey! Maybe a bunch of government-sponsored sandwiches on eBay could raise enough money to stave off economic Armagedon?)

TREND GRAPH OF THE DAY: The long Thanksgiving weekend is always a good time for avoiding the shopping crowds by catching a flick or two. So which action director gets more buzz in the blogosphere: George, Steven or Quentin?